Weather

Foliar Fungicide Use in Corn

by: Pierce Paul, OSU Extension

Foliar diseases, especially Gray Leaf Spot (GLS), are beginning to show up in some corn fields. This is not at all surprising, given that the crop was planted relatively late and it has been wet and humid in some areas. GLS is favored by humid conditions, particularly if temperatures are between 70 and 90 F. Foliar diseases of corn are generally a concern when they develop early and progress up the plant before grain fill is complete. This is especially true when the hybrid is susceptible. In most years, GLS and NCLB usually develop late or remain restricted to the lower leaves. However, if it continues to rain and stays humid, this will likely not be the case this year.

Due to wide variations in planting dates, weather conditions, and hybrid maturities, the corn crop is at growth stages ranging from emergence to tassel across the state. Now is the time to start scouting those early-planted fields for foliar diseases, especially those planted with susceptible hybrids in an area with a history of foliar diseases or in a continuous-corn, no-till fields. Those are the fields most likely to benefit from a fungicide application. Use hybrid susceptibility, weather conditions, field history, and current disease level as guides when making a decision to apply a fungicide.

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Young Corn with Wet Feet: What Can We Expect?

by: Alexander Lindsey, Peter Thomison, Steve Culman, OSU Extension

Around the state, there are many corn fields with young plants with standing water due to the intense storms that have passed through. But what are the long-term effects of standing water on emerged corn? Preliminary data from two locations in Ohio in 2017 suggests that as long as a sidedress N application can be made following the waterlogging, yield loss may be minimal if the waterlogged conditions lasted 4 days or less.

Waterlogging can affect yield in two main ways: 1) damage to the plant physiologically, and 2) N loss through denitrification or leaching. The presence of standing water in the field can affect corn yield by inhibiting growth and restricting ear development (which occurs during vegetative stages). Standing water also reduces the amount of oxygen in the soil, which can cause nitrate in the soil to be converted to forms that are unavailable for plant uptake and may be lost to the environment. Trials in Ohio conducted in 2017 suggest that corn can survive waterlogged conditions for 4 days or less in the early vegetative stages (V4-5) with minimal impact on yield if a sidedress application can be made after the soil has dried. However, if a sidedress application cannot be made on corn waterlogged for 4 days or more, a yield penalty of 13 to 45% was observed. When waterlogging extended to 6 days even with a sidedress N application, a reduction in yield of 9-33% was observed compared to corn flooded for 4 days or less. These results are consistent with past research (10-50% yield loss if flooded longer than 2 days), but will be repeated in 2018 for validation.

Continue reading Young Corn with Wet Feet: What Can We Expect? →

Knox County Soil Temperatures

Wait to plant until the soil temperature is right?

 

 

In general, corn should be planted when soil temperatures are near 50 °F.

  • Seed will absorb about 30 percent of its weight in water, and temperature does not affect water imbibition much.
    • This is different than radicle (root) and coleoptile (shoot) growth; their growth is correlated with soil temperature.
  • In cold soil conditions (below 50 °F), seeds will readily absorb water but not initiate root or shoot growth; this leads to seed rots and poor emergence if poor seedbed conditions are prolonged.
  • Recommendations are to begin planting when soils are near 50 °F or are quickly increasing to 50 °F.
  • Cool soil conditions early in the season is one reason there is more variability in final stands relative to seeding rate.

Plant when able, given good seedbed conditions

  • Yields are reduced more when planted too late rather than too early.
  • Research has shown a small yield loss with very early planting dates and larger yield losses with significantly delayed planting dates.

Throughout the growing season I will provide DAILY soil temperature readings from different locations within Knox County.

* Be sure to check back daily! 

Soil Temperatures

The Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC) collects weather data at several sites throughout Ohio. The chart provided here summarizes the average daily two inch bare soil temperature from several stations. More complete weather records for the just passed day as well as long term historical observations can be found at http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/weather1/ . Observations include temperature, precipitation, different measures of degree day accumulation and other useful weather measures.

Beginning next week we will be collecting soil temperature at several locations throughout Knox County.  Check back here for our daily updates!

 

Pattern Favors Only Slow Improvement – Challenging Weather to linger throughout April!

OK I really hope we are done seeing scenes like this for this year!!!

However, we may not be “out of the woods” yet.  The following information is from Jim Noel, National Weather Service, Wilmington, Ohio.

The expected cold and wet weather pattern for spring that has been forecast since December continues. There will be some relief this week after a cold start to the week with temperatures 10 degrees below normal we will switch and see temperatures by the end of the week a good 10+ degrees above normal but when average out through Sunday April 15, we will return to about average temperatures for the week. Drying is expected as well through Friday with only minor precipitation events but another rain event is expected this weekend. There is a lot of uncertainty on amounts and placement so confidence is low but there is potential for some heavy rain in parts of Ohio.

The week of April 16-22 will return to a colder than normal pattern with temperatures several degrees below normal. Precipitation will be lighter next week after the weekend rain event. Though April 25, rainfall is forecast to average 2-3 inches with isolated 4+ inches across the state of Ohio. This is still above average. See the associated graphic from the NWS Ohio River Forecast Center.

Soil temperatures will also continue to be below normal with the risk of some late freezes in late April so early planting risk will remain elevated. Improvement will likely not fully come until May when temperatures may actually be slightly above normal. However, rainfall may continue to be at or above normal so challenges will likely linger this year into May for planting season. The summer growing season still looks to see a switch toward warmer and drier weather but it is not clear whether this will happen in later May, June or early July. We will keep you posted. In summary, thanks in part to La Nina, expect a challenging planting season in Ohio into May. Summer may also offer its own challenges as the pattern switches from the cold and wet period to a warmer and drier period but it is uncertain exactly when that will occur.

Soybean Planting…How Early Is Too Early?

by: Laura Lindsey

Soybean planting date is absolutely critical to maximize yield (in most years and environments). Over the past few years, we’ve participated in a North Central Soybean Research Program (NCSRP) funded project with the goal of identifying causes of the “soybean yield gap.” (What factors are reducing soybean yield?) Across the Midwest, planting date was the most consistent management factor that influenced soybean yield.

Figure 1 shows the relationship between soybean yield and planting date (Panel A = primarily northern Ohio excluding northwest Ohio; Panel B = primarily central and southern Ohio). In northern Ohio, soybean yield was reduced by 0.5 bushel/acre/day for every day planted after the end of April. In central/southern Ohio, soybean yield was reduced by 0.15 bushel/acre/day for every day planted after the end of April. For additional information on this project, see https://stepupsoy.osu.edu/soybean-production/soybean-yield-gap-research.

Continue reading Soybean Planting…How Early Is Too Early? →

Spring Planting and Summer Growing Outlook

by: Jim Noel

La Nina, cooling of the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean waters, remains in place and is classified as a weak La Nina. This means many other things will ultimately impact our weather and climate since it is weak but it will contribute to our pattern. Indications are this could linger into spring and possibly summer before ending. Regardless of when it ends, it tends to impact weather patterns in the atmosphere longer, sometimes up to three to six months later. So there will be a contribution to our climate pattern into at least the planting season if not growing season.

December to February will go down as slightly warmer and wetter than normal. Even though we had really cold periods in there, the very warm second half of February wiped all the winter cold away. Snowfall will go down in many areas as not too far from normal, a bit above or below depending on where you live. The main snow message was the snow kept coming and going away during winter.

Continue reading Spring Planting and Summer Growing Outlook →

CONSERVATION TILLAGE CONFERENCE: NEW TOPICS FOR CHANGING AG

by Mark Badertscher

So what is the relationship between healthy soils and healthy water? How can you manage inputs and planting date for high economic corn yields? Which soils should respond to sulfur applications? What are some opportunities and considerations with subsurface placement of nutrients? How can you build soil health and organic matter with cover crops and no-till? How can you use economics in the choice between growing corn and soybeans? What will the revised P index look like? How can you get started in honey bees, barley, or hops production? What are some methods to manage invasive plants around the farm?

These are all questions you might have asked yourself, but have struggled to find an answer. This year’s Conservation Tillage Conference (CTC) has the answers to these questions and many more. The McIntosh Center at Ohio Northern University will once again be the location were about 60 presenters, several agribusiness exhibitors, and approximately 900 participants will come together March 6th and 7th in Ada, Ohio. Attend this year’s conference to add value to your operation by learning new ideas and technologies to expand your agronomic crops knowledge.

A general session with well-known author David Montgomery from the University of Washington discussing “From Dirt to Regenerating our Soils” will officially open this year’s conference. Corn University, Nutrient Management, Precision Ag & Digital Technologies, Healthy Soils for Healthy Water, Regenerative Ag, and Healthy Foods from Healthy Soils are the sessions that make up day one.

On the second day, conference participants will be able to choose from Soybean School, Water Quality Research and BMPs, Alternative Crops, Pest Management of the Atypical Pests: Slugs, voles and more, Healthy Soils for Healthy Waters Precision Nutrient Management, and Healthy Water. In addition, there will be an EPA required dicamba training on both days of this year’s Conservation Tillage Conference provided for pesticide applicators in attendance. To register for one of these Monsanto-provided dicamba application requirements training events, go to: www.roundupreadyxtend.com/training.

Find out what experts from OSU Extension, OARDC, USDA, and SWCD are learning from the latest research about the timely topics that affect today’s farmers, crop consultants, and agribusiness professionals who are out in the field working together to produce crops in an efficient and environmentally responsible manner. Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) and Certified Livestock Manager (CLM) credits will be available to those who attend. Visit ctc.osu.edu and make plans to participate in this year’s Conservation Tillage Conference by February 24 to take advantage of early registration rates.