Contact your local Latham RSM with any questions you might have about how to protect your crops and maximize yield potential: southdakotarsm2@lathamseeds.com
August 31, 2011
Much needed rain fell on Sunday in most of southeast South Dakota. This will benefit most of the soybeans as 90% are in the R-5 stage, which requires a lot of water and nutrients from the plant. Thirty percent of the corn is in the R-4 stage with 10% in the R-5 stage. Corn is firing in the lighter soils. As Labor Day approaches, silage cutters will be roaring in the fields. It won’t take long to get a load as corn should really ton out. Fourth percent of third cutting of alfalfa is complete.
August 24, 2011
Let’s hope Mother Nature stays kind to us! Crop development made significant progress last week with good weather conditions. Soybean podding is around 80%. Aphids in the soybeans appeared with the cooler weather. Timing is critical, so it’s very important to scout soybean fields every couple days.
Corn silking is almost complete with more than 25% of the corn in the dough stage. It won’t be long until we see kernels in the dent stage. Second cutting of alfalfa is almost complete, with 25% of the third crop is being harvested.
August 17, 2011
Crop development made significant progress last week with good weather conditions. Soybean podding is around 80%. Aphids appeared with the cooler weather, so it’s very important to scout your fields every couple days to stay ahead of this pest. Timing is critical. Manage aphids to save yield.
More than 25% of the corn is in the dough stage, and corn silking is almost complete. It won’t be long until we start seeing kernels in the dent stage. Second cutting of alfalfa is almost complete, with 25% of the third crop is being harvested.
Let’s hope Mother Nature is kind to us in the coming weeks.
August 10, 2011
After a week of temperatures surpassing the 100-degree mark, temperatures this week seem quite mild. Heat stress is evident, especially in the lighter soils. Corn is 95% tassled with 75% silked, which is even with the 5-year average. Latham Hybrid LH 5426 VT3PRO is looking very good in plots here. It’s standing out due to great plant health combined with big, solid ear structure. Soybeans are over 90% bloomed, with 50% of the plants setting pods. Although the soybeans seem a bit shorter in height this year, I’m still looking for above-normal yield with all the Roundup Ready 2 Yield Soybeans.
August 3, 2011
Crops continue to progress. Third cutting alfalfa is underway. Corn now is 85% tasseled (VT). The silked stage(R1) jumped to 60%, which is even with the 5-year average. Eighty percent of the soybeans are blooming(V3), and 25% are setting pods(R3).
July 2011 went down as one of the Top 10 warmest on record. Earlier this season, the warm weather helped reduce the deficit in growing degree days from the cool spring, but now we’re experiencing the extreme opposite. It’s been extremely hot and dry. The far southeast part of South Dakota has been the most consistently dry area over the last 30 days and we’re hearing reports of crop stress.
July 27, 2011
Hot and humid pretty much sums up the current conditions! This week’s weather pushed crop development along without much stress, but it was certainly hard on livestock. Many locations hit the 100+ degree mark for this first time this year with dew points into the 70s and 80s. The heat index was very dangerous to humans and cattle, and more than 1,500 cattle were lost during the week.
The high daytime temps and very warm overnight pushed growing day units (GDU) back to normal.
Corn jumped to 60% tasseled (VT), which is 10% behind of normal and silking is at 25% (R1). Soybean bloom is at 65% (R1), which is slightly behind the 5-year average. Ten percent of soybeans are starting to set pods (R3), as compared to this same time in 2010 when it was at 20%.
Second cutting alfalfa is coming along great and is being put up without any rain. A good shot of rain in August will be needed to help further crop development.
July 20, 2011
Another week of mixed weather conditions had some farmers busy with haying and spraying, while others assessed hail damage from the week prior. Crop development made great progress with the high humidity and heat into the night. Warmer temperatures during the week were badly needed as crops were short of heat for most of the spring and early summer. Temperatures, well the 90s, could be potentially stressful for some areas in some areas of the state. Adequate soil moisture is bringing the crop closer to the 5-year average.
Soybean progress jumped to 25% of the crop in the R1 stage, which is only slightly behind the 5-year average. Corn made a dramatic change this week as tassels are showing in some early planted fields (VT stage). Latham® Hi-Tech Hybrids LH 5228 VT3 is looking great in my region. Alfalfa is being cut for the second time with very good tonnage.
June 29, 2011
Soybeans are 95% planted, but saturated fields left farmers with minimal gains in late-season planting last week. Flooding is still a factor, especially with the amounts of rain we have been getting. Wet weather has also hindered the growth of many crops and slowed spraying. Heavy rains occurred over a large part of the region, ranging from 2 to 4 inches. Corn height is an average of 13 inches, which is behind the 5-year average of 21 inches. This week we’re expecting to receive the best weather we’ve had since the week of Memorial Day. With crop stages of corn from VE to complete canopy (V7), we really need more growing degree day units. Lots of sunshine and heat are needed to progress this year’s crop.
June 22, 2011
More heat units and less rainfall is needed here. Some areas received as much as 8 inches of rain over the past 7 days. Thankfully, we’re not seeing insect pressure.
June 15, 2011
The west central part of Bill Eichacker’s region will be prevent planting. Some acres intended for corn were planted to beans. The acres that got planted are looking good, and LH 5258 VT3 looks great! We haven’t seen any insect pressure yet. First crop hay was really good.
June 8, 2011
This year’s planting will be finished about 30 days later than past years due to extremely wet conditions. Flooding has taken some acres out of production completely for this year. Corn planting will be complete by the end of this week as long as the weather holds. Most corn in my area is in the V1 to V3 stages with some replanting being done. Soybean planting is 80% done and should be 100% complete within the next 10 days. Spraying is coming along.
June 1, 2011
Corn planting is 80% complete with seedlings at the V2 stage. Due to extremely wet conditions, soybeans are 1% complete and averaging 36% complete across South Dakota. Last week our area received another inch of rain, plus tornados and high winds struck the area. Fortunately, good weather is predicted for the coming weeks.
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