Agronomy

Drydown in Corn: What to Expect?

By: Peter Thomison, Ohio State University Extension

Many corn growers may encounter slower than normal drydown this fall due to late crop development associated with June planting dates. Much of Ohio’s late-planted corn may not achieve black layer until mid-October or later when drying conditions are less favorable for drydown. Once corn achieves physiological maturity (when kernels have obtained maximum dry weight and black layer has formed), it will normally dry approximately 3/4% to 1% per day during favorable drying weather (sunny and breezy) during the early warmer part of the harvest season from mid‑September through late September. By early to mid‑October, dry-down rates will usually drop to ½% to 3/4% per day. Continue reading Drydown in Corn: What to Expect? →

Considerations for 2019 Wheat Planting

By: Andy Michel, Laura Lindsey, Pierce Paul, OSU Extension

With the autumn rapidly approaching, wheat planting is likely to begin soon. Planting after the Hessian fly free date remains the best chance to avoid issues with insects and diseases, as well as helping ensure good agronomic quality.  Some benefits of the fly free date:

Hessian Fly: Adults of the Hessian fly lay eggs in emerging wheat. These eggs then hatch into small larvae that feed before spending the winter as a flaxseed. The early autumn feeding will stress the young wheat plant right before the winter, resulting in stunted and wilted plants.  Very little egg laying occurs after the fly free date, which helps to limit infestation. Wheat varieties with resistance against the Hessian are available, in addition to seed treatments, which can help limit damage. Continue reading Considerations for 2019 Wheat Planting →

Managing Take-all and other Diseases in Wheat after Wheat

By: Pierce Paul, OSU Extension Plant Pathologist

I never recommend planting a small grain crop after another small grain crop, as planting wheat after barley for instance or barley after wheat increases the risk of diseases such as head scab and take-all. However, this year, some growers do not have much of a choice; soybean will not be harvested in time in some fields for them to plant wheat, so they will either have plant wheat after corn harvested for silage or after wheat. If you do end up planting wheat after corn or wheat, here are a few tips that could help to reduce the risk of having major disease problems next spring: Continue reading Managing Take-all and other Diseases in Wheat after Wheat →

The Agronomic Crops Team will welcome you to the Farm Science Review

By: Harold Watters, OSU Extension

The Farm Science Review this year is September 17, 18 and 19th at the London, Ohio location at the intersection of US 40 and State Route 38. Things at the site actually look pretty good – crops were almost planted on time, grass was mowed pretty much on time, the parking lots have settled since the 2017 fiasco – and more gravel is in place just in case. Tickets can be purchased from your local Extension office, from many ag retailers or on-line at the FSR website: https://fsr.osu.edu/onlineticketform. Map Your Show will help you find and quickly locate what it is you are looking for – https://fsr19.mapyourshow.com/. Continue reading The Agronomic Crops Team will welcome you to the Farm Science Review →

Sorting Out the Soybean Herbicide Resistance Traits

By: Mark Loux, OSU Extension

The world of soybean herbicide resistance traits has gotten more complex over the past several years.  The good news is that we have new options for control of herbicide-resistant weeds, although it can be a little difficult to sort out which one is best for a given situation and whether the possible downsides of certain traits are tolerable.  The following is a quick rundown of what’s available and some things to consider when selecting seed.  Continue reading Sorting Out the Soybean Herbicide Resistance Traits →

Corn Earworm in Field Corn; Watch for Molds

By: Kelley Tilmon, Pierce Paul, Andy Michel, OSU Extension

There have been recent reports of high corn earworm populations in certain grain corn fields.  Corn earworm is a pest with many hosts including corn, tomatoes and certain legumes.  In Ohio it is typically considered a pest of sweet corn rather than field corn, but this past week substantial populations have been found in certain field corn sites.  Corn earworm moths are most attracted to fields in the early green silk stage as a place to lay their eggs.  These eggs hatch into the caterpillars that cause ear-feeding damage, open the ear to molds, and attract birds.  With a wide range of planting dates this year, different fields may be at greater risk at different times. Continue reading Corn Earworm in Field Corn; Watch for Molds →

Assessing The Risk of Frost Injury to Late Planted Corn

By: Peter Thomison, OSU Extension

Lately I have received questions as to whether corn at various stages of development, especially the blister (R2) and dough stage (R3) stages, will mature before the 50% average frost date. According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, as of August 18, 37 percent of Ohio’s corn acreage was in the dough stage (R4) compared to 70 percent for the five year average, and three percent of the corn acreage was in the dent stage (R5) compared to 21 percent for the five-year average. Many areas of the state corn are considerably behind the five-year average because of late planting. Late maturation of the corn crop had led to questions about the likelihood for frost damage and whether more fuel will be needed to dry corn.

Physiological maturity (R6), when kernels have obtained maximum dry weight and black layer has formed, typically occurs about 65 days after silking. At physiological maturity (kernel moisture approximately 30-35%), frosts have little or no effect on the yield potential of the corn crop. Continue reading Assessing The Risk of Frost Injury to Late Planted Corn →

August USDA Reports

By:Todd Hubbs, Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics University of Illinois. farmdoc Daily online

The highly anticipated August Crop Production report contained a larger than expected production forecast for the 2019 U.S. corn crop.  Soybean production came in lower on smaller acreage.

For corn, the USDA lowered harvested acres to 82 million acres, but this came in above expectations of 80 million acres.  Corn planted acreage totaled 90 million acres.  When combined with a Farm Service Agency projection of 11.2 million acres of prevent plant corn, the total corn base appears to exceed 101 million acres in 2019.  The U.S. corn yield forecast of 169.5 bushels per acre exceeded trade expectations by 4.6 bushels.  The projected corn crop is 700 million bushels larger than the average trade guess at 13.9 billion bushels.  As expected due to poor crop condition ratings, the eastern Corn Belt yield projections came in at lower levels than last year. Continue reading August USDA Reports →

Estimating Yield Losses in Stressed Corn Fields

By: Peter Thomison, OSU Extension

Many corn fields are still silking (and some are just past the mid-vegetative stages)….so, it may seem a little early to discuss estimating grain yields. However, according to the most recent  NASS crop report, for the week ending Aug. 8, 2019,  25% of the corn crop has reached the dough stage (compared to 63% for the 5 year average). Corn growers with drought damaged fields and late plantings may want to estimate grain yields prior to harvest in order to help with marketing and harvest plans. Two procedures that are widely used for estimating corn grain yields prior to harvest are the YIELD COMPONENT METHOD (also referred to as the “slide rule” or corn yield calculator) and the EAR WEIGHT METHOD. Continue reading Estimating Yield Losses in Stressed Corn Fields →

Keep an Eye on Crop Diseases

Source: OSU Extension

Late-planted corn and soybeans could be vulnerable to higher-than-normal levels of crop diseases this year. When sown one to two months later than usual, corn and soybeans stand a greater chance of succumbing, especially, to fungal diseases.

Dry weather across much of Ohio since July has helped stave off some disease spread because fungal diseases need moisture to thrive. Still, during a year when late planting has already limited the yield potential on crops, it’s critical to be watchful for other threats too, including all types of diseases, molds, and insects, advise experts with Ohio State’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES). Continue reading Keep an Eye on Crop Diseases →