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What should be the soil temperature at planting time?

PlanterIdeally, the seedbed should be at least 68º F at the two inch depth, with dry weather and at least 50 DD-60s expected in the next 5 days.

Planting into cold soils increases the likelihood of chilling injury to seedlings, weak and variable stands and replanting. Replanting is expensive, can complicate herbicide and insecticide programs and delay maturity.

Generally this will be the last week of April or the first week of May. Some years differ and common sense must apply.

Thirty Year Average DD60
Accumulation By Week
WEEK DD60s
April 9-15 28.7
April 16-22 45.6
April 23-29 48.4
April 30-May 6 53.8
May 7-13 71.0
May 13-20 85.2

 

News

Water stands alongside a soybean field.
Filed Under: Crops, Corn, Cotton, Rice, Soybeans, Sweet Potatoes June 27, 2025

Rainfall at well above normal accumulations is impacting the state’s row crops, mostly in a negative way.

Mike Brown, state climatologist with the Mississippi State University Department of Geosciences, said many areas of the state have had one and a half times the typical amount of rain for this time of year.

Part of a row of cotton plants in their infancy emerging from soil.
Filed Under: Agriculture, Corn, Cotton, Rice, Soybeans June 6, 2025

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Expect to see significantly less cotton than usual blooming in Mississippi later this year.

Filed Under: Agriculture, Corn, Cotton, Peanuts, Soybeans, Wheat April 15, 2025

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Row crop producers who reported financial loss in 2024 may be eligible for economic assistance through a U.S. Department of Agriculture resource.

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Portrait of Dr. Brian K. Pieralisi
Assistant Professor