Ferrie: It's a No-Go for Corn Planting in Central Illinois

Farmers are asking Ken Ferrie what color the “traffic light” is in central Illinois for planting – whether it’s red, green or yellow?

It depends on which crop you’re wanting to plant, responds Ferrie, Farm Journal Field Agronomist and owner of Crop-Tech Consulting, Heyworth, Ill.

Here's what he had to say:

A Green Light For Soybeans
If the ground is fit, he is giving farmers a green light to plant their full-season soybeans. Ferrie says Group 4s, mid-Group 3 and late-Group 3 soybeans need about 950 growing degree days (GDDs) pre-solstice. Early to mid-Group 3 soybeans need about 810 GDDs. 

“We’re trying to get those fuller season beans planted here by April 18,” he says.  “With those earlier Group 3s and later Group 2s, maybe shoot for the planting timeframe of April 25 to May 4.”

For more insights on picking the right maturity for your soybean planting window, Ferrie recommends checking out the information from Crop-Tech Consulting Agronomist Matt Duesterhaus. You can find his recommendations here.

Corn Planting Light Is Red 
Ferrie says in most cases, it’s too wet currently in central Illinois for corn planting.

“When it comes to muddying in corn, that is always a red light,” he says “We only mud corn in for insurance purposes.”

The current forecast indicates temperatures will be climbing into the mid-70s by the end of this week. If current projections hold, conditions could be good enough for farmers to start planting corn on Saturday, Ferrie says.

What worries him more than the current soil temperature are current soil moisture levels. 

“My fear is a lot of ground will get worked wet, as guys try to dry things out to get going and then they’ll have to deal with compaction the rest of the growing season,” he says. “Eighty to 90 percent of the compaction service calls I go on in June and July are because of the first pass in the spring being made too wet.”

Company Recalls For Soybean and Corn Seed
Farmers continue to tell Ferrie that seed companies are recalling some corn and soybean lots due to poor germination test results.

“For you guys doing VRT bean populations and utilizing some fairly low populations on heavy ground, make sure to adjust your planting populations to the germ percentage on the tag or the seed test that you run,” Ferrie says. “There's a big difference between 95% germ seed and 85% germ.”

Severe Corn Flea Beetle Damage Possible
With the warm winter weather farmers had in central Illinois, Ferrie says greater numbers of corn flea beetles survived, which increases the possibility the Stewart’s wilt bacterium also persisted through winter. 

“It may be worth your time to check out your Stewart’s wilt bacteria rating on your hybrids,” he advises. “Susceptible hybrids may need to be sprayed for flea beetles when they show up to try and slow that infection.”

There is no product or practice to stop Stewart’s wilt, once corn plants are infected.

Get Ferrie's complete report in this week's Boots In The Field podcast here:

Get more agronomic insights and tips for planting season here:

Trace The Path: Spring Planter Setup Tips

David Hula Says This One Mistake at Planting Can Cost You More Than 100 Bu. Per Acre in Yield

4 Things You Never Used to Worry About During Planting

Ferrie: Do you Roll the Dice Now and Plant Soybeans Early?