Seventy-nine percent of corn was in or past dough, and 30 percent of Ohio corn was in or past dent. Ninety percent of soybeans were setting pods. Corn and soybean condition were 79 and 76 percent good to excellent, respectively. Second cuttings of other hay were 88 percent complete. Third cuttings of alfalfa hay and other dry hay were 69 and 44 percent complete, respectively. Pasture and range condition was rated 66 percent good to excellent, up from the previous week.
Last week I highlighted the R3 (milk) growth stage. R4 is the next stage, occurring approximately 26 days after silking.
R4 – Dough
Scouting
Disease pressure throughout the county continues to be very low. Continue to scout for:
Chaffy Ears
Soybeans are continuing to mature. Recent rains will help with seed fill. Last week I highlighted the R5 (Beginning Seed) growth stage. R6 is the next stage, occurring approximately 10 days after R4.
R6 – Full Seed
R6 Full seed
Pod containing a green seed that fills the pod cavity at one of the four uppermost nodes on the main stem with a fully developed leaf
Scouting
As you continue to scout your bean fields, look for
Click here for tips on identifying pigweed, palmer and waterhemp.
Corn development continues to vary throughout the county. Last week I highlighted the R2 (Blister) growth stage. R3 is the next stage, occurring approximately 20 days after silking.
R3 – Milk Stage
Disease pressure throughout the county continues to be very low. At this stage of growth, with little to no disease pressure, and new crop corn under $5 can we justify at least $25 per acre for a fungicide application?
Read more on disease scouting here.
Like corn, soybean development continues to vary throughout the county. Beans are looking much better than they were a few weeks ago. Last week I highlighted the R4 (Full Pod) growth stage. R5 (Beginning Seed) is the next stage, occurring approximately 10 days after R4.
Scouting
All of the bean fields that I have seen this week look very similar to this one. I am seeing very little (if any) disease pressure. Current and projected weather conditions may change this. As you continue to scout your bean fields, look for Sudden Death Syndrome, White Mold, and Frogeye Leaf Spot.
It’s that time of year when weeds are beginning to show their ugly heads above the soybean canopy in many fields. During your scouting, if you find Palmer Amaranth or Waterhemp you should do whatever you can to prevent these devastating weeds from going to seed, including removing the entire plant from the field.
Click here for tips on identifying pigweed, palmer and waterhemp.
Corn development continues to vary throughout the county. Last week I highlighted the R1 (Silking) growth stage. R2 is the next stage, occurring approximately 10 days after silking.
R2 – Blister
Disease pressure throughout the county is very low. SO … Do I spray or not? This is literally the same decision that we had to make with our wheat crop this year. Read more on disease scouting here.
Like corn, soybean development continues to vary throughout the county. Beans are looking much better than they were a few weeks ago. Last week I highlighted the R3 (Beginning Pod) growth stage. R4 (Full Pod) is the next stage, occurring approximately 10 days after R3.
R4 – Full Pod
Scouting
All of the bean fields that I have seen this week look very similar to this one. I am seeing very little (if any) disease pressure. Current and projected weather conditions may change this. As you continue to scout your bean fields, look for Sudden Death Syndrome, White Mold, and Frogeye Leaf Spot. More information on scouting for these problems next week.
Last week, warm and dry conditions dominated across the State, according to Ben Torrance, State Statistician, USDA NASS, Ohio Field Office. The most recent U.S. Drought Monitor report showed 18.5 percent of the State as abnormally dry or worse, a decrease from the previous week. Conditions matching the moderate drought rating were observed in 1.7 percent of the State. Topsoil moisture conditions were rated 2 percent very short, 23 short, 71 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus. Statewide, the average temperature for the week ending on August 6 was 71.3 degrees, 0.7 degrees below normal. Weather stations recorded an average of 0.17 inches of precipitation, 0.65 inches below average. There were 6.1 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending August 6.
While crop condition ratings improved, crop progress for corn and soybeans remained near or behind the five-year average for the majority of the State. Southwestern counties experienced below-average moisture levels, leading some farmers to report crop stress. Corn silking progress reached 87 percent and corn dough progress was 20 percent complete. Soybeans blooming was 82 percent complete and pod setting progress reached 48 percent. Corn and soybean condition were 73 and 67 percent good to excellent, respectively. Oats were 95 percent harvested. Second cuttings of alfalfa were 93 percent complete, and second cuttings of other hay were 67 percent complete. Third cuttings of alfalfa hay and other dry hay were 32 and 22 percent complete, respectively. Pasture and range condition was rated 67 percent good to excellent, up from the previous week. Livestock were reported to be in good condition, benefitted by seasonally moderate temperatures and improved pasture.
Corn development continues to vary throughout the county. After tasseling the next growth stage is R1 – Silking.
R1 – Silking.
See all information on all corn reproductive growth stages here.
R3 Beginning Pod
developing pods, withering flowers, new open flowers and flower buds
After VT, staging is no longer based on the vegetative appearance of the plant and instead focuses only on the ear to stage the plant and field.
Look at kernels in the middle of the ear when determining reproductive developmental stages.
The corn plant will go through six reproductive stages (R1 – R6) compared to eight stages in soybean plant.
These are the six reproductive (R) stages of corn:
Corn growth varies greatly throughout the county, but, more fields are beginning to tassel. As corn begins to tassel, nutrient (K > N > P) and water (0.30 inch per day) demands for the crop are close to maximum. Heat and drought will affect potential number of kernels. Scout for insects (e.g., corn leaf aphid, western bean cutworm, corn earworm, fall armyworm) and diseases (e.g., gray leaf spot, southern rust, northern leaf
blight). Total leaf defoliation severely affects final yields.
VT (Tasseling) – Stage VT occurs two to three days before silking, when the last branch of the tassel is completely visible but silks have not emerged yet from the ear shoot. The plant has reached full height and the pollen shed begins. The time between VT and R1 can vary with different hybrids and due to environmental conditions.
Pollen shed (pollen drop) normally occurs during the late morning or early evening. Hail damage is more serious at this time than for any other growth period. All leaves have emerged and the complete loss of a pollen source would result in no grain formation.
We are nearing a point in the growing season where it is time to scout your corn fields and make a decision regarding fungicide applications. Click here to view the 2023 corn fungicide ratings.
Postemergence herbicide applications – Don’t forget the preharvest intervals (PHI) for grazing or harvest. Read more here.
Soybean Postemergence Weed Control – Grasses
Soybean Postemergence Weed Control – Broadleaves
Soybean Growth & Development – R2: Full Bloom
Mount Vernon, OH
Soybeans throughout the county are beginning to look better. Development has been slowed and many fields have areas (sometimes large areas) with a light green or yellowish tint to the beans. What is causing this yellowing? One possibility is:
In some fields, the pale green to yellow leaves are the result of very wet soil conditions. Soybeans are a legume (like alfalfa) and do not like wet feet (roots)! This problem is commonly seen in low areas of the field or on poorly drained soils where water tends to stay for a prolonged period of time. When digging up plants in wet areas of the field you will find poorly developed or weaker root systems when compared to a healthy plant.
Soil water content is critical not only to supply the water needs of the plant, but to also dissolve nutrients and make them available to the plant. A poorly developed root system can limit nutrient uptake causing what is likely a temporary nutrient deficiency.
Temporary nutrient deficiencies can be observed when excess water in the soil depletes oxygen and builds up carbon dioxide levels. Although oxygen is needed by roots to grow and take up nutrients, high carbon dioxide levels are toxic and limit root growth and activity.
With better weather conditions plants will usually (sometimes slowly) grow through this phase.
Soybean nutrient deficiencies will be discussed in a different post.
2nd cutting is well underway. Potato leafhoppers are very active. If you haven’t cut yet, continue to monitor, where damage is increasing, cut as soon as weather permits.
Click here for alfalfa insect scouting calendar
Click here for more information on Potato Leafhopper
Our corn growth varies greatly throughout the county. Some fields are beginning to tassel and some field are at V8.
V12 to V13 – Six weeks after the plant emerges, V12 begins. Moisture or nutrient deficiencies may reduce the potential number of seeds, as well as the ear size, seriously. These two components of yield have key development during the period from V10 to V17. The length of time for the plant to develop through these stages affects harvestable yield.
Early maturity hybrids normally progress through these stages in less time and have smaller ears than later hybrids. Higher plant populations are needed for earlier hybrids to produce grain yield similar to normal-maturity hybrids in the adapted region. Cultivation of plants at this time will destroy some of the plant roots. Brace roots are developing from the fifth node and the first above-ground node.
V14 to V15 – Seven weeks after the plant emerges, V14 begins. The corn plant at V15 is only 12 to 15 days (around one to five V stages) away from R1 (silking). This vegetative stage is the most critical period of seed yield determination. The number of ovules that develop silks, and thus the number of kernels, is being determined. Any nutrient or moisture deficiency or injury (such as hail or insects) may seriously reduce the number of kernels that develop.
The tassel is near full size but not visible from the top of the leaf sheaths. Silks are just beginning to grow from the upper ears. Upper-ear shoot development has surpassed that of lower ear shoots. A new leaf stage can occur every one to two days.
Brace roots from the sixth leaf node are developing, and the permanent roots have continued to elongate and proliferate, eventually reaching a depth of about 5 to 8 feet and spreading several feet in all directions. In some hybrids, brace roots also will develop from the eighth and ninth leaf nodes or even higher. Some corn plants in North Dakota may only develop 16 leaves.
Table 5. Postemergence Herbicides in Corn – Grasses
Table 6. Postemergence Herbicides in Corn – Broadleaves
Soybeans are starting to look a little bit better, however, there are still a lot of “yellow” beans throughout the county. Two possible reasons are Yellow Flash and Soybean Cyst Nematode. Other possibilities are seedling diseases and water-logged roots, more information on these topics next week.
After planting, the second biggest challenge we face is timely weed control. If you haven’t already made a postemergence application, it might be time to check your fields. Most beans (and weeds) are at stage that might warrant an application. The links below will contain OSU Herbicide rating for postemergence applications.
Soybean Postemergence Weed Control – Grasses
Soybean Postemergence Weed Control – Broadleaves
Soybean Growth & Development – R1: Beginning Bloom
Wheat harvest has come to an end and most of the straw is in the barn. From what I hear, wheat yields were pretty good with little to no disease issues.
If you removed the straw, remember to account for the additional fertilizer removal when planning for fertilizer needs next year. Read more here.
Double crop beans have been, or are being planted now. Click here for the Double Crop Soybean Production Guidelines from Dr. Laura Lindsey.
I can honestly say that I have never seen one of these before! Click on the picture to see the video. If you know what it is, put your answer in the comment section. Be sure to check back next week for the answer!
… AND THE ANSWER IS – Horsehair Worm
https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef613
