Corn has just sprouted in my field.
The corn seed has a purple coating put on by the seed company that contains ingredients to protect it from seedling diseases. This is important especially when the ground temperatures are cold. The normal color of this corn would be yellow. This was planted 6 days ago, the growth will be slow until warmer weather arrives. At the bottom of the picture the root is emerging and will soon be able to sustain growth until then the plant lives on the starch from the seed. It is planted 2 inches deep in the soil. 35000 seeds per acre. Starter Fertilizer was applied in the corn rows to give the seedling a boost until it can better use the nitrogen, potassium, and Phosphorus that was applied prior to planting. Insecticide was also applied with the planter that will help protect it when the seed coat protection diminishes.
This is how the field looked on 2/28/2014. Hard to believe in less than 2 months I have corn growing!
Today it is likely to rain and the week forecast shows more chances on any given day. Field work may be delayed for some time until ground dries out enough to begin tillage again.
The Winter wheat crop that was planted last October got damaged with freezing and thawing multiple times and ice. The plant count for 10 foot should be over 100 healthy plants and many fields are as low as 4 healthy plants. The fields with appraisals of half of a normal yield are being destroyed and put into corn production this spring. The productive land that we are blessed with makes it difficult to justify a 1/2 crop of wheat when we can get a full crop of corn.
Serving together, Dean
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