Extension Update on Ford-Iroquois Agriculture

A weekly publication of University of Illinois Extension, Sept. 8, 2008

Prepared in part by Stu Ellis, former Extension specialist & Aimee Chandler, Ag Program Coord., Ford-Iroquois Unit

Our address is University of Illinois Extension, 912 W. Seminary, Onarga, IL 60955. 815-268-4051

Our Internet homepage is at www.extension.uiuc.edu/ford

• Basics of Farmland Ownership – A telenet series of workshops on Leasing for Farmland Owners will be conducted on Sept. 23, Oct. 7, Oct. 23, and Oct. 28 from 12-1 p.m. The Ford-Iroquois Extension office will be listening in, so come join us. There is a cost of $45 for the series. For more information contact Aimee.
• Sept. 12 is the date for the next USDA Crop Report. NASS statisticians have been in the fields confirming and refining their data from August. Gustav's showers in the western half of the Cornbelt may have come too late to be factored into the estimates. Since the rainfall skirted the eastern Cornbelt, its prior droughty estimates may hold.
• As USDA crop estimators looked at fields, 64% of the corn and 61% of the beans were in good to excellent condition, observes IL Extension Specialist Darrel Good. He says if those ratings hold the average yield would be 154.4 bu. for corn and 43.5 bu. for beans. That is slightly below the 155 bu. August corn estimate, but 3 bu. better for beans. Read his newsletter at: http://www.farmdoc.uiuc.edu/marketing/weekly/html/090208.html .
• Ethanol refineries want more corn, but what can they pay and remain in the black? Good says that breakeven price will be about $5.00 after the blenders tax credit drops from the current 51¢ down to 45¢ next year. Subtracting that from the $2.70 price of wholesale unleaded gas, then add in the approximate $2.60 cost of refining the corn.
• Many dynamics are currently wrenching corn and soybean prices, including the world wheat price which determines livestock feed demand. Darrel Good also lists South American soybean production, world economic conditions, value of the US dollar, weaker soybean crush and weaker bean meal demand, and increased DDGS supplies. He says prices will remain high, but volatile and widely variable through 2009 planting.
• Regarding the stronger dollar, Marketing Specialist Chad Hart at Iowa State says the dollar has been getting stronger and the market weaker. He agrees with Good's analysis: http://www.econ.iastate.edu/outreach/agriculture/periodicals/ifo/IFO_2008/ifo090108.pdf
• Watch the stocks to use ratio says Hart, who notes that percentage was under 15% for corn, beans, and wheat after 2007, with wheat the least in a decade. He says crops may be large, but so is demand and that will keep the stocks to use ratio low for corn and beans. Hart says prices rose this summer because of a lack of a cushion when floods hit.
• Lenders extensively evaluate farmers to make sure they are credit worthy, but have you thought about checking up on your lender? There are two websites to consult:
  1) Commercial banks: http://www4.fdic.gov/IDASP/
  2) Farm Credit: https://reports.fca.gov/CRS/search-institution.asp
• When Hurricane Gustav blew ashore, did it gather up soybean rust from the Gulf Coast kudzu and scatter spores around the Midwest? Ohio State's Anne Dorrance says Ivan in 2004 probably carried spores from South America to the US. If Gustav has delivered the spores, she says it may take up to 4 weeks to find the evidence and by that time the soybean crop will be losing leaves and soybean rust will not have any impact.
• Is your corn stressed? This is the grain fill period and stress will mean stalk weakness and harvest problems says Purdue agronomist Bob Nielsen. That includes drought, heat, nutrient deficiency, leaf diseases, insect damage, hail damage, and consecutive days of cloudy weather. He says if the plant's photosynthesis is curtailed, carbohydrates stored in the stalk and leaves are transferred to the grain, leaving reduced stalk strength.
• Conditions have been good for the fungus that causes Diplodia stalk rots and ear rots. They will be found more frequently in continuous corn fields, and Iowa State pathologist Alison Robertson says the fungus likes cool wet weather during grain filling. Compare her photos with problems in your field. She says hybrid selection can help avoid 2009 problems. More: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/CropNews/2008/0902robertson.htm .
• Perfect weather has allowed soybean aphids to multiply faster than you can count them. IL Extension's Mike Roegge says the 250 threshold is still valid, even with soybean prices double past years, since that allows time to arrange for spraying before the 450 mark is reached when economic injury occurs. Roegge says a speed counting guide is at: http://www.nwroc.umn.edu/Cropping_Issues/2007/Issue9/07_17_07_no4.htm .
• If you spray aphids, count your calendar days before harvest says Iowa State insect specialist Marlin Rice. Insecticides have a pre-harvest interval of 21 to 60 days required by federal labeling rules. He says residue will remain on the beans, and can cause problems for you either at your local elevator or in international shipments.
• Dry weather and pests in the eastern Cornbelt are reducing crop yields. Ohio State Extension specialists report the increased number of spider mites on edges of soybean fields. While not expected to need a rescue spray, farmers are urged to monitor their populations. SCN has become an increasing problem because of the drought stress. An egg count is recommended to evaluate 2009 management options including crop rotation.
• The Ohio spider mite problem could get worse if there is a fungal outbreak in soybeans. OSU plant pathologist Anne Dorrance says fungicides can enhance the severity of the mite and soybean aphid problem because fungal problems sometimes keep those insects under control. Eradicating the fungus creates a healthier environment for insects.
• If your corn ears are showing significant problems, the cause could be a non-ionic surfactant, says IL Extension Specialist Emerson Nafziger. While researching blunt end ears and unfilled tips, he reproduced problem ears of corn with the use of a non-ionic surfactant as a fungicide spray additive. The result was "bouquet" ears, small ears and scattered kernels. Read more: http://www.ipm.uiuc.edu/bulletin/article.php?id=1033 .
• Seed wheat purchases will soon be made, but are you planning to buy the best yielding variety with the agronomic traits needed for your farm? Many Land Grant Universities are publishing their wheat and small grain yield trials for 2008. For a concise location to check on grain yield trials, consult: http://www.agry.purdue.edu/pcpp/UCTA/index.html
• Diesel fuel prices will continue to be significantly higher than the same month of 2007, according to Kansas State economist Kevin Dhuyvetter. Based on NYMEX futures prices, he says diesel fuel will be 47% more in Sept. than it was last Sept. and at least 34% higher than 12 months earlier all the way through February. Without rapid spikes, 2009 prices should catch up with levels earlier this year and remain somewhat stable.
• Blunt, and to the point, Mo livestock economists Glenn Grimes and Ron Plain say, "The live cattle futures market continues to be too optimistic for next year in our opinion." They report consumer demand for beef was down 3.7% in Jan through July and expect weakness to continue into 2009 because of a weak economy and high gas prices. Grimes and Plain say they don't expect beef production to decline in 2009.
• Country of Origin Labeling is effective Sept. 30 and anyone buying or selling livestock will be affected. Utah State ag economist Dillon Feuz says, "In cowboy language, that means that anytime you sell cattle (calves, stockers, cows, bulls) you are going to need to sign an affidavit explicitly stating the country of origin of those animals. Anytime you buy cattle, you will need to obtain that affidavit from the seller to protect you when you subsequently resell the cattle." Cattle in the US on July 15 are considered US origin. His opposing, but entertaining, thoughts are at: http://cattlemarketanalysis.org/index.html .
• How old are you? "An overwhelming majority of injuries occur among workers aged 45 and older," says MO Extension's Karen Funkenbusch because aging farmers continue to farm, and work long hours in difficult conditions with heavy equipment. She says aging farmers fatigue faster, have reduced vision, slower reaction time, poorer hearing and arthritis. "This can lead to accidents causing death or injuries."
• Farmers with physical disabilities, including arthritis, are a particular injury risk:
  1) Get your eyes checked, and avoid driving tractors at dawn or dusk.
  2) Get plenty of rest; take frequent breaks to offset stress; stretch to help blood flow.
  3) Be familiar with side effects of your medication and over the counter drugs.
  4) Ensure a family member or fellow worker knows where you are working.
  5) Use cell phones and two-way radios as a direct link in case of emergency.
• Mark your calendar. Grain producers have a September 30 sign up deadline if participating in the 2008 Direct and Counter-cyclical payment program, which has the same rates as the 2007 program. Producers with crop losses during the current production season may be eligible for the disaster program, but it requires CAT sign-up by September 16. Damage to pasture and forage land can be indemnified if sign-up is done by Dec. 1. Any questions should be addressed to the local Farm Service Agency.