Guidelines for Adjusting Corn Maturities
May 16, 2014
MAY 16 2014 UPDATE
Rainfall totals from last night (western NY), today (central NY), and tonight (eastern NY) will keep most growers out of the field for 3-7 days, depending upon soil texture and timing of the next precipitation event. The NASS data indicated that 8% of NY corn was planted by 5/11, last Sunday. Probably another 15-20% was planted this week so we probably have close to 25% of the corn planted, hopefully all to full-season hybrids.
Now is probably the time to consider switching to shorter season hybrids for grain?..silage or high moisture corn can probably wait until May 25th or so. Grain growers should probably back off by 5 days in hybrid maturity, if they can get in later next week-May 22-25. If planting is delayed until early June, grain growers should consider backing off another 5 days or 10 days shorter than normal or consider switching corn acres to soybean acres if it is early June. This is especially true for no-till corn on corn ground (slower early-season growth translates into higher grain moisture at harvest if there is lots of corn residue?.if it is soybean residue not really an issue), fields that receive the first frost in the fall, or high elevation fields that mature slowly. As last year?s data shows, there was really no yield hit to staying with long-season hybrids right up until June but either harvest has to be delayed by 2-3 weeks or grain moisture will be much higher (see attached WCU article).
But again, anything can happen. In 2011, we had an exceedingly wet May allowing only for 24% of the corn to be planted in NY by 5/22 and 43% by 5/29. But then conditions turned exceedingly dry from mid-June through July before the drought was relieved in August. And guess what, the long-season corn planted in late May or early June yielded by far the best because it didn?t silk until the first week of August when drought was relieved.
So, it has been a tough spring so far but the season is not over (I keep telling myself the same thing when I read about yet another Red Sox loss?.no comment on the devastating Game 7 loss by the Bruins to the much-hated Canadians!). The long-term forecast has normal rainfall and normal temperature starting next week and for the following 10 days. Likewise, the worthless 3-month long-term forecast for June-August has pretty much normal conditions. Hope springs eternal!
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Upcoming Events
Cornell Cooperative Extension for a Business Development and Marketing Zoom series
January 20, 2026 : Cornell Cooperative Extension for a Business Development and Marketing Zoom series
Join Cornell Cooperative Extension for a Business Development and Marketing Zoom series starting on January 20th. These monthly webinars will take place on the third Tuesday of each month and focus on a variety of business development and marketing topics. All sessions will be led by content experts across the Cornell Cooperative Extension system, organizations and businesses which support agricultural operations across New York State.
2026 Winter Crop Meeting - Auburn
January 22, 2026
Auburn, NY
Connect with the agricultural community and many key note speakers on the folllowing topics:
- Emerging Innovation in Plant Breeding and Technologies - A Peek at the Future by Ben Rogers, Pioneer Field Agronomist
- Managing Herbicide-Resistant Weeds in NY Corn & Soybean by Dr. Vipam Kumar, NYS Extension Weed Scientist, Cornell University
- Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) Insurance Program by KC Slade, Risk Management Specialist, Farm Credit East—Crop Growers
- Birds & the Bees Legislation and the Fate of Neonics by Janice Degni, Extension Field Crop Specialist
- Emerging Disease Pests and Soil Borne Diseases of Soybean by Dr. Camilo Parada Rojas, NYS Extension Plant Pathologist, Cornell University
- Solar Farms—Benefit or Detriment? by Mr. Michael McMahon, Chair, Homer Town Planning Board
3 DEC credits in categories 1A and 21-25. 1.5 PM, .5 CM and 1 PD CCA credits available.
Please send your DEC license number in the Notes to Us when you register on-line.
2026 Winter Crop Meeting - Dryden Location
January 23, 2026
Dryden, NY
Connect with the agricultural community and many key note speakers on the folllowing topics:
- Emerging Innovation in Plant Breeding and Technologies - A Peek at the Future by Ben Rogers, Pioneer Field Agronomist
- Managing Herbicide-Resistant Weeds in NY Corn & Soybean by Dr. Vipam Kumar, NYS Extension Weed Scientist, Cornell University
- Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) Insurance Program by KC Slade, Risk Management Specialist, Farm Credit East—Crop Growers
- Birds & the Bees Legislation and the Fate of Neonics by Janice Degni, Extension Field Crop Specialist
- Emerging Disease Pests and Soil Borne Diseases of Soybean by Dr. Camilo Parada Rojas, NYS Extension Plant Pathologist, Cornell University
- Solar Farms—Benefit or Detriment? by Mr. Michael McMahon, Chair, Homer Town Planning Board
3 DEC credits in categories 1A and 21-25. 1.5 PM, .5 CM and 1 PD CCA credits available
Announcements
Farm Participants Needed for Bale Grazing Grant!
Information on the Project:- Approximately 10 acres total needed to bale graze two different bale densities
- "Core" farms will graze two winters, "Demo" farms will graze one winter.
- Payments for both "Core" farms and "Demo" farms
- Baseline soil sampling by bale grazing team
- Forage measurements in early season by bale grazing team
- Late season clipping if residual not trampled down by farm
Interested farms can enroll for this winter or next.
Looking for 2-3 dairy farms to enroll! If interested, please reach out to Betsy Hicks, 607.391.2673 or bjh246@cornell.edu
Cornell Cow Convos - New Podcast
On-going podcast, New episodes released on the last Thursday of the month.Guest speakers, CCE Dairy Specialists.
Housed on Soundcloud Channel is CCE Dairy Educators
Topics:
- Preventative healthcare for cows
- The trend of beef on dairy
- What to look forward to in the new year for dairy
- Socially grouping or pair-housing calves
2018 Drug Residue Prevention Manual
For more than 30 years, the U.S. dairy industry has focused educational efforts on the judicious use of antibiotics through the annual publication of a Best Practices Manual. The 2018 edition of the National Dairy FARM Program: Farmers Assuring Responsible Management? Milk and Dairy Beef Drug Residue Prevention Manual is the primary educational tool for dairy farm managers throughout the country on the judicious and responsible use of antibiotics, including avoidance of drug residues in milk and meat.The manual is a quick resource to review those antibiotics approved for dairy animals and can also be used as an educational tool and resource for farm managers as they develop on-farm best management practices necessary to avoid milk and meat residues. Visit the Manual and Form Library to download copies of this important tool!
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The team updates our facebook page frequently - follow us to be updated on our events, see some fun videos and get local area updates!facebook.com/SCNYDairyandFieldCropsTeam
NYSERDA Agriculture Energy Audit Program
NYSERDA offers energy audits to help eligible farms and on-farm producers identify ways to save energy and money on utility bills. Reports include recommendations for energy efficiency measures.Eligibility
Eligible farms include but are not limited to dairies, orchards, greenhouses, vegetables, vineyards, grain dryers, and poultry/egg. The farms must also be customers of New York State investor-owned utilities and contribute to the System Benefits Charge (SBC). Please check your farm’s current utility bills to see if your farm pays the SBC.
Energy Audit Options
You can request the level of energy audit that best fits your farm’s needs. NYSERDA will assign a Flexible Technical Assistance Program Consultant to visit your farm and perform an energy audit at no cost to you.
For more information and the NYSERDA Agriculture Energy Audit Program Application click here
For more information and the NYSERDA Agriculture Energy Audit Program Application click here