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Shawano area Crop Scouting
Report for the week ending 10/9/09
By Timothy Boerner, AgVentures Agronomist
Corn silage chopping would be in full swing if not for the recent rain, but after getting the frost last week the moisture should help to extend the harvesting season.
Due to this year’s cool growing season it’s a good idea to check that the corn fields you plan to take for grain actually reached maturity. Some late planted or long maturity varieties may not have gotten totally ripe and would be better chopped than combined.
Alfalfa hay fields are still growing and building up reserves for over wintering so it’s still not too late to fertilize and feed the crop to replace the nutrients removed this past season and ensure a good start to next year.
This is also an ideal time to spray and kill off old hay fields that are coming out of the rotation. Since the alfalfa and grasses in the older hay stand are putting a lot into their roots for winter survival, any applied herbicides will effectively kill both above and below ground plant parts.
When conditions allow in the next couple weeks consider a roundup spray application to take out that old hay field. It will not only make plowing easier but also eliminate a tough and a possible weed problem for next year’s crop.
When out in the fields harvesting the crop it’s a good opportunity to evaluate the past season’s weed control. Take note of weeds that are now there or areas where tough to control weeds like quackgrass and thistles may have escaped last springs weed control program. Following the harvest, but before fall tillage, it’s also a great time to spot spray those perennial weeds since they are very susceptible to herbicides this time of year.
Once a crop has been harvested it is also the ideal time to soil sample the field. Not only is it easier to get across the field and pull a soil sample, but it is also the best time for the most accurate soil test results.
Soil testing makes a lot of cense, it not only is an environmentally good thing to do but it also can save you money on your fertilizer budget. A soil test shows you where to put the correct amount, of the best fertilizer, in the right place.
Call AgVentures and one of our agronomists will be happy to help you with all of your agronomy needs.
Shawano area Crop Scouting
Report for the week ending 10/2/09
By Timothy Boerner, AgVentures Agronomist
For a good portion of Shawano County the growing season ended this week, at least for the annual crops anyway. This year will go down as one of the coolest on record, and accumulated growing degree units were barely enough to reach maturity of a 95 day corn variety.Our perennial crop alfalfa and biennial crop winter wheat will continue to grow for a while yet, since we haven’t sustained cold enough temperatures for them to go dormant yet.Since alfalfa hay fields are still growing and building up reserves for over wintering it’s still not too late to feed the crop to replace the nutrients removed this past season and ensure a good start to next year.This is also an ideal time to spray and kill off old hay fields that are coming out of the rotation. Since the alfalfa and grasses in the older hay stand are putting a lot into their roots for winter survival, any applied herbicides will effectively kill both above and below ground plant parts. When we get some mild sunny fall days in the next couple weeks consider a roundup spray application to take out that old hay field. It will not only make plowing easier but also eliminate a tough and a possible weed problem for next year’s crop.
When out in the fields harvesting the crop it’s a good opportunity to evaluate weed control and to take note of areas where tough to control weeds like quackgrass and thistles may have escaped last springs weed control program. Following the harvest, but before fall tillage, is also a great time to spot spray those perennial weeds since they are very susceptible to herbicides this time of year.
Once a crop has been harvested it is also the ideal time to soil sample the field. Not only is it easier to get across the field and pull a soil sample, but it is also the best time for the most accurate soil test results. Soil testing makes a lot of cense, it not only is an environmentally good thing to do but it also can save you money on your fertilizer budget. A soil test shows you where to put the correct amount, of the best fertilizer, in the right place. Call AgVentures and one of our agronomists will be happy to help you with all of your agronomy needs.
Report for the week ending 9/25/09
By Timothy Boerner, AgVentures Agronomist
Corn silage chopping is happening all around the county, as most of the area corn crop is at an ideal moisture for storage in any type of ensiling structure. We have even done some grain moisture tests and at 30% many farmers will go right into high moisture corn harvest as soon as they finish the silage harvest.
As growers harvest fields it’s a good time to evaluate weed control and to take note of areas where tough to control weeds like quackgrass and thistles may have escaped last springs weed control program. This is also a great time to spot spray those perennial weeds since they are very susceptible to herbicides this time of year.
Once a crop has been harvested it is also the ideal time to soil sample the field. Not only is it easier to get across the field to pull a soil sample it is also the best time to get the most accurate soil test results.
Winter wheat planting is also happening now and with the recent rains the wheat crop should germinate quickly and have lots of time to put out tillers prior to winter dormancy.Prior to seeding wheat we are recommending fertilizing your wheat field with a blend of fertilizers to make an 80-25-60 analysis. This will supply all of your crops fertilizer needs through next summer’s harvest. The majority of the Nitrogen in this blend comes from a new product called ESN. ESN is a coated urea product that breaks down and releases slowly over the time and supplies the crop with needed nutrients only when it needs it. ESN is also safe to the environment and has been proven to minimize run-off which maintains ground water quality.Using ESN nitrogen can also qualify farmers for payment through the USDA - NRCS Conservation Stewardship Program (or CSP). Farmers who have enrolled in the CSP program are rewarded for working to improve water quality and using a controlled or slow release product like the ESN smart nitrogen.
Call AgVentures and talk to any of our agronomists if you have any agronomic questions or to set up a soil sampling program.
Report for the week of 9/4/09
By Timothy Boerner, AgVentures Agronomist
For years I’ve been asked when is it safe to take my last cutting of hay, and the answer I’ve gotten from the experts in Madison is “the day before it goes dormant”. Well nobody knows when that is so the best answer is try not to cut during the month of September, but if you must then the earlier in the month the better.Alfalfa needs time to recover from being cut and the longer you delay a September harvest the less time the plants will have to build up their root reserves from which it survives the winter.A mid to late October alfalfa harvest is actually less detrimental to hay field survival than a late September cutting since the plant will have less time to use up its root reserves before it does go dormant. If you haven’t top dressed fertilizer to replace the nutrients removed by your hay crop then fall is a good time to do it. A couple hundred pounds of potash can help the alfalfa build up its root reserves for better over wintering success.
So far, this year’s cropping season is on a pace to be one of the coldest on record. As of September 1st a 95 day corn variety, planted on May 1st, has reached only 74% of the total accumulated heat units it needs to reach maturity, comparing that to historical records it should be at 89% of total accumulated heat units by this date.
If you plan to seed winter wheat this fall, for a 2010 crop, here are some things to consider:
1. Plant new seed and at the rate of 1.5 to 2 bushel per acre (depending on seed size)
2. A fungicide seed treatment is recommended for winter wheat
3. Wheat should be planted 1 inch deep
4. The optimum seeding rate for wheat planted after October 1st should be increased as planting date is delayed to compensate for reduced fall tillering
5. If you do plant bin run seed, increase the seeding rate to compensate for reduced plant vigor and consider a fungicide seed treatment.
6. Try to rotate wheat fields with a crop that does not support the same pests
7. Help to get the wheat established by spreading fertilizer before seeding. Applying 200 lbs of a 10-15-30 is a good choice if you don’t have a current soil test.
8. Perennial weed control is essential prior to tilling up the field and planting the wheat
Shawano area Crop Scouting
Report for week of 8/28/09
By Timothy Boerner, AgVentures Agronomist
Drought issues seem to be a thing of the distant past as none of the area crops are showing any lingering effects.
Now the weather issue on our crops is heat units, as measured by Growing Degree Days (GDDs), since they continue to run well behind normal. It will take some warm weather to finish off the developing row crops.
As of August 28th we should be at almost 85% of accumulated GDDs to reach maturity of a 95 day corn variety. This year however we are only at 71% of accumulated GDDs to reach maturity for a 95 day corn variety planted on May 1st.
What the current GDD measure means, to this years crop, is that corn silage chopping will be later than normal, corn and soybean grain will take longer to mature, and harvesting will be later than in past years, unless we can get some warm weather soon.
Yields of local oats crops have been very good. I’ve talked to a number of local growers who have weighed oats yields that exceeded the 100 bushel per acre range.
This past week I’ve answered several questions as to the value of a straw crop. The fertilizer removal value of a typical yield of oats straw, which normally runs 1.5 Tons of dry matter per acre, is around $50 per acre. Wheat straw which typically yields 2 Tons of dry matter per acre removes about $42 of fertility per acre, at today’s fertilizer prices. But, obviously the operations you perform to remove the straw crop will increase its value.
Fall seeding of alfalfa, vetch, or canary grass should be done very soon to allow enough growth to establish the crop for over wintering.
If you plan to plant winter wheat for a 2010 crop you should spray the intended field to control perennial weeds like quackgrass and dandelions within the next month. This will allow you time to prepare the field for planting winter wheat after September 15th.
Don’t forget to fertilize fields before planting the winter wheat in order to get it off to a good start. Fertilizer is also necessary this time of year on hay fields to help the alfalfa plants build up their crowns for over wintering success.
Shawano Area Crop Scouting
Report for week of 8/21/09
By Timothy Boerner, AgVentures Agronomist
The rain has helped turn around many crops, but unfortunately there were parts of some fields that were beyond help. The good news is that most of the area crops have recovered very well from the drought.
The third crop hay looks like it will be bigger than the second crop was. The corn looks like it’s pollinating well with the recent moisture, and we should see well filled out ears. The area soybeans have good pod set now and if the weather pattern holds then bean grain fill could produce some good yields.
Currently this growing season is running 20 percent behind the normal accumulation of growing degree days, referred to as GDDs. Growing degree days are a measure of accumulated heat units, and typically on August 21st we would be at almost 80% of accumulated GDDs to reach maturity of a 95 day corn variety. This year however we are only at 68% of accumulated GDDs to reach maturity for a 95 day corn variety.
What the current GDD measure means to this years crop is that corn silage chopping will be later than normal, corn and soybean grain will take longer to mature, and harvest will be later than in past years.
The long and the short of accumulated heat units is that we could use some more warm weather to finish off this seasons crops.
The local winter wheat harvest is almost complete and we’ve gotten reports of some very good yields in the 80 to 90 bushels per acre range.
Local oats crops are being harvested and yields are good. However, if your oats were under seeded with alfalfa we’d recommend that you keep an eye on the recovering new seeding stand because these fields are where we’ve found some very high levels of potato leafhopper. If this pest is bad a $5.00 per acre insecticide treatment could save the newly established hay crop and extend the hay field stand life for a couple extra years.
Our scouting efforts have turned up economic threshold levels of 250 soybean aphids per plant in the South West part of the county. Before deciding to spray you should evaluate the stage of the soybean plant development because when the pods are swelling with developing seeds (stage R5) the damage from this pest is minimal.
Fall seeding of alfalfa, vetch, or canary grass should be done before the end of August to allow enough growth to establish the crop for over wintering.
If you plan to plant winter wheat for a 2010 crop you should spray the intended field to control perennial weeds like quackgrass and dandelions within the next month. This will allow you time to prepare the field for planting winter wheat after September 15th.
Don’t forget to fertilize fields before planting the winter wheat in order to get it off to a good start. Fertilizer is also necessary this time of year on hay fields to help the alfalfa plants build up their crowns for over wintering success.