NC Corn Looking Good, SC Struggling in Parts of the State

Everything about the corn crop this year is early…it’s been planted early, planting is wrapping up early, and it’s coming up early. NC State Extension corn specialist Ron Heiniger:

“April has been a full month of corn planting. A lot of corn got put in early and so far it’s looking good. We did have some problems out in the Piedmont area with that last cold spell where it affected some corn but so far the damage hasn’t caused a great deal of concern. Other than some cool nights and a little frost this crop is off to a good start.”

Heiniger expects planting to wrap up this week:

“I think most everyone is pretty well done, about 85% of this crop is in. There are just a few areas, particularly east toward Charlotte that due to rain that held them out of the fields.”

As far as condition of the crop that’s germinated, all in all, Heiniger is pleased:

The cool, wet weather over the past couple of weeks has introduced some fungus according to Heiniger:

“I think it’s pretty good to excellent. A few places will have a temporary setback from the frost. We’ve had generally cool weather and that’s good at this stage for the corn. We are off to a good start.”

The cool wet weather has introduced some fungus, according to Heiniger:

“We’ve heard some reports of worms here and there, but after investigation we’ve seen that they are not at a level that would cause any significant damage.”

As far as early insect pressure, Heiniger says some has been reported, but thus far hasen’t reached economic thresholds:

“We’ve seen that in the wheat crop and there has been some concern about the corn but so far that hasn’t been a problem. We will have to continue our guard in the areas that are still moist.”

South Carolina’s corn planting is complete, and Scott Montford of the Edisto Research station near Blackville says some of it’s already in trouble:

“There are some fields that have already wilted.”