weather

Planting is progressing quickly in drier conditions. Acres planted to corn in the last couple of weeks have increased from 1% a few weeks ago to more than 60 - 70% in some areas. Northern Indiana has more than a week of field activity, followed by central Indiana. Larger planter units with bulk system seed units and 24 rows or more are covering the acreage at a record pace. Growers in parts of southern Indiana started a day or two ago and are rained out again. Most rain in recent weeks has occurred along the I70 and south.

In the past month we have experienced soil replenishing moisture, (actually excessive amounts that caused severe flooding in some areas) and sometimes in the form of snow and ice.  Cool and cold temperatures have slowed soil heating, but soil temperatures are finally, and slowly, coming up to acceptable levels for crop planting and seed germination.  Corn acres are being planted, and soybean acreage is increasing also.  Nationally, the corn crop is now 28% complete, as opposed to last year, when 85% was in the ground the second week of May.  This lags the 5 year avera

Insects, and scouting for those insects, go hand-in-hand with the advance of spring.  Scouting should be the start of all sound pest management decisions.  Controlling pests needs to be determined by knowing what pests are there, in how many numbers, the economic threshold for each pest, and the control measures needed.  In many cases, the economic threshold will not be reached, and there may be no economic advantage to widespread insecticide applications.

Several insect pests are on the radar screen now, and should be scouted for:

Weather appears to be conspiring to delay corn planting this year.  It was just a year ago that we were on record pace to plant both corn and soybeans early and fast.  What we have to remember is that, although many producers expect to plant early, and many are also convinced that early planting is the key to successful large yields, this is not necessarily the case.  If memory serves me correctly -- 2011, 2009 and 2008 were also years in which “late” and “delayed” planting were part of the vocabulary, and very respectable yields were harvested.

It is a wet and cool spring, quite a contrast from last year’s dry and warm weather. Some field work such as fertilizer spreading, ammonia application, weed control, and tillage did happen early. Frequent and heavy rains with some snow are delaying planting and field work in recent weeks. Our weather conditions are about the norm for this time of year. There is no call for alarm yet.  Planting early is great when it happens, especially if soils are in good condition. Corn root systems develop much better in warm and moist soils compared to cool, wet and compacted soils.

Hot and dry weather has prevailed over the region and intensified drought conditions. Fifty-five Indiana counties are declared natural disaster areas, 36 counties are primary disaster areas and another 19 adjacent counties are designated eligible for natural disaster assistance. This is indication to the severity of drought conditions in Indiana and adjacent states in the south such as Kentucky and Arkansas. About 71% of Indiana’s corn crop is rated as poor to very poor. Many fields are barren or vary in yield potential from 30 to 80 bushels per acre.

Fungicide applications for improving yield responses are becoming a common practice across the Corn Belt. A goal for any grower is where and when to use fungicides for economic gain. Most profitable and consistent yield responses are in fields with a high risk of foliar disease. Dry weather and drought are reducing yield potential in conditions not favorable for disease development. This will reduce fungicide use this year.

Dry conditions increased in all geographical regions in recent weeks. Almost 90% of Indiana is in some form of abnormally dry or drought stress as of Saturday.  Moderate drought is occurring in north central and northeast Indiana. South central Indiana is abnormally dry. Moderate to severe drought stress is found in Southwest Indiana, western Kentucky across the boot heel of Missouri and into Northeast Arkansas. The only area with good moisture is south east Indiana along the Ohio River.

Field work started early this year due to a mild winter and early spring. Fertilizers were applied, tillage operations completed and some herbicide burn down programs finished and it is only March. Long term forecast called for above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall. A few decided to begin planting corn at a slow and steady pace in mid to late March. This is new and we did not know what to expect. After so many good days of planting a few decided to stop and wait for April dates. It did not make sense to put all corn acres in so early.

In Ohio the corn is about 50% tasseled with some areas being more and others less.  The majority of corn is between V12 and R2.  Many soybean fields are starting to get some height to them, the majority being knee high or less.  During the past two weeks many soybean canopies have closed across the rows.