Early season scouting can help fine-tune practices for in-season crop management and for the next year’s growing season. Our Corn Product Manager, Lyle Marcus, has created a scouting checklist for you to take to the field.
- Planting Furrow
- Did the planting furrow close well?
- Is there any sidewall compaction created from wet soils?
- What can be improved for next season?
- Uniform Emergence Across the Field
- Is the planting depth correct?
- Was seed placed in dry soil in some areas of the field?
- Identify the Growth Stage
- First leaf, sometimes called the ‘True Leaf’ has a rounded tip. All others that follow have pointed tips and a leaf collar where the base of the leaf attaches to the stem/stalk. Always count the true leaf in your staging. For example, three leaves with collars plus the True Leaf is 4-leaf corn.
- Correct staging is very important for herbicide applications.
- Soil-Borne Insects
- Any seedling damage present?
- Use a corn pest management calendar to gauge approximate timing that different insects will begin to emerge.
Note: Many soil-borne insects are controlled by seed treatment, but one big threat can be cutworm. Black cutworm can be devastating to a stand of young plants, but careful monitoring allows timely insecticide treatment to reduce size of affected areas.
- Fertilizer Injury
- N or K fertilizers with high salt content can damage young roots. If found, what can be done to prevent the issue in the future? One suggestion is placement – final spring tillage pass can incorporate this evenly in soils.
- Anhydrous injury
- Did planting occur at the application pass and how do you prevent next season?
- When side-dressing, escaping gasses will kill leaf tissue. If preparing to side-dress, be sure soil is in proper condition to seal well.
- Pre-emerge Herbicide
- Scout for weed escapes. What follow-up applications are needed? Keep crop staging in mind for many of the available post options.
Keep these notes for next season. In-season note taking will point you in the right direction for the next cropping season. Give us a call with any questions at 1-877-GO-LATHAM – we are happy to help!