Soybeans

Ohio Crop Progress

Source: USDA

Last week’s warm days and mostly fair weather supported crop progress but left some counties excessively dry, according to Ben Torrance, State Statistician, USDA NASS, Ohio Field Office. Topsoil moisture conditions were rated 9 percent very short, 19 percent short, 68 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus. Statewide, the average temperature for the week ending on September 10 was 72.5 degrees, 4.6 degrees above normal. Weather stations recorded an average of 0.27 inches of precipitation, 0.27 inches below average. There were 5.6 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending September 10.

Ninety-five percent of corn was in or past dough, 53 percent was in or past dent, and 11 percent was mature. Corn for silage was 27 percent harvested. Eight percent of soybeans were dropping leaves. Corn and soybean condition were 82 and 75 percent good to excellent, respectively. Third cuttings of alfalfa hay and other dry hay were 88 and 58 percent complete, respectively. Fourth cuttings of alfalfa hay were 38 percent complete. Pasture and range condition was rated 68 percent good to excellent, down from the previous week.

Weekly Commodity Market Update

Brownfield’s Weekly Commodity update featuring former OSU Extension Ag Economist Ben Brown.

This Weeks Topics:

  • Market recap
  • Corn and soybean acreage
  • Corn and soybean production
  • Reports to watch

Market recap (Changes on week as of Monday’s close):
– December 2023 corn up $.05 at $4.85
– November soybeans up $.06 at $13.69
– October soybean oil down 2.63 cents at 61.34 cents/lb
– October soybean meal up $5.80 at $406.00/short ton
– December 2023 wheat down $.14 at $5.84
– July 2024 wheat down $.12 at $6.37
– September WTI Crude Oil up $2.13 at $85.87/barrel

Weekly Highlights

  • US crude oil stocks were down again last week continuing a trend over the last month. Globally production cuts by the top exporters are being offset by other global producers and lower global demand.
  • Ethanol production was basically flat on the week- up 2 million gallons. Gasoline demand was up on the week while ethanol stocks were flat suggesting that ethanol exports have been rather sluggish in August.
  • It was the last week of export sales of the 2022/23 marketing year for corn and soybeans with net cancelations on of corn and 5.7 net sales for soybeans. However, new crop 2023/24 sales finally showed some life.
  • Open interest positions of Chicago futures and options were largely up:  Chicago wheats-flat, corn- +1.4%, soybeans- +2.2%, cotton- +10.4%, and rough rice- +14.7%.
  • Managed money traders bought back 168 futures and options positions to slightly decrease their net short position in that commodity, while also selling off 6,565 contracts of corn increasing the net short, and also selling 8,175 contracts of Chicago soybeans decreasing the net long for that commodity.
  • US ag export inspection data was mixed this week- for feed grains it was a relatively strong week with corn, grain, and wheats with all reaching multi-month highs. Soybean inspections were the lowest since early August.
  • Crop conditions continue to deteriorate. Corn was down 1 point to 337, but up 1 point from last year. Soybeans fell 3 points to 337 and are 10 below last year. Cotton conditions fell a point to 275 and are also down 10 points relatively to last year.
  • Five percent of the US corn crop is harvested- compared to 4% on average. Eight percent of the US cotton crop has been harvested. Forty-five percent of the US rice crop has been harvested compared to an average of 35%.

Field Observations Thru September 8

Corn

Growth & Development

Most of the corn that I have seen this week is in either the R4 (Dough) or the R5 growth stage.

R5 – Dent

  • The second to last stage of corn development.
  • R5 (dent) occurs approximately 31‐33 days after silking.
  • Kernels are dented in at the top with the “milk line” separating the liquid and
    solid (starch) portions.
  • Within R5, kernels are often staged according to the progression of the milk line; i.e. ¼, ½, and ¾.
  • At the beginning of R5, kernels have 60% moisture content.
  • Stresses will reduce kernel weight at this time.

Scouting

I have heard a wide range for projected corn yields this year.  The Yield Component Method is the most widely used procedure for estimating corn yield.  While  you are out checking potential corn yields, also keep an eye out for:

  • Ear rots.
  • Stalk rots.
  • Anthracnose top dieback.
  • Stalk lodging.
  • Abnormal ear fill which identifies periods of stress.
  • Weed escapes (especially palmer & waterhemp).

Soybeans

Growth & Development

Soybeans are continuing to mature.  Last week I highlighted the R6 growth stage  the next stage is R7 the last growth stage prior to maturity.

R7 – Begining Maturity

  • One mature-colored pod anywhere on the main stem.
  • Yellow pods are moving toward maturity.
  • Tan, brown or tawny pods (depending on variety) signal physiological maturity.
  • Seeds at the R7 growth stage are at approximately 60% moisture.

Scouting

  • Foliar diseases – Sudden Death Syndrome, White Mold, and Frogeye Leaf Spot.
  • Insect feeding – Grasshoppers.
  • Weed escapes (especially Palmer and Waterhemp).

Estimating soybean yields

It is much more difficult to accurately predict soybean yield.  The process to estimate soybean yields can be found here.

County Rainfall Update

Ohio Crop Progress

Source: USDA

Ninety percent of corn was in or past dough, 40 percent of Ohio corn was in or past dent, and 2 percent was mature. Corn for silage was 11 percent harvested. Ninetyfive percent of soybeans were setting pods and 3 percent were dropping leaves. Corn and soybean condition were 80 and 76 percent good to excellent, respectively. Second cuttings of other hay were 94 percent complete. Third cuttings of alfalfa hay and other dry hay were 75 and 51 percent complete, respectively. Fourth cuttings of alfalfa hay were 29 percent complete.

Estimating soybean yield

Soybeans are beginning to change color (mature) which has many of us thinking about yield potential.  To estimate soybean yield, four yield components need to be considered: plants per acre, pods per plant, seeds per pod, and seeds per pound (seed size).  A printable worksheet to estimate soybean yield can be found by clicking here.

Proceed with caution when estimating soybean yield. It is difficult to accurately predict soybean yield because of plant-to-plant variability and fall weather conditions can influence seed size.  Estimates are more accurate later in the growing season and on uniform stands.

To estimate soybean yield:

Step 1: To calculate plants per acre, count the number of pod-bearing plants in 1/1,000th of an acre.  In 7.5-inch row spacing, count the number of plants in 69 feet, 8 inches of row.  In 15-inch row spacing, count the number of plants in 34 feet, 10 inches of row.  In 30-inch row spacing, count the number of plants in 17 feet, 5 inches of row.

Step 2: To estimate pods per plant, count the number of pods (containing one or more seeds) from 10 plants selected at random.  Divide the total number of pods by 10 to get the average number of pods per plant.

Step 3: To estimate the number of seeds per pod, count the number of seeds from 10 pods selected at random.  Generally, the number of seeds per pod is 2.5, but this number can be less in stressful environmental conditions.  Divide the total number of seeds by 10 to get the average number of seeds per pod.

Step 4: To estimate the number of seeds per pound (seed size), assume that there are 3,000 seeds per pound.  If the soybean plants experienced stress, seed size will be reduced, and it will take more seeds to make one pound.  Use a seed size estimate of 3,500 seeds per pound if smaller seeds are expected because of late season stress.

Using the above estimates, the following formula can be used to estimate soybean yield in bushels per acre:  bushels per acre = [(plants/1,000th acre) x (pods/plant) x (seeds/pod)] ÷ [(seeds/pound) x 0.06]

 Example:110 plants per 1/1,000th acre, 65 pods per plant, 2.5 seeds per pod, 3,000 seeds per pound. [110 * 42 * 2.5] / [3,000 * 0.06] = 64.2 bushel per acre.

Field Observations Thru September 1

They are here!  Palmer Amaranth and Waterhemp are prevalent in MANY Knox County fields.  One female plant can produce 1,000,000 seeds.  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.

Continue to remain vigilant!  

Click here for tips on identifying pigweed, palmer and waterhemp.

Corn

Growth & Development

Most of the corn that I have seen this week is in either the R3 (Milk) or the R4 (Dough) growth stage.  Some of our early maturing hybrids have reached the R5 dent stage.

Scouting

Disease pressure throughout the county continues to be very low. Continue to scout for:

  • Foliar diseases – Gray Leafspot, Tar Spot, Northern Corn Leaf Blight.
  • Weed escapes (especially Palmer and Waterhemp).

Soybeans

Growth & Development

Most of the corn that I have seen this week is in the R6 (Full Seed) growth stage.  Some of the early maturity beans are entering the R7 (Beginning Maturity) stage soon.

Scouting

Disease pressure throughout the county continues to be very low.  As you continue to scout your bean fields, look for:

  • Foliar diseases – Sudden Death Syndrome, White Mold, and Frogeye Leaf Spot.
  • Insect feeding – Grasshoppers.
  • Weed escapes (especially Palmer and Waterhemp).

County Rainfall Update

Ohio Crop Progress

 

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.

Field Observations Thru August 25

Corn

Growth & Development

Last week I highlighted the R3 (milk) growth stage.  R4 is the next stage, occurring approximately 26 days after silking.

R4 – Dough

  • This stage is about 26 days after silking.

 

  • The kernel has thickened to a pasty (doughy) consistency from the earlier milky state (starch has continued to accumulate and kernel moisture content has decreased).
  • The embryo of the seed is growing while the kernels are just beginning to dry at the top (dent).
  • Kernels have accumulated 50 percent of their dry weight and have about 70 percent moisture.
  • Unfavorable environmental conditions or nutrient deficiencies still can result in unfilled kernels and “chaffy” ears.

Scouting

Disease pressure throughout the county continues to be very low. Continue to scout for:

Chaffy Ears

  • Foliar diseases
  • Weed escapes (especially Palmer and Waterhemp)
  • Head smut
  • European corn borer
  • Barren stalks, poor pollination
  • Nutrient deficiencies

 

Soybeans

Growth & Development

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

 

  • Beans of many sizes can be found on the plant
  • Total plant pod weight is maximized
  • Large amounts of nitrogen are still being accumulated from the soil and remobilized to the seed
  • Root growth is complete between R6 and R7.

Scouting

As you continue to scout your bean fields, look for

  • Foliar diseases – Sudden Death Syndrome, White Mold, and Frogeye Leaf Spot.
  • Insect feeding – Grasshoppers.
  • Weed escapes (especially Palmer and Waterhemp).

Click here for tips on identifying pigweed, palmer and waterhemp.

County Rainfall Update

Red Crown Rot of Soybean

Figure 1. Foliar Symptoms

Red crown rot (RCR) is a soybean disease caused by the soilborne fungus Calonectria ilicicola that is spreading to parts of the Midwest. There have been no confirmed reports of RCR in Ohio, but it has been detected in Kentucky and Illinois.  RCR can be easily confused with other soybean diseases that cause similar foliar symptoms.

RCR can be misidentified as sudden death syndrome (SDS) or brown stem rot (BSR) as all three diseases can cause yellowing between the leaf veins or interveinal leaf chlorosis (Figure 1.)

Figure 2. Stem discoloration

Proper diagnosis will require digging up the plant, scraping the soil off, and inspecting for red discoloration on the outer stem (Figure 2). Also look for small, brick red perithecia (fungal sexual structure) on the lower stem or root crown area. These perithecia will be smaller than the tip of a pencil and more likely to be observed following wet weather.

In general, concentrate scouting efforts for RCR in low-lying, saturated areas of the field between the R3 (beginning pod) and R5 (beginning seed) growth stages. Keep an eye out for scattered patches of plants dying off early.

If you have questionable areas in your beans and suspect RCR or sudden death let me know.  I can collect plant samples and send them to our lab for diagnosis.

Field Observations Thru August 18

Corn

Growth & Development

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

  • Occurs approximately 18‐20 days after silking.

  • The  kernel is colored yellow with the inside containing ‘milky’ white fluid.
  • Kernel moisture  content is approximately 80%
  • Starch is beginning to accumulate in the kernel.
  • Stress is not as severe at R3 as at R1; however, yield reduction can occur due to a reduction in the number of kernels that ultimately develop and to the final size and weight of the kernels.
  • Very little root growth occurs after R3.

Scouting

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.

Soybeans

Growth & Development

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.

  • Seed is 1/8 inches long in the pod at one of the four uppermost nodes on the main stem with a fully developed leaf .

  • Rapid seed filling begins, while root growth slows.
  • Dry weight and nutrients begin redistributing through the plant to the developing seed.
  • 50% defoliation can decrease yield by 15-17%.
  • Symptoms of many diseases, including white mold and SDS begin to show up at this growth stage.
  • This is a good growth stage to determine the severity of disease.
  • Treating most diseases with fungicides is not recommended at this time.

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.

Weeds

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.

County Rainfall Update