C.O.R.N. Newsletter: 2025-17
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Battle for the Belt: Season 3, Episode 11: June Weather Update
Season 3, Episode 11 of Battle for the Belt is now available
In Episode 11 of Battle for the Belt, we get a June weather update from Dr. Aaron Wilson, OSU Extension Ag Weather & Climate Field Specialist and State Climatologist of Ohio. Â
Ohio has experienced highly variable weather leading into June. Southern and southeastern regions of the state have seen well over three inches in some areas over the past month. Areas of northwest Ohio have remained much drier. Cooler-than-average temperatures have been prevalent (1-3°F below normal). These cooler temperatures have slowed crop development and have even put growing degree days (GDDs) 30-90 units behind schedule. Frequent rain days have further delayed spring fieldwork (up to 21 in May), especially in areas of the state with saturated soils.
Looking ahead, there is expected to be a brief stretch of drier weather midweek, paired with mild temperatures. Rain will reappear in the forecast on Friday through the weekend. The 8–14-day outlook calls for continued near-average temperatures and wetter-than-average conditions. The summer overall is expected to be slightly warmer, mainly when considering overnight low temperatures. Normal precipitation is expected, ultimately reducing drought risks in the short term. However, there will likely be some dry spells allowing farmers to wrap up planting activities.
What’s happening in the field?Â
Last week, Wooster successfully planted an additional planting date thanks to favorable soil conditions. Planting date four is now complete at both the Northwest and Wooster locations (Table 1). Western is expected to plant the fourth planting date this week, weather permitting.
Table 1. Soil and air temperature for the fourth day of planting at the Northwest Agricultural Research Station in Wood County and the Wooster Campus in Wayne County, as well as the third day of planting at the Western Agricultural Research Station in Clark County. The soil and air temperature data were retrieved from https://weather.cfaes.osu.edu/; reported as average temperatures. LocationÂ
Soil TempÂ
Air TempÂ
DateÂ
Northwest Agricultural Research Station, Wood CountyÂ
61°FÂ
61°FÂ
5/29Â
Western Agricultural Research Station, Clark CountyÂ
62°FÂ
58°FÂ
5/27Â
Wooster Campus, Wayne County
61°FÂ
57°FÂ
6/2
At the Northwest location, soybeans from planting dates one and two have reached the V2 growth stage, while those from planting date three are at VC. At VC, the unifoliate leaves have fully emerged at the second node of the plant and begin to create energy through photosynthesis. Corn from planting dates one and two are at the V5 stage, and planting date three is at V2. At V2, leaf initiation continues to occur, while nodal root formation is initiated. The growing point of the plant will remain below the soil surface until after the V5 stage, as this protects the plant in its early developmental stages. Â
An issue observed at the Northwest site is soybean cotyledon loss due to soil crusting. Soil crusting if the formation of a shallow hard layer on the soil surface, formed from rapid drying. As soybeans attempt to emerge from the soil in these conditions, the hypocotyl may break when trying to push through the crust (Figure 1). If this occurs, the cotyledons will no longer be able to reach the soil surface, and the plant will die.
Western and Wooster crops are progressing similarly to Northwest with growth stages being noted in Table 2. As of this time, planting date four at Northwest and Wooster, and planting date three at Western have not yet emerged.
Table 2. Precipitation, soil temperature, average air temperature, and cumulative GDDs at the Western Agricultural Research Station, the Northwest Agricultural Research Station, and Wooster Campus. Weather data retrieved from: https://weather.cfaes.osu.edu/. Location
Precipitation
(Inches)
(June 2 - June 8)Â
2-inch soil Temperature
(June 2 - June 8)ÂAir Temperature
(June 2 - June 8)Â
Planting dates
GDDs
(Cumulative)
Corn
GrowthÂ
StageSoybean Growth
StageWestern,
Clark County
2.85
Min: 64°F
Max: 77°F
Mean: 72°F
Min: 65°F
Max: 74°F
Mean: 70°F
April 18
May 12
642
383
V5
V3
V3
VC
Wooster,
Wayne County
1.27
Min: 57°F
Max: 74°F
Mean: 67°F
Min: 61°F
Max: 70°F
Mean: 67°F
March 27
April 18
May 12
546
486
291
V5
V5
V2
V2
V2
VC
Northwest,
Wood CountyÂ
1.21
Â
Min: 64°F
Max: 79°F
Mean: 69°F
Min: 61°F
Max: 69°F
Mean: 65°F
March 27
Apr. 16/17
May 12
617
569
350
V5
V5
V2
V2
V2
VC
 As a recap, this research project includes five planting date windows, 1) Ultra early = late March to early April; 2) Early = mid to late April; 3) Normal = early to mid-May; 4) Late = late May-first week of June; and 5) Very late = mid to late June.Â
Keep following the ‘Battle for the Belt’ this growing season to learn more and get further updates! You can find the full video playlist of Battle for the Belt on the Ohio State Agronomy YouTube channel.Â
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Lep Monitoring Network Update #7 – Corn earworm and Western Bean Cutworm
It is our 7th week of monitoring moth pests in Ohio, and this week we will no longer be reporting on BCW and AMW because we are switching gears to start monitoring for the corn earworm (CEW) and Western bean cutworm (WBC). To monitor these pests, we will be using green bucket traps (similar to the traps we used for BCW and AMW). These pests are monitored starting the week of June 1st and will continue through the week of August 4th for WBC and August 18th for CEW. For our first report, we saw low numbers of CEW and no WBC. Read below for more specific county information.Â
Corn EarwormÂ
The corn earworm (CEW) is a crop pest native to Ohio whose larvae feed on corn. This not only directly damages the kernels; it also can cause pollination problems from silk damage, increase the risk of mold, and open the ear to other infestations. The adults are yellowish brown and have a wingspan of 32-45mm. Monitoring for larvae is difficult, so we will be monitoring for adults using bucket traps. Each trap has a lure that mimics the pheromones from the female moths. Traps will be checked weekly, and the numbers will be reported for each participating county.
This week, we monitored corn earworm in 13 counties, with a total of 27 traps. CEW is starting to emerge across Ohio, but is present in only small numbers. There seems to be more moths in the western half of the state at the moment, but with a state average of only 0.7 moths, it is hard to draw any meaningful conclusions. No counties have enough moths to cause any concern.
More information on CEW can be found here https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2019-27/corn-earworm-field-corn-watch-molds
Corn Earworm Moth Map
Week 1
June 2nd to June 8th, 2025Â
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Statewide Slug Monitoring Project – Update # 4
Our fourth slug report covers monitoring from June 2nd to June 8th. During this time, we had 18 counties monitoring a total of 143 shingle traps. Because of the rain and cold temperatures, many fields have not been planted, and our slug numbers are low compared to last year. Our highest slug average over the past week was 5.8, which was an outlier from the statewide average of 0.8 slugs per trap. We will continue to update slug numbers as the season continues, so stay tuned for slug updates over the next few weeks! Slug shingle monitoring in Ohio is funded by the United Soybean Board.
Slugs in Ohio
Week 4
June 2nd – June 8th, 2025
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June Considerations When Using the Prevented Planting Option
Note: This is a revised, re-post of an article originally written for www.ohioagmanager.osu.edu on May 29, 2025.
According to the June 9th Crop Progress Report by the USDA National Ag Statistics Service, Ohio had 89% of corn planted, somewhat behind the 5-year average of 94% planted. In 2024, 94% was planted by this report date. While much of Ohio had a productive planting week, several areas of the state- Southwest and Northeast- remain behind in their planting progress due to wet weather.
The lag in corn planting progress this year has prompted increasing interest in evaluating the Prevented Planting option available through multi-peril crop insurance. The purpose of this article is to walk through the options, mechanics, and economics of electing prevented planting for your corn crop utilizing 2025 values.
We are not crop insurance agents, so our most important message is that for those thinking about prevented planting, talk sooner rather than later with your insurance agent.
In Ohio, June 5 is the date at which prevented planting becomes an electable option. For soybeans, the date is June 20.
As of June 5, a farmer who has individual farm yield (YP) and revenue (RP and RP-HPE) insurance for corn has 3 basic options:
Option 1: Plant corn. Until June 5, you are eligible for your full guarantee at the coverage level you elected. Using the 20-year USDA-NASS Trendline Ohio corn yield of 190 bu/acre as the Actual Production History (APH) insurance yield and the $4.70/bu 2025 projected insurance price for corn, the full guarantee at 80% coverage is $714/acre (190 x $4.70 x 80%). If you elect to plant corn after June 5, your guarantee declines 1% per day through June 25. For example, if you plant corn on June 8, the guarantee formula (190 APH, 80% coverage) would be: 80% x 190 bu/ac x $4.70 x 97% = $693/acre. If you plant after June 25, you can choose not to insure your corn crop, or you can insure at the policy’s prevented planting revenue level. Planting dates need to be recorded, as rules apply on a field-by-field and acre-by-acre basis.
Option 2: Switch from corn to another crop, most likely soybeans. You are charged the soybean insurance premium, not the corn premium. A key agronomy question: Did you apply a chemistry that prevents you from planting soybeans? June weather (local and regional), supply/demand economics, geo-political issues, trade policy, and input options increase the complexity of this decision.
Option 3: File for prevented planting, assuming corn is not planted by June 5. The mechanics of prevented planting are important. To qualify for prevented planting, a crop must have been planted, harvested, and insured on the acres in question in one of the last four years. Prevented planting acres must total at least 20 acres or 20% of the insured land unit (lesser of the two). Consult your crop insurance agent to determine your total eligible acres, as this is a key question. Also, prevented planting claims can be denied if prevented planting is not common in your area.
A corn policy has a standard 55% prevented planting guarantee (buy-up available to 60%). To be very clear, the Harvest Price Option does not apply. Prevented planting indemnity payments are not re-adjusted to a higher harvest price. Prevented planting does not affect your yield history as long as you do not plant a second crop.
To continue our example from above, the indemnity payment for prevented planting corn would be: 190 bu/ac x $4.70 x 80% coverage x 55% prevented planting rate = $393/acre. Please remember that this calculation can vary widely based on coverage level elected (50-85%), prevented planting buy up (55% to 60%), and the insured APH yield for the claimed acres. In our example, this $393/acre would also be the amount at which you could choose to insure a corn crop planted after June 25 (versus no insurance at all).
In comparing and evaluating the three options, questions to ask include:
- What inputs (fertilizer, chemicals, etc.) have already been applied?
- Will you need to pay ‘restocking fees’ for returned seed or other inputs?
- Does my applied chemistry limit my options?
- What are the year-long weed control costs?
- If utilizing cover crops, what will their cost be?
- Is the land owned, or cash or share rented?
- Will the prevented planting indemnity cover costs already incurred and the fixed costs of Land, Labor, and Management?
- What do I save on machinery wear and tear by not planting and harvesting?
- What are the potential additional drying costs due to late harvesting?
- What is my expected price at harvest?
- Are there missed opportunity costs (marketing) because of taking prevented planting?
- What effect does your crop insurance unit structure have on your decision?
- What are livestock feed needs?
- Are there costs associated with not fulfilling forward-contracted corn?
- Do I want to tile the field?
This article does not address these questions, but you should as a part of this decision.
Prevented planting insurance payments can qualify for a 1-year deferral for inclusion in income tax. If this is a consideration for you, please talk to your insurance agent, as specific conditions must be met Â
A summary comparison is the net return to the prevented planting option vs. the net return to planting a crop. This comparison involves a number of assumptions about price, yield, and cost. This is decision-making under uncertainty. Your assumptions may or may not turn out to be accurate. Prevented planting may or may not be the best choice for your farm at this moment.
Reporting prevented planting acres, should you elect that option, is quite simple. To report prevented planting acres, you first need to turn in a notice (starting June 6) to your insurance agent. Then report prevented planting to the USDA Farm Service Agency to get it on your acreage report. Then, work with your adjuster to finalize the claim, which will generally be paid within 30 days. NOTE: The total acres of prevented planting corn that you can file in 2025 cannot exceed the greatest number of acres of corn you reported in any of the previous four years (2021-2024).
Every farmer’s situation has unique considerations. We encourage you to run the numbers for yourself and make an informed farm management decision with the tools you have available and in consultation with your crop insurance agent.
References:
Richer. E., Bruynis, C. (2019). Prevent plant…What’s That Again? OSU’s Ohio Ag Manager Blog. https://u.osu.edu/ohioagmanager/2019/05/23/prevent-plantwhats-that-again/
Richer. E., Bruynis, C. (2022). Evaluating the Prevent Plant Option. OSU’s Ohio Ag Manager Blog. https://u.osu.edu/ohioagmanager/2022/06/09/evaluating-the-prevent-plant-option/
USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (2025). Crop Progress-May 27, 2025.https://downloads.usda.library.cornell.edu/usda-esmis/files/8336h188j/8049j4596/gx41pg805/prog2125.pdfÂ
USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (2019). Crop Progress-May 28, 2019. https://downloads.usda.library.cornell.edu/usda-esmis/files/8336h188j/4b29bg92m/8910k3910/prog2219.pdf
USDA Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (2024). Prevented Planting Standards Handbook. November 11, 2024. https://www.rma.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2024-11/2025-25370-Prevented-Planting-Standards-Handbook.pdf
Crop Observation and Recommendation Network
C.O.R.N. Newsletter is a summary of crop observations, related information, and appropriate recommendations for Ohio crop producers and industry. C.O.R.N. Newsletter is produced by the Ohio State University Extension Agronomy Team, state specialists at The Ohio State University and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC). C.O.R.N. Newsletter questions are directed to Extension and OARDC state specialists and associates at Ohio State.
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Disclaimer
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