We are at the early end of wheat harvest. I have not heard any yield reports. A few weeks back I made a prediction that wheat yields will be disappointing this year, but that disappointing wheat production will be offset by better than normal corn and soybean production. With wheat harvest upon us, wheat is one less crop farmers have to worry about from a crop production standpoint. It is just a matter of getting wheat harvested before summer storms blow in and flatten local fields.
Corn has been growing at a tremendous pace. Dry weather in May allowed farmers to plant corn in timely fashion. The only common complaint across our region has been poor weed control on farms where herbicides are used. The lack of rainfall in May resulted in herbicides remaining on the soil surface. When rainfall that could incorporate herbicides finally came, spring weeds were already 4 to 6 inches tall. Herbicides become less effective once weeds reach this height. Many farmers made additional post-emergence herbicide applications. Some turned to the row cultivator in order to manage weed escapes. European corn borer has been light to moderate. Most producers ignore ECB. MSUE still recommends scouting for corn borer damage and treating to limit insect damage once threshold levels are reached. Still, farmers seem to be willing to take their losses from corn borer feeding.
With wheat going into the storage bins and corn on cruise control from now through harvest, soybeans remain the major crop to watch and manage. As you may know, MSUE is working with a network of agronomists to scout for soybean rust. I am scouting fields on the east and west ends of the county. So far no rust has been found. There is a moderate amount of brown spot on soybeans across our region. This disease is found annually in most soybean fields. I’ve seen limited outbreaks of downy mildew, and have just begun seeing cases of phytopthora root rot. Soybean aphid populations continue to rise, even with rainfall that usually promotes growth of a parasitic fungus which kills soybean aphid. Two-spotted spider mite has also caused scattered damage. I strongly recommend scouting for aphid and spider mite damage. Aphids are small, light-green soft bodied insects that can be found throughout the crop canopy. Spider mites cause a white speckling of soybean leaves, and as damage progresses, cause drying out and defoliation of soybean plants. If you have questions about insect identification feel free to call me at 517-403-1025. I will be glad to come to your farm to help with an accurate diagnosis. When spider mites are present farmers should take control measures. Soybean aphids should be treated when populations rise above 250 per plant.
Early Summer Notes- June 23, 2005
Mike Score, MSUE Agriculture
While spring weather did not appear to be favorable for wheat production corn, soybeans, and hay crops have done well under the dry weather pattern we've experienced.
This year is the closest we have come to having timely hay harvest and early completion of corn and soybean planting. Corn plants are currently at growth stage V10. Soybeans are beginning to flower.
Heavy soybean aphid populations are popping up around the region. I visited a field near Dundee where aphid populations were above the treatment threshold of 250 aphids per plant. The farmer sprayed the field. He also left an untreated check. The spray was very effective. We will monitor yield at harvest. I would expect to see a noticeable yield difference.
Soybeans treated with Cruiser Max remain aphid free. Farmers have been asking me how long this seed treatment will work in fending off aphids. I do not know. This is the first year we have seen this product used in our region. It is also the first year we have had heavy aphid populations this early in the season.
Corn is now tall enough for first generation corn borer. I am seeing light feeding from ECB. Even though treatment is cost effective when pesticides are applied before larvae reach 1/2 inch in length, farmers rarely bother treating fields to limit ECB damage.
We need rainfall across the region. This is especially true in northern Lenawee and much of Washtenaw County. Still, grain and hay crops have grown well up to this point.
Take note of grain prices. This morning when I checked the CBOT I noticed soybean prices for November 05 are at $7.49 and December corn is around $2.49. These translate into decent starting points for pricing the crop that is currently in the ground.
Soybean Grower Resources
Selecting Corn Hybrids and Soybean Varieties for 2010 Mike Staton, MSU Extension Agricultural Educator and Soybean 2010 Coordinator
Selecting corn hybrids and soybean varieties is one of the most important management decisions producers make. The hybrids and varieties you select will directly affect your yield potential and profits. Because of this, you should select your hybrids and varieties carefully. Consider the following factors when selecting the best adapted varieties for your farm -- yield, pest resistance or tolerance, maturity and standibility.
Yield
Yield is probably the most important characteristic to look for when selecting corn hybrids and soybean varieties. Refer to tables 1 through 4 to see how critical hybrid and variety selection is to your profitability. Yield potential under ideal growing conditions varies among hybrids and varieties. The maximum yield potential of a given hybrid or variety is also affected by weather and other environmental conditions. A hybrid/variety that has the highest yield potential under ideal conditions may not yield as well as others when confronted with yield limiting factors. The best way to account for this variability is to look at yield data from as many different environments as possible. Research has shown that evaluating performance over a wide range of locations and over multiple years will help you select the best adapted hybrids and varieties for your farm. Since hybrids and varieties have relatively short life spans, multiple-location data is easier to obtain than multiple-year data. The “Michigan Soybean Performance Report” and “Michigan Corn Hybrids Compared” are excellent sources for this information. Both publications are posted online at www.css.msu.edu/varietytrials soon after their release. The 2009 “Michigan Soybean Performance Report” should be posted by mid-November and “Michigan Corn Hybrids Compared in 2009” should be available in early December. Both publications are also published in the Michigan Farm News.
Table 1. Yield advantage of the highest-yielding hybrids over the average yield of all the hybrids and the lowest-yielding hybrids averaged across all locations in maturity zones 1, 2 and 3 from “Michigan Corn Hybrids Compared” (2005 – 2008).
Year
High – Average (bu/ac)
High – Low (bu/ac)
2005
21.4
61.8
2006
20.0
52.0
2007
23.3
47.6
2008
15.2
33.0
Table 2. 1Economic advantage of the highest-yielding hybrids over the average yield of all the hybrids and the lowest-yielding hybrids averaged across all locations in maturity zones 1, 2 and 3 from “Michigan Corn Hybrids Compared” (2005 – 2008).
Year
High – Average ($/ac)
High – Low ($/ac)
2005
$42.80
$123.60
2006
$60.80
$158.08
2007
$97.86
$199.92
2008
$61.56
$133.65
1Economic advantage per acre was determined by multiplying the yield advantage of the highest yielding hybrids by the USDA average prices received for each marketing year ($2.00/bu in 2005, $3.04/bu in 2006, $4.20/bu in 2007 and $4.05/bu in 2008).
Table 3. Yield advantage of the highest-yielding soybean varieties over the average yield of all the varieties and the lowest-yielding varieties averaged across all locations and maturity groups from the “Michigan Soybean Performance Reports” (Roundup Ready varieties only).
Year
High – Average (bu/ac)
High – Low (bu/ac)
2006
6.8
14.4
2007
5.8
14.1
2008
5.0
10.7
2009
5.0
12.1
Table 4. 2Economic advantage of the highest-yielding soybean varieties over the average yield of all the varieties and the lowest-yielding varieties averaged across all locations and maturity groups from the “Michigan Soybean Performance Reports” (Roundup Ready varieties only).
Year
High – Average ($/ac)
High – Low ($/ac)
2006
$43.72
$92.59
2007
$58.58
$142.41
2008
$49.85
$106.68
2009
$45.50
$110.11
2Economic advantage was determined by multiplying the yield advantage of the highest yielding varieties by the USDA average prices received for each marketing year -- $6.43/bu in 2006, $10.10/bu in 2007, $9.97/bu in 2008 (estimated) and $9.10/bu for 2009 (projected).
Maturity
The maturity range of the hybrids/varieties you select also affects your net income. Always select hybrids and varieties that will reach physiological maturity prior to a killing frost. The latest maturity soybeans planted should have yellow pods just before the date when there is a 20% chance of a killing frost occurring. Selecting soybean varieties that are too early for a given area will lead to lower yields as the plants will be filling seeds under hotter and drier conditions. Selecting varieties that are too late increases the risk of frost and freeze damage.
Corn hybrid maturity can have a significant effect on harvest moisture, drying costs an
Integrated pest management (IPM) is a sustainable approach for managing insects, weeds and plant diseases that combines the use of biological control, cultural, physical, and chemical tactics in a way that minimizes economic, health, and environmental risks.
The Crop Advisory Team (CAT) Alert newsletters feature timely pest management information based on current conditions. MSU faculty and Extension field staff write and pest management concerns. Select one of the four editions: fruit, vegetable, field crop and landscape. With the exception of the landscape edition, the information is primarily for commercial production of crops.
Diagnostics Services was established in 1999 as a multi-disciplinary plant health and pest diagnostic facility. Clients (growers, nusery managers, greenhouse operators, home-owners, etc). may submit samples for diagnosis of many types of problems. Samples can be analyzed for the presence of insect pests, pathogens or nematodes. Our weed scientist performs weed identifications and deals with herbicide related problems or issues.
This Web site provides information from Michigan State University, the Michigan Department of Agriculture, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the USDA Forest Service, and the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to help you find answers to your questions about EAB. It also provides links to other EAB-related Web sites. Please refer back often, as information changes frequently.
Integrated pest management (IPM) is a sustainable approach for managing insects, weeds and plant diseases that combines the use of biological control, cultural, physical, and chemical tactics in a way that minimizes economic, health, and environmental risks.
The Crop Advisory Team (CAT) Alert newsletters feature timely pest management information based on current conditions. MSU faculty and Extension field staff write and pest management concerns. Select one of the four editions: fruit, vegetable, field crop and landscape. With the exception of the landscape edition, the information is primarily for commercial production of crops.
MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Thomas G. Coon, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. This information is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned.
