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Wisconsin corn specialist not concerned about yield loss yet
A University of Wisconsin corn specialist says the state’s farmers are past the ideal corn planting date but don’t worry about yield loss yet. Professor Joe Lauer says, “We’re now really past the optimum, but we still have quite a bit of time yet before we start really impacting yield to an economics point.”
Lauer tells Brownfield that like everyone else, most of his test plots of corn are not planted because of poor field conditions. “We’ve only been able to plant at three locations so far, a couple of sandier soils and at Galesville, Wisconsin. That’s all we’ve been able to do to this point.”
Ideally in Wisconsin, Lauer says corn would be planted around May 1st in the southern part of the state and May 5th in northern Wisconsin.
Lauer says as planting dates get delayed, yields can get lower but a lot depends on the weather for the whole season because some years can have excellent yields after a cool start, while an entire summer of cool weather can be disastrous.
Lauer remains optimistic. “It’s always good to get the corn off to a good start, but a little patience right now and I think, hopefully, the weather will break.”
So far, only 7% of Wisconsin’s corn is planted, and most of that is in southern Wisconsin.
Listen to Brownfield’s interview with Joe Lauer here:
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