Use of high sulfur coal for energy in the United States requires the SO₂ produced during burning be removed via some type of flue gas scrubbing technology to meet the clean air regulations. If a wet limestone scrubber without forced air oxidation is used, flue gas desulfurization (FGD) product created will be mostly CaSO₃. Application of gypsum (CaSO₄^.2H₂O) to agricultural soils has a long history, but CaSO₃ is not as good of an agricultural amendment because of poor handling properties and sometimes inhibiting plant growth, especially in acid soils. For use of FGD-CaSO₃ in agriculture, it is proposed that SO₃^2- has to be oxidized to SO₄^2- in soils before crops are planted. However, there is little information about the oxidation of SO₃^2- under field conditions. An FGD-CaSO₃ was applied at the rates of 0, 1.12 and 3.36 Mg ha^-1 to the surface of an agricultural soil (Wooster silt loam, Oxyaquic Fragiudalf). Oxidation of SO₃^2- was determined by measuring SO₄^2- in the surface soil (0-10 cm) on 0, 1, 2, 3, 7, 14 days after application. Corn was planted on the same days as samples were analyzed for SO₄^2-. Effects of FGD-CaSO₃ on corn emergence and growth were determined. It is safe for plants if FGD-CaSO₃ is applied to field surface two weeks before planting.