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Tennessee Field Reports: Corn Planting in Full Swing
Crop Progress and Condition for the Week Ending May 5, 2019. County Agent Comments J. C. Dupree, Lauderdale County Farmers have managed to get most of the corn and a few acres of cotton planted in between rains. If weather permits, lots of cotton will be planted the following weeks with soybeans soon to follow. Most of our wheat is heading and growing normally. Cattle and pastures are in very good condition. Not much hay cutting as of yet.
Virginia Field Reports: Planting Speeds Ahead
Crop Progress and Condition for the Week Ending May 5, 2019. REPORTER COMMENTS BY COUNTY – Comments are based on remarks made by extension agents, farmers, commodity specialists, and other knowledgeable individuals. NORTHERN ROCKINGHAM (Doug Horn) Temperatures were rather warm. Corn planting is in full swing. Earliest planted corn is emerging. Orchard grass is heading. LOUDOUN (Jim Hilleary) Heavy rain late Saturday afternoon, and all day Sunday created standing water and saturated fields/pastures.
Alabama Cotton: Thrips Predictor Model Helps Make Management Decisions
Thrips damaged cotton. Photo: University of Tennessee Spring and warmer weather sends producers to the fields in droves, planting and making decisions about the upcoming growing season. Researchers at North Carolina State University helped to remove some guesswork from cotton management by developing the thrips predictor model.
North Carolina Cotton: Planting Forecast Remains Favorable
©Debra L Ferguson Stock Images Planting conditions remain good. Note that the predicted cool temperatures for May 7 and 8 noted in the May 4 planting conditions report have moderated. The soil temperature at Rocky Mount was 60.3 at 6 a.m. and had started to increase by 7 a.m. The table below is for Rocky Mount and based on the 10-day forecast. The first 7 days are based on the National Weather Service and the last 3 days are based on predictions from weather.com.
Webinar: Approaches to Ag Impacts on Water Quality, May 8
Watershed in Texas. Photo: Texas AgriLife Nutrients from agricultural crop production have had a detrimental impact on water quality in the United States, but many states are working to address the issue. A webinar hosted by the National Agricultural Law Center on Wednesday, May 8 will present the results of a survey of laws, regulations and programs in 50 states that affect agricultural nutrients at the ground level.
Nebraska: It’s Not Too Late - On-Farm Research Options
Anhydrous application as part of a Nebraska On-Farm Research Network nitrogen study. Photo: Laura Thompson, UN-L CropWatch As you consider how to increase efficiency and get more yield from the same or fewer inputs this year, on-farm research may be just the tool you need to get local data for sound decision-making. There’s still time to add an on-farm research component to your operation for this year.
Mosquito and Tick Repellants - What Works. What Doesn’t.
Culex mosquito is commonly known as the southern house mosquito, is a medium-sized brown mosquito that exists throughout the tropics and the lower latitudes of temperate regions. May and June are prime months when outdoor blood feeders — like ticks and mosquitoes — are active in Nebraska. Not only are these pests annoying, but they have the potential to spread diseases that pose significant health threats. A variety of preventative measures can help minimize exposure to bites.
Nebraska Flood Workshop: Recovering River Frontage Ag Land, May 13
Land that might have been grazed this summer is now covered by sand and silt deposits from 2019 spring flooding. Photo: Jerry Volesky UN-L CropWatch After spring flooding, many river frontage pastures and crop fields were left with sand and silt deposits ranging from a few inches to up to three feet. Recovering that land for production will be the focus of a May 13 on-site workshop near Ravenna.
Hubbs on Grain: Soybeans - Concerns of More Acres, Weak Exports
Soybean prices continue to fall with indications that a resolution to the trade fight with China may be fading. Concerns about the potential for more soybean acres and weak export prospects look to keep soybean prices under pressure. Early concerns about 2019 soybean acreage due to a slow start to the planting season continue to build. Corn planting sat 12 percent behind the five-year average at 15 percent on April 29.
Missouri: Stick with Corn Until End of May, says Extension Agronomist
Corn planting. ©Debra L Ferguson Stock Photography The wet and cold start to this year’s corn planting season bodes poorly for yields, based on research from the University of Missouri Extension. But MU Extension agronomist Bill Wiebold says farmers should not switch from corn to other crops or early maturing corn varieties because of rain-delayed planting. There is still time to get corn in the ground and expect good yields with other favorable conditions, says Wiebold.
Ag Banks Make Adjustments - Kansas City Fed
An update last month from the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City (“Ag Banks Make Adjustments as Lending Remains Elevated,” by Cortney Cowley and Ty Kreitman) stated that, “According to the National Survey of Terms of Lending to Farmers, non-real estate lending continued to increase at a moderate pace in the first quarter. The volume of non-real estate loans increased 9 percent from a year ago.
Trade Group Decries Trump’s Tariff Tweets
Tariffs Hurt the Heartland, the national campaign comprised of over 150 of America’s largest trade organizations from across retail, tech, manufacturing and agriculture, today released the following statement on the President’s tweet announcement that tariffs on $200 billion of goods will increase from 10 to 25 percent on Friday. “For 10 months, Americans have been paying the full cost of the trade war, not China.
Georgia Cotton: Crop Progress, Assessing Plant Stands for Replanting
As of April 29th, approximately 12 percent of Georgia’s cotton crop has been planted according to the USDA NASS crop progress report. This is significantly ahead of our previous five year’s average of 7 percent. Although wet through most of the winter and spring, conditions in most parts of the state have become dry, and much of our planted acres tend to be on our irrigated lands.
Midwest Corn: Hybrid Maturity Decisions for Delayed Planting
Late season corn irrigation. Photo: Steve Melvin – UNL Extension Educator Irrigated Cropping Systems Delayed planting seasons create a lot of frustrations for everyone involved with planting crops. One of the agronomic questions that comes up when planting is seriously delayed is whether farmers should consider switching from their normal full-season maturity hybrids to shorter-maturity hybrids.
USDA Wants a New Home - 35 States Step Up - Top 3 Picked
USDA is looking for a new home. And there’s no shortage of contenders. Thirty-five states have stepped up with invitations to the Economic Research Service (ERS) and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). In August, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced that most ERS and NIFA personnel would be moving to outside the National Capital Region by the end of 2019. He invited interested parties to submit proposals, with a deadline which had been extended to October 15, 2018.
USDA Advances Ill-Advised Plan to Relocate Research Divisions
The US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) announcement last week of its short list of finalists to host the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) underscores its unilateral and evidence-lite approach to addressing the future of US food and agriculture research.
AgFax Tree Crops: Insects More Apparent, Some May Sprays Commence
Here is this week’s issue of AgFax Tree Crops. Our thanks to BASF and its California team for sponsoring this coverage. OVERVIEW May sprays have been going out in places over the last week. Moth trap counts are increasing somewhat, depending on the area and the species. Hotter weather is bringing the crop along. Drop has been obvious in more areas but nothing out of the ordinary has been noted.
California Walnuts: Trees Take An Autumn Hit - Here’s What’s Known
From the northern San Joaquin Valley to the northern Sacramento Valley, walnut farmers and their consultants are reporting a widespread and alarming issue of walnut trees not leafing out this spring. UC farm advisors, specialists and professors are working together with growers and crop consultants to find out why.
California Pistachios: Crop Assessments, Observations From Bob Beede
Even though we received good winter chilling this year, the cool spring weather has delayed pistachio leaf out and bloom by 5 to 7 days. This spring is a great example of how, even with good chilling, pistachio plant development can be delayed by cool temperatures. The overlap between Golden Hills and Randy looked very good. Randy is a very prolific male, even when young, and provides lots of pollen for young trees just coming into bearing.
Texas LRGV Crops: Insects are Light - So Far
Cotton seedlings. ©Debra L Ferguson Stock Photography Things are heating up, literally. This week we saw temperatures in the low 90s daytime and high 70s at night. Many growers fertilizing and watering their crops this week while others sprayed for pests. Cotton According to the Texas Boll Weevil Eradication program 205,819.4 acres of cotton is what is currently being carried and is expected to not change too much as season progresses.
Virginia Cotton: Are You More Than 25% Planted?
Cotton planting. ©Debra L Ferguson Stock Photography I’m not going to call out names, but when my first call of the day on May 3rd is “Hey, I’ve already planted half of my cotton, what should I do?” It gets me to thinking. Cotton folks have really been paying attention to the shifts we are seeing in the weather patterns and the documentation supports that we basically have an extra 25-30 days in our growing season compared to the 90’s.
Iowa Soybeans: What’s Behind 2019 Yield Gaps?
Over the last five years, the North Central region of the U.S. has been responsible for 82 percent of the nation’s soybean harvest. Due to the region’s importance to soybean production for its various uses in feed, biodiesel and other widely used products, the North Central Soybean Research Program (NCSRP), through funding from the Soybean Checkoff Program, has sponsored on-farm surveys to farmers in the region to evaluate trends in farming practices and management systems.
Climate Change: Political Trigger and Real Fact - Commentary
Mississippi Delta flood waters, 2019. Photo: Kevin Hudson, MSU Extension Service Climate change is a political trigger. Simply mentioning the topic leads to arguments between colleagues, families and friends. Many arguments are reasonable discussions on which actions or inactions are best for the economy, society or the environment. That is how politics works.
Illinois Wheat: Time to Prepare for Fusarium Head Blight
Bleaching of wheat heads from fusarium head blight infection. Photo: University of Illinois Wheat in the southern part of Illinois is approaching heading or just headed, which means that flowering will start within 4-5 days, depending on temperature (heads produce small yellow anthers) Vomitoxin (DON) can accumulate in the absence of significant visual symptoms, and thus that is often the focus of my Fusarium head blight (FHB) recommendations. Why?
Corn: Excessive Rain as Damaging to Yields as Extreme Heat, Drought
Young corn field. Photo: University of Illinois Recent flooding in the Midwest has brought attention to the complex agricultural problems associated with too much rain. Data from the past three decades suggest that excessive rainfall can affect crop yield as much as excessive heat and drought. In a new study, an interdisciplinary team from the University of Illinois linked crop insurance, climate, soil and corn yield data from 1981 through 2016.
Indiana Wheat: Foliar Disease, Scab Management Options
Even though rainy conditions continue to slow planting across the state, we need to keep an eye on winter wheat. These wet conditions will favor many fungal diseases. Already our southern neighbors have started reporting multiples diseases in wheat. These include – strip and leaf rust, Septoria leaf spot, tan spot, and Fusarium head blight (see figure 1).
Louisiana: Horizon Ag Field Day Scheduled, June 24
Photo: Dan Roach, MSU Extension Associate The 2019 Horizon Ag Louisiana Field Day on June 24 at Richard Farms, 5632 Louisiana Highway 700 near Kaplan, Louisiana, will feature top performing Provisia varieties along with other promising experimental lines. The Field Day will feature the Provisia Rice System variety PVL01 plus top-performing Clearfield rice varieties like CL153, the number one planted rice variety in the state.
USDA: Peanut Price Highlights
Twin row peanuts. Photo: Ethan Carter, University of Florida Peanut prices received by farmers for all farmer stock peanuts averaged 20.9 cents per pound for the week ending April 27, down 0.5 cent from the previous week. Marketings of all farmer stock peanuts for the week ending April 27 totaled 119 million pounds, up 88.6 million pounds from the previous week. Runner-type peanut prices averaged 20.7 cents per pound for the week ending April 27.
Indiana Corn: Optimum Plant Populations for Delayed Planting
Corn planting. ©Debra L Ferguson Stock Photography The prospect of delayed planting of corn leads corn growers to consider whether changes in seeding rate should be made in response to late planting. The short answer is that optimum plant populations probably remain the same regardless of planting date.
Indiana Corn: Emergence Failure - 7 Possible Reasons
Corkscrewed mesocotyls in corn. Source: J. McLaughlin, Ohio State University Successful stand establishment of a corn crop relies on many factors, including the successful emergence of the seedlings in the first place. Seedling emergence occurs as a result of elongation of the mesocotyl that elevates the coleoptile or “spike” toward the soil surface.
Minnesota Corn: Managing a Delayed Start to Planting
Corn planting. Photo: University of Minnesota Due to recent rain and snow, only 2% of Minnesota’s corn had been planted by April 28, similar to 2018 but 15 days behind the 5-year average, according to the USDA National Ag Statistics Service. This article addresses the effects of delayed planting on corn yield potential and key considerations for growers. Planting date and corn yield Planting date is only one of several factors influencing corn yield.
Arkansas Crop Insurance Planting Dates
©Debra L Ferguson Stock Images In Arkansas all counties are now in the crop insurance “late planting period” for corn. Corn can still be planted during this 15-day window, but the insurance guarantee on those acres is reduced by 1% per day through the “late planting period”. Producers with unplanted acres after the “final planting date” have three choices: Plant corn as soon as possible with a reduced guarantee.
Minnesota Corn: Black Cutworms Moving In
Black cutworm larva. Photo: Michigan State University Migrating black cutworm moths found their way into southern MN this past week (April 20-26). In many cases, the number of moths captured indicate increased risk of black cutworm damage to susceptible crops planted into fields attractive to egg-laying moths. The colorful map (Figure 1) shows some impressive captures by Minnesota standards. Larger, single night reports came from Olmstead (14 moths), Steele (11 moths) and Meeker (10 moths) Counties.
Texas Cotton: FOV4 Fungus - Don’t Buy Pima Seed from California or El Paso Valley Region
It’s planting time on the Texas High Plains, and growers throughout the region are sitting on “Go,” ready to plant their 2019 cotton acreage, if they haven’t already started. A few growers have indicated an intention to experiment with Pima cotton this season as well, which raises a point of concern due to the recent identification of the soil-borne fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum Race 4 (FOV4) in the El Paso Valley production region.
Cleveland on Cotton: Brazil Prices Undercutting U.S. Offers to China
As was cautioned in last week’s newsletter, cotton prices came under pressure all week and new crop December prices broke below the psychologically important 75 cent support level, giving a good victory to the market bears. The long term support at 72.50 cents remains in place, but the psychological impact to the market was damaging. Many growers view the 75 cent level as an absolute bare minimum break even point.
Arkansas: 2019 Irrigation Yield Contest Now Open to Entries
Center pivot irrigation system in corn field. Photo: University of Nebraska-Lincoln The 2019 Arkansas Irrigation Yield Contest, Most Crop per Drop, is now open for entries. “We are conducting a conservation yield competition measuring yield and water use for rice, soybeans, and corn,” said Chris Henry, associate professor for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
Iowa: Soybean Aphid Egg Hatch Starting in Northern Counties
Wingless soybean aphids on buckthorn leaves. Photo by Chris DiFonzo (Bugwood.org). Iowa’s most significant soybean insect pest, soybean aphid, has host-alternating biology. This species has multiple, overlapping generations on soybean in the summer and moves to buckthorn in the winter. Fall migration to buckthorn is based on senescing soybean, and decreasing temperatures and photoperiod. For the majority of the year, soybean aphids are cold-hardy eggs near buckthorn buds.
Arkansas Rice: Lousy Soybean Prices May Promote More Late-Planted Corn, Rice
Rice fields with high water left by April 28-30, 2017, storms. Photo: Jarrod Hardke ,U of A System Division of Agriculture Chicago rice futures turned higher this week on continued planting delays and forecasts for more rain in the week ahead. Both the July and September CME contracts gained roughly 25 cents/cwt. this week. As of mid-morning Friday (5/3), the July contract was trading at $10.70 ½ with the September contract at $10.79 ½.
Arkansas Rice: Rain Delays, Water-Seeding Options, Stand Decisions - Plenty To Think Over
It’s wet again. What now? Planting progress for this past Sunday, Monday and Tuesday were exceptional. So, when the next progress report comes out, we should be over 50% planted for the state. If true, that will mark our biggest single week jump of the year. The current system giving us rain is supposed to be followed by another that carries rain chances for much of next week. Depending on how that shakes out, we could be staring down May 15 before we can get back at it.
Dossett on Rice: Shippers Playing Catch Up; Farmers Struggling to Plant
CASH MARKET Thai rice prices dropped 2 weeks ago and remain in the $408 MT range for White 5%, down from $416-$417 in early April. Vietnam is at $368-$372 for 5% Broken and India is at $373-$377. USA is charging @ $492 MT for 4% Broken. The high BAHT exchange rate and higher prices earlier in April caused the drop in exports and therefore, prices in Thailand.
DTN Livestock Midday: Cattle Continue to Slide
Live and feeder cattle futures continue to follow through to the downside making new lows for the move. The exception in June live cattle as that has adjusted to lower cash for the week. Live cattle futures are back to the lowest level they have been since August. Lean hogs futures are mixed with some spread trading running opposite yesterday. October futures post triple-digit gains while May and June are lower. There is little incentive to be aggressive in the market.
M.O. Way on Rice: Grain Bin Storage May Hold More than Your Crop
Adult female Indianmeal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Hübner). Photo: Lyle Buss, University of Florida Rice storage pests have become more problematic due to increased yields and poor markets. I think many farmers are storing last year’s rice because they have not yet sold it. In addition, last winter was relatively mild. Farmers probably did not obtain good control of these pests when cold air from outside was blown into storage bins in hopes of controlling the insects or slowing development.
Weekly Cotton Market Review - USDA
Average quotations were 126 points lower than the previous week, according to the USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service’s Cotton and Tobacco Program. Quotations for the base quality of cotton (color 41, leaf 4, staple 34, mike 35-36 and 43-49, strength 27.0-28.9, and uniformity 81.0-81.9) in the seven designated markets averaged 71.23 cents per pound for the week ending Thursday, May 2, 2019.
AgFax Midsouth Cotton: At This Rate, Will There Be Enough Seed And Gins?
CROP REPORTS Ty Edwards, Edwards Ag Consulting, LLC, Water Valley, Mississippi: “Maybe 10% of our anticipated corn acres have actually been planted, and I think some guys are still putting a little corn seed in the ground. That will continue over the next few days (from 4/29) and then they will switch to something else. “To my knowledge, nothing else has been planted (as of 4/29). The reason everything is late can be summed up in 3 words – rain, rain and rain.
AgFax Southeast Cotton: Warm Weather, Optimistic Start
CROP REPORTS John Burleson, Consultant, Swan Quarter, North Carolina: “Some guys started planting cotton this week, I think, but more will be going next week for sure. We have pretty decent conditions right now. In the next 10 days (from 4/29), I suspect that everyone will be going pretty hard. My growers’ cotton acres will be about the same as last year. “For a lot of folks, this has been a challenging spring.
AgFax Rice: Rains Keep Midsouth Growers In A Bind, Maybe Into Mid-May
CROP REPORTS Andy Tonos, Delta Ag Consulting, Greenville, Mississippi: “All the rain and flooding have caused major complications. That said, our rice looks pretty good. I thought we would have to replant a little but it came up when the water backed out. “We’re off to a nice start and a small amount of rice planted on March 20 is up to 3 to 4 leaves, even though it took 3 weeks to emerge. We’ve applied a little fertilizer. The preemerge held pretty well but it’s just starting to break a little.
Minnesota: Alfalfa Winterkill: What Now?
The long winter and spring flooding have taken a toll on alfalfa fields in parts of the state. Photo: Jared Goplen, University of Minnesota There have been reports of alfalfa stands across Minnesota with varying levels of winter injury and winterkill. Areas most-often affected include hilltops where crowns were exposed during the cold winter months and where extended flooding has occurred this spring. There have also been reports of frost heaves uprooting alfalfa crowns.
Virginia Wheat: Increased Scab Risk for Some Areas
Fusarium head blight, or wheat scab. There is increased risk of Fusarium head blight (FHB) in some parts of Virginia, especially near the Northern Neck and Eastern Shore of Virginia. Wheat in much of the state is flowering, and if a field is in a high risk area a fungicide application is recommended. Recommended fungicides for control of FHB and DON contamination include Caramba, Prosaro, Proline, and Miravis Ace.
Drought Monitor Weekly: Mostly Dry in Far West, Southern Atlantic
Photo: L. Brian Stauffer, University of Illinois Summary An active weather pattern maintained historically low drought coverage across the contiguous United States, with only a few areas currently experiencing dryness (D0) or moderate to severe drought (D1 to D2). Prior to April 2019, the record-low drought coverage across the Lower 48 States during the 20-year history of the U.S. Drought Monitor stood at 4.52% on May 23, 2017.
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