It’s important to prioritize acres, using emergence to make decisions about incorporating inputs beyond your baseline plan, says AgriGold Agronomist Brett Leahr.
WESTFIELD, Ind. (May 6, 2025) — In a perfect world, all your corn would emerge within a narrow (ideally 12-hour) window. But the reality of every field emerging evenly, let alone every acre is slim to none. Farmers can, however, track emergence and use that information to guide their decisions later in the growing season.
“In a year where margins are tighter, farmers can be more strategic with management decisions based on field history and what emergence signals about their yield potential,” AgriGold Agronomist Brett Leahr says.
Scout corn around 100 to 120 GDUs
Corn typically emerges around 100 to 120 growing degree units (GDUs). Leahr encourages farmers to routinely scout those acres as that time nears, using the cadence of when fields were planted. He advises recording the dates and timing of emergence for each field, using a data management system or by hand.
“Note how long corn sat in the ground and how evenly it emerged,” Leahr advises. “Whether corn sits in the ground for seven days or 17 days will impact replant decisions and how we manage that field going forward, especially if the wet weather persists.”
How a crop emerges tells so much of the story of the season, Leahr continues. In fact, emergence is a major consideration for what corn hybrids make it into AgriGold’s lineup.
Stick to the plan, even when emergence is poor
“There’s always an instance where you reflect on the weather and recognize that wasn’t the best time to plant,” Leahr says. “But if you’re monitoring emergence, at least you have that foundational knowledge so you can prioritize acres. That’s especially important when margins are tight.”
While acres that emerged poorly may not get “extras,” Leahr encourages farmers to stick with their baseline management plan, even if they have uneven emergence. “That’s the plan you drew up that you’ll be most profitable by,” he says. “We don’t want to alter that and skimp on something, which could cause the crop to go the opposite direction.”
Much like a person with a rundown immune system, Leahr says a crop that emerges poorly will likely have weaker defenses, leaving it more vulnerable to an infection. “But if you stick with your initial plans to spray a fungicide, it could help that corn battle disease or other threats later in the season.”
Consider additions when emergence impresses
If a farmer has uniform emergence and the weather is favorable, it may be worth adding inputs beyond what’s in the baseline plan to push yields and profits — even on some of those tougher acres.
For example, a farmer might consider adding a fungicide application. “Disease isn’t going away,” Leahr says, noting tar spot remains an ever-present threat.
Beyond protecting against disease, fungicides can help bolster the health of the corn plant, enabling it to pack on mass by flexing kernel depth late in the season. “Fungicides can help crops thrive all the way to the finish line,” Leahr explains.
Another option for supporting a crop that emerged evenly is more nitrogen later in the growing season, according to Leahr. Other potential yield boosters could include a foliar application of potassium acetate or the addition of micronutrients like molybdenum or boron.
Grappling with “OK” emergence?
The toughest management decisions occur when emergence is OK — not great, not bad, but somewhere in between. Leahr often receives calls from farmers asking for recommendations on those acres. His advice?
“Stick with your original game plan but get another set of eyes on the crop before making any other decisions on those acres.” A second opinion from an outside source, like your agronomist, can help a farmer level set and provides a sounding board.
“There’s a lot of emotion this time of year, especially when it comes to emergence,” Leahr says. “It’s important that farmers be intentional with their game plans and subsequent management decisions. Another opinion can bring clarity.”
If you’re in need of a second set of eyes or support on how to use emergence to be strategic with inputs, reach out to your local AgriGold agronomist.
