Timely planting of corn is a pervasive problem for growers, according to results of a large survey of U.S. corn farmers.

Nearly one in three corn plantings (32%) over the past five years was not finished by the grower’s preferred completion date, with wet soil conditions the primary cause, according to the survey sponsored by Landec Ag, developers of Intellicoat® Early Plant® corn. In 2005, one of four growers (25%) didn’t finish their planting operations by the preferred date.

The sample for this survey was very large – more than 13,250 corn growers participated across more than 20 states. They were asked about their preferred planting dates and windows, timely planting success in 2005 and during the previous four years, perceived barriers to timely planting, experience with replanting due to chilling injury, and interest in earlier planting.

“Growers definitely recognize the yield loss associated with late planting,” noted Tom Crowley, president of Landec Ag. “More than three out of four of those surveyed (77%) correlate timely planting with higher yields.”  

Weather Issues the Key

Overall, corn growers have a narrow planting widow. Nearly six of 10 (58%) farmers would like to finish planting corn in three weeks or less, while the goal for one out of six (16%) is even tighter – 10 days or less.

Specific weather issues growers blamed for planting delays were wet soil conditions mainly due to rains in early spring. About 10% of those polled mentioned soil conditions that are too cold for planting.

Timely planting was a particular challenge this year for growers in Wisconsin, Ohio, Michigan and Pennsylvania. About one of three (30-36%) corn farmers in these states said they had missed their planting windows in 2005, compared with the overall average of 25%.  

Timely Planting Success, 2001-05

According to survey data, growers reported that only about two-thirds (68%) of all corn plantings were completed by the preferred end date during the 2001-2005 period. The success rate ranged from a high of 73% in Iowa, Minnesota and Nebraska to a low of 59% in Ohio. Other states below the overall average were Missouri at 66%, Wisconsin at 65%, and Indiana, Michigan and Pennsylvania at 63%.

The survey also indicated that growers with 500 or more corn acres are more likely to have missed planting all their corn by the preferred end date compared to those with operations of less than 500 corn acres.  

Operations with 500 or more acres also had greater challenges with chilling injury. Almost a quarter of the respondents (24.8%) in that category said they have had to replant some of their acres during the past five years, compared with the overall replanting rate of 16.8%.

“Corn growers definitely recognize the problems caused by late planting,” Crowley noted, “and half of them said they would plant earlier if they could reduce the risk of replanting and stand loss. That number jumps to 58% for growers with 500 or more corn acres.”

Polymer Coating Offers Solution

Intellicoat Early Plant seed coating technology is one solution for the late-planting dilemma. The polymer coating, which prevents germination of the seed until soil temperatures are right, protects the seed in the soil and allows corn growers to plant up to four weeks earlier than normal while avoiding the risk of chilling injury.

“With the attributes of Early Plant technology, it’s not surprising that 69% of the growers surveyed said they are interested in the product as a possible solution, and 79% of growers with more than 500 acres want to know more about the technology.”

Hybrids with Intellicoat Early Plant seed coating are currently marketed through eight seed partners: Beck’s Hybrids; Dyna-Gro Seed, a division of United Agri Products of Greeley, Colorado; Fielder’s Choice Direct of Monticello, Indiana; Heartland Hybrids of Dassel, Minnesota; Hubner Seed Co., Inc., of West Lebanon, Indiana; Legend Seed of De Smet, South Dakota; Ottilie Seed of Marshalltown, Iowa; and Seed Consultants, Inc., of Washington Court House, Ohio.

Landec Ag’s parent company, Landec Corporation (NASDAQ: LNDC), designs, develops, manufactures, and sells temperature-activated and other specialty polymer products for a variety of food, agricultural and licensed partner applications. 

Intellicoat and Early Plant are registered trademarks of Landec Corporation.