AUDIO-VIDEO-BLOGS

Navigate Seed Corn Pericarp Damage with Fertilizer Know-How

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 13:33:50 GMT

Mother Nature wraps every kernel of seed corn in a thin protective coat, called the pericarp. It covers the seed like skin, providing a first line of defense against soil pathogens, pests and microorganisms. The seed pericarp also regulates water absorption for germination.

As Ken Ferrie has evaluated seed corn sample test results coming into his office this spring, he’s noticed there is a significant amount of severe pericarp damage, meaning damage has occurred to the embryo axis (the indented part of seed corn).

“Granted, we’ve only got the first 50 samples back, but we’ve seen 5.8% of them with severe pericarp damage, with 25% of the samples having what we consider a failing grade,” says Ferrie, Farm Journal Field Agronomist, based in central Illinois.

By comparison, 3% of the 150 seed samples he had tested in 2024 came back with severe pericarp damage and few were in the failing category.

(Michigan Crop Improvement Association)

Risks And Rewards

Severe pericarp damage doesn’t mean the seed is not viable to plant – if other results of warm and cold germ tests are positive. It does mean you need to give consideration to fertilizer management.

Ferrie explains that seed corn with tears in the embryo axis is susceptible to salt burn from in-furrow fertilizer applications. Cracks in the embryo axis allow the salt to get into the seed germ, the embryo, which can stop germination.

“If severe pericarp damage gets above 6% we recommend not applying starter in-furrow, especially if you’re planting into dry conditions,” Ferrie advises.

“While you’ll get the visual starter response, the odds of losing the severe pericarp-damaged plants to salt burn are high, which will lower your ear count beyond what the starter response can make up,” he adds.

Ferrie says applying fertilizer off the seed is not a problem.

“I’m not concerned, for instance, with a 2x2 system or the 360 Wave. With the FurrowJet, I would shut off the in-furrow fertilizer line and send it all to the wings,” he advises.

Hold Onto Some Samples

A practice called the “fast green test” is used in seed corn to detect potential damage to the pericarp. If you’re concerned about damage being an issue this spring, the Michigan Crop Improvement Association advises checking with your local laboratories as some offer a one-day turnaround for tests.

If you don’t have time to test seed corn prior to planting, Ferrie suggests keeping a small sample of seed – about 2 pounds from each lot – in a cool, dry place until the corn crop is emerged and stand counts can be made.

“If everything is OK, then we can discard it,” he says. “But if we have trouble with stand establishment, then we can send it off for testing to rule out seed quality issues.

“Testing (after the fact) won’t fix the problem, but it might answer some questions when we’re out there evaluating fertilizer burn issues,” he adds.

Another consideration: If you are concerned you have some questionable seed corn lots, hold off on planting those particular lots until soil temperatures are warmer (above 55°F) and the forecast is for mild conditions, usually around May 1 in central Illinois.

In the meantime, Ferrie is hoping the percentage of pericarp damage he has seen so far drops lower in tests he currently has underway.

“We have over 70 samples at the lab being tested now and more going in, so maybe these numbers will turn around,” he says.

Be sure to check out this week’s Boots In The Field podcast. Ferrie addresses soybean planting and how to “hoe before you know” if you think soil crusting could be an issue. Here’s the link: https://www.croptechinc.com/bifr-4-8-2025/

Your next read: Boost Corn ROI: Focus On Fertilizer Timing And Placement

Is the Cattle Market Topping and When Will Corn Bottom?

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 14:47:22 GMT

Cattle lower early with hogs and grains mixed.

Scott Varilek of Kooima Kooima Varilek says cattle futures are setting back on disappointing cash in the South which came in at mostly $190, which is steady money. The North traded higher with the dressed volume at $312, up $1 from the previous week’s weighted average and $198 live.

Varilek says cattle futures are also seeing some profit taking and there have been reports of the Dodge City, Kansas plant being offline today due to flooding damage. There have also been slow downs in other areas like Dakota City, Nebraska.

The live cattle futures have been signaling the fed cash cattle market is close to topping with the discount it is holding to recent cash. So is the top close?

Varilek says its too early to call a high in the market yet.

Hogs see bull spreading despite big up front supplies in the USDA Hogs and Pigs Report.

Corn and soybeans are mostly lower, hitting 3 year lows, still digesting the USDA reports which showed higher acreage for corn and higher quarterly stocks for all the grains.

Plus the market is trading favorable weather with rains and cooler temperatures forecasted for the Eastern Corn Belt.

Varilek says the market is disregarding the flooding issues and lost acres in the Western Corn Belt and may not have a real handle on losses until much later in the season.

AgDay TV Markets Now: Darren Frye Talks About What 6-Month Highs in the U.S. Dollar Index Mean for Ag Markets

Wed, 06 Sep 2023 21:43:52 GMT

AgDay TV Markets Now: The U.S. Dollar Index hits 6-month highs. Darren Frye, Water Street Solutions, talks about what this means for ag commodity markets.

Soybeans Higher on Weather, Corn Lower: How Will the Market React to Pro Farmer Crop Estimates?

Fri, 25 Aug 2023 21:11:32 GMT

Grains close mixed on Friday with corn lower, but soybeans higher building in weather premium and in anticipation of the Pro Farmer crop estimates. Corn yield was lowered to 172 bpa, production to 14.96 bb, soybean yield was cut to 49.7 bpa with production at 4.11 bb. Pro Farmer editor Brian Grete talks about how the tour influenced their cuts and what it means for ending stocks and prices.

Grains Explode on Weather, Drop in Ratings and Close Above Key Resistance: Cattle and Hogs Consolidate in Face of Higher Feed

Wed, 21 Jun 2023 19:50:18 GMT

Grains rally on weather, big drop in crop ratings and subsoil moisture levels, plus fund buying. Corn, soybeans, even KC wheat close above key chart areas so how much upside is there? Cattle consolidate with higher corn but is there much downside risk? And hogs see some profit taking with higher meal. Tomm Pfitzenmaier, Summit Commodity Brokerage has details.

Grains End Mixed with Corn and KC Wheat Hit Chart Resistance, New Highs in Meal Supports Soybeans: Short Covering in Livestock

Thu, 02 Feb 2023 20:08:20 GMT

Grains closed mixed with corn and KC wheat running into chart resistance, but new highs in soybean meal on Argentina weather supported soybeans. Livestock rebounded on technical short covering, but cattle are still digesting the inventory numbers and got help from strong exports. Chip Nellinger of Blue Reef AgriMarketing has more.

Corn and Wheat See Corrective Buying, but Soybeans Fade Early Gains: Livestock Mixed and Two-Sided

Tue, 24 Jan 2023 20:05:31 GMT

Corn and wheat held gains on corrective buying, but soybeans couldn’t stay above $15 with a pickup in farmer selling and improved weather in Argentina. Live cattle saw some light fund buying, with feeders mixed. Hogs still can’t find a bottom with rising slaughter numbers and soft cash. Brian Grete with Pro Farmer has analysis.

Farmers Need to Approach Soil Health Offensively, Not Defensively to Get the Best Results

Mon, 23 Jan 2023 22:39:31 GMT

When farmers work in harmony with Mother Nature to “Flip their Soil” they not only become more sustainable, but over time they can improve crop yields and profitability on their farm.

Mother Nature always wins, and farmer and agronomist Mitch Hora of Continuum Ag is helping other farmers find success by taking her cues when it comes to applying the principles of soil health on their land. “Just keep that in mind that we’re trying to get the outcome of healthier soil, more resilient soil and we’ve got to do that by minimizing disturbance, chemical, physical, keep armor on the soil, keep a living root as much as we can, get as much diversity into the system as possible, maybe integrate livestock back out on the land and most importantly do this is the context of your farm.”

To flip your farm’s soil Hora recommends approaching soil health offensively. “Cover crops and no-till have been branded wrong. They have been branded as defensive management tools, defense against erosion, defense against water quality problems, but really to actually make these systems work that cover crop is my offensive tool. It’s my nutrient stabilizer, it’s my herbicide program, it’s my moisture management program, it’s my soil building program, it’s my resiliency program. So many offensive things.”

Hora reminds farmers that healthy soils are alive and home to billions of microbes that are actually farming the crop and providing it vital nutrients needed for higher yields. “One teaspoon of this healthy soil more than 8 billion microbes and these got to eat. They eat carbon, simple sugars and that carbon, those simple sugars come from plant roots aggregates that are pumped into the ground via photosynthesis when there’s a living plant.” However, with the growing season spanning only a few months crops don’t grow long enough to build adequate levels of carbon in the soil. Hora says that’s where cover crops come in. “The key is you’ve got to feed the system. 6:36 and Mother Nature’s way of feeding the system is living roots. That’s why when there’s no living system, she puts weeds out here.”

Once those microbes are working Hora says they’ll provide a direct return on investment. Hora says, “I’m not going to have to spend money on herbicides, on fertilizer and everything else because it’s going to come naturally from my system. And that’s why on our farm we’ve been able to lower our inputs as much as we have and put those dollars right back to our bottom line. We’ve got to focus on profitability and also long-term resiliency here on the farm and these soil health systems are the way to do it.” And at the same time create a better impact on the environment.

Soybeans Lower Following Soybean Oil, Grains Removed War Premium: Technical Buying Supports Livestock

Wed, 16 Nov 2022 20:06:35 GMT

Grains close lower with soybeans pressured by lower soybean oil and SA rains, corn and wheat removed war premium. However, corn held support with the largest one day purchase of corn by Mexico ever. Livestock ended higher with technical buying and softer corn helping out. Michelle Rook talks with Alan Brugler of Brugler Marketing.

POET Announces Carbon Pipeline Partnership

Mon, 13 Jun 2022 15:07:17 GMT

POET, the world’s largest ethanol producer, has signed a letter of intent to capture and ship carbon from 18 of its ethanol plants in Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota to be stored in Illinois. Navigator CO2 Ventures intends to ship and store approximately 5-million metric tons of carbon dioxide annually via their pipeline which will be operational by 2025.

This reflects somewhat of a shift for POET... which had been noncommittal about signing with a pipeline project because they developed a market to provide C-O-2 to companies including food processors.