According to the extension corn specialists, it will soon be time to count the corn plants and estimate the population you have achieved. This is also the time to trouble shoot problems you find when evaluating your stand.

Corn should begin emerging after about 100 to 125 Growing Degree Days (GDD) have accumulated. Here is a list of a few common things to look for if you encounter an emergence problem in corn this spring.

First, check for missing seeds. This may be due to a planter malfunction or bird or rodent damage. The latter often will leave some evidence such as digging or plant parts on the ground.

You may find the shoot unfurled underground. This could be due to premature exposure to light in cloddy soil, planting too deep, compaction or soil crusting, extended exposure to acetanilide herbicides under cool and wet conditions, or may be due exclusively to extended exposure to cool and wet conditions.

Another problem that can contribute to poor stands is seed with a poorly developed root or shoot. The shoot tip may be brown or yellow. This could be caused by seed rots or seed with low vigor.

The next problem to look for is seed that is swelled but not sprouted. This is often caused by poor seed-to-soil contact or shallow planting - the seed swelled and then dried out. Check the seed furrow closure. This could be caused by seed that is not viable.

You may find skips associated with discolored and malformed seedlings. This may be herbicide damage. Note depth of planting and herbicides applied compared to injury symptoms such as twisted roots, club roots, or purple plants.

Look for seeds that are hollowed out. This is likely to be caused by corn maggot or wireworm. In this case, look for evidence of the pest to confirm.

Note any patterns associated with a particular row, spray width, hybrid, field or residue that may provide some additional clues to the cause. Often two or more stress factors interact to reduce emergence where the crop would have otherwise emerged well.

Producers, are you planning to participate in the 2004 Direct and Counter-cyclical Program? If so, you must remember to visit the county office to designate shares and sign your 2004 DCP contract before June 1. You can sign your contract after June 1 and before Sept. 30, but you will be assessed a late-signing fee of $100.When you sign the contract, you are agreeing to:Comply with highly erodible land conservation and wetland conservation provisions on all your land.Devote acreage equal to the base acreage to an agricultural or conserving use.Effectively control noxious weeds and otherwise maintain base acres according to sound agricultural practices.Not plant perennial fruits and vegetables or harvest annual FAVs (other than lentils, mung beans and dry peas) or wild rice on base acres. Exceptions: Double-cropping covered commodities, peanuts with wild rice, fruits or vegetables shall be permitted in any region in which there is a history of this type of double cropping.File acreage report with respect to all cropland on the farm.Notify the county office staff when there is a transfer of or change of interest of a producer.The DCP contracts are not like the old seven year Production Flexibility Contracts. You must designate shares and sign a new DCP contract each year.

Loan Deficiency Payments (LDPs) are available to eligible producers of wool and non-graded wool in the form of unshorn pelts for the 2004 crop year.An unshorn pelt is the removed skin and attached wool from a slaughtered lamb that has never been shorn. Producers must submit an application prior to loss of beneficial interest in the wool or the unshorn pelt.To be eligible for LDPs, producers must comply with Highly Erodible Land Conservation and Wetland Conservation provisions. They also must have beneficial interest in the commodity, own the unshorn lamb for at least 30 days before the date of the slaughter, and sell the unshorn lamb for slaughter, or slaughter the unshorn lamb for personal use. In addition, the unshorn pelt must be produced from a live unshorn lamb of domestic origin in the United States at the time beneficial interest is lost.LDPs for unshorn pelts will be based on a standard weight of 6.865 pounds per pelt. The non-graded (greasy) wool regional posted prices used to calculate the Commodity Credit Corporation-determined value will be announced each Tuesday at 3 p.m. until further notice. The posted prices will become effective on Wednesdays at 12:01 a.m. For more information, contact the FSA office.Luke Fritz is executive director of the Butler County Farm Service Agency.