Sweet corn delay — Farmers expect late crop

Cold weather, lack of rain could push back harvests by at least three weeks

Area residents might find more locally grown sweet corn after Labor Day, instead of this week.

"Expect some of the farm markets and roadside stands to be selling Lancaster County and Cumberland County sweet corn (this week) because of local supply issues," said Thomas G. Ford, Penn State Extension commercial horticulture educator.

The not-always spring-like weather earlier this year delayed the crop, local growers say.

"This may be the worst weather in the spring we have seen in the ag industry," said Sinking Valley grower Gary Long.

"I have never seen a spring like this with nights so cold," said Sam Weyant, owner of Sam Weyant Berry and Vegetable Farms, Claysburg.

Long said his crop is at least 2.5 to 3 weeks behind and doesn't expect it to be ready until early August.

"We were late planting and then with the dry weather, April was cold and damp, the first part of May was cold. In late May, it dried up and nothing would grow. We are now trying to figure out how much damage was done by the drought," Long said. "There will not be a constant supply because of the dry weather. Even though we have had some rain, the early corn is in trouble; the later corn may be better. There will probably be more corn after Labor Day than earlier this year."

Dry weather has hurt the crop at Hanlon Farms, near Ashville.

It is coming up, but the drought did a number on it. "We are expecting a normal crop unless we hit another dry spell. Another issue has been heat, corn likes warm nights, not just warm days. When we have warm nights, you can almost hear it growing," Norma Hanlon said. "We expect ours to be ready in early August."

Weyant said his sweet corn is about a month late.

"I planted mine April 14-15. You know you will have some frost in May and then it was like winter came back. Then the drought came, I spent $11,000 in three weeks pumping water but that didn't help. We didn't have any rain for about three weeks. It has not been a good growing season," Weyant said. Mine is on bare ground, it will be ready by the end of July at the earliest.

When sweet corn is not irrigated in dry weather, it will produce small ears. "The flavor will be just as good, but don't expect large robust ears from unirrigated sweet corn unless we get timely rainfall," Ford said.

Farm labor continues to be a challenge, Ford said.

"If you cannot find labor to harvest the crop when it's ready, you are out of business," Ford said. Sweet corn acreage is declining. "As we lose acreage, we see the demand for sweet corn increase significantly," Ford said.

Other costs like fuel and fertilizer continue to have an impact.

Fuel is a little cheaper than last year, with fertilizer everyone is just getting used to the higher prices. "If you want to farm you have to bite the bullet. If you cut back on fertilizer you are cutting your throat," Weyant said.

Sweet corn is likely to be more expensive.

"Early sweet corn may exceed $10 to $12 a dozen in some markets due to supply issues. As the season progresses, you will see the price fall to the $6.50 to $8 a dozen range," Ford said. "In August we typically see a glut of sweet corn on the market. This is the time to purchase sweet corn for canning or freezing purposes. Sweet corn prices should dip below the $4 to $5 a dozen range for about two to three weeks. As we approach Labor Day the demand and the supply for sweet corn drops, but often demand still exceeds supply and the price per dozen tends to rise again."

Weyant sells his corn wholesale.

"You know what you want to get but know you won't get it. I should get $6 to $7 a dozen but will probably get about $5 a dozen. It is all about supply and demand. If there is a shortage, prices may go up," Weyant said.

Sweet corn is big business across the United States and in Pennsylvania.

According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, all 50 states produce sweet corn, and in 2022 the total value of the crop was estimated at $809 million, 22% more than the previous year.

As of 2017 (latest statewide figures available), there were 1,672 Pennsylvania farms that grew sweet corn, producing 67.67 million pounds per year with a value estimated at $24.75 million. Pennsylvania ranked 10th in the United States for acres of sweet corn harvested at 11,514 acres.

Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 814-946-7467.