By 1-2% the soybean crush keeps increasing monthly according to IL Extension's Darrel Good, who says it has grown from 1.53 bil. bu. in 2004 to an estimated 1.84 bil. bu. for the current marketing year. But he says the pace is slowing because of slower meal consumption, which was 3% less in March of 2008 compared to March 2007.
But the pace of exports is strong for soybeans, says Good, which are projected at 96% of the record exports of 2007. He says US soybean producers are benefiting from the halt in Argentine soybean exports, caused by a farmer strike that is protesting higher export taxes. If so, the increased US exports would offset the slowdown in the domestic crush.
For the past month the bean basis has tightened about 40¢, but remains weak. Fall delivery bids have also strengthened about 20¢, but are 60¢ weaker than a year ago. The lack of convergence of cash and futures has persisted since last July, but Good says the convergence for the May soybean contract appears to be occurring as would be expected. Read more at: http://www.farmdoc.uiuc.edu/marketing/weekly/html/042808.html .
Cornbelt temperatures are expected to average normal to cooler than usual through mid-May and precipitation may exceed the norm, says Iowa State's Elwynn Taylor. "However the general weather pattern appears to be progressing toward seasonable conditions that are expected to dominate the month of May. The storm track appears to be shifting to the North and likely result in diminished rain in the central Cornbelt."
La Nina remains, says Taylor. "The January-April weather has been typical of a La Nina in most of the US. La Nina carries the risk of a late spring change from cold and moist to hot and dry. The La Nina event appears to have passed its peak and recent warming of waters near the equator off the western equatorial coast of South America and diminished winds in the area are likely to hasten the return to neutral conditions."
As planting continues to be delayed, implement your emergency plan to get the crop in the ground as the weather windows open up, says MO agronomist Bill Casady. 1) Have 2 people running the planter and a third person in a support role. 2) Account for every field and every bag of seed, since re-calculations take time. 3) Ensure there are no surprises with trash in the middle or on the edge of fields. 4) Use extra help to monitor planter performance, so the operator does not waste time. 5) Shortcuts or hurried actions can result in injury that will further delay planting.
Stick with full season hybrids through the end of May says MO agronomist Bill Wiebold, acknowledging some yield fade after May 10. He says a switch to an early season hybrid assures yield loss, and that is not worth the reduced drying time at harvest. But any switch from 110 to 100 day hybrids requires 4,000 more seeds per acre.
Once planted, corn requires an average of 100 growing degree days to emerge. But that can range from 90 to 150, and is dependent upon both soil and air temperature, as well as adequate soil moisture. Ohio State agronomist Peter Thomison says emergence is also influenced by residue cover, tillage, soil organic matter and moisture content.
When soils become dry enough to enter the field, the priority should be planting, not fertilizing, says IL fertility specialist Fabian Fernandez. The reduction of yield potential due to delayed planting is more important than the benefit of applying N before planting. 1) Caution should be exercised not to apply N when the soil is still too wet. 2) Some N can escape from the soil because of poor closure of the knife track. 3) Planting without applying N will likely not negatively impact corn yield potential. 4) There is no loss of yield if N is applied before the 5th-leaf stage. 5) Sidedress applications can be reduced if loss of yield potential has occurred. 6) Roots will grow into the in-between-row position by the 4th-leaf stage.
No herbicide and corn not planted. So what are your options for weed control? 1) If using 2,4-D, check the interval between application and planting, since it will vary. 2) Give burndown herbicides time to work, since tillage can injure and avert weed kill. 3) Adjust the herbicide rate to be effective as the field currently is infested with weeds.
No herbicide applied, and corn is planted. Closing the seed furrow is a priority. 1) Many pre-emergent herbicides can injure seedlings severely with chemical contact. 2) Do not use nitrogen fertilizer as a herbicide carrier on emerging corn.
Herbicide applied, and corn not planted. Control any weeds prior to planting. 1) Planting can injure some weeds, and they will have to recover before spray is lethal. 2) Controlling weeds after planting is a gamble that the weather will cooperate.
Herbicide applied, and corn is planted. Remain vigilant for weed emergence. 1) Heavy rains may have moved herbicides too deep into the soil profile to be effective. 2) The less than ideal growing conditions may make corn susceptible to chemical injury.
2, 4-D with a glyphosate burndown will better control dandelion, horseweeds, and many winter annuals, and will provide better consistent control in cool conditions. But with time being a critical factor, the use of 2, 4-D will require a 7 day interval between application and planting to protect emerging corn and soybeans. Injury risk is determined by how much of the herbicide reaches the seedling, which is a function of planting depth, application rate, soil type, and the timing and quantity of any subsequent rainfall.
Cool, wet springs enhance development of virus-based diseases in wheat, and MO plant pathologist Laura Sweets says that is happening. She says there are no rescue treatments, but scouting is still important. Management of the problem includes planting resistant varieties, avoid planting too early in the fall, and destroy any volunteer wheat.
Your seed beans are still in the bag, but Asian rust is on the loose. It is infesting kudzu in one Texas county and six Florida counties, but other southern states do not have any confirmation yet on suspected sites. It has been found on coral beans for the first time on that ornamental crop. Weekly updates can be monitored at: www.sbrusa.net.
Your corn may still be in the bag, but black cutworms are about as anxious as you to see corn seedlings emerge. Look for pinholes in the leaves first. IL Extension crop specialist Jim Morrison says, "If tillage or herbicides eliminate weeds one to two weeks before planting, black cutworms that had been present probably starve to death."
Beware of insects especially white grubs and wireworms. Wet, cool soils usually make corn seedlings more susceptible to injury caused by below-ground insect pests because the insects can munch away while the corn is growing slowly, says Kevin Steffey at IL.
Your 2008 seed may likely have been coated with an insecticidal treatment, but how will it perform? OSU entomologists say that depends on the product and the insect. 1) Protection from seedcorn maggot seems to be good for both corn and soybeans. 2) Corn seed treatments are not acceptable to protect against black cutworm. 3) Seed treatments should offer good control against corn flea beetles. 4) Treatments for corn rootworms are acceptable, but not at high rootworm pressure. 5) Effectiveness against wireworms and grubs is still questionable. 6) Soybean treatments for bean leaf beetles and aphids are limited into mid-summer.
Grass is cheaper than corn says Utah State livestock economist Dillon Feuz. "Just two years ago, total feedlot cost of gain was in the $45-50 per hundred pounds of gain range. Today total feedlot cost of gain is closer to $90 per hundred pounds of gain. In addition to the obvious consequences of this being a loss of profitability in the cattle feeding sector and downward price pressure on feeder cattle prices, another consequence has been a renewed interest in stocker programs that include grazing cattle on grass."
The Extension Update on Central Illinois Agriculture is e-mailed on Friday to selected subscribers and is also on the Internet (at www.extension.uiuc.edu/macon/agupdate/ or www.farmgate.uiuc.edu .) It is created weekly by former Extension Specialist Stu Ellis, who remains reachable at: shellis@uiuc.edu .
