The end of June has proven to be a trying time in Pitt County with no noteworthy rainfall. What steps should we take moving forward?

The corn crop is most vulnerable to a lack of precipitation during the silking stage, which is where much of our corn in Pitt County finds itself at the end of June. We are acutely aware of the recent weeks' dry spell, especially critical at this stage. Now is the time to decide on our next course of action. According to Dr. Ron Heinger, if the ear leaf is completely brown, the crop is a total loss. If the ear leaf remains green, attention should focus on whether the kernels have been or will be pollinated.

To assess pollination, observe if silks emerge simultaneously with the tassel. Asynchronous emergence suggests incomplete pollination. Concurrent emergence requires attention to silk color: brown or black indicates successful pollination, green or white signals it hasn't occurred yet, and purple denotes failed pollination. To confirm kernel pollination, shuck the ear and shake it; if the silks fall off, those kernels are pollinated.

It's important to note that plant height does not determine yield.

If your crop is confirmed as a total loss, should you consider replanting? Replanting options in Pitt County include soybeans, corn, and sorghum. Soybeans pose the lowest replanting risk. However, if atrazine has been used, poor emergence might occur. If herbicide inhibits soybean replanting, sorghum and corn are viable alternatives, though both are riskier due to their dependence on late July and early August rainfall. For sorghum or corn, a cautious approach would involve minimal investment until rainfall predictions are more reliable.