April 30, 2007

Crop Briefs

Here are weekly crop briefs from Matt Montgomery (Sangamon-Menard Extension Crops Educator)

IN BRIEF

- NITROGEN ON BEANS – What is the impact of nitrogen fertilizer on beans? Minimal yield reductions appear more probably than yield increases, and "status quo" yields (at best) when combined with nitrogen input prices, cause agronomists to discourage the practice. Some specialists note an approximate one pound reduction in nitrogen fixed by nodules for each pound of nitrogen applied.
- RUST UPDATE – Two troublesome rust spots caught the attention of plant pathologists in Illinois as we entered 2007. The first was in central Alabama (placing rust within approximately 500 miles of central Illinois). The second was in southern Texas (placing rust spores in a location that has traditionally provided the inoculum for other rust species to appear in Illinois). Late February/early March cold weather eliminated both these troublesome spots and current distribution patterns in Florida/extreme southern Georgia now pale in comparison to rust distribution patterns observed last year. Asian soybean rust is now at least 750 miles from central Illinois. Stay vigilant as the bean season gets underway and monitor rust movement at http://sbrusa.net.
- CEUS AT PASTURE WALK - University of Illinois Extension will offer 3 CCA Credits at the Healthy Horses in Healthy Habitats pasture walk on May 8th. This is the 3rd in a series of equine workshops. Certified Crop Advisors can obtain 2.0 credits (CEU's) for crop management and 1.0 credit for integrated pest management. For more information and to register, please call Sangamon Extension at (217) 782-4617.
- ALFALFA WEEVIL – As noted last week, Kelli Bassett (Montgomery County Extension) noted alfalfa weevils that "faired well" despite April's cold spell. Weevils also seem "fine and dandy" in the Sangamon Menard area, with our first observation of weevils occurring on April 20th. We remind readers that the economic threshold for alfalfa weevil is 25-40% leaf tip skeletonization with 3 or more larvae present.

Posted by John Fulton at 1:18 PM | Permalink |

April 30, 2007

Weekly Rainfall

Logan County Extension Office

Posted by John Fulton at 1:15 PM | Permalink |

April 25, 2007

Crop Insurance and Failed Wheat

Posted by John Fulton at 1:24 PM | Permalink |

April 24, 2007

Planting date and yield

Many are already considering what a late start may do to corn yields. Remember late is a relative term. The last couple of years yield data shows early planting on April 5 as a 100% yield. April 23 gave 107% yield, May 9 gave 104%, and May 30 gave 79%.

This shows extremely early planting still has a yield penalty, but the penalty is not nearly as large as late planting. Normally planting corn the last week of April has shown the largest yields. The trick is to make sure planting is completed before the penalty for late planting starts adding up.

Posted by John Fulton at 8:21 AM | Permalink |

April 24, 2007

Black Cutworm Moth Catches

Posted by John Fulton at 8:15 AM | Permalink |

April 24, 2007

2007 Field Crop Scouting Series

The Field Crop Scouting Workshop series offers a combination of hands-on and classroom experience in integrated pest management and crop growth and development. CCA continuing education credits have been applied for at all sessions.

Session will be from 9-11 am each time at the listed cooperators farm, except the July 10 should include some additional time for a pond inspection. If you would like to be on the email reminder list for sessions, please send an email to fultonj@uiuc.edu . Of course, if you received this by email, you're on the list!

Please try to bring a lawn chair for the classroom portion of the sessions.

Posted by John Fulton at 8:00 AM | Permalink |

April 24, 2007

Weekly Rainfall

Logan County Extension Office

Posted by John Fulton at 7:58 AM | Permalink |

April 17, 2007

Extension Week

The West Central Region has designated April 15-21 as Extension Week. Logan County has had Extension since February of 1918. It began with a Farm Advisor named Elmer Ebersol who began selling the county memberships in the combined Extension and Farm Bureau system that remained in place until the 1950's.

Early projects included establishment of the county Pure Bred Live Stock Breeders' Association, Pure Bred Beef Cattle Breeders' Association, Pure Bred Dairy Cattle Breeders' Association, and the Pure Bred Swine Breeders' Association. Soybeans were a new crop at that time, and their planting was being encouraged. Of course soybeans were used mainly for hay in their early years. Spring wheat was the predominant wheat crop of the time, and there were several thousand acres of oats. Farm labor was a major concern of the time, and labor placements were a major focus of Extension. The first soil survey of the county was also begun.

The 4-H Program began about 1920 with the first 4-H Clubs focusing on specific projects of swine and corn. Later in 1923 there began a push for home economics based clubs, and the push was on to identify volunteer leaders.

Home Economics was added a few years later with the first "Home Advisor." Focuses were on running a household and home food preservation.

Logan County added an aggressive Community Resource Development program in the late 1970's. This program was responsible for many of the community wide surveys done in the early 80's, and these surveys even led to removal of the city of Lincoln parking meters around the square and municipal parking lots.

Posted by John Fulton at 9:38 AM | Permalink |

April 17, 2007

2006 Production Costs for Corn and Soybeans

In 2006 the total of all economic costs per acre for growing corn in Illinois averaged $502 in the northern section, $500 in the central section for farmland with "high" soil ratings, $472 in the central section for farmland with "low" soil ratings, and $448 in the southern section. Soybean costs per acre were $387, $386, $361 and $341, respectively (see Table 1). Costs were lower in southern Illinois primarily because of lower land costs. The total of all economic costs per bushel in the different sections of the state ranged from $2.74 to $3.11 for corn and from $6.94 to $7.30 for soybeans. Variations in this cost were related to weather, yields, and land quality.

For the full report, go to http://www.farmdoc.uiuc.edu/manage/corn_soybeans_costs.pdf

Posted by John Fulton at 9:33 AM | Permalink |

April 16, 2007

Weekly Rainfall

Logan County Extension Office

Posted by John Fulton at 2:37 PM | Permalink |

April 13, 2007

Soil Temperatures

The soil temperatures have been on a roller coaster like we haven't seen in quite a while. Just before the warm spell, soil temperatures were in the 40s. It got warm, and the soil temps shot into the 60s in less than two weeks.

Along comes the cold snap, and temperatures retreated about as fast. Current soil temps (10 am bare ground 4 inches deep) are in the low to mid 40s. Of course, this isn't very conducive to germinating seeds.

At what time do we look to the calendar for planting? April 20 is a date often given for corn planting; because, it gives us about two weeks to the average killing frost date for our area. Normally in late April we are dealing with frost, not deep freezes.

The four inch soil temperature is a much better indicator of soil temp direction than the two inch. The two inch depth is very affected by sunlight and air temperature, while the deeper measurement is more stable and trends upward more with the arrival of spring.

Posted by John Fulton at 10:46 AM | Permalink |

April 10, 2007

Freeze Damage To Alfalfa from Jim Morrison

The recent cold temperatures have raise questions about the degree of injury to alfalfa. Here are some guidelines to use in decision making.

With spring seeded alfalfa, new plants are very cold tolerant at emergence. At the 2nd trifoliate leaf stage, and older, the plant is more susceptible to cold temperatures and may be killed by 4 hours or more at 26 degrees or colder. If alfalfa was seeded with a companion crop, damage from exposure to cold temperature may be lessened as a result of protection provided by the cover crop, because temperature at the soil surface is warmer than at the top of the canopy. Wait a few days and then check the seedlings for signs of new growth/new tissue.

On established alfalfa stands, a light frost will cause the top growth to look wilted. If there was only leaf damage and the stem tip is recovering, harvest as normally planned.

If a high percentage of the stem tips are permanently damaged on taller alfalfa, regrowth will occur from axillary buds below the damaged portion of the stem. Regrowth will also arise from crown buds. Waiting on this regrowth will delay the first harvest. However, if the decision is made to harvest the damaged stand now (earlier than normal), this will place an added stress on the plant and recovery from harvest may be slower than normal.

-more-

With colder temperatures (teens to the low 20's) buds and crowns of established plants can be seriously injured. In this case, it is best to wait 7 days or so to see if the cold temperature has caused any permanent damage to the alfalfa. Dig random plants, split the taproot and crown and observe the condition of the taproot and note any new shoot regrowth. Healthy taproots and crowns are creamy-white and firm, while freeze damaged ones will be watery, brown, and soft. Pay particular attention to the condition of the upper 1 to 2 inches of the taproot.

There is no toxin produced in alfalfa as a result of a frost/freeze. But the bloat potential is increased substantially. If alfalfa is being grazed, allow the frosted plants to dry and then implement normal bloat preventative measures.

Tag line. The above information adapted from an article written by Dr. Stephen Barnhart, Extension forage agronomist, Iowa State University. It can be found at this web site, http://www.agronext.iastate.edu/showitem.php?id=39

Posted by John Fulton at 12:12 PM | Permalink |

April 9, 2007

Freeze Damage To Crops and Fruits - from Mike Roegge

Following is content from Mike Roegge, Crops Educator in Adams-Brown Extension Unit (Quincy):

Temperatures over the weekend were record setting, or close to it. I registered 19 degrees at our house near Quincy. This in itself wouldn't have been so terrible for April 7, if we hadn't of had so many days of 70 and 80 degree temperatures before hand that promoted rapid, tender growth on many plants.
Wheat and alfalfa plants will show the effects of these temperatures. You can already see the frosted leaves. However, these plants will outgrow the injury. The wheat fields I've seen all have frosted desiccated leaf tips. But the next leaf that will emerge will be virtually uninjured. The growing point on some plants has emerged above the soil line, but many haven't. The concern with these cold temperatures was injury to the growing point (emerged head). All the plants I've inspected that had the growing point emerged appear to be in fine shape.
To check your wheat, take the tallest plants and split the lower stem. If there is a developing head in the plant, it will be just above the slightly swollen joint. Look to see if the color is a healthy light green/yellow.
Alfalfa is hanging its head due to the cold as well. These plants will recover and regrowth will occur at the highest live axillary bud. The terminal bud has been killed, so the plant will utilize the next growing point. These axillary buds are located at the point where the leaf petiole joins the stem. In some plants, that will be close to the ground, on others that will be 4-5 inches above the ground. The stand density really did make a difference due to the ability of the plants to hold heat from the soil.
I would not recommend cutting alfalfa. Allow the regrowth to occur up through the dead material. This will obviously delay your first harvest.
Newly seeded and emerged alfalfa did not survive the cold temperatures.
Fruit trees that have bloomed will lose 90% of their blossoms at temperatures of 24 degrees. We've probably lost the peach crop and there may be some hope for a greatly reduced apple crop, maybe.

Posted by John Fulton at 1:54 PM | Permalink |

April 9, 2007

Weekly Rainfall

Logan County Extension Office

Posted by John Fulton at 1:45 PM | Permalink |

April 3, 2007

Roundup Ready Alfalfa

A sales ban on Roundup Ready alfalfa was instituted on March 12, and all plantings of the seed purchased by March 12 were prohibited after March 30. The specialty alfalfa planted before that date could be harvested then fed or sold.

The sales ban was because of a lawsuit brought in California stating proper environmental analysis was not conducted. This contention was brought on because of possible transfer of pollen by bees from Roundup Ready alfalfa to conventional alfalfa. Major impacts were contended to be on exports to Japan and in the case of organic alfalfa.

A final decision on the matter is expected sometime this summer, with additional court hearings beginning in late April. Stay tuned ......... The implications could be rather far reaching.

Posted by John Fulton at 2:37 PM | Permalink |

April 3, 2007

Weekly Rainfall

Logan County Extension Office

Posted by John Fulton at 2:34 PM | Permalink |