High Water: Not What You Like to See!

Sunday afternoon I drove by the Faribault Woolen Mill Dam to see how high the Cannon River was. This is not what you would like to see, especially in May. Just seeing the Cannon River this high tells you a lot about how much water would be standing in the fields, especially in low areas. Even though the low temperature of the water might give the emerged corn a little more time before it is drowned out, there will be many areas that will be killed. Will those areas be replanted? I would guess it would depend on how big the area is and when it is dry enough to get the corn replanted.

I suspect that if it is a large area, farmers will try and replant with a short season corn hybrid until about June 1. Then maybe replant the drowned-out area to beans in a corn field? I have seen that done, however you have to consider what herbicides were already applied to the corn field. There are some corn pre-emergence herbicides that you can replant to beans and others you cannot. Every year when you plant a crop you anticipate producing your best yield ever. It is discouraging this early in the year to realize that will not likely be possible. That is our world of farming though, you do the best you can given the weather.