It’s end of June gut-check time on the Hoard's Dairyman Farm, and though we've had more rain than needed, it’s nothing compared to many of you who are reading this.
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Corn planted May 8 is looking good as we head down the home stretch of June.
Knee high by the Fourth of July won't be a problem. Most of the corn got planted in the May 7 to 9 range. Emergence was excellent and plants were well established before the heaviest rains hit. I was counting plant densities last week of around 35,000 plants per acre. All of the corn is planted in twin rows on 30-inch centers. Fortunately, it does not appear at this point we’ve had substantial nitrogen loss. That’s certainly not true for other parts of Wisconsin or other areas of the U.S.
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Third cutting regrowth
We’ve been fortunate; both our first and second cuttings of alfalfa were harvested without rain damage or delay because of rain. No forage quality numbers yet, but I anticipate they’ll be pretty good. The third cutting is off to a good start, though I did notice headlands and areas with heavy truck traffic were stunted. This is a problem that is common today but was virtually nonexistent not too many years ago. Generally, the traffic damage is masked by the next harvest, though I'm sure there is a yield depression in those areas. Cost of doing business . . . I guess.
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Third cutting regrowth on headlands. Wheel traffic effects are very evident.