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| Field Crop Advisory Team Alert newsletter | |||||||
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| Vol. 23, No. 11, June 19, 2008 |
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| In this issue Corn hybrids stressed after glyphosate applications Yellow corn and soil nitrogen Anthracnose leaf blight of corn Pesticide application technology for soybean rust and soybean aphids Custom machine work rates MSU Extension history exhibit: Barn models from 1939 Soybean rust update for 2008 New resources available for soybean rust Ag Expo set for July 15-17 Regional reports Weather |
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| Corn hybrids stressed after glyphosate applications I ran across some information the other day concerning stressed corn following glyphosate applications this spring, and thought I would make it available in case it impacts anyone in the state. Corn growers who have planted Roundup Ready hybrids should be aware that five hybrids have shown stress symptoms after glyphosate applications; however, the symptoms are primarily due to environmental stresses. The hybrids range in maturity from 100 to 103 days and come from a single parent line making up less than one percent of total corn planted in the United States. Syngenta Seeds is working with growers and dealers to avoid potential damage from the stress symptoms. The hybrids are:
The entire press release can be read here . (http://www.ipm.msu.edu/cat08field/fc06-19-08.htm). |
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| Yellow corn and soil nitrogen Following the past couple of weeks of variable rainfall, many corn fields are showing light yellow areas. Where rainfall was heavy the soil has been compacted and the surface crusted. Some of the yellow areas are associated with lower areas in fields where nitrogen was lost by leaching and denitrification. In addition, the soil compaction and crusting is contributing to oxygen deficiency that makes it difficult for the roots to function properly in taking up water and nutrients. Opening up the soil by cultivation or by knifing in nitrogen will help aerate the soil and stimulate microbial activity to mineralize nitrogen and other nutrients and improve root growth. Some of the nitrogen that was leached downward may still be in the soil profile where corn roots will eventually be able to access it. Results of the presidedress soil nitrate tests are presented in Table 1. Some of these samples were taken prior to the rainy spell, so the levels may have changed some. Twelve percent of the samples contain enough nitrogen so that additional N is required (> 25 ppm). In five percent of the samples the available nitrogen level is very low.
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| Anthracnose leaf blight of corn Several corn samples have been submitted to the lab over the past few days infected with anthracnose leaf blight. All samples have come from fields where corn was grown last season. Anthracnose of corn is caused by the fungus Colletotrichum graminicola. This fungus survives in corn residue, first infecting the lower corn leaves as the spores are splashed from the soil surface. Leaf spots are round to irregular, water-soaked lesions with dark tan centers and yellowish-orange to reddish-brown borders. Lesions usually appear near the leaf tip and mid rib. Lesions can coalesce causing the lower leaves to shrivel and die. Fruiting bodies (acervuli) with black, whisker-like setae can be seen with a hand lens on infected leaves. Anthracnose fungus survives in corn residue, especially on the soil surface. Therefore, this disease may be more serious under reduced tillage systems and in continuous corn. Anthracnose leaf blight is best controlled through the use of resistant hybrids along with crop rotation and tillage.
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| Custom machine work rates Many farmers hire some farm work or perform custom work for others. What is a fair amount to charge one to do or to pay for such work? Michigan State University has Extension Bulletin, E-2131, revised October 2002, available free of charge, which outlines a free labor, tractor and machine rental rates as determined by a survey of farmers from around the state of Michigan. Dennis Stein, MSU Extension farm management educator does a survey of farmers in the Thumb area of Michigan every year. His survey of numbers is listed below. Some spring custom rate numbers for the following items might be helpful for farmers as they settle up accounts for tillage work. All rates are per acre unless otherwise noted. Rates in Monroe County may be higher or lower depending upon several factors. These can include; field size, ease of access, machine size and roads, trash, trees or brush hindering work, depth of field drainage tile or bedrock, payment arrangements or other factors. Farmers need to consider their current fuel prices and adjust their custom rate charge according to their actual costs. |
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The Monroe County Extension office has copies of E-2131 and Dennis Stein’s Saginaw Valley report available free of charge. For a copy, please call the office at 734-240-3170. |
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| MSU Extension history exhibit: Barn models from 1939 Coming to MSU's campus this summer? Don't miss the exhibit at the MSU Museum featuring barn models created for Michigan farmers in 1939. Included in the exhibit are seven accurate barn models, made in 1939 to educate Michigan farmers about new ways of building barns and agricultural devices. Skilled craftsmen were hired to build miniatures from real life blueprints. MSU Museum has 60 model buildings and agricultural devices in its agriculture collections. In 1939 the MSC Co-operative Extension and the Agricultural Engineering Department collaborated with the Works Progress Administration (WPA) to produce the models which were rotated through county extension offices every few months to provide visual education for farmers across Michigan.The models were a part of a larger Extension program that offered blueprints, farm visits, town meetings, and construction assistance. Models and materials were also loaned to 4-H and Future Farmers of America for fairs and expos. The Federal Art Project exhibit in the main floor Heritage Gallery at MSU Museum runs through August 24, 2008.For more information on the barn models collection or other agricultural heritage collections at the museum, contact history curator Val Berryman at berryma2@msu.edu. The MSU Museum is commemorating American's New Deal Heritage and the nationwide 75th anniversary of the New Deal in 2008 with "The Federal Art Project: Supporting Good Artists in Bad Times." The Art Museum at MSU is also taking part in this nationwide New Deal anniversary with an exhibit set for fall 2008: "Drawings by WPA Artist Edgar Yaeger." For more, see: http://www.newdeallegacy.org/ |
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| Soybean rust update for 2008 Soybean rust monitoring is off to a slow start in Michigan. The county locations have been selected, but soybeans have been emerging very slowly, and no actual sampling has taken place yet. Counties where the twenty soybean rust plots are located for 2008 include: Allegan, Clinton, Gratiot, Saginaw, Tuscola, Sanilac, St. Clair, Shiawassee, Eaton, Ingham, Van Buren, Calhoun, Kalamazoo, Berrien, Cass, St. Joseph, Hillsdale, Lenawee, Monroe and Washtenaw. Nationally, soybean rust has been reported on kudzu in one county in Alabama; ten counties in Florida; three counties in Louisiana; one county in Mississippi, and three counties in Texas. There have been no findings in the United States on soybean so far. Rust was also reported in three states (five municipalities) in Mexico on yam bean and soybean. Except for the recent find in Chiapas, rust finds in Mexico have been destroyed or are no longer active. |
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| New resources available for soybean rust The newly updated book Using Foliar Fungicides to Manage Soybean Rust is available online at www.sbrfungicides.net . Links to each chapter are available at the site, and individual chapters can be downloaded. Foliar applications of fungicides to the soybean canopy is the standard disease management practice to limit yield losses due to soybean rust for the foreseeable future. This book reviews the factors involved in making fungicide spray decisions and basic fungicide information, including mode of action, application, and use strategies. Prepared by a group of soybean pathologists working in many regions of North America, this full-color publication contains numerous illustrations, photographs, maps, tables, and charts, as well as a glossary of terms and a list of sources for additional information. Proper fungicide timing will be key to maintaining profitability for the coming years. This reference book will help growers maintain that profitability. A printed four page “Cliff’s Notes” version of the guide will be available shortly from your county extension office, along with a limited number of CDs containing the full text of the book. |
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| Ag Expo set for July 15-17 MSU’s 29th Ag Expo is set for July 15 through July 17. Show hours will be from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Tuesday and Wednesday and 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM Thursday. The event location is at the northwest corner of Farm Lane and Mt. Hope Road on Michigan State University’s campus. There will be free parking and free admission for everyone. For more information on this year’s Ag Expo, please visit: http://www.agexpo.msu.edu/ |
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| Regional reports 1 -- Southeast Ned Birkey Weather Weather has been great for tourists, campers and parades. It was enjoyable this past weekend for the MIS races, though it is a bit cool for accumulating degree days for corn and soybeans. Soil moisture conditions remain generally good with dry topsoil conditions. No one is complaining since Iowa and other parts of the Midwest have flood conditions. There are scattered fields with water standing and still a few fields that remain to be planted. Crop report Alfalfa cutting continues over an extended period of time. We are well past full bloom stage, but much hay is sold by color to small, part-time and hobby farmers with livestock who want green hay. Earlier cut hay is regrowing nicely. Corn is zooming past knee high, at the V10 leaf stage, and mostly very green. Some sidedressing on nitrogen continues and some post weed control is being applied. Plants have mostly filled in between the rows. Corn borer numbers remain fairly low, 0-16 in traps in southeast Michigan. Corn rootworms should be present. Smaller, yellow corn in low areas, lacking nitrogen, is evident. Soybeans have surprisingly covered the ground, although I guess that June is about two-thirds over. Many fields are at the V3 trifoliate stage. Weed control is very good in some fields and very poor in others. Post spraying is one of the top priority jobs for field crop farmers. No aphids found at the rust and aphid sentinel plots in Washtenaw or Lenawee counties this past week. I have not seen any Japanese beetles and suspect bean leaf beetle feeding causing holes in leaves. Wheat has finished flowering and farmers are getting combines ready. Speculation is that harvest will be delayed by up to a week because of the cooler than normal temperatures. I think we will have some fusarium head scab this year due to the excess moisture about ten days ago, that lasted for several days. A farmer from Lenawee County called about armyworms in wheat. A pre-harvest field day will be held on Monday, June 23 from 5:00-8:00 PM at the MSU Wheat Variety Trial in Lenawee County. The plot is located on Holloway Road, between Britton and Bucholtz Highways, south of Britton and north of Deerfield. A free pork-burger supper will be served at about 7:00 PM. Miscellaneous Crops look good in many fields considering that planting was delayed for much of April. Farmers are wondering how much to sell at with the recent price increases. Several farmers have grain (primarily corn) in storage and are delivering at previously sold (and of course, lower) prices. There are a few new irrigation systems and more grain storage that has been built this past winter and spring. |
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| 2 -- Southwest Bruce MacKellar Weather Fair but cool conditions have been the story in southwest Michigan much of the last week. Daytime highs in the 60s and 70s with bright sunshine and constant winds have allowed some of the wet soils from rains over the weekend to dry out. The winds have created challenges for producers and agri-businesses that are trying to get herbicides applied in a timely manner. Rainfall from thunderstorms, some reaching severe limits, ranged from 0.3 to 1.0 inches. Some strong winds and hail were associated with storms in the Battle Creek area. Crops continue to grow well despite the cooler temperatures. Base 50 growing degree day totals for Three Rivers and Coldwater were 637 and 623 (since May 1), respectively. These values are a little ahead of the norm for southwest Michigan. Crop report Commercial corn continues to grow well in this part of the region. The most advanced fields are approaching wait height, around V11, and are growing rapidly. Most commercial corn is V5-V6, and sidedressing operations are in full swing. Growers had to hustle in some areas where soils have been wet to be able to get nitrogen on before the crop gets too high. The weather conditions over the last few days have been ideal for working on nitrogen applications. We continue to see early instar European corn borer larvae in spots in some fields, and the occasional sign of early instar armyworm feeding as well. We have had some corn fields that were planted in killed rye cover that have been treated for armyworm outbreaks. At least one field in the Burr Oak area had significant infestation. We are beginning to be able to see the signs of Asiatic garden beetle white grub feeding on corn rotated from soybeans, but there appears to be less widespread damage from the grubs this year then last year at this time. These plants showed yellowing in irregular circular patches that are similar to what you might expect to see in soybean cyst nematode damage in soybean fields. Digging and observation of the roots can help you to determine if white grubs are active in areas with these types of symptoms. Cass County CED Dan Rajzer also reports seeing patches of yellowing in some corn fields that he thinks may be associated with a nutrient deficiency. We have seen significant impact from starter fertilizer on corn growth this season. Early nitrogen seems to have helped the plants get off to a good start, and rows where the planter applied less starter, or none, have significantly less growth. Pre-emergence weed control programs seem to be holding well. Some fields where glyphosate applications were delayed have had reduced growth where the weeds had gotten ahead of the crop before control. The seed corn continues to grow well. While fields are spread out in terms of planting date to help with the processing plant capacity, the crop looks pretty good overall. I suspect that some fields may have been treated with an insecticide to help control European corn borers. The soybeans are growing very well, with ample moisture and sunlight this week. Bean leaf beetles can be found in most fields, but mostly well below threshold numbers. I have not seen soybean aphids yet. Weed control still remains the larger challenge, with some weedy areas getting ahead of the crop before they can be sprayed. I have seen some septoria brown spot on sandy fields, but in general, stands seem to be fairly good this year. Driving down the road, the winter wheat crop looks really good across the region. We hope that this translates into good yields. Berrien County MSUE educator Mike Staton reports that he can find only very low amounts of fusarium head blight in fields in that part of the region. Grain fill is underway, and we should be able to see if fields have challenges over the next week. There appears to be significant varietal differences for susceptibility to diseases such as septoria leaf and glume blotch and powdery mildew in fields in that area. We also are beginning to see wheat rust in some fields. Producers should check their wheat field for the incidence of rust. Alfalfa hay producers have finally found the window of opportunity to harvest hay with less chance of it getting wet. A great deal of delayed first cutting hay was being cut and baled throughout the region this week. Producers that were able to get the first cutting harvested during the planting season have been harvesting a very good second cutting as well. Potato leafhopper numbers are fairly low at this point, but regrowth on alfalfa bears watching, because it takes so few leafhoppers when the plants are small to cause yield reducing injury. |
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| 3 -- West Central Fred Springborn Weather The weather is back to cool and damp. Rain showers have been quite light this week with most receiving a trace to a tenth of an inch over the last few days. Flooding has been minimal, the poorly drained soils have had some ponding of water from last week’s rain. High temperatures were in the low 80s for the first half of the week and upper 60s for the second half. Low air temperatures have been in the 50s. Low soil temperatures have been in the mid-60s Crop report Alfalfa is blooming in many fields. Grasses are maturing quickly. Harvest of the first cutting continues with 40 percent of the crop cut or harvested. Early cut fields are regrowing nicely. Potato leafhopper adults are present. The majority of the corn crop is at the V5 to V8 growth stage. Color has paled in many fields, and growth has slowed this week with the cool, cloudy conditions. Some of the heavier soils have small areas of water damage. Early planted soybean fields are at V2 to V3. Few insect or disease problems have been reported. Stands are generally adequate, but variable. Oat fields are headed with little disease or insect pressure. Dry beans planting is progressing this week with 30 percent of the crop planted, early planted fields are in the unifoliate stage. |
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| 5 -- Thumb Bob Battel Weather Weather has been cooler and wetter than normal. Most of the area has received between 0.75-inch to just a bit over one inch of rain the past week, and we have had many small rain showers almost every day to reach that accumulation. Crop report Some alfalfa fields remain uncut, and other cut fields remain unharvested. New growth on harvested fields is very good with about 20 to 22 inches of regrowth. Leaf hoppers are active, but generally below threshold. Wheat is mostly pollinated and generally continues to look very good with little disease pressure, though some fungicidal spraying has occurred. There is a concern about infection of fusarium head scab as we have had several periods of moisture and wet plant conditions within the past two weeks. The majority of corn is at the six to eight leaf stage, and generally looking good. Some fields are yellow due to high moisture conditions and likely denitrification. Many fields are weedy as well. Soybeans range from second to third trifoliate, with a majority falling in the second trifoliate stage. Weeds are also a problem in many soybean fields. Sugar beets generally range in the eight to twelve leaf stage. Dry bean planting continues as filed conditions allow. Planting is about two weeks behind schedule. Depending upon maturity, dry beans should be planted no later than June 24 for full season varieties and July 4 for early season varieties. |
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| Weather news Jeff Andresen Agricultural Meteorology Geography A new record? A large area of training thunderstorms (storms which form and move repeatedly across the same areas) brought torrential rains and widespread flooding to sections of northwest lower Michigan last Thursday and Friday (June 12-13). More than six inches of rain fell from Mason and Manistee counties northeastward into Wexford, Lake, Osceola, and Missaukee counties. There was an observation of 11 inches in the Ludington area from roughly 9:00 PM on Thursday through 7:00 AM on Friday. If this observation stands, it would be a new state record for precipitation in both 12 hour and 24 hour periods (the old one day record of 9.78 inches was set in Bloomingdale in 1914). Considering that the statistical 100-year, 24 hour extreme precipitation event (an event expected to occur on average only once every 100 years) for Michigan ranges from about four inches in far northern and eastern sections of the state to about seven inches in the extreme southwest, this event will serve as a new upper end benchmark for extreme precipitation. In contrast to the stormy and quickly changing weather experienced during the past couple of weeks in Michigan and across much of the Midwest, conditions this week have been relatively quiet and fall-like, in association with the formation of an upper air trough across the Great Lakes region late last weekend. This feature is expected to persist for much of the next several days, resulting in a cloudy and unsettled weather pattern through much of the weekend into early next week. A series of disturbances moving counterclockwise around the trough will bring a chance for showers and a few thunderstorms Friday and Saturday. Best chances for rainfall will be in northern and eastern sections of the state closest to the center of the trough. With only limited low level moisture expected to be in place this weekend, rainfall totals through next Monday are expected to remain on the light to moderate side with 0.25-0.50-inch totals where rain falls. Some areas expected to remain dry. Temperatures during the next few days will moderate from recent levels, with highs Friday through Sunday generally increasing to the upper 60s north to the upper 70s south and lows from the upper 40s north to the upper 50s south. In the medium range forecast, the upper air pattern mentioned above is expected continue for much of the remainder of June, The National Weather Service 6‑10 day and 8-14 day outlooks covering June 24 through June 28 and June 26- July 2 both call for precipitation totals to remain at below normal levels. Mean temperatures are forecast to remain at below normal levels during the 6-10 day period, moderating to near normal levels during the 8-14 day time frame. Further ahead, it is interesting to note that forecast guidance is also hinting that the very turbulent, active upper air pattern of late May and early June may return to the upper Midwest, possibly during early July. |
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