Central and eastern Nebraska has experienced one of its tougher weather conditions so far this winter season 2009-2010.

December had record snow fall of 26-27 inches locally in south-central Nebraska. December was the 5th coldest on record. January hasn’t started off any better, but the near term forecast is back to normal high temperatures into the low 30’s and we may get some melting.

Rural roads will be a real challenge for grain hauling from farm storage to the local elevators as the snow melts and roads thaw. Hopefully some can be hauled prior to the normal spring thaw.

Those that aggressively took soil grid and zone samples prior to the heavy snows are in good shape with fertilizer applications and now being ready for spring planting. The dry spread blends were ahead of the snow and blowing for the most part and should be OK with thawing conditions that will come this spring.

Under the deep snow, especially in the non shredded and non disked corn stalks, the ground has minimal frost, even though we have experienced subzero conditions periodically the past 6 weeks.

Most corn and soybean seed purchases for 2010 took place prior to Jan 1. Chemical recommendations and purchases are occurring now.

Continued emphasis is being placed on early burndown and residual herbicides for the glyphosate resistant corn and soybeans. Glyphosate weed tolerance, if not outright resistance populations, are being seen on weeds should as marestail/horseweed, waterhemp, lambsquarter, and kochia.

Enough soybeans and corn have been harvested now to allow many soil samples to be taken and tested this fall. Early indications show that phosphate levels in Nebraska are lower than one year ago. Comparing a little over 11,000 soil samples since Oct. 1 to Nov. 10 in both 2008 and 2009, test results show about a 6-point drop, or a 17 percent reduction in phosphate soil test levels on the Mehlich III method. Results were comparing the averages of all grid, zone, and other conventional soil tests.

Very good yields in both soybeans and corn have been removed in much of the non-storm damaged areas so far in 2009. The cooler summer and record cold October decreased the normal level of soil mineralization this year.

Very high phosphate fertilizer prices 12 months ago caused many growers to reduce or withhold phosphate applications to the 2009 crop. As a result, the soil test levels are coming back lower on the average. The fertilizer prices are much more attractive this year and more in line with the future pricing for commodity crops. I would anticipate much more dry fertilizer to be recommended and applied this year for the 2010 crop.

Residual nitrates are also reportedly lower than normal. Once again the high yielding crops and low amount of soil mineralization is resulting in lower levels in the soil tests so far. Lower yielding hail damaged areas may see higher residual nitrates in the soil. Remember, fertilizing without an accurate soil test and interpretations based on previously calibrated studies, is like adding oil to an engine without checking the level on the dip stick. You may know it needs oil, but don’t guess on the amount to add without checking.

The sun finally came out for a few days to allow growers to start harvesting corn again in south-central Nebraska. It is slow harvesting with the higher moisture corn and wet fields following significant rainfall Oct 20-23 and light showers 4-5 days ago. Western Nebraska had the misfortune of experiencing a second major snowfall event of the fall.

Many fields that were not storm damaged earlier in the year are experiencing the highest corn yields probably ever produced, now to be able to get the crop in the bin and dried. The overcast days and now being late in the fall, the sun doesn't stay out long enough to achieve much field drying anymore.

Soil compaction from large loaded grain carts and combines are practically unavoidable this fall.

There are some reports of ear and kernel mold on non-irrigated corn that stressed and died early and on corn that didn't reach full maturity before frost.

Soybean harvest is about done, but unharvested fields have the soybeans now with higher moisture content above 13% and safe storage. Wet conditions caused the dry seed to absorb moisture and now the weather conditions won't allow adequate air drying. Some pods are beginning to open up to shatter seed on the ground. I haven't heard of any mold or bad seed condition at this time on the soybeans.

In south-central Nebraska, corn harvest is delayed from high kernel moisture. 2-6 inches of snow on Oct 10 will further delay harvest. Many growers have just begun to start on corn harvest. Yields are very good with early reports of well over 200 bu/ac. Now we need to be able to get several weeks of sunny warmer temperatures to get the crop in the bin.

It is evident that most of the foliar fungicides, applied soon after corn tasseling, will be paying for themselves. The stay green seems to be better on the treated fields with less top and stalk breakage. Strong sustained winds of 20-30 mph the past several weeks have caused stalk lodging on the weaker corn plants.

Certain hybrids and fields or areas of fields that were moisture stressed near the end of physiological maturity are showing the most lodging.

Soybean harvest is done on many farms. Total farm yields of 70-73 bu/ac are reported, including the non-irrigated corners of pivot fields. Non-irrigated yields of 50-60 bu/ac are were common.

Corn harvest will be a long drawn out event this year. Much time and expense will be incurred with drying the crop this year, unless some above normal temperatures occur soon. Weather forecasts are not encouraging.

Much needed rainfall occurred in the past 7 days in central and south-central Nebraska.  However, severe hail occurred along with the rain across some of the area.

With the continued cool, damp, cloudy conditions, the crops have slowed in development.  Any replant decisions have been delayed due to wet conditions.  Hail damage always looks worse the first few days following the storm.  There is a reason hail adjusters wait over a week in most cases to evaluate damage.  Crops at this young stage of development have an amazing ability to recover.

Corn has maintained its good color for the most part during these recent cloudy, cool days.  But this isn’t good for top yields to have the crops go through this early stress period.  Growing degree day losses now are hard to make up later. 

Post emerge treatments on corn need to be finishing up.  Much of the crop will be approaching the critical V8 stage of development.  V8 is identified when the eighth leaf collar is visible.  Remember the lower 2-3 leaves are in the process of dropping off now, but need to be counted to get an accurate staging.

Pesticides with certain oils and surfactants applied at V8 to V10 up to tassel may cause some ear deformities such as arrested ear development syndrome.  Drop nozzles are needed as the crop gets taller to avoid the treatments getting into the whorls and causing potential crop damage.

Waterhemp, lambsquarter, horseweeds and other hard to control weeds in soybeans are becoming evident in the soybean fields.  Some of these plants got by burndown treatments, missed with the first glyphosate only treatments, or maybe no treatments have been applied yet. 

It is important to follow the label guidelines for weed heights and label use rates of glyphosate.  In some cases other mode of action herbicides are needed to enhance control.  It is becoming more difficult for just glyphosate to provide adequate weed control.

Corn and soybean progress is about one leaf and one trifoliate ahead, respectively, of last year in south-central Nebraska.  Earlier planted corn is V6 and soybeans 2 trifoliates expanded.

Dry weather, in cases extremely dry conditions, has kept the crop green and excellent color compared to the past several wet springs when the crop got off to a poor start.  Irrigation pivots have had to run in some cases to help root development on corn due to the dry conditions.

Corn roots have suffered some “burn” injury if the rows were planted too close to anhydrous ammonia application sites.  These were more prevalent on disked fields that were spring anhydroused and some strip till fields where the full amount of anhydrous was placed below the seed this spring.

Post emerge herbicide applications have been going out on corn.  Without adequate rainfall and/or irrigation applications, more weed escapes than normal are apparent where pre-emerge herbicides were used.   Glyphosate resistant corn has aided the rescue of those fields.

Where inadequate burndown of winter annual and early spring weeds occurred, those weedy spots are very dry and the corn and soybeans are stressing heavily in those areas.

Root development on corn needs to continue to be monitored.  If the top 4-6 inches becomes too dry, nodal roots will not develop properly.  Digging up the small plants and examining the roots are important to monitor root development. 

Cotton seed is dropping from the cottonwood trees; therefore, the corn rootworm hatch is beginning.  Corn roots need to be checked regularly on the continuous corn fields.  If significant feeding occurs, proper soil moisture needs to be maintained to stimulate nodal root regeneration.  Rescue attempts by insecticides can be used in certain cases.

Drier weather in the south central parts of Nebraska has allowed rapid spring field work to progress.

Much anhydrous ammonia has been applied in the past 10-14 days.  Continuous corn fields that have no ridge with heavy residue on the ground are still plenty wet, especially where strip-till anhydrous applications are being made.

Small winter annual weeds are numerous in many fields.  However their development has been slow because of the cool, dry weather.  A period of warmer temperatures with some moisture will allow rapid greenup in the next 7-10 days.

Cool night time temperatures have delayed herbicide applications on the winter annual weeds, especially if glyphosate is being used in the mixtures.  Decisions will have to be made in the next 7-14 days whether to go ahead and treat early preplant or wait and apply treatments soon after planting.

Forecasts are for storm systems to be moving into the area over the next 7 days.  

Winter annual weeds can dry out soils on ridges and no till fields if not controlled, especially if dry conditions persist.  Even with wet conditions, the weedy areas will reduce crop yields from early season competition.  

Cutworm activity is increased in the weedy areas from the green material attracting the dingy cutworm moths in the fall to lay eggs and in the spring the weeds attract black cutworm moths.

Don’t ignore winter weed control to optimize summer crop production.

I have had the privilege to attend several large meeting venues in the past 30 days.  One was the NAICC annual meeting in Memphis, TN, and another was a major agribusiness sponsored meeting with most expenses paid.  Both had excellent agendas with good speakers and relevant topics.

Crop consultants and advisors like to attend meetings where accommodations and expenses are “paid for.”  Ultimately our grower clients end up paying the bills of both types of meetings, either through the expenses for the products purchased from various companies or from the fees we bill to them for our crop consulting advice.

In the current environment of the public being very sensitive to who is paying the bills for trips (such as bankers that are being “bailed” out by government funds, ultimately our tax dollars), we need to be aware that as independent consultants we are being securitized closely by our clients.

I do not condemn attending the company sponsored meetings.  I participate in them regularly and usually receive much good information about sponsoring company products.  Meeting other consultants, university, and agribusiness personnel is very valuable.

But if these are the only training sessions that are being attended, one needs to justify to our clients that our advice is not “tainted,” and we continue to give unbiased information that they value from our independence.

Fertilizer Issues - Feb 4, 2009

Now that some fertilizer prices have decreased in the past month, especially dry phosphate formulations, growers are starting to step up and increase purchases from last fall for 2009.

There is evidence that the fertilizer prices may be bottoming out for now.  Industry personnel indicate that the fertilizer manufacturing plants have drastically cut back on production.  The higher priced material that was bought last summer has got to work its way through the system before the cheaper product can make its way to the dealers and the growers.

Applications are being made by dealers as the ground conditions allow.  Any progress being made to get the product applied will help to alleviate congested times this spring.

Dry broadcast and starter fertilizer recommendations rates are being modified this year because of the despairingly difference between fertilizer costs and the price of corn and soybeans. 

It is not wise to cut out the needed P all together.  The low soil test readings still need to be treated with supplemental phosphate.  A planting time starter application pays in most no-till, ridge till, or minimum till situations.  One still needs to have the nutrients to be able to produce an economical yield. 

Either relying on past history results, along with recently taken soil samples;   or taking extensive grid or zone samples are needed now more than ever.  A judicial interpretation of the results must be made this year to obtain the most value of the applied N, P, and K fertilizer along with any micro nutrients.

January Meetings - Jan 12, 2009

Here are some tidbits I have picked up from Servi-Tech’s Professional Development Conference last week:

There are many opportunities in international agriculture for crop consultants and agri-business. Aiding other countries to become more efficient in food production will help overall world trade and relationships.

Switchgrass establishment and long term use for cellulosic ethanol production may be more economical at this point than one is led to believe.
Foliar leaf crop sensors are available now and work effectively at sensing water stress to better manage irrigation water.

Precision pivot water applications and drip tape irrigation are management tools that are available and need to be placed accordingly in the correct management environment.

Enhanced efficiency fertilizers were explained and identified by international definitions. Nitrogen inhibitors or stabilizers; slow release fertilizers; and polymer and sulfur coated fertilizers were identified and where to best use them for optimal fertilizer management.

University research results with manganese fertility on soybeans and phosphate management with anionic polymers show mixed results.

Dectes stem borer is expanding its range in the High Plains and damage on soybean production. Present chemical control systems are marginally effective.

The corn root system of some of the rootworm control events actually grow enough different that it may explain some of the yield enhancements from those hybrids.

Early pre-emerge weed control on corn is a proven method of increasing yields in the glyphosate weed control systems. “Shade avoidance” from small weeds, by even very small V1 to V3 corn plants will result in yield losses.

The crop season of 2008 continues to be a challenging time. Recent rains across Nebraska have again stalled corn harvest. Forecast high winds will again test the standability of the crop.

The corn crop matured 2 weeks later than normal. Fortunately the corn ended with excellent plant health. This has allowed the crop to stand fairly well throughout the fall rains and several very high wind events.

The late maturing crop and the record high October rainfall, has kept the grain moisture much higher than in recent years. More expensive natural gas or propane has to be used to dry the grain this year.

Wet harvest conditions have fields with wheel track compaction, especially from the loaded grain carts. This compaction will show up in reduced yields on those areas next year if we don’t have a very open winter to allow freezing and thawing.
Very little fall applied anhydrous ammonia has been applied so far. Many are holding out for potentially lower fertilizer prices in the spring.

The winter annual weeds such as shepardspurse, penny cress and cool season grasses like downy brome, cheat, and Carolina foxtail are growing well with the wet conditions.

If weather doesn’t allow for herbicide treatments yet this fall, there will be many green fields in early spring. The unusually high number of hailed and damaged field this year allowed more fall emergence of the winter annual weeds. These will have to be dealt with yet this fall or next spring.

In the High Plains, a large percentage of the acres of corn, soybeans and other row crops and some small grains are grown under irrigation.

With more attention being given to early sulfur applications, especially on corn, I have been taking more irrigation water samples tests for both nitrates and sulfur.

The sulfate-sulfur water tests in the area that I consult in south-central Nebraska have ranged from 39 to 600 ppm. Throwing out the two high 330 and 600 ppm tests, the average is 75 ppm so far.

Therefore, on the average, for every 1 inch water applications, one is applying 16.7# sulfate sulfur per acre. One gallon of thio-sul fertilizer (12-0-0-26S) applies 2.86# of sulfate sulfur per acre.

At $230 per ton for thio-sul (March 2008 prices), one is applying $7.39 worth of sulfate sulfur per acre-inch of irrigation water.

My average nitrate-nitrogen water test is 11 ppm. At $315 per ton for 28-0-0 (relatively inexpensive March prices), one is applying 2.44# of nitrate nitrogen or $1.39 worth of nitrogen per acre-inch.

Sharing these figures with a grower makes some earlier watering less painful to get some sulfur on the crop. It’s no wonder the corn starts greening up when we start watering. The problem has been, in the past 2 years, the heavy spring rains have kept down the early watering requirements for the row crops.

With fertilizer costs forecast to be even higher next year, it would be wise for crop consultants and crop advisors to know what the irrigation water contains that is being applied to their client’s fields. It’s not too late this summer to get water samples and have them tested for nutrient amounts.

High winds have caused some green snap and broken corn plants on the tallest best looking fields in the past 7 days. Corn will continue to be very vulnerable to green snap over the next 10-14 days until tassels emerge. The early corn is growing 3-4 inches per day now. Sidedressed nitrogen and in some cases nitrogen/sulfur mixes have aided in turning around fields that showed earlier nutrient deficiencies.

Hailed corn is coming back better than the hailed soybeans.

Pictured are corn plants that were severely hailed at V4-5 and again 2 weeks later. This same field was pictured on the last web article. Not all fields are responding so well. Some hybrids take the hail worse than others.
Hailed soybeans in the past 3 weeks have been very slow to recover and develop. Greatly reduced stands were replanted, with some fields hailed the second time shortly after the replant soybeans emerged.
Irrigation water will be starting soon on corn fields that haven’t received significant rainfall in the past 7-10 days. The top 12-18 inches of soil is drying significantly on the taller 12-13 leaf corn.

Weed control programs have been stymied because of the wet conditions. High winds have also slowed spraying even when the fields are drier. One pass pre-emerge weed control programs look good this year because the periodic rains have kept the herbicide activated. Planned 2 pass programs have been a real challenge to implement because of the inclement weather.

Hailed out soybean fields have not been able to get replanted because of rain. Locally a tornado broke and blasted V3-V4 corn over at the ground line on May 29. I fully expected the corn to recover in good shape. Not so. Many of the burned to the ground plants started to regrow and then died back after 3-4 days. Because of applied herbicides, corn had to go back on some of those fields.

Nitrogen issues will have to be addressed. I have tallied over 16 inches of rainfall since March 1. Other areas locally have received 4-5 inches more. More very expensive sidedress nitrogen may have to be applied than normal. Undoubtedly the preplant nitrogen has leached farther than normal by now.

Crop Update - May 23, 2008

After a very slow start at getting corn out of the ground, sun and heat got the corn growing rapidly the past 10 days in Nebraska. The sun and heat also caused some severe crusting on the later planted corn and soybeans. Numerous pivots had to run to soften the crust.

Early emerged corn is in the V2-V3 stage, about 2-3 leaves or about 10 days behind 2007. Stands are better than anticipated in many cases, especially considering the 21 days it took for the early planted fields to emerge.

A timely rain occurred on May 22. Rain is continuing as of May 23, some heavy in areas. With the forecast of rain over the next 3-5 days, it will now be a challenge to get back into the fields to finish soybean planting.

Timely post emerge treatments on corn will need to be applied as soon as the soil dries. Numerous winter annual mustards and cool season grasses came on strong on many untreated burndown fields. These weedy areas will harm yields, even with the wet conditions now. The weeds are on the ridge till and no till fields that were not timely treated with herbicides prior to planting or shortly after having the crop planted.

Dingy cutworms have had to be treated on some of the fields that have heavy shepardspurse, pennycress, and other weed coverage. The dingy cutworm moths are attracted to the weedy areas in the previous fall to lay their eggs. The mid level seed treatments are not very effective on dingy cutworms. The weedy fields, as the weeds die back, will need to be monitored closely for cutworm activity.

Recent wet conditions are delaying any potential very early planting of corn in much of Nebraska. The cold spring has delayed greenup of winter annual weeds and other plants by about 2 weeks, compared to recent years.

The rains are very much welcome to any of the dry winter wheat growing areas to the west and south.

With the winter annual weed growth behind normal, very few have been treated yet this spring. More fall treatments have been promoted; those fields treated last fall are very clean for planting this spring.

Many may forgo any treatment of the small winter annual weeds now. If the soils dry out in the next 7 days, spring fertilizing will be done. Corn planters will be going with growers who are done with anhydrous ammonia applications.

Those who are caught up with fertilizing, have committed more acres to corn that were going to soybeans. Even with the very high fertilizer prices, it has been more economical for corn than soybeans, provided the corn can get planted in a timely manner in April.

Pictured are shepardspurse plants. These winter annuals emerged last fall. They are some of the more difficult species to control in the spring. They bolt early and flowering and seed production is early and prolific.

Besides drying out the soil and causing uneven early crop emergence and height, the green weeds attract dingy cutworm moths in the fall and black cutworm moths in the spring. Even with seed treatments on corn that suppress cutworms, one may have to rescue treat if cutworm populations are high. Careful scouting is imperative.