heat

Soybean yields are a bright spot in this year of heat and drought. Late summer rains made beans. Indiana average yield is estimated to be 44.0 bushels per acre, down from 45.5 bushels last year. Best yields are from north, central and eastern regions of the state. Lowest bean yields were in the western regions, from central to south. Kentucky soybean yield was 38 bushels per acre, mostly from double crop acres. Double crop yields were outstanding for fields with good stands. Stand establishment was a challenge for double crop acres from the Ohio River north into southern Indiana.

Harvest operations are complete except for a few fields in northern and eastern Indiana. Indiana average yield is estimated to be about 100 bushels per acre, down from 146 in 2011, an expected a result from the summer heat and drought. Southern regions were hardest hit. Average yield in southern Indiana is 75 bushels per acre. Kentucky state average yield is about 68 bushels per acre, 71 bushels less than 2011. Dry and hot conditions moved west and north in late July to early August.

Corn and soybean growth accelerated through the month of June and early July. Crops look better than expected and good yields are possible in many fields. Recently, high winds knocked corn down in northwest Indiana on July 11. But most of it stood back up in a few days. However, a week of soaring temperatures and high humidity with little rain is getting our attention now. Will corn make it through the critical pollination stages? Corn is well adapted to heat and can grow at temperatures in the 90’s. But available soil moisture is critical.

Diplodia ear rot is starting to make an unwelcome appearance again this year. Danny Himes, Luke Anderson and myself made one count of close to 5% damaged ears in the Windsor area of Shelby county IL. last week in a corn following soybean field. It is normally worse in a corn following corn rotation because the source of infection is from the previous years residue. Wet weather around and following silking and any kind of injury to the plant favors infection.