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KyCGA News
For Immediate Release
April 19, 2007
Extent of Freeze Damage to Corn May Be Worse than Expected
Many Kentucky Growers Have Started to Replant
Kentucky grain producers are finally
seeing the effects of the early April freeze on planted
corn, following the devastating hit Mother Nature had on
their wheat crops.
“We knew there would be some damage,”
said Todd Barlow, Executive Director of the Kentucky Corn
Growers Association (KyCGA), referring to the effect of the
extended below-freezing temperatures on emerged corn, “but
we had no idea that so many of the state’s acres would have
to be completely replanted.”
According to University of Kentucky
extension grain specialist Chad Lee, planting corn in March
is pretty common in the southern tier Kentucky counties,
referring to counties along the south-western Kentucky
border. The few weeks of above-normal temperatures and low
rainfall, encouraged more farmers to go ahead and plant
corn. In fact, Lee said that many producers had their entire
crop in the ground.
“It is pretty typical for a frost to
occur following corn planting,” said Lee, “but the corn is
usually young enough to recover. “However, four nights of
freezing temperatures this late is the season is very
unusual, making recovery of corn plants more questionable.”
Lee said that the warmer soil
temperatures in March sped plant growth which made the young
plants more vulnerable to the freeze. Seed planting depth
also played a role in corn damage. Lee said seed planted at
in inch or shallower will need to be replanted. Seeds
planted at 2 inches may or may not be able to recover.
Jerry Griffith, a grain producer in
Graves County and KyCGA President, reported that the corn he
planted March 15-18 has died, but they are still waiting to
see the extent of damage on the corn planted between the 20th
and 25th. Corn planted after March 26 may fair
well.
“There was a lot of corn planted in
Graves County the middle of March,” said Griffith. “Now we
need another patch of warm weather to see how it all turns
out.”
Griffith has already replanted 400
acres and is waiting to make a replanting decision on
another 500 acres.
According to the Kentucky Agricultural
Statistics Service, corn planting progress was at 26 percent
for the state; more than double the acreage for the
five-year average.
“We are not yet sure of the economic
loss that will be suffered by our grain producers in
relation to replanting costs,” said Barlow, “but we expect
our growers will endure a significant hit. The Corn Growers
Association will work to see that corn is also included in a
disaster assistance package that already includes wheat.”
One challenge many growers may face
with replanting is the availability of seed corn that fits
their production strategies.
Bill Meacham, Area Agronomist for
Pioneer Hi-Bred Int., the nation’s largest developer and
supplier of seed corn, said seed is tight, but they are
picking up additional seed from the south and covering
replanting needs.
“The seed may not include
the trait package the farmers are looking for, but they are
not complaining,” said Meacham. “This is the biggest replant
that I have ever seen in my career.”
Lee said growers will need to make
adjustments in their original production plans to fit the
seed that will be available to them.
The University of Kentucky plans to
release more information to growers as the extent of the
situation becomes more evident.
“We need another week of growth to see
how it turns out,” said Lee. “We may also see some seeding
diseases that will need to be addressed.”
Growers seeking information about the
freeze damage to corn should visit the KyCGA web site at
www.kycorn.org.
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Written by: Jennifer Elwell,
502/921-2625
Contacts: Todd Barlow, KyCGA -
502/243-4150
Jerry Griffith, Grower –
270-328-8278
Dr. Chad Lee, University of Kentucky
- 859/338-5500
Bill Meacham, Pioneer – 270/836-8500 |
