Here in Pa we have the same thing.. Problem with lighter planting is by the time the army worms get a few,the slugs take there turn, the deer eat a few ,the coon take some of course,Wet or dry weather claim a few it leaves you with what you hoped would be and ideal stand but seldom does. So do you plant 20 or 25 and hope they all make it. Or plant 32 like we do and where they get thinned out you have nice ears,where they don't get thinned this year you have small ears.

   if we only knew one year to the next it would make things simpler.