While early planting does not guarantee top yields, it does increase your chances
by PAT LYNCH
In 2010, Ontario farmers carried out a huge on-farm-trial, planting more than one million acres of corn in April. We have never planted that much corn that early. And Ontario had its highest corn yield ever, averaging 164 bushels an acre. There were many things that helped with that big yield. Early planting was a big factor.
There are risks with early planting. Frost is a concern. But Ontario farmers have lost more yield due to an early September frost than because of a May frost. Corn frozen at the two-to-three leaf stage will grow back.