Scouting season is officially underway! Now that we’ve got some Heat Units under our belt, the time has arrived to closely monitor your crops for disease and insect activity. Latham agronomists recommend visiting your fields at least every 7 to 10 days and more frequently if you discover activity that could cause yield impact. See below for crop reports from across Latham Country.

Central Iowa
Corn: Corn in the region is in the V5-V6 stage. We’re seeing some uneven stands, but overall the corn here looks very good. Producers are finishing up nitrogen applications and are working to complete post-applications of herbicides. Latham Hi-Tech Hybrids LH 5266 3000GT and LH 5376 VT3 are both off to a good start in the area.

Soybeans: This year’s soybean crop continues to improve each week. Herbicide applications are beginning on acres not covered by pre-emerge herbicide. We’ve heard a few reports of Bean Leaf Beetles in some areas but none are to threshold of treatment. Other pest and diseases are minimal at this time, but it is important to scout your fields weekly as we move ahead this growing season.
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Western Iowa
Western Iowa – Corn is at V6 to V7 stage and looking good! The corn is growing so fast that some fields are almost closed. Beans are in the V2 to V3 stage and are also looking good. We’re not having any trouble with insects right now. Mother Nature has been pretty kind to this area, and replants are minimal.
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East Central Iowa
East Central Iowa – Corn is at V6 stage, which is a little behind than NC Iowa. Although farmers got a later start, the corn is looking good. Beans are V2 to V3 stage and also looking good. I’m not aware of any insect pressure or replants.
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North Central Iowa
North Central Iowa crops continue to progress nicely as cooler weather returned. With moderate rains across the area, moisture levels continue to be optimum. Corn is progressing towards V5-V6 levels. Black cutworm has been sighted, so be on the lookout for it.

Soybeans have now progressed in most areas into the V2-V3 stages. In the northern most part of Iowa, later planted beans are just reaching V1 stages.

Winds continue to limit spraying in the area and also have stressed some corn. Side dressing is well underway in most of the territory and should be finished within the next 7-10 days for a majority of acres. Despite the later planting start, North Iowa crops are well on their way towards another solid performance.
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Eastern Nebraska
Most of the state got some much needed heat again this week, and the University of Nebraska – Lincoln (UNL) reports that we’re right at the historic average for heat units. Several fungal diseases have started to pop up in the last week. Rust and Fusarium are affecting fields in the southern parts of Nebraska. Phytophthera is showing in the beans planted in slowly drained soils. This upcoming week is UNL’s prediction for a black cutworm cutting date, so it would be a good week for insect and fungal scouting.

While the epic flooding has been occurring, much of the state has been dry. Flooding is still occurring along both the Platte and Missouri Rivers. The Missouri has reached record levels along several points of the river. Rains have been spotty.
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Southwest Wisconsin
With corn prices hovering around $7, farmers understandably want to harvest as many bushels as possible. It’s no wonder they’re asking what they can do to manage their crops now in hopes of maximizing yields this fall. Over the past week, I’ve received calls from customers who have questions about the color of their corn and others concerned about hail damage.

Yellowing plants in the field can be caused by several factors including wet conditions, the amount of residue in the field and a difference in organic matter. Heavy residue in a corn-on-corn situation can tie up the nitrogen in the old stalks instead of allowing it to soak into the soil where it can be utilized by the current crop. In a situation like this, a farmer might benefit from spreading urea before the crop gets too big.

It’s also important to know the characteristics of the hybrid that was planted. For example, LH 5426 VT3PRO is naturally a little lighter green color than LH 5494 3000GT. You can also take yields to another level with a hybrid like 5494 if Nitrogen is side-dressed at the V5 stage or a little later.

On Monday, I was asked to take a look at a customer’s field where leaf-feeding was evident.  Armyworm feed deep inside the whorls, especially on very late-planted corn in the Upper Midwest. Holes often mirror each other on opposite leaves. Although we didn’t find enough damage to warrant treatment, it’s a good reminder that we all must be diligent in walking our fields to identify pest and disease pressure early.
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Northwest Iowa
Crops in northwest Iowa are coming along well, with most corn in the 3- to 4- leaf stage and some in the 5-lleaf stage. Soybeans are in 2^nd trifoliate. Rain and wet soil has kept us out of the fields, so 60% of the corn spraying is done and 20% of the spraying on soybeans is done.
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Southeast South Dakota
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.
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Southeast North Dakota
We’ve experienced two consecutive weeks of favorable weather and good field conditions, which increased planted acres on both beans and corn. Last week planted acres of corn according to NASS-ND were 74%, and I thought that would probably be near the final number since it was the end of May. However, the June 6th report had increased planted acres to 87% with 55% of the crop emerged. Planted corn acres increased another 19% between June 6 and the June 13^th crop report.

Soybean planted acres jumped from 29 to 47% with about 10% in the June 6^th crop report. And then it made another big jump last week, as the June 13^th crop report shows 80% of the soybeans planted and 35% emerged. Some bean acres will need to be replanted because of the Memorial Weekend rains, but there shouldn’t be a significant amount of replanting. I have heard of some cutworm damage Black cutworm on no till planted beans so be on the lookout.

North Dakota Ag Weather Network (NDAWN) at the Lisbon site recorded 403 GDD’s for corn as of June, 11. The normal number would be 451. That does not sound like much but it’s about 11% behind normal.

Unfortunately, there was another grain bin fatality this weekend near here. Remember, stay safe!
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