Reports are for crop conditions up to April 1, 2020
Western Maryland
Weather has been cool and wet. Corn planting has begun. Cereal grain harvest for silage is nearly complete. First cutting alfalfa is started even though drying days are hard to come by.—Jeff Semler, Washington Co.
Central Maryland
Some sweet corn has been planted. We did have some good weather for chopping small grain silage last week, but now we’re getting some rain and colder temperatures, so that will push back planting for a few days. –Kelly Nichols, Frederick Co.
Northern Maryland
Cold and rainy has been the theme for April. Very few days have been fit for field work, and corn planting is roughly 2 weeks behind schedule. Soil temperatures have dipped below 50 degrees last week and I’d estimate that less than 10% of the corn crop is planted. Small grains are progressing with barley heading out. Cool temperatures have made for some yellow and sluggish looking small grains. With some heat, hopefully things will move along. Some small grains have been chopped for feed. Warmer temperatures in May would be welcomed and much-needed.—Andy Kness, Harford Co.
Upper & Mid Shore
There have been a few acres of both corn and beans planted, but most seed is still in the bag. It has been taking 2-3 weeks for them to emerge in the cool soils. There doesn’t seem to be any difference between emergence time in tilled fields vs. no-tilled fields. Maybe the dead cover crop is acting like a blanket and keeping the heat in? The largest corn I have seen is 6” with the 5th leaf emerging. Unfortunately, within the same field and even the same row, there are wet colder soils with corn still emerging. Hopefully, by the time you are reading this after Mother’s Day weekend, we didn’t just have a frost or snow! Small grain looks good and progressing slowly. Most years, yields are higher with a slow grain fill period. As wheat is pollinating, hopefully there is/was no frost on Mother’s Day weekend. Hay crops look good and are ready to be cut, weather permitting.—Jim Lewis, Caroline Co.
Lower Shore
Winter wheat is flowering. As recommended, due to the rainy last few weeks and continued rain, growers are spraying fungicides on wheat. Fields are being prepared for corn and soybean planting. Some corn has been planted and emerged, but the majority of fields remain to be planted. Between rains, growers are terminating winter cover crops, applying manure, and tilling. I have seen some impressive cover crop stands where they have not been terminated. This should help with early season weed control. –Sarah Hirsh, Somerset Co.
Southern Maryland
Conditions have been cool and wet the last three weeks with soil temps below normal. Corn planting progress has been slow this year with wet soil conditions. We are around 30-40% of acreage planted. Earlier planted corn is emerging without much problem. Plants remain yellow and are in need of some sunshine. We have not heard of any reports of slug damage, but farmers are keeping a careful eye out given the conditions, especially in no-till fields with heavy crop residue. Wheat is just past flowering stage. It has been a difficult season to predict flowering. We were ahead of schedule two weeks ago with wheat just starting to flower and then it slowed way down with the colder weather. It has been tough to get a head scab fungicide applications on between rains with saturated fields. Wheat and barley look good overall. Tobacco planting has started. Forage crops look great this spring. Unfortunately, it looks better standing than cut and rained on, with little chance to get dry hay made. Haylage equipment continues to pay for itself in springs like this. –Ben Beale, St. Mary’s Co.
