Corn Planting Time! – Soil Temps on 5/11/2021

The sun shines, planters are rolling….

The last soil temp survey for 2021:

Our soil temp taking crew made its final round of temp-taking on 5/11/2021.   A return to cool wet weather the week prior and a cold, gray windy day that day yielded cooler soil temps than previous weeks, however corn stubble fields still averaged 52° F, above the 50° minimum recommended for corn planting.  Sods averaged 49.2° F.   In general what we have observed is that the stubble ground has wider swings in temperature (cools down quicker and warms up quicker, especially where tilled or where there is no cover crop).  Sods are generally cooler, but also fluctuate less in temperature.  Across New York State planters are rolling after a stretch of rainy weather.

By the time you read this report it will be nearing the middle of May and we are in the midst of a great stretch of weather.   We should expect that from here on out soil temps will increase, and nearly all stubble fields are warm enough to plant (even if not dry enough).    First cutting hay harvest for high quality lactating dairy for finishing beef cattle feed is rapidly approaching target, so getting some acres of corn planted before having attention diverted to hay harvest might be a good strategy.

We recommend planting stubble ground anytime now if fields are dry enough to be on;

First year corn on sods killed this spring will be cooler, but probably are safe to plant as soon as dry enough to spray and work.  If they have not been sprayed yet, they should be immediately, – or take 1^st cutting and then spray.   Be sure to include either 2,4-D or dicamba at  1 pint per acre rate with glyphosate burn down for control of broadleaves.   Ammonium sulfate adjuvant is also highly recommended.

Winter cover crops on many fields are robust and many have not been terminated. Some farms might want to consider harvest of winter rye for forage to manage growth, especially if the rye is beginning to head out and they are using tillage as part of the strategy to terminate the rye.  If you are terminating with a herbicide, check the label for the herbicide you are using to adjust rates for height of rye.    Use of ammonium sulfate adjuvant is highly recommended to aid speed and completeness of burndown.

We will not be surveying soil temps across the county again in 2021.  If you want us to check a field(s) you are still concerned about, please contact us.   Happy planting and look for our reports again next year!

Below is a guide to recommended corn planting populations and the individual soil temp readings for last four weeks.

Delaware County Soil Temperatures, °F at 2-inch                                                                   VF=Valley Floor
11-May	4-May	27-Apr	20-Apr	Town	Aspect	Elev., ft	Cover
48		56	58	Andes	VF	1520	cover crop
47		53	52	Andes	SW	1550	sod
50	54	58	51	Colchester	VF	1080	cover crop
50	54	53	50	Colchester	VF	1080	sod
54	55	51	57	Davenport	VF	1237	sod
57	60	56	73	Davenport	VF	1237	tilled
60	63	58	58	Delhi	VF	1322	bare/stubble
45	53	60	62	Delhi	VF	1322	cover crop
51	63	52	53	Delhi	VF	1390	sod
49	54	55	61	Delhi	NW	2030	bare/stubble
49	59	53	52	Delhi	SE	2120	sod
59	63	44	49	Franklin	VF	1262	sod
48	55	47	60	Franklin	VF	1262	tilled
55	64	46	51	Franklin	W	1284	cover crop
64	65	48	58	Franklin	SW	1825	bare/stubble
53	57	58	61	Hamden	SW	2098	cover crop
50	58	52	51	Harpersfield	S	1650	sod
47	62	60	66	Harpersfield	S	1675	bare/stubble
48	56	53	66	Kortright	VF	1425	bare/stubble
50	56	56	64	Kortright	VF	1560	sod
50	60	51	57	Kortright	VF	1560	tilled
58	66	50	52	Kortright	E	1750	sod
57	64	48	54	Kortright	S	1818	sod
51	52	52	61	Kortright	S	1845	cover crop
50	56	56	59	Kortright	W	2020	bare/stubble
58	58	53	55	Kortright	SSE	1980	sod
56	60	49	54	Meredith	S	1600	sod
50	70	54	60	Meredith	S	1601	cover crop
47	57	57	63	Middletown	VF	1670	cover crop
48	60	55	66	Middletown	SW	1920	bare/stubble
48	58	50	48	Neversink	ESE	1380	sod
58	67	55	54	Roxbury	NE	1720	sod
51	59	56	49	Roxbury	NW	1745	cover crop
60	61	52	51	Roxbury	ESE	1940	cover crop
52	59	58	79	Sidney	VF	1030	tilled
51	57	50	57	Stamford	VF	1496	cover crop
55	64	58	61	Stamford	VF	1496	killed sod
56	66	51	52	Stamford	VF	1496	sod
52	63	55	65	Stamford	VF	1590	tilled
48	54	52	58	Tompkins	VF	1244	bare/stubble
47	54	54	66	Walton	VF	1178	bare/stubble
50	55	50	62	Walton	VF	1280	bare/stubble
49.3	55.7	53.3	51	Avg. Sod
52	60	58	52	Avg Corn Stubble