News

Heat pushes crop growth after delayed planting

A hot start to summer has helped crops in the Upper Midwest catch up after planting delays this spring.

Dekalb/Asgrow technical agronomist Dan Kohler says Growing Degree Units in south-central Minnesota are running about 23 percent ahead of normal since May first.

“It wasn’t uncommon for the crop to jump out of the ground in five days this year.  It was one of the faster-emerging years I can remember.  And we had good stand counts.”

Southern Minnesota was plagued by cool weather and frequent rains throughout April, setting back planting by more than two weeks.  What followed was an abnormally warm May and June.

“We had a lot of heat, and I would say we’re ahead (on GDU’s).  We’ve more than made up for it with the heat as far as growth stages in corn.”

Kohler tells Brownfield it’s always good to be ahead on heat units going into plant reproduction.  But he says it’s better for yield if crops take more time during the reproductive phase, so seasonal temperatures would be preferred in July.