Tag Archives: crusting

From the FieldTime to Begin Early Crop Scouting in 2011

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Many Midwest farmers will wrap up the 2011 planting season this week, but there won’t be much rest for the weary. As soon as seed is in the ground, it’s a good idea to start scouting fields.

Post-planting is an ideal time to begin scouting one’s crops. Many soilborne pathogens strike as soon as the seed begins to take on water; others strike young seedlings. Because seeds can germinate quickly and emerge in 3 – 5 days, it’s not too soon to start walking your fields.

Check plant populations, evaluate stands and be on the lookout for early summer diseases. Is there a germination problem? Do you see effects of chilling or crusting?

Assessing your situation ASAP will allow you to formulate a plan while there’s still plenty of time to implement it. You could replant in parts or in all of a field now, so you can attain the yields and returns you want this fall. Information on corn replanting decisions is available from www.agronext.iastate.edu/corn. Click on the “Planting” topic, then click on the “Replant Decision Aid Calculator” tab and use that tool and related information to help make a replant decision. For a resource on soybean replanting decisions, go to www.extension.iastate.edu/publications/pm1851.pdf.

Another benefit of evaluating current stands is to help you determine what adjustments should be made before planting next year’s crop: Do you need to adjust your planter settings or your planting speed?

Once you get past the mechanical issues, look at the disease pressure. If soybeans are damping off, perhaps next season you should opt for seed-applied fungicides? Do you need to pay closer attention to a particular soybean brand or corn hybrid’s disease rating? Seed selection is one of the most important decisions affecting yield. Click here for tips on selecting soybean brands and selecting corn hybrids.

Eastern Nebraska Crop Report: April 25, 2012

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Spotty showers fell across Nebraska last week. Most areas received between one tenth and an inch of rainfall. We also saw a significant frost; overnight lows dropped down into the upper 20s in some areas. Just a reminder that the growing point of corn remains below the surface of the soil until the plant reaches approximately 12” tall or the V6 stage of development. If the soil is frozen to the depth of the base of the young plant, it becomes quite a different story as the growing point can be destroyed. This should not have been the case for the majority of corn damaged last week.

We are well into corn planting season. We’re seeing some crusting in areas. Some ways to correct this issue include light tillage and irrigation. With light tillage, be sure to check the conditions and make sure the soil below the crust isn’t too wet. This could result in additional compaction, clods, hard pans, and poor drainage.

I’d like to take a moment and mention Liberty Link beans and the role they can play in managing weeds. Herbicide-resistant weed populations – especially common waterhemp, marestail and giant ragweed – are increasing in Iowa due to farmers’ management decisions. Liberty still has good to excellent control of hard-to-control weeds, plus it saves growers the cost of including a volunteer corn herbicide in their tank mixes. Latham Hi-Tech Seeds is one of the few companies with an extensive Liberty lineup that fits a variety of conditions, so keep that in mind as you’re selecting soybean seed.

From the FieldTime to Begin Early Crop Scouting

Posted on by

Many Midwest farmers will wrap up the 2011 planting season this week, but there won’t be much rest for the weary. As soon as seed is in the ground, it’s a good idea to start scouting fields.

Post-planting is an ideal time to begin scouting one’s crops. Many soilborne pathogens strike as soon as the seed begins to take on water; others strike young seedlings. Because seeds can germinate quickly and emerge in 3 – 5 days, it’s not too soon to start walking your fields.

Check plant populations, evaluate stands and be on the lookout for early summer diseases. Is there a germination problem? Do you see effects of chilling or crusting?

Assessing your situation ASAP will allow you to formulate a plan while there’s still plenty of time to implement it. You could replant in parts or in all of a field now, so you can attain the yields and returns you want this fall. Information on corn replanting decisions is available from www.agronext.iastate.edu/corn. Click on the “Planting” topic, then click on the “Replant Decision Aid Calculator” tab and use that tool and related information to help make a replant decision. For a resource on soybean replanting decisions, go to www.extension.iastate.edu/publications/pm1851.pdf.

Another benefit of evaluating current stands is to help you determine what adjustments should be made before planting next year’s crop: Do you need to adjust your planter settings or your planting speed?

Once you get past the mechanical issues, look at the disease pressure. If soybeans are damping off, perhaps next season you should opt for seed-applied fungicides? Do you need to pay closer attention to a particular soybean brand or corn hybrid’s disease rating? Seed selection is one of the most important decisions affecting yield. Click here for tips on selecting soybean brands and selecting corn hybrids.