Sweet Corn
Sweet corn is popular with consumers and growers alike. New York typically ranks in the top 5 producing states with nearly 25,000 acres of fresh market and 10,000 acres of processed product grown annually. A range of varieties are available to cover the growing season and needs of each market. Fresh market corn may be planted in March under plastic or later on bare ground. Planting of processing sweet corn in New York begins around May 1st with varieties selected to maintain a steady supply into mid-September.
Cornell Cooperative Extension Educators and Cornell faculty work together annually to conduct research on many aspects of sweet corn production in the state. Below you will find educational information and results of our research trials.
Relevant Events
2026 Cornell Winter Fruit Webinar Series
January 22, 2026 : Blueberry Pruning and Soil Health to Minimize Pests and Maximize Yield
January 29, 2026 : Cost of Production for Fruit Crops
February 12, 2026 : Fire Blight Management Updates
February 19, 2026 : Pink and Petal Fall Insecticides- Can We Strike the Right Balance?
March 12, 2026 : Inoculating Orchards with Mycorrhizal Fungi
March 19, 2026 : St. Peachtrick's Day - Cherry Pruning Strategies and Plum Varieties for the Northeast
2026 Northeast Extension Fruit Consortium Winter Webinar Series
February 4, 2026 : Management of Up and Coming Strawberry Diseases in the Northeastern United States
February 11, 2026 : Kiwiberry Production in the Northeast
February 18, 2026 : Heat Mitigation- Sunburn and Fruit Coloring
February 18, 2026 : The Dating Game- Updates in Lepidopteran Mating Disruption
March 4, 2026 : USEPA Endangered Species Act Strategies and Pesticide Use
March 11, 2026 : Practical Drought Management for Fruit Growers
Tree Fruit Scouting - Online Course
February 25, 2026 : Tree Fruit Scouting - Online Course
Post Emergent Sweet Corn Herbicide Table and Comments
Chuck Bornt, Team Leader, Extension Vegetable Specialist
Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture
Tar Spot in Sweet Corn: Be Alert!!
Ethan Grundberg, Vegetable Specialist
Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture
There is a new disease on the block for sweet corn in New York! Tar spot is a fungal disease found first in Indiana and northern Illinois field corn in 2015. It has since spread throughout the Midwest. The disease was found in western NY corn fields every year for the past 3 years, and in central NY last year. Tar spot has potential to severely reduce yields of susceptible corn varieties, so we are closely monitoring disease spread and impact.
2024 Sweet Corn Post Emergent Herbicides
Chuck Bornt, Team Leader, Extension Vegetable Specialist
Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture
Post Emergent Sweet Corn Herbicides
Chuck Bornt, Team Leader, Extension Vegetable Specialist
Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture
True Armyworms Invading Sweet Corn!
Chuck Bornt, Team Leader, Extension Vegetable Specialist
Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture
For the last couple of years, we have seen True Armyworms showing up in late May early June and causing some significant damage in sweet corn and other crops. In the last two weeks we have caught low levels of adult True Armyworm moths in our sweet corn worm traps and are now starting to see the damage in sweet corn.
Watch Those Temperatures
Chuck Bornt, Team Leader, Extension Vegetable Specialist
Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture
Chuck Bornt Even though we haven't reached super warm temperatures yet, temperatures in high tunnels, crops under rowcovers or especially those under clear plastic hoops (such as sweet corn) can get very hot on these gorgeous bright sunny days!
Dry Fertilizer Unit Calibration
Chuck Bornt, Team Leader, Extension Vegetable Specialist
Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture
The first sweet corn was planted under plastic and some under rowcovers last week which is a sure sign of spring right? If you didn't get it done over the winter, now is the time to finish getting equipment prepared for planting season - especially calibrating your dry fertilizer units. Over time, the augers, fertilizer disk openers and other parts can get worn out, changing the amount of fertilizer actually coming out.
2018 Eastern New York Fruit & Vegetable Conference Vegetable Presentations
Presentations from the 2018 ENYCHP Eastern New York Fruit & Vegetable Conference held February 20th and 21st for the vegetable sections.
2016 ENY Sweet Corn Trap Summary Presentation
Anne Mills, Field Technician
Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture
This presentation shows a summary of 2016 peak flight times for common sweet corn pests that we monitor in eastern New York. Knowing when insects might be a peak flight is crucial to effective scouting and pesticide applications. For more pest monitoring information, please enroll in our program and be sure to read the weekly newsletters sent out during the field season.
Responding to Hailstorms
Crystal Stewart-Courtens, Extension Vegetable Specialist
Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture
While no one wants to think about the possibility of hail hitting their beautiful crops just as they start to respond to the heat and take off, the likelihood that we will see more hail seems pretty high. So let's talk about it.
O-zone Injury on Vegetables
Crystal Stewart-Courtens, Extension Vegetable Specialist
Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture
Hot, humid weather with stagnant air masses may lead to ozone damage on crops. Ozone warnings were recently issued for much of New York. These warnings are intended for people with respiratory problems and let them know they should limit their outdoor activity and try to stay as much as possible in air-conditioned locations. These warning are also a good indicator that ozone damage may occur in plants.
Wild Proso Millet
Julie Kikkert, Team Leader, Extension Vegetable Specialist
Cornell Vegetable Program
Wild proso millet is present in NY and can be a problem weed in sweet corn and other vegetable crops. Learn how to identify this weed on your farm.
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Cherries
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Eggplant
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Leeks
Lettuce / Leafy Greens
Melons
Nectarines
Onions
Parsnips
Peaches
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Peas
Peppers
Plums
Potatoes
Pumpkins / Gourds
Radishes
Raspberries / Blackberries
Rhubarb
Rutabaga
Snap Beans
Squash - Summer
Squash- Winter
Strawberries
Sweet Corn
Sweet Potatoes
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Upcoming Events
I thought I was covered for that! Farm Insurance Webinar Series, Jan-Feb 2026
January 13, 2026 : Session 1: Insurance and Risk Management 101
Insurance and Risk Management 101. This first webinar will cover many of the general provisions found in insurance policies and describe some of the terms to be aware of when you are considering your options. Steve Hadcock, Capital District Hort Team and Greg Murk, FarmNet.
January 20, 2026 : Session 2: Liability Insurance
Coverage for the risk that your business will cause harm to someone. Are you having people on your farm or selling a food product? You might need liability insurance. Robert Hadad, Cornell Vegetable Program, Elizabeth Higgins, Eastern NY Commercial Hort Program.
January 27, 2026 : Session 3:Protecting Yourself from Disasters (Crop Insurance, USDA FSA programs and Flood Insurance)
Are you protected from a weather event on your farm? Learn about your options for Disaster Coverage (crop insurance, FSA programs, flood insurance). Elizabeth Higgins, Eastern NY Commercial Hort Program.
February 3, 2026 : Session 4: Insuring People (health, life and disability insurance)
Options for health insurance, life insurance and disability insurance, and how they can help farmers and their employees. Maire Ullrich, CCE Orange County and Lucas Smith, Cornell Ag Workforce Development
February 10, 2026 : Session 5: Property Insurance
Insuring your infrastructure, equipment, and livestock from loss. Learn about the types of coverage, and the risks they reduce. Colin Hostetter, Tri-County Ag Team, Desiree Keever, CCE Delaware County and Steve Glick, Kevin Daniels Agency.
2026 Greenhouse Growers School
January 21, 2026 : 2026 Greenhouse Growers School
Voorheesville, NY
This event is in-person but the speakers in the morning session will present virtually. The cost to attend this event is $60 per person. $10 discount for members of New York State Flower Industries. A discount of 50% will be given to additional attendees from the same greenhouse/farm. Lunch is included. Pre-registration is required. Walk-ins will NOT be allowed. Please register by January 16, 2026.
2026 Cornell Winter Fruit Webinar Series
January 22, 2026 : Blueberry Pruning and Soil Health to Minimize Pests and Maximize Yield
Week 1: Blueberry Pruning and Soil Health to Minimize Pests and Maximize Yield
January 29, 2026 : Cost of Production for Fruit Crops
Week 2: Cost of Production for Fruit Crops - A new tool for tree fruit, updates on berry production in NY, and strategies for tracking and using expense data
February 12, 2026 : Fire Blight Management Updates
Week 3: Fire Blight Management Updates - Pathogen Biology, Defense Inducers, Biopesticides, and Pruning Therapies
February 19, 2026 : Pink and Petal Fall Insecticides- Can We Strike the Right Balance?
Week 4: Pink and Petal Fall Insecticides - Can We Strike the Right Balance?
March 12, 2026 : Inoculating Orchards with Mycorrhizal Fungi
Week 5: Inoculating Orchards with Mycorrhizal Fungi
March 19, 2026 : St. Peachtrick's Day - Cherry Pruning Strategies and Plum Varieties for the Northeast
Week 6: St. Peachtrick's Day - Cherry Pruning Strategies and Plum Varieties for the Northeast