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Rain will delay start of planting in Iowa

rain drops on windowAfter several years of spring planting delays, Iowa farmers were hoping to get an early jump on corn planting this year.  But heavy rains, rolling through the Hawkeye State today, are altering those plans.

Todd Claussen is director of agronomy for FC Coop, based at Ames.

“The surface was fairly sticky coming into this rain overnight—Wednesday night into Thursday morning—and this morning there’s some heavy on and off rain,” Claussen says. “So we’ll need several days of warm-up and sunshine.”

Claussen urges farmers to not be in too big of a hurry as to create compaction problems.

“We’re always concerned about conditions of planting because ‘slightly too wet’ will really hinder that plant—especially its root system—the balance of the growing season,” he says.

Claussen says there are two other important factors to consider. One is the risk of imbibitional chilling injury due to cold soil temperatures during the initial 24 to 36 hours after seeding. The other is making sure the corn is being planted at the proper depth.

AUDIO: Todd Claussen

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