Last spring was warm and dry which gave us a early corn planting season. This year has been cold, possibly a bit wet, and may have farmers chomping at the bit to get planting.
Shallow planting can lead to herbicide injury problems with several corn herbicides.
The Axiom label also recommends a minimum planting depth of 1 to 1.5 inches. This planting depth places the corn seed below the zone with the highest herbicide concentration. As the seed germinates, it will absorb less herbicide and thus have less herbicide that it needs to metabolize to avoid injury. Therefore, the deeper planting depth increases the margin of crop safety. Cold soils will slow the rate that corn seedlings can metabolize herbicides and can increase the risk of injury.