In this Corn School, Aidan Filipchuk of PRIDE Seeds explains that tillers can be a sign of ideal growing conditions. A lot of sunlight and an abundance of nutrients is one of three potential causes. Another source of tillers, otherwise known as suckers, is early stress in the corn. Wind, hail, insects, or being run over by the sprayer, can all cause stress to the emerging plants.

As the 2024 Ontario corn crop races to the finish line with help from a late summer stretch of hot weather, growers are now seeing the challenges created by spring planting conditions and pest and disease pressures. In some parts of the province, growers were able to get corn in the ground in late April, but wet conditions pushed a good portion of provincial planting into late May and well into June in some areas. On this episode of the RealAgriculture Corn School, host Bernard Tobin and PRIDE Seeds agronomist Olivia Noorenberghe discuss the 2024 corn crop and how the lengthy planting window, and the widespread variability it’s created, will impact harvest.