· 14 days until the ACRE sign-up deadline and barely 1% of eligible farms have enrolled according to FSA. August 14 is the deadline for operators and owners to sign CCC-509 ACRE (Power of Attorney is accepted.) Production data will not be needed until July 15, 2010, and third party evidence will only have to be provided at that time if spot checked.

· Farm operators and owners needing more information about the ACRE program can visit: http://www.farmgate.uiuc.edu/archive/2009/07/acre_if_you_nee.html . Land Grant University economists and specialists detail the program and give their recommendations. Remember that any payment will not be made until Oct. 2010, if 2009 crops are eligible.

· August 12 is the date for the August Crop Report, and IL marketing specialist Darrel Good says corn prices are still reflecting a large crop. He says the consensus of the market seems to be for a modest reduction of the acreage reported by the USDA in June. His newsletter is at: http://www.farmdoc.uiuc.edu/marketing/weekly/html/072709.html .

· The August Crop Report will be closely watched for its estimates of state average yields as many farmers make last minute decisions on enrolling their farms in ACRE. The report will also update the national average cash price, which is expected to increase the prospects to trigger state payments, despite the yield potential, because of the higher price levels of the past two years. Low yields in some states will also trigger a payment.

· A large crop with a low price may also trigger crop revenue insurance payments, and especially for producers with low yields, says Good. He notes that sales of 2009 corn are not currently appealing, since prices are below crop revenue insurance guarantees.

· Darrel Good says the July Cattle on Feed report indicated feedlot inventory was 5.3% smaller than last year, with liquidation in beef and dairy cows, and a 1.4% decline in the calf crop, which all point to a weak demand for feed corn. However, exports were larger than expected, and the USDA forecast of 1.8 bil. bu. is reachable by the end of August.

· A weather or demand shock is what OH marketing specialist Matt Roberts is looking for to push corn prices higher, but he says don't get greedy, "The big rallies that we've seen the past few years have been driven by competition for acres and input prices. Neither appears to be that significant going forward." Read his latest newsletter at: http://aede.osu.edu/people/roberts.628/extension/newsletter/09n.pdf

· Matt Roberts says the wheat market still has not adjusted to the new CBOT delivery points designed to promote futures and cash convergence beginning in July. But he says that just did not happen, "I did not expect basis to return to historical levels, but I did expect that basis would tighten noticeably as we moved toward the July delivery." And he says, "I'm not going to prognosticate what happens from here."

· Farm estates in the Cornbelt will have a 6.50% interest rate for special use valuation elections made on federal estate tax returns for decedents dying in the current calendar year. IA State ag law specialist Roger McEowen says the IRS interest rate assignments ranged from 7.63% to 6.17% across the US divided along Farm Credit District lines.

· Cool summers are on a four year cycle on the charts of OH St. meteorologist Jim Noel, who says this summer is even far cooler than 2004, 2000, 1996 and 1992. (But stop there because 1988 was hot and dry.) He adds, "This cool year is more a function of the weather pattern combined with such features as coming out of a La Nina, decent soil moisture, longest sunspot minimum in nearly a century per NASA, and a persistent low (pressure area) just north of the Great Lakes in the upper atmosphere."

· Iowa and Nebraska are leading in crop development, but IA St. meteorologist Elwynn Taylor says July brought Iowa half or less of expected rainfall. He says crops have not been hurt because of cooler temperatures. Taylor says even with the coolness, there is no increased risk of early frost. He says there is no great temperature difference with the Yukon and when that has occurred previously frost even comes later than normal.

· Are cool temperatures adverse for corn? "Probably not," says OH St. agronomist Peter Thomison, who says corn yields best with moderate temperatures and adequate moisture. And he defines moderate as 80 to 86ºF, but higher if moisture is available, and night temperatures in the mid-60's. He quotes IL research that cool night temperatures result in slower GDD accumulation which lengthens grain fill and increases dry matter.

· The downside to cool temperatures is a longer time for corn to mature, and Thomison says consider that in estimating fuel costs for grain drying. He warns cool temperatures are also associated with some diseases, limited to specific genetics in some hybrids.

· The cold winter and fewer GDD's this summer have delayed feeding of bean leaf beetles in soybeans to the time that beans are beginning to bloom. IA St. entomologist Erin Hodgson says if they feed on beans during pod-fill, significant damage can result. Scout beans with a drop cloth or net, count the beetles per foot of row and repeat throughout the field. It only takes 6 beetles per row-foot to protect $8 beans at a cost of $12 per acre. Read more: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/CropNews/2009/1630hodgson.htm

· Japanese beetles have not been the widespread problem they have been in prior years, but producers with corn and soybean fields being damaged, can use a rescue treatment: http://ppp.missouri.edu/newsletters/ipcm/archives/v19n15/a2.pdf . Rescue treatments are justified if the Japanese beetles reach the economic injury thresholds for:
1) Corn: 3+ beetles per ear, silks clipped to less than1/2 inch, pollination less than 50%.
2) Beans: 30% defoliation prior to blooming, or 20% defoliation prior to pod-fill.

· How were most farmers so lucky to escape the perennial onslaught of Japanese beetles? Purdue entomologists say the population is lower than most seasons and they suggest you thank the weather, since winter temperatures and spring rains diminished their numbers.

· Soybean aphids have sought employment in Canada this year, with entomologists counting the largest work forces in Quebec and Ontario, but with some itinerants below the US border. WI entomologists suggest continued scouting to detect any rise in the aphid population densities. They urge farmers not to be tempted to tank mix an insecticide with either a soybean fungicide or with a second application of glyphosate.

· August and September will show any damage you may have from Western Bean cutworms, but now is the time to scout for masses of purple eggs on corn leaves to determine if you need to prevent the larvae from entering developing corn ears. Read more at: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/CropNews/2009/0727hodgson2.htm

· If you are looking for good news, rejoice in the latest corn root ratings, which indicate root worm pressure seemed to be down this year. That is the initial report from several research stations in IL, and combined with low numbers of adults being caught in traps, IL entomologist Mike Gray says that suggests low corn rootworm pressure in 2010. But he says without your own data, plan on using Bt hybrids, insecticides, or both next year.

· The low population of corn rootworms in IL was attributed to the larvae hatching in saturated soils, as well as higher use of Bt stacked hybrids. Gray also provides a theory about insecticide resistance: http://ipm.illinois.edu/bulletin/article.php?id=1199 .
1) Granules applied in 7 in. bands create an inter-row refuge preventing annual exposure.
2) Broadcast application allowed some rootworms to acquire resistance to insecticides.

· If you have corn rootworm beetles, how many does it take to cause damage the following year? That is the question NE entomologists set out to answer, and they have created a guideline based on plant population versus the number of beetles. However, their research indicated different thresholds depending on whether you have continuous corn or rotate corn after beans. Read more: http://cropwatch.unl.edu/ .

· Drought conditions have moved into MN & WI, and MN entomologists are urging farmers to beware of spider mite infestations in both soybeans and corn. They are seeing activity along field edges, and suggesting that a rescue treatment may be warranted. Read more: http://swroc.cfans.umn.edu/SWMNPEST/09publications/spidermite.pdf .

· What is the outlook for bean yields if the canopy is not fully closed, flowering is underway, July was the coolest on record, but there is adequate moisture? IL agronomist Vince Davis says it is too early to tell, but history indicates trend yields or better could still be attained. While planting date is a good indicator of yield expectation, "Let's keep hoping for a little more heat through August to maximize crop development."

· Davis at IL quotes KY researcher Chad Lee who says fungicides and fertilizers will not cause soybeans to grow taller, if that is your concern. He says beans were planted late, they are flowering late, and despite what your own "internal clock" says, soybeans do not have to be larger than they are, "Tall plants do not automatically equal high bean yields." Lee says take the money you plan to spend on fertilizer and take a trip someplace warm.

· To avoid your dilemma next year, Lee at KY says the best management practice would have been to plant in 7.5-inch rows. The narrow rows would have improved the chances of getting complete canopy closure by flowering. Foliar fertilizers and fungicides will not make up the difference in temperatures, planting date or row spacing."

· Have corn yields been hurt by the difficulties experienced this year in applying nitrogen? IL agronomist Emerson Nafziger says the uneven stands and yellow leaves may be the result of different factors, not necessarily inadequate nitrogen. He says when water limits yields fewer plants are really needed. At that point high rates of N increase leaf area increasing photosynthesis and transpiration and accelerate the onset of drought. Subsequently, when water is short, more plants and more N both contribute to yield loss. Read more of his newsletter at: http://ipm.illinois.edu/bulletin/article.php?id=1204 .

· The weather was good for wheat in Ohio, where agronomist Jim Beuerlein of OH St. said some varieties reached 120 bu./A helped by a cool, moist spring. He suggests giving 2010 wheat a good start on record yields with improved management techniques:
1) Plant after the Hessian fly-safe date to avoid risk from barley yellow dwarf virus.
2) Apply 20-30 lbs of nitrogen per acre before planting.
3) Ensure the phosphorous level is above 25 ppm and soil pH is above 6.5.
4) Plant 18-25 seeds per row-foot for both 7.5 and 15 in. row spacings.
5) Plant at a seeding depth of 1.0 to 1.5 inches deep.
6) Select disease resistant varieties, since disease is the biggest yield drag on wheat.

· If it is legal to plant your own wheat seed, Beuerlein says do a quality check on it:
1) Have it tested for its ability to germinate under stressful environment conditions.
2) Clean the grain to remove weed seed, diseased kernels, and foreign matter.
3) Treat the seed with appropriate fungicides to protect against seed & soil borne disease.

· The Smithfield liquidation of 27,000 sows in TX and the Tyson liquidation of 20,000 sows in MO & AR will help, but will not be enough to solve the over production problem in the pork industry according to MO economists Glenn Grimes and Ron Plain. They say that is only 0.78% of the breeding herd, and it needs to drop 7-10% from June levels.

· The H1N1 virus continues to plague the pork industry, keeping US pork exports well below the period prior to the outbreak of the ill-named "swine flu." MO economist Glenn Grimes says May exports were down 36% from May 2008, and for the first 5 months of the year, exports were 17% below 2008 levels, but 34% above 2007 levels.

· Cowboys are being squeezed more by feed prices than by cattle prices say Grimes and Plain, who look at large crop prospects, and say, "Even though corn and meal prices this next year are likely to be substantially below a year earlier, the odds do not favor going back to $2.00 corn and $180-200 soybean meal. Therefore, we have to reduce the cow herd more than we have so far to get production and cost back in line with cattle prices."

· Beef exports on the other hand were 2.6% higher than year ago levels for the first 5 months of the year. However, beef imports, as a percent of production, were 5% compared to 3.76% in the same months of 2008, according to Glenn Grimes.

· USDA is rechecking its corn and sorghum acres in IL, IN, KY, MO, ND, OH, & PA to ensure the Aug 1 crop report is as accurate as possible. NASS will be asking farmers to update acreage to reflect any changes in planted acreage since the June Acreage report. Any changes the USDA makes will be factored into the report released on Aug. 12.

· The recent $1.30 loss in corn and $2.20 loss in beans are due to large acreage, but also weakness in financial and energy markets, all of which outweighed prospects for larger exports and tight soybean stocks. That is the opinion of IL marketing specialist Darrel Good who says price and yield prospects will soon show if a low has been established.

· Good says the market expects relatively large crops, but there is still room for yield and price uncertainty. Nov bean futures are 20¢ above revenue insurance guarantees, which allows some additional pricing, but Dec corn futures are well below those guarantees. Read more at: http://www.farmdoc.uiuc.edu/marketing/weekly/html/072009.html

· Darrel Good says if crop conditions remain as they are and there is no early frost or freeze, then IL weather models point to a nearly 162 bu. corn crop and a 44.7 bu. bean yield. Those weather models are based on the weekly crop condition report that has 71% of the corn crop and 65% of the bean crop in good to excellent condition.

· The August crop report will replace USDA's statistical models with actual field counts, says Mike Woolverton at KS State, and he says early trade guesses would put the crop at record high levels. The records are 160.4 bu. for 2004 corn and 43 bu. for 2005 beans.

· But Woolverton is concerned about the weather. He says crops typically maturing in Sept. will not be ready until Oct., and currently the record low day and night temperatures in the Cornbelt are complicating the situation. He says it may take 125 days for 110 day corn to mature. Woolverton thinks the cold summer means frost will come early. Read his newsletter: http://www.agmanager.info/marketing/outlook/newletters/default.asp .

· At Purdue, marketing specialist Chris Hurt believes the 25 mil. acres of beans planted after May will pull the national average yield down to 41.8 bu. compared to the 42.6 bu. yield projected so far by USDA. Hurt suggests the tight stocks will push August futures toward $11.50, and cash toward $12.00, but he's quick to say it is risky to expect that.

· Storage returns for beans will be positive into January, says Hurt, but not much beyond that because of the anticipation of the South American crop. So for farmers with limited storage, that suggests storing corn over soybeans, and he says an improving economy will help provide a more positive market after the fall harvest. Read more of his newsletter at: http://www.agecon.purdue.edu/extension/prices/grains/soybean.asp?ID=63 .

· Store corn? That's also the recommendation of MN specialist Ed Usset, who calculates the Dec '09 to Jul '10 carrying charge at 32¢ or 4.57¢ per month, which is the largest going back to 1990. He says that is four times larger than the interest costs incurred on storing corn, and the market is sending early signals to get ready to store corn at harvest. Read more of Ed's July 16^th blog at: http://edsworld.wordpress.com/ .

· What about ACRE payments? At this point, Purdue's Chris Hurt says the national soybean price of $9.30 would not allow an IN payment to be triggered, but the futures market average price of $8.70 would trigger a soybean payment about $15 higher than conventional payments. Hurt says if your yields are above average that would tell you to stay out of ACRE. If they are below average, sign up by the August 14 deadline.

· 2009 could be a high payment year for ACRE say IL ag economists Gary Schnitkey and Nick Paulson, because projections of commodity prices are below benchmark prices. Based on history, an ACRE payment for corn would have been triggered in IL in 32% of years since 1977, but, "Because of higher price variability, it is likely that the payment percentage will be higher in the future than in the past," say the economists. Read more at: http://www.farmdoc.uiuc.edu/manage/newsletters/fefo09_11/fefo09_11.html .

· An analysis of IL yields since 1977 found that ACRE payments would have been made:
1) For corn in 1977, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1997, 1998, 1999, & 2005.
2) For beans in 1982, 1984, 1998, 1999, & 2000.
3) For wheat in 1977, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1990, 1991, 1996, & 1998.

· IA meteorologist Elwyn Taylor believes this season has a lot in common with 1992 and 2004. "Both summers were warm on the West Coast and cold in the Corn Belt. Both had record high corn yields in the Midwest. 2009, even with the shaky start, is set up to have a record high yield. Too early to call this a forecast, but it is worth watching," he says.

· July will be one of the coolest on record believes MO climatologist Pat Guinan. He says the first 22 days averaged 72.2ºF, tying the record with 1924 as the coolest in 121 years of weather records. Guinan says the northwesterly airflow brings cool and dry air intrusions into the Cornbelt. But he says, "July's below-normal temperatures in the region are not an indicator one way or another on trends in average global temperatures."

· Are cool temperatures good or bad for corn? Purdue's Bob Nielsen says cooler temperatures are preferable to heat when it comes to pollination and grain fill, and GLS development will slow down. On the other hand, fewer heat units means slower corn development, which will further delay the crop that is already behind schedule. He also says cooler temperatures will cause silks to halt the elongation process and result in a mass of scrambled silks at the end of the husk interfering with kernel set. Read more at: http://www.agry.purdue.edu/ext/corn/news/articles.09/GoodNewsBadNews-0721.html

· "Short corn" is more a psychological issue for you than a production issue, since OH agronomist Peter Thomison says yields will not be adversely affected, unless the canopy allows more sun to reach the ground than the leaves which enhances weed presssure. He says short plants of one hybrid will produce the same as tall plants of the same hybrid.

· SmartStaxCorn is the latest headline, following EPA and Canadian approval for the Monsanto and Dow AgroSciences product for next spring. Hybrids with that name will have four different toxins against rootworms, corn borers, and other winged insects as well as tolerance to glyphosate and glufosinate. However, the biggest change for anyone planting SmartStaxCorn will be the ability to reduce the 20% refuge to only 5%. The companies report they will have enough seed for 3-4 million acres for 2010.

· Evaluate your corn crop before deciding whether to spend money on a fungicide, says IL specialist Carl Bradley, who says applications have increased in the past two years:
1) Fungal risk is increased if there is substantial corn residue left from the prior year.
2) Late planted corn is more at risk for some foliar diseases.
3) Hybrids with a "fair to poor" rating for GLS have a 6 bu. response to fungicides.
4) Hybrids with a "good to excellent" rating for GLS have a 4 bu. fungicide response.
5) Corn leaves that are wet longer in the day are more susceptible to foliar diseases.
6) Diseases that begin to appear before tassel development are not a good sign.

· Scout corn for the appearance of disease on the third leaf below the ear and higher on the plant, says Bradley, then check the seed tags if the hybrid is susceptible to disease.
1) If moderately susceptible, consider a fungicide application if the disease is present.
2) If intermediately susceptible, consider a fungicide if conditions are favorable.
3) If resistant to disease, a fungicide is not recommended, but scout anyway.

· High fungicide prices and low corn prices complicate the decision whether to apply a fungicide. IA State specialists say $26-$28 fungicide and $3.25 corn make a tough choice, but researchers "reported a mean yield response of 7.5 bu/acre when gray leaf spot disease severity on the ear leaf was greater than 5% at R5 to R6" growth stages. More: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/CropNews/2009/0721MuellerRobertson.htm .

· Beware of other issues when you are making a decision on corn fungicide application:
1) Foliar disease pressure can result in stalk quality and standability issues at harvest.
2) If the weather dries up, foliar disease progression will slow or stop without rain.
3) Bacterial diseases are present and will not be controlled with a fungicide spray.
4) Corn with a fungicide will be wetter and more costly to dry at harvestime.

· Shabby soybeans and potentially diminished yields can result from a zoo-full of defoliators. Consider a rescue treatment when 30% defoliation has occurred before blooming or when 20% defoliation occurs between bloom and pod filling, if you have:
1) Bean leaf beetles are hitting a second time over large areas of a field.
2) Blister beetles will strip foliage between veins in isolated areas of a field.
3) Grasshoppers focus their attention on areas near sod waterways and fence rows.
4) Green cloverworms may be decimated by diseases before they are problems.
5) Thistle caterpillars feed along roadsides and field edges.
6) Woolyworms come in two generations, primarily in drier years
7) Japanese beetles defoliate beans, but may not reduce yields.

· The red alert flag is being hoisted by MN entomologists who are warning soybean growers about the potential for an explosion of soybean aphids in northwestern MN and northeastern ND. They expect population expansion with warmer temperatures and urge producers to begin scouting and only when threshold levels are reached.

· Any soybean fungicide should be applied at the right time, and IA State specialist X.B. Yang says the critical time is the R3 growth stage, which is when soybeans begin to set pods. He says if you've had good results the past 4 years, chances are positive for this year also. In similar rainy years, over 50% of sprays yielded an economic return and over 70% of sprays resulted in a positive yield. But Yang also says fungicides will not control bacterial leaf blight, and R3 is too late to control white mold with fungicides.

· With temperatures below 85ºF, your chances increase for white mold about the time soybeans begin blooming. Scout for wilting leaves, bleached stems, and a fuzzy mold on the plant. The soil-borne fungus can survive for years and appears when environmental conditions are perfect. IL specialist Carl Bradley says there are management options:
1) Some varieties have partial resistance, and those can be on your priority list.
2) Fields with perennial problems can be planted in wider rows and lower population.
3) Domark and Topsin M fungicides are available, but apply it at the flowering stage.
4) Since the fungus can be seed-borne also, avoid bin-run seed from other fields.
5) Contans WG is a commercially available parasite of the mold, which has had limited evaluation. Bradley says it is applied to the soil after harvest or before planting.

· If your soybeans look sick, they may have a nutrient deficiency suggests IL specialist Fabian Fernandez in his newsletter: http://ipm.illinois.edu/bulletin/article.php?id=1196 . He says soil conditions this year may be magnifying nutrient deficiencies, such as:
1) N deficiency makes older leaves turn pale or yellowish-green.
2) K deficiency is observed as necrosis (death) of the edge of older leaves.
3) Fe deficiency is observed as yellow coloration between leaf veins.

· Beans are growing slow because of cool temperatures, but weeds are growing fast because of lots of moisture; and IA weed specialist Bob Hartzler warns you that:
1) Label restrictions are based on growth stage, crop rotation, & harvest interval.
2) Only 2.2 lb. acid equivalent of glyphosate can be applied postemergence yearly.
3) There is a reduced ability of late season treatments to control the weeds.

· Check the calendar and count backward from potential harvest to help determine what herbicide you can use on your soybeans. IL weed specialist Aaron Hager provides a list of herbicides with the minimum number of days from spray to harvest, and some have as many as 90 days minimum. List: http://ipm.illinois.edu/bulletin/article.php?id=1194 .

· IA is catching up with the rest of the Cornbelt. Weed specialist Mike Owen says his research has found, "that Iowa has populations of common waterhemp that are resistant to PPO inhibitor herbicides. We have also identified populations of giant ragweed that appear to have evolved resistance to glyphosate. At this time, we have not documented how widely spread these problems have become or the specific details about the alleged resistance. Research to better describe the weed resistance is underway."

Gary Schnitkey, State Extension Specialist, will provide information about the ACRE program at a meeting hosted by FBFM Fieldmen Jim Phelan and Kent Leesman at the Emden Community House, Emden Illinois, as follows:

Date: Wednesday, July 29

Time: 7:00 am to about 8:30 a.m.

Place: Emden Community House, Main St., Emden, IL

Coffee and Rolls will be provided, and no reservations are needed.

Some diseases, particularly gray leaf spot, are clearly visible on highly susceptible hybrids. Information about fungicides, application, and returns on the dollar are available at: http://ipm.illinois.edu/bulletin/article.php?id=1180 There is also an article on stalk quality related to fungicide application at http://ipm.illinois.edu/bulletin/article.php?id=1185

Japanese beetles continue to increase in number. The following bulletin article deals with Japanese beetles: http://ipm.illinois.edu/bulletin/article.php?id=1177

Corn rootworm beetles remain few and far between at this time, but maintain a lookout for potential silk clipping. Later maturing corn may have more problems as beetle numbers increase.

· Abundant corn supplies. Helped by a larger estimate of corn production and larger stocks of corn, the market is satisfied there will be ample supplies of corn to meet demand says IL Marketing Specialist Darrel Good. He says the futures market expects an average price of $3.25 for new corn, compared to the latest USDA estimate of $3.35 to $4.15. Read more: http://www.farmdoc.uiuc.edu/marketing/weekly/html/071309.html .

· Abundant bean supplies. With more acreage, the market is expecting a 3.26 bil. bu. bean crop says Good, which has pushed the futures market projections for the new crop to just under $9 per bu. That compares to USDA's $8.30 to $10.30 price range. He says old crop bean exports could still grow, pushing carryover to only 70 mil. bu. Good notes the market is not concerned and some rationing of the old crop may be required.

· Abundant wheat supplies. With more acreage and a larger yield estimate, the new wheat crop seems to also have ample supplies. Good says the ending stocks should reach an 8 year high of 706 mil. bu. and good weather will bring further price weakness.

· So what does that mean for marketing? Darrel Good says the low price of wheat, weak basis, and large futures carry suggests retaining some ownership in the new crop. Additionally, "December 2009 corn futures are well below the price guarantee for crop revenue products which discourages additional new crop sales. November 2009 soybean futures are about $.30 above the crop revenue insurance price guarantee."

· Late planted corn and beans are just getting out of the starting gate, in the words of Kansas State's Mike Woolverton, who adds that normal first frost dates this year would stunt corn and soybean yields, especially in the Eastern Cornbelt where planting was delayed. Woolverton says, "Extremely tight ending stocks create the potential for the soybean price to explode in the last half of August." Read more of his newsletter at: http://www.agmanager.info/marketing/outlook/newletters/default.asp .

· The July Supply-Demand report made your ACRE decision for you saysMichigan State's Jim Hilker. He says, "Most of the articles and programs you read and see are going at it backwards. What they should be doing is showing that the market makes the decision of should you signup, and your job is to figure out how to go about signing up correctly." Read more of his newsletter at: https://www.msu.edu/user/hilker/outlook.htm .

· In Hilker's calculations, the futures market is predicting a $3.25 national average price, and his chart of low and average yields would result in a payment from the ACRE program. "Even if the state and your farm have an average yield, just the lower prices expected relative to the past two years will trigger ACRE payments of $68.48 per acre if prices do average $3.25 and you have a similar yield to the state yield. If you're Olympic average ACRE yield is higher than 138, then you will have even higher payments."

· As a further predictor of prices, Hilker says the options market predicts a 55% chance that 2009-2010 prices will average below $3.25. "The is a 55% chance that to get $68 all you have to give up is $5-6 of direct payments. What I call the breakeven price is $3.65; this is the price where ACRE pays if we are below it and does not pay if we are above with average yields." Hilker adds, "And $3.15 is at the 50-50 point; the market says there is a 50% that you will collect $82.28 or more if the national price is $3.15 or below. At around $2.95, about where new crop bids are, you are reaching maximum payments, and there is at this point a 40% chance that will happen." Signup deadline is Aug. 14.

· Hilker says the odds are even higher that wheat will be eligible for an ACRE payment compared to corn, but things can change. He says there is a 50-50 chance that beans will be eligible for an ACRE payment because current prices are just below the threshold.

· Reports of spoiled corn are increasing as bins of 2008 corn are cleaned out. Some of the corn did not reach maturity when harvested and the issues are now resulting in closer grading of samples and increased discount schedules says IA State's Charles Hurburgh.

· Stored corn exceeding 15% moisture should be dried immediately, and moved if showing damage. If blended with #2 corn, Hurburgh said bad kernels can be detected in typical samples and closer scrutiny will be applied by poultry feeders and processors. He says it will take a year or more to move 2008 corn into the market limits of #2 corn.

· Hurburgh says 2008 corn will be showing up in the market as 2009 corn is harvested, but he says it is better to move out the old stock and replace it with 2009 corn if you are waiting to price the 2008 crop. He says successful blending will be difficult to achieve because spoilage of the entire lot will quickly occur, creating problems for exporters.

· A corn refresher is offered by IL crop specialist Loretta Ortiz-Ribbing for farmers whose vexing problems were addressed earlier this year by her colleagues:
1) If the environment retards corn growth and the plant is older than it appears, any spray application should be keyed on the most restrictive element of plant size or age.
2) If the environment has made corn plants appear to be nutrient deficient, remember that warmer and drier soils may enhance growth and plant appearances may improve.
3) If the weather has prevented either corn or bean planting, planting a cover crop is better than leaving a field fallow to enhance soil microbes and prepare for 2010 crops.

· Soybean aphids are off to a slow start this year in the Cornbelt, but entomologists say there is still a long way to go in the growing season. In OH overall densities are low, but some fields are showing signs of infestations. In IA some fields are expected to reach economic thresholds for treatment within the week. Low densities are in IN, NE, & SD.

· Corn rootworms are the focus of specialists at IL where roots are being examined for damage. Purdue specialists report low levels of injury, possibly due to the result of very wet soil conditions at the time of larval hatch this spring.

· Western bean cutworms are being reported in larger numbers than previous in OH, along with increased number in IN. IL corn growers are being urged to begin scouting. If 8% of plants have an egg mass or young larvae, consider a rescue treatment.

· Japanese beetles have been reported in various numbers in the Eastern Cornbelt and for the next several weeks, producers are encouraged fields for silk clipping and defoliation of soybean leaves. Japanese beetles concentrate in border rows of both crops and rescue treatments applied to field margins may be sufficient in some cases.

· Foliar corn disease and stalk rots could go hand in hand says IL crop specialist Carl Bradley, who says when the disease pressure is sever, the blighted leaves cannot produce enough sugars to fill the ear and then plant robs the stalk of nutrients and that allows other diseases to infect the stalk. He says foliar fungicides may help reduce potential stalk rot, but they will not directly control pathogens that attack corn stalk integrity. Read more of his newsletter at; http://ipm.illinois.edu/bulletin/article.php?id=1185

· Eyespot is becoming the fungus of the year in Iowa, because weather began cool and wet, and is a frequent problem in fields of continuous corn. The infected residue allows the fungal spores to move up the corn stalk in the new crop, with yield loss and stalk rot.

· Gray leaf spot is become more prevalent in the Cornbelt this year, and much earlier than usual, giving it more time to create problems in corn fields. GLS likes warm and humid weather and can devastate yields if it spreads to leaves above the ear. IA State specialist Alison Robertson says the cornerstone of GLS and eyespot is using resistant seed. Also fungicides can help if applied to fields with disease pressure or hybrid susceptibility.

· Dairymen participating in the CWT program will have tax consequences when their bids are accepted for sending their herd to slaughter. WI dairy specialist Phil Harris says there are both deductions and liabilities: http://www.calt.iastate.edu/cwtprogram.html .
1) Producers paying the 10¢ per cwt assessment have a deductible expense and it should not be just netted out of milk income reported on Schedule F of IRS form 1040.
2) Slaughter prices received are expected to be less than the value of the cows as reported by USDA, so the first 90% of income is treated as income from the sale of the cows.
3) The final 10% received 12 months later should be treated as ordinary income subject to self employment tax, if it exceeds USDA's agricultural prices value.

· New USDA appointments include administrators of FSA and Risk Management agencies. Jonathan Coppess will be head of FSA, and comes from working on Senate agriculture issues, law school, and an Ohio farm. Bill Murphy will be RMA chief, following a three decade career in federal crop insurance program management.

· New leaders in the Univ. of IL College of ACES include Interim Dean Bob Hauser, who replaces Bob Easter who was recently named Interim Provost. Hauser is replaced as Chair of the Ag Econ department by Paul Ellinger, whose appointment is permanent.

· Report day. USDA releases its July supply and demand report Friday morning, which is expected to incorporate statistics revealed on June 30 regarding acreage and grain stocks. The market is expecting old crop corn carryout to rise to 1.692 bil. bu. as a result of decreased feed use. New crop stocks are expected to rise to 1.567 bil. bu. For soybeans the market is anticipating old crop stocks to diminish slightly to 107 mil. bu. and for new crop stocks to rise slightly to 229 mil. bu. when the marketing year ends in Aug. 2010.

· ACRE assistance is being provided from a variety of sources for farmers and landowners who are still a bit foggy about the details of the program and uncertain if it will be beneficial this year. The deadline for signing up for 2009 benefits is August 14.
1) Kansas State—Internet-based seminar scheduled for August 4 at 7 p.m. Details: http://www.agmanager.info/crops/insurance/risk_mgt/rm_html09/AB_ACREpay.asp
2) University of Illinois—Internet-based ACRE presentation http://www.farmdoc.uiuc.edu/presentations/2009%20items/ACRE-farmdoc/player.html
3) Ohio State—series of slides, papers, and examples from economist Carl Zulauf. http://aede.osu.edu/people/publications.php?user=zulauf.1
4) USDA—series of Internet files and fact sheets on details of the ACRE program: http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=home&subject=dccp&topic=landing
5) Iowa State—ACRE fact sheet and decision aid that estimates payments. http://www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm/crops/html/a1-45.html
6) Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI) ACRE decision aid: http://www.fapri.missouri.edu/farmers_corner/tools/ACRE.asp
7) University of Minnesota ACRE Fact sheet and worksheet decision aid. http://www.extension.umn.edu/agbusinessmanagement/

· Prepayment for inputs used to be a tool for adjusting expenses on your IRS Schedule F, but IL ag lawyer Jerry Quick says it is now becoming a requirement to get access to inputs and guarantee volume needed. Speaking to a farmer conference, Quick warned in the case of bankruptcy of the input supplier, a farmer who has submitted a prepayment would be an unsecured creditor. He said ensure that you have good documentation about the purpose of the prepayment, amount of the input being purchased, and any delivery arrangements, and if the product was found in a warehouse, access might be easier.

· With current production costs, you may find yourself making an appointment with a lender well before you ever anticipated. If so, prepare yourself ahead of time. Economist Danny Klinefelter at Texas A & M suggests being prepared to answer these questions:
1) How much money will you need, not just now, but over time?
2) What will the money be used for, and lifestyle or old debt, are not good answers.
3) How will your overall financial position be affected by the proceeds of the loan?
4) What collateral will be used to secure the loan and what will its value be over time?
5) How will alternative outcomes affect your ability to repay the loan as expected?
6) What risk management measures will you implement to protect the loan?

· El Nino trade winds have stopped and reversed in the western Pacific, slowing development of that weather maker. IA State climatologist Elwynn Taylor says it is uncertain if the pattern will increase, and he is calling it neutral through August. Taylor says that means there is a 60% chance of drier than usual weather through September and that would not be bad if the temperature remains below the trend line.

· Elwynn Taylor says the Cornbelt is generally caught between two frontal systems that have cut off any flow of weather from the Gulf of Mexico, and that leads him to predict only a 20% chance of having to treat for Asian soybean rust. Taylor notes the Drought Monitor shows drought is beginning in MN & WI, but should not spread further.

· Wet and cloudy weather give a mixed message to a corn plant says IL crop specialist Emerson Nafziger. Read more: http://ipm.illinois.edu/bulletin/article.php?id=1181
1) Higher kernel numbers result from normal to above-normal rainfall in July.
2) Less photosynthesis and sugars cut the processes of pollination and kernel set.
3) Wetness also can encourage leaf disease development.

· Vandals did not use an old ear notcher for hogs to decorate your corn leaves, says Purdue corn specialist Bob Nielsen. But he says the curious notches on some corn leaves seem to be linked by genetics more than anything else. The notches occurred while leaves were growing about the V7 stage, and occurred because of rapid growth, not vandals or insects. The leaves apparently were stuck in the plant and damaged on rapid emergence.

· Stressed corn—from lack of moisture—will drop yield after 4 days of stress:
1) 5-10% yield drop at the 12-14 leaf stage when the plant begins to flower.
2) 10-25% yield drop during the period of tassel emergence.
3) 40-50% yield drop during silk emergence when ear is trying to grow rapidly.

· Japanese beetles have invaded many fields, defoliating bean leaves and destroying corn tassels and silks. Read more: http://ipm.illinois.edu/bulletin/article.php?id=1177
1) Spray when defoliation hits 30% before bloom and 20% between bloom and pod fill.
2) Spray when beetles reach 3+ per ear and begin to clip silks during pollination.

· Corn rootworm larvae may have been loafing if the analysis by Purdue specialists is correct, since they have registered less root feeding and damage than was expected. They say larval populations are down, for one thing. But they also say the larvae are at peak growth currently, and could be eating more, which will show up later as lodged corn.

· Corn rootworm adults are beginning to emerge, which means root feeding is coming to an end, but silk clipping and egg laying will just begin. IL entomologists say rescue treatments are warranted if there are 5+ adults per plant and pollination is incomplete.

· The wide variation in corn maturity will keep the corn rootworm beetles well fed, believe the Purdue entomologists. The early beetles only had leaves to feed on and will cause no damage. But areas with large populations will see the later planted fields suffering the most damage from silk clipping, and should be regularly scouted.

· Are you applying a foliar fungicide on corn? Extensive research in the Cornbelt has occurred along with increasing applications by farmers, with no definitive data that says either do it or don't do it. IL specialist Carl Bradley says, "The bottom line is that when disease pressure is high enough to reduce yields, most of the fungicide products available for corn will do a good job of protecting against diseases and yield losses." Read a summary of the research at: http://ipm.illinois.edu/bulletin/article.php?id=1180 .

· Also weighing in on the fungicide issue are Iowa researchers who warn about potential problems with soybeans that follow corn, which has been treated with a foliar fungicide. They report that corn residue bearing the fungicide takes longer to break down, which can be detrimental to the planting of no-till soybeans the following year.

· A cadre of specialists from Iowa State is casting doubt on the benefits of combining insecticide and fungicide, which is a service being offered by some crop protection suppliers. Their complaint is that one of the two may not be needed, leading to a waste of money, or in the case of insecticide, destruction of beneficial insects that eat aphids.

· Crazytop develops were soils have been flooded after planting and before the 5-leaf stage, and is a disease caused by a bacteria. Iowa State plant pathologists suggest destroying the plants by hand and reducing the buildup of the bacteria in the field.

· Dry regions of the Cornbelt may want to scout for two spotted spider mites in soybean fields. OH agronomists are warning that soybeans under moisture stress can be further damaged by mites, unless fields are scouted, and sprayed with rescue insecticides.

· Soybean aphids are scattered sporadically around the Cornbelt with some heavy pockets and nearly unseen in other areas. However, IL entomologist Mike Gray says despite low densities in spots, populations can increase rapidly in the absence of natural enemies. So when scouting for aphids, tally the lady beetles and lacewings in your fields also.

· Soybean diseases are showing up in scouting, says MO agronomist Laura Sweets.
1) Fusarium: lower leaves yellowing, stunting, main tap root tends to rot away.
2) Rhizoctonia: lower leaves yellowing, stunting, poor root development.
3) Phytophthora: plant off color, wilted, dark brown discoloration on main stem.
4) Bacterial blight: hail damage, small black lesions with light green halo.
5) SDS: leaves in upper to mid canopy have yellow irregular interveinal blotches.
6) Downy mildew: upper leaf bright yellow, lower leaf has downy mildew fungus.

· Grain bin moisture should be regularly monitored for good insect control. It may take a week or more of aeration to move a moisture layer through and out of the grain mass, depending on the volume of air moved, the bin size, and the temperature of the air.

· Your stored grain may be teeming with life, particularly Indian meal moth in the top 12 in. of the bin if you discover moist, sour smelling grain with thick webbing. If that describes your bin, remove that grain and treat the bin with an insecticide, including the use of pest strips from the ceiling. If you have other vermin, then either use the grain for feed or fumigate it. That may require a professional who applies poisonous gases.

· Sprayer calibration should include careful selection of droplet size to achieve accurate, safe, and efficient application of crop protectants. KS ag engineer Bob Wolf says the droplet size created by a nozzle becomes very important when it comes to coverage or protecting nearby areas from the spray. He says nozzle makers are adding droplet size charts. More: http://www.agecon.purdue.edu/topfarmer/newsletter/TFCW6_2009.pdf

· Internet innovation at Purdue will be assisting pesticide applicators more easily find problem areas for inadvertent spray drift. A new website www.driftwatch.org can be checked by IN applicators for sensitive sites, such as beehives, certified organic fields, fruits, fish farms, grapes, floriculture or greenhouse production, organic livestock, nursery crops, pumpkins and melons, and tomatoes and vegetables. Sensitive fields or habitats can be located on the Web site by entering an address, town or ZIP code.

· Initial pork profitability may come more from lower feed costs than from higher market prices says Purdue's Chris Hurt. That is because corn and soybean meal prices are dropping faster than production numbers, which are keeping markets depressed. Although farrowing intentions are down 3% this summer and 2% this fall, they are being offset by increased litter size and higher marketing weights. Read his newsletter at: http://www.farmdoc.uiuc.edu/marketing/weekly/html/070609.html .

· Chris Hurt doubts there will be much reduction in the pork supply, since sows that are culled are the least productive and with lower feed prices in coming months, higher weights will be put on at a lower cost per pound. He is expecting production to drop only 1% over the coming year, which will keep prices depressed for the balance of 2009.

· With lower costs of corn, Hurt calculates production costs about $48 per live cwt for the summer and possibly down to $46 for the fall quarter. He's projecting 2010 production costs to be in the same neighborhood. Hog prices are expected to average in the upper $40's for the rest of the year, slowly moving into the $50's by summer of 2010. Hurt says that means $5-7 losses per head this year, and black ink possibly in late winter.

· Livestock producers, who lost livestock due to adverse weather, can apply for USDA benefits beginning July 13. Livestock lost as far back as calendar year 2008 will be eligible for benefits if applications are submitted by Sept. 13. Livestock lost during 2009 will also be eligible for indemnification benefits if the claim is filed by Jan. 30, 2010. Contact FSA offices for details and ask about the Livestock Indemnity Program.

· Grandpa told you to listen to the corn grow, and this was a good year to not only hear, but also see it grow. KY corn researchers put a tape measure on a corn plant beginning June 3 and ending July 4. It grew between 1.4 and 5.0 in. per day, and grew an average of 10% of its height each day during the V6 stage. Leaves grew 2.5 to 4.0 in. per day, which the researchers calculated to be at a speed of 2.5 to 3.8 millimeters per hour.

· Mark down these USDA estimates for comparison later in the year. These statistics are the essence of the Planted Acreage and Quarterly Grain Stocks reports from June 30:
1) 2009 corn acreage is 87.035 mil. with harvested acreage projected to be 80.107 mil.
2) 2009 soybean acreage is 77.483 mil. with 76.547 estimated for harvest.
3) Trend line corn yield is 153.4 bu. and trend line soybean yield is 42.6 bu.
4) On June 1, corn stocks were 4.266 bil. bu. and soybean stocks were 597 mil. bu.

· IL ag economist Darrel Good says, "The June USDA reports point to a comfortable supply of corn, soybeans, and wheat for the 2009-10 marketing year. The focus in the corn and soybean markets will now turn to summer weather and yield prospects." Read his newsletter at: http://www.farmdoc.uiuc.edu/marketing/weekly/html/063009.html .

· Corn yield prospects are improving in IL, IN, & IA say IL economists Darrel Good and Scott Irwin and meteorologist Mike Tannura. Their yield model uses the amount of acres listed good to excellent and depending on various scenarios, they project the national corn yield between 133.3 and 170.2 bu, with a 154.1 bu. average for average weather. More: http://www.farmdoc.uiuc.edu/marketing/mobr/mobr_09-03/mobr_09-03.html
1) IL corn yield ranges from 138.2 to 172.1 bu. ranging from poor to good weather.
2) IN corn yield ranges from 137.1 to 166.2 bu. ranging from poor to good weather.
3) IA corn yield ranges from 157.1 to 187.0 bu. ranging from poor to good weather.

· Early prospects for soybean yields in IL, IN, & IA are difficult to project because of the lateness of planting says the IL group. Their calculations show soybean yields may be:
1) Below trendline in IL, but slightly above the 46.2 bu. three year average.
2) Near trendline in IN, and about the three year average yield of 47 bu.
3) Above trendline in IA, as well as above three year average yield of 49.5 bu.
4) They project a 42.2 bu. national yield on 76.6 mil. acres producing 3.231 bil. bu.
More: http://www.farmdoc.uiuc.edu/marketing/mobr/mobr_09-02/mobr_09-02.html

· Weather will play a major role in the markets says Chad Hart at IA State, given delays in crop development. He adds, "Any weather stress will translate into crop stress quickly and a rebound in crop prices…some have pointed out the similarities to 1983 and the potential for a recovery of La Nina, raising the possibility of a late summer drought." Read more: http://www.econ.iastate.edu/outreach/agriculture/periodicals/ifo/ .

· The wheat market fell along with corn and beans following the release of the acreage report because the NASS spring wheat estimate was 675,000 acres more than expected, says Mike Woolverton of KS State. But he says crop development is behind average and only 15% of the crop is headed out, compared to the typical 40% at this time of year.

· The 11^th Commandment for corn is, "Thou shall not hold unpriced grain in the bin after July 1," says MN marketing specialist Ed Usset. "Unlike soybeans, your basis risk on unpriced corn held in storage is minimal – the spot market for corn and for new crop delivery are both trading at or near 55 cents under. Your risk in old crop unpriced corn is in the futures price. On 6/26, the Dec'09 corn contract closed at $4.04 per bushel. Since 1990, the December corn contract has traded lower in 2 of 3 years from the first week of July to the second week of October. Even with minimal basis risk, I'm paying attention to the 11th Commandment." Read more of Ed Usset at: http://edsworld.wordpress.com/ .

· Usset also applies the 11^th Commandment to soybeans, and says "The stocks situation in soybeans is tight, and the tightness is reflected in an inverted futures market. The old crop Jul'09 contract is trading at a $2 premium to the new crop Nov'09 contract. The nearby soybean basis in Southern Minnesota is about 55 cents under the Jul'09 contract – or $1.50 over the Nov'09 contract. In about 3 months, when soybean harvest is in full swing, the nearby basis will be about 50 cents under the Nov'09 contract."

· Biotech seed continued its growth into US planters. USDA reported stacked gene varieties comprised 46% of all corn, up from 40% last year. Single genes Bt corn remained at 17%, and herbicide resistant single gene corn declined in market share from 23% last year to 22%. All biotech varieties claim 85% of the US corn acreage, up from 80% for the 2008 corn crop. Herbicide resistant beans make up 91% of the crop.

· Hog supplies are starting to decline, says IA State livestock economist Shane Ellis in his analysis of this week's Hogs and Pigs Report. He says sow inventories are the second lowest on record and the breeding herd is down 2.7% from last June. Third quarter farrowing intentions are down more than 3%, and fourth quarter will drop over 2%. Total pig supplies have not dropped as much because litter sizes are 2.5% higher.

· Hopes for improvement in the pork market have been dampened by the H1N1 virus, along with recession-weakened exports. Ellis says, "Eight months ago, there were opportunities to hedge a hog-to-corn margin that would have put a hog producer in the black, but such opportunities do not appear to be available in the near future." Read more in this newsletter: http://www.econ.iastate.edu/outreach/agriculture/periodicals/ifo/ .

· Although hog numbers may be declining, weights are still up according to MO livestock economist Glenn Grimes. He says, "Over the last 6 weeks, barrow and gilt carcass weights have averaged 2% higher than a year earlier. Hog slaughter in the second half of 2009 is expected to be down 3% or so. Due largely to fewer Canadian hogs coming south, the June 1 inventory of market hogs weighing less than 60 pounds was down 2.4% even though the March-May pig crop was only down 0.3%."

· Farm diesel fuel prices are 42% under 2008 price levels, according to KS State economist Kevin Dhuyvetter, who tracks fuel prices on the NYMEX Exchange. He says August should be 36% under last year and September about 31% lower. Harvest time prices may approach 2008 levels, only because that was the time oil prices dropped.

· Farm operators will be pinched between low commodity revenue and high cash rental rates unless yields or prices or both rise before harvest, says MN farm business specialist David Bau. He says breakeven prices for 165 bushel corn and 48 bushel soybeans are not available, and he is strongly recommending a switch to flexible rental agreements. Read more at: http://www.extension.umn.edu/extensionnews/2009/flexible-farm-rent.html .

· Flexible rent agreements call for a base rent which could be keyed to a variety of indexes. And Bau says, "If you complete a flexible rental agreement with a base cash rent with added payments it will be considered a cash rental agreement with Farm Service Agency in the latest farm bill. But without this base rent you will be share cropping with your landlord who will deserve a portion of the government program payments."

· Many landowners have used the 1031 tax code provision for buying and selling farms and other property, and the middleman which temporarily holds the property in the like-kind exchange is important since he insulates against capital gains taxes. But a recent bankruptcy of a qualified intermediary threw 450 investors and their $420 million into a line of unsecured creditors, since their 1031 documents did not specify "escrow" account. Protect your investment and read: http://www.calt.iastate.edu/tax-deferred.html .

· Despite the recession, sales of organic certified foods grew nearly 16% last year, with nearly one-third of families spending more on organic food this year compared to 2008. IL ag law specialist Bryan Endres believes the organic industry is poised to flourish based on US-Canadian agreements on June 17 allowing joint certification in each country, which will also allow products to more easily enter the European Union market.

· Ponds, which held excess water, may cause disappointing yields for many farmers, who should take the opportunity to mark the pond and seek NRCS help in designing a good drainage system. First, ensure the pond is not going to be determined as a wetland, which will allow drainage work to proceed. IL Natural Resources Specialist Bob Frazee says a good system will drop the water table to 12 in. below the surface in 24 hours.

· Soybean aphids have made it all the way to Nebraska where soybean farmers are being urged to scout because of recent optimum temperatures of70's to the mid 80's. NE bug experts say soybeans are more vulnerable to aphids during early reproductive stages.

· So how do you fight aphids? A step by step guide is from: http://cropwatch.unl.edu/
1) Scout 1-2 times per week, at first checking the tops of 20-30 plants, then downward.
2) During flower and podset, the economic threshold is 250 aphids on 80%+ of plants.
3) Check for natural enemies such as lady beetles which eat aphids voraciously.
4) If the majority of aphids have wings, they may soon leave the field.
5) A honeydew or sooty mold covering of beans means optimum treatment time is past.
6) If a field is treated, leave an untreated test strip as a refuge for beneficial insects.
7) For good treatment coverage, use high water volume (5 gal/A) and high pressure.
8) Pyrethroids have a long residual time, but chlorpyrifos fumes up under the canopy.
9) Alert nearby beekeepers if you spray aphids while soybeans are flowering.
10) Do not add an insecticide to glyphosate just to save a trip through the field.
11) If aphid populations are peaking along with threats of soybean rust, then a tank mix of a fungicide and an insecticide can be effective since both need high water pressure.

· Purdue entomologist John Obermeyer is issuing an alert for Indiana farmers to beware of western bean cutworms in cornfields beginning in the next week. Adults are laying eggs, and when they hatch larvae enter the whorl of the corn plant then make their way to the ear and continue eating. Mold will typically form on the corn ear when they leave. Obermeyer says check 20 plants for egg masses and spray if 5-8% are infested. Learn more at: http://extension.entm.purdue.edu/pestcrop/2009/issue14/index.html .

· NE may have planted 600,000 more corn acres, but there are increasing fungal problems being reported there. NE agronomists are reporting increased cases of Goss's bacterial wilt and say farmers "are at increased risk this year because of the abundance of bacterial inoculum that is expected to have overwintered from recent disease outbreaks." They say rescue treatments for that and several other fungal problems are not available. Read more in the current issue of NE Cropwatch at: http://cropwatch.unl.edu/ .

· Do you use glyphosate or glyphosate? There are dozens of brands and generic herbicides that are glyphosate, and NE weed specialist Stevan Knezevic says they provided more than 90% weed control regardless of the rate, brand name or cost. But he says your challenge is the select the appropriate rate for your weeds, and avoid using it at the highest possible rate. Comparison shop, based on cost per amount of acid equivalent.

· Foliar fertilizer has not worked in the past says IA State agronomist John Sawyer, who notes increased interest in applying nitrogen to corn leaves since soil applications have been stymied by the weather and rapid corn growth. He says corn leaves cannot handle 200 lbs of nitrogen per acre, nor substantial applications of phosphorus or potash either.

· Foliar fertilizer has not been effective on soybeans either says Sawyer at IA State, when tried both early and late. In fact, leaf burn has diminished yield when used later in the growing season. Early season foliar application increased yields in 15% of trials, by an average of 1 bu. per acre. The most consistent results were from 3-18-18 at 3 gal/A.

· Let your voice be heard if the White House "Rural Tour" rolls nearby seeking input from rural Americans about a variety of issues affecting farm families. The rural listening tour began July 1 in Wattsburg, PA with a discussion on rural broadband. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack will be joined by other cabinet officers familiar with the issues.
1) July 16 at LaCrosse, WI to discuss rural economic development.
2) July 18 at Ringgold, VA to discuss new energy economy & related issues.
3) July 20 at St. John's Parish, LA to discuss rural healthcare.
4) Aug. 12 at Bethel, AK to discuss rural infrastructure, climate, new energy.
5) Aug. 16 at Zanesville, OH to discuss green jobs and renewable energy.
6) Aug. 17 at Hamlet, NC to discuss rural education.
7) Sept. 28 at Scottsbluff, NE to discuss production agriculture
8) Sept. 30 at Las Cruces, NM to discuss rural infrastructure.
Details are sketchy, but read more at: http://www.rupri.org/inthenews2.php?id=29