Champlain Valley Crop, Soil & Pasture – UVM Extension

On Thursday, June 27th, farmers and technical service providers gathered to discuss the importance of in-season scouting for a productive corn crop at Farmers Connect: Mid-Season Corn Evaluation, hosted by UVM Extension and the Champlain Valley Farmer Coalition. We gathered at Lucas Dairy in Orwell to hear from Jon Lucas of Lucas Dairy, Tom Eaton (ACS agronomist), Abby Augarten (UVM Extension agronomist), and other farmers in attendance on important topics, including no-till strategies for healthy corn stands, pest management, and in-season nitrogen management.  

After taking shelter from the rain in the barn, where we discussed the importance of planter setup for effective no-till planting, we headed to Jon’s corn fields under sunny skies to discuss these concepts more in-depth. As we gathered around a field that was no-till planted into sod after first cut, we discussed the importance of ideal soil moisture, especially in clay soils, for successful no-till planting and trench closure. Jon noted an increase in early season pest pressure, including cutworms and slugs, on some fields, likely due to greater moisture and early planting. Pest scouting early in the season provided sufficient time to intervene and replant, preventing any widespread damage. 

Nitrogen management strategies to increase efficiency for greater economic and environmental benefits was another topic of interest. Understanding the complexity of nitrogen cycling, how and when we may lose nitrogen from our system, and available tools to mitigate loss are crucial for efficient N use. We discussed effective strategies like nitrogen inhibitors, in-season diagnostic tools to determine sidedress rate, and adjusting nitrogen timing and rates in no-till systems.   

Stand evaluations, pest management, and nutrient management are crucial to finding success in a no-till system. Jon highlighted a few key components to his no-till system: timing planting with favorable conditions, scouting for insects in higher risk fields, and adjusting nitrogen management to prevent nitrogen tie up and take advantage of nitrogen credits. Jon continues his no-till practices, which have contributed to healthy crops, water quality benefits, and improved soil health. 

Read on to explore more highlights from the field day!

Mid-Season Corn Evaluation Highlights: 

No-till Strategies: 

• Planting in ideal moisture is key for no-till planting, especially in clay soils. Farmers shared they’ve had the most success if the soil surface is dry and crumbles easily, while the soil is moist at planting depth to allow for good trench closure and fast germination and emergence. If the soil is too dry, it’s advantageous to plant to greater depth to find sufficient moisture.  

• No-till planting corn into a hay field is a great approach to integrate no-till practices into your system. Jon has found success by using a coulter to slice through residue, carefully timing herbicide application for effective sod termination, applying nitrogen up front to prevent any tie up, and planting in ideal moisture conditions. No-till planting into hay can improve soil health, mitigate risk of runoff, and provide nitrogen benefits to the corn crop mid-season. 

Stand Evaluation: 

• Evaluating corn stands can provide important insight to inform planting next season. For example, if there are skips in the row, identify if this is due to pest pressure, soil conditions, or planting error, such as planting depth, planter setup, closing wheels, and other factors.  

• Assessing the uniformity of the corn stand is another great indicator. While challenging to obtain in fields with variable conditions, uniform stands help mitigate competition among corn plants. Adjusting planting depth to align with ideal soil moisture throughout the field can help improve uniformity. 

Pest Management: 

• Early season insect scouting is crucial to catch insect pressure early, intervene, and replant if necessary. Scouting pests early in the season, and not just from the road, gave Jon an advantage to minimize the damage done by the cutworms. Jon was able to locate, spray, and replant the corn within a week, saving yields on that field.  

• For some, buying name brand insecticides and herbicides that have guaranteed efficacy may be worth the extra time and money.  

• Planting date is an important consideration for managing risk around insect pressure, but there may also be tradeoffs. Planting early may be effective to mitigate risk of cutworm damage but will also increase the seed’s susceptibility to seed corn maggot and wireworm damage due to slower germination. 

In-season Nitrogen Management: 

• Nitrogen is a very complex nutrient to manage, but knowing when and how your system is at risk of losing nitrogen and taking advantage of tools to mitigate that risk can improve efficiency. Nitrogen can be lost via many modes and considering when, how and in what form you apply nitrogen can inform how best to mitigate that risk. Read more about nitrogen cycling here, or reach out to UVM Extension to delve deeper into nitrogen management on your farm.   

• Applying nitrogen in-season, closer to when the corn crop needs it, is one strategy to mitigate risk. Nutrient management planning, weather considerations, and diagnostic tools like pre-sidedress nitrate tests (PSNTs) and chlorophyll meters can inform sidedress rate.  

• The timing of sidedress applications with rainfall is an important consideration.  About ½ inch of rain is required to incorporate urea into the soil, where it will no longer be susceptible to volatilization. Without rain, it is possible to lose 20% of surface applied urea per day, particularly with warmer temperatures, greater soil moisture, and windy conditions. 

• Nitrogen inhibitors can mitigate the risk of nitrogen loss. Urease inhibitors, one type of nitrogen inhibitors, will prevent volatilization of urea for 10-14 days, extending the window to receive sufficient rainfall to incorporate urea into the soil. There are many different products out there, with different modes of action and concentration of active ingredients. Reach out to UVM Extension to navigate which product makes sense for you.   

Other Topics of Interest: 

• Conversation was not limited to just corn! We explored additional interests from cover cropping mixes to hay crops and species selection. 

• There are many benefits to a multispecies cover crop mixture, though it can be challenging to integrate into dairy cropping rotations in VT. Interseeding is a potential strategy to accomplish this, by providing the cover crop ample time to grow and provide desirable soil health benefits.   

• Selecting forage species, and even specific varieties, is important for new hay crops. Seed breeders are doing great work at the variety level to create mixtures designed to maximize productivity and quality.  

To discuss how these key takeaways may relate to your operation, reach out to the UVM Extension’s Champlain Valley Crops, Soil & Pasture Team.