Growing corn
Corn growth stages
Understanding how corn grows and develops is important, since the crop stage will impact management decisions around crop damage, pesticide applications and harvest.
Nutrient management
Corn nutrient needs
Includes links to fertilizing corn, banding fertilizer and the corn nitrogen rate calculator.
Nitrogen
Understand how nitrogen behaves in soil, fertilizer rates by crop, how to apply urea and minimize losses, and best practices for soil testing
Pre-sidedress nitrate soil test (PSNT)
The (PSNT) is a tool for deciding whether or not a supplemental nitrogen application might be needed. The soil samples are typically taken in June around the V6 growth stage prior to sidedressing N.
Best practices for taking PSNT samples
Best practices for handling PSNT samples
Crop and weather damage
How to manage flooded or saturated conditions
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Assessing damage.
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Deciding whether or not to replant.
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Nitrogen management: Spotting deficiency and determining if you need supplemental N.
How heat and water stress affect corn while it’s pollinating
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Know the most critical time to avoid corn stress.
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At what temperature heat stress occurs.
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Impact on pollination and kernel count.
What to do when spring frost damages your Minnesota corn crop
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Symptoms of frost-injured corn.
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How to tell if plants will survive.
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Which factors determine if frost will reduce yield.
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What to consider before you replant.
How to handle hail and wind damage to Minnesota corn
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Assessing damage: Stem bruising, root lodging, stalk breakage and whorl damage.
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How to tell if a corn plant will survive and regrow.
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Guide to estimating yield loss.
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When you should and shouldn’t replant.
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Caring for damaged fields.
How hail and wind impacts on pollinating corn, including the following effects:
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Loss of leaf area.
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Stem bruising.
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Root lodging.
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Stalk breakage.
Assessing mid-season hail damage
Early frost can mean yield loss for corn producers, although the damage’s severity varies depending on local climate conditions, crop maturity and topographical features.
Guide to managing early fall frost
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Symptoms of frost damage and severity.
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Impact on corn yield and moisture.
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How frost affects crop quality and dry-down rates.