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Soggy-Soil Equipment
Strategies
When soils are wet, donning the right mental attitude
can help to beat the elements, says Mark Hanna, Iowa State University
Extension agricultural engineer. Due to a cold, wet start to spring,
farmers should keep in mind that 2008 will likely be an imperfect
planting season that will require good mental preparation, he says.
Those who try to operate in soils that are too wet will risk compaction,
smearing, clods, uneven emergence and lower yields.
"This year, you’ll probably want to limit the amount of spring tillage
that you do, particularly if soils are wet and bordering on plastic,"
says Hanna. "If you take up a handful of soil and squeeze it and the
soil doesn’t spring back, but stays in a ball like silly putty, then
the soil is plastic and too wet for field work."
Plastic soils don’t till well, nor do silly-putty soils make good
seedbeds. However, as the window begins to close on the planting season
and soil conditions remain challenging, farmers will have to decide
whether the risk of lower yields from late planting outweigh the risks
from operating equipment in less-than-ideal soil conditions.
"Controlled traffic is a distinct advantage to farmers in a spring like
this one," says Hanna. "It may be too late for this year, but as you
update your machinery in future years, try to make updates with
controlled traffic and precision farming in mind."
If soils remain too wet for field operations, however, farmers
should use the time to review owner’s manuals, particularly for the
planter, to see what adjustments might need to be made for different
soil conditions, he advises. "For example, if soils are on the wet side,
then you’ll need to go easier on the down pressure of the closing
wheels behind the seed opener, or you could just put them in the float
position," says Hanna. "Switching from rubber-coated, aluminum closing
wheels to spade, spike or finger wheels might be another consideration
to avoid over compaction from wet soil conditions."
Farmers should also go easy on the down pressure springs or the
pneumatic system that transfers weight to the row units if soils are
wet. "The two depth-gauging wheels need to be in firm contact with the
soil, but don’t overdo it and risk compaction," he says. "You only
need a little bit of pressure to maintain contact with wet soil."
Another way to avoid compaction is to ensure your tractor tires are
inflated at the correct pressure for the axle load they are carrying,
says Hanna. However, fine tuning the planter is an often-neglected task
that can be essential to prevent compaction in the seed zone and uneven
emergence problems, which tend to decrease yields during a wet spring,
he emphasizes.
"In wet soils, it won’t be business as usual," says Hanna. "Any time
soil conditions change, you’ll need to make adjustments to your
planter. So, make sure to get off the tractor and check the settings,
especially in the first field that you enter, but also as you move from
one field to another."
For more tips on planter settings for corn, click here: www.extension.iastate.edu/grain/info.
For more information on topics related to corn planting in Iowa, click
here: www.agronext.iastate.edu/corn.
By John Pocock
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Expert Advises
Planting Corn On Uncommitted Acres
The market incentives all winter have been telling
farmers to plant more soybeans, but we have seen a reversal in the new
crop futures, says Chris Hurt, a Purdue University Extension
agricultural economist.
"The March 31 Prospective Plantings report is going to suggest that
producers are going to plant less corn and in fact that may be bullish
to corn," says Hurt. "During the last three weeks, market prices for
corn have actually increased the incentive to raise corn as soybean
prices dropped more sharply."
Hurt predicts the report will be bullish on corn with surprisingly low
acres and in response expects to see a rally. "On the other hand, we
will see so many acres in soybeans that it is probably bearish to bean
prices, which will provide additional incentives to get more acres of
corn in the ground," says Hurt. "I think Indiana producers will look for
a few additional fields where corn can be planted rather than
soybeans.
"The markets and the financial incentives provided by the grain prices,
as well as the costs are very dynamic," he adds. "Producers have some
tough decisions to make this year, but they need to take a step back and
make the best decisions they can."
Hurt recommends producers go a little bit heavier to corn than they were
thinking through the winter.
To continue reading this article about what crops to plant on any
uncommitted acres in 2008, click here: cornandsoybeandigest.com/corn/news/0326-plant-corn-fields-not-committed/.
Source: Purdue University Extension
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Lock In
Your Prices Before Heading To Fields
Farmers may be itching to start fieldwork, but Dave
Harms, founder of Crop Pro Tech, Inc., an independent crop consulting
firm based near Bloomington, IL, says corn, soybean and wheat growers
should lock in their input prices and even their crop prices as much as
possible before planting.
"Fertilizer and fuel prices are the main things farmers should consider
locking in right now, even as far out as 2009, if they can," he says.
"Costs for fertilizer and fuel could very well go higher at the end of
this year."
Preparing a final cost analysis ahead of planting might also be wise to
see if a last minute switch in corn, soybean or wheat acres makes sense.
"The basis for all three commodity prices is high right now, because
there is high risk and high volatility," explains Harms. "Some good
money spent might be to sit down with a financial crop advisor prior to
planting. There is no guarantee that the current high prices for crops
will stay this high, and you may want to consider different marketing
tools to lock in a good price."
A wheat crop this fall may help Illinois farmers to generate a
good income next year at fairly low risk, compared to planting just corn
or soybeans in the spring, notes Harms. “You can plant wheat in the
fall and take it off in July and trade off the drought risk with corn
and soybeans," he says. "Once you’ve harvested wheat, you don’t have
to worry about having adequate rains in July and August. Wheat also
works well on rolling or less-productive ground."
However, "you can’t plant it and forget it," says Harms. "Well-managed
wheat can easily yield 100 bu./acre, and at current wheat prices, that
makes a pretty good profit -- especially since input costs are
significantly lower with wheat than corn or soybeans."
To read a recent University of Illinois analysis comparing the potential
cost and returns of growing corn and soybeans, click here: www.farmdoc.uiuc.edu/manage.
To read a recent article from the University of Missouri on how to avoid
the risk management squeeze when marketing grain, click here: www.fapri.missouri.edu.
To learn more about Crop Pro Tech, Inc., click here: www.cropprotech.com/.
By John Pocock
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Bait And Switch With Gasoline And Diesel
Fuel?
Many drivers in the U.S. who chose diesel-fueled
vehicles over gasoline-fueled ones may have done so for the expected
savings from higher fuel economy and historically lower prices per
gallon -- especially during the summer driving season. Diesel is
currently selling at about a 70¢ premium to gasoline at the retail
pump, and that has consumers scratching their heads.
Gasoline and diesel fuel prices have traditionally followed set seasonal
patterns from year to year. In spring and summer -- the peak driving
season -- gasoline sells at a premium to diesel fuel. In the autumn,
demand for distillate fuels (heating oil and diesel) picks up ahead of
the winter at the same time that gasoline demand begins to soften.
Refineries begin to build inventories of high sulfur distillate fuel
(heating oil) late in the summer, while diesel fuel consumption
increases in the fall due to farm use and trucking of goods ahead of the
holidays. Heating oil prices put a floor under diesel prices through the
winter, since if diesel were selling at a discount to heating oil,
diesel could be used for home heating.
This year, like several others this decade, the traditional seasonal
pattern does not appear to be holding. At winter’s end, we normally
expect gasoline and diesel fuel prices to be converging, with gasoline
prices then rising above diesel for the remainder of the summer.
However, diesel fuel prices have continued to rise at a quicker pace
than gasoline through the late winter/early spring period, and the
diesel fuel premium over gasoline is now in the 70¢/gal. range. In
fact, the Short-Term Energy Outlook is projecting that diesel fuel will
continue to sell at a higher price than gasoline through the summer,
although the price differential between the two fuels is expected to
narrow.
To continue reading this article about the summer outlook for gasoline
and diesel fuel prices, click here: tonto.eia.doe.gov/oog/info/twip/twip.asp.
Source: Energy Information
Administration
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New Fuel
Price Data Shows Ethanol's Cost Savings For
Consumers
The availability of ethanol is currently reducing the
cost of gasoline by between 6 and 9¢/gal., according to data collected
by the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE).
"The growing availability of ethanol across the United States is
reducing the cost of gasoline by up to 9¢/gal.," says Brian Jennings,
executive vice president of ACE. "While gas prices are still causing
pain at the pump, ethanol is alleviating some of the pressure of
$100/barrel oil. Without ethanol, gas prices would likely be even
higher."
According to recent price reports by Axxis Petroleum and the Oil Price
Information Service, ethanol for blending is selling for as much as
10-35¢ lower than gasoline, depending on the market. Factoring in the
blender's tax credit, this means that the wholesale cost of E10 is
between 6 and 9¢/gal. below gasoline.
"The price of gasoline isn't rising as quickly as the price of diesel,
partly due to the fact that there's an alternative to gasoline --
ethanol -- that's adding more than 2 million gallons a day to our
nation's fuel supply," notes Ron Lamberty, ACE's vice president/market
development.
According to the March 24, 2008 AAA fuel price report, the national
average price of diesel reached $4.029/gal., while the national average
price of gasoline remains at $3.26 for regular and $3.587 for premium.
To continue reading this article about ethanol’s cost savings to
consumers, click here:
cornandsoybeandigest.com/biofuels/news/0326-fuel-price-data-ethanol-savings/.
Source: American Coalition for Ethanol
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Adding Wheat
To Corn/Soybean Rotation May Boost Corn Yields
Not all the facts are in yet, but adding wheat to the
southern and central Minnesota crop rotation may decrease lodging in
corn.
Several southern Minnesota producers commented recently on this
phenomenon during the University of Minnesota Extension's Southern Wheat
Tour workshops.
"Inclusion of wheat in their rotation had made a dramatic difference
last summer in the amount of lodging in their corn in fields that were
on a three-year rotation rather than a corn-soybean rotation," says
Jochum Wiersma, University of Minnesota Extension small grain
specialist.
Wiersma thinks adding wheat to the rotation may affect the two-year life
cycle of some northern corn rootworms. Rootworms typically have a
one-year life cycle, but some northern corn rootworms have adapted to
the corn-soybean rotation. The eggs remain dormant in the soil for two
years before hatching -- an extended diapause.
Moving toward a corn/soybean/wheat rotation may reduce extended diapause
rootworm pressure.
"Hatch from corn rootworm eggs declines with exposure to successive
winters, and there is no evidence yet of significant egg laying in
either soybeans or small grains," says Wiersma. "Even though beetles may
be active in nearby crops or weeds, northern corn rootworms return to
corn to lay their eggs."
The small grains specialist would like to see field experiments
conducted to prove or disprove this hypothesis. He would also like to
hear from producers who have anecdotal evidence of corn lodging or the
lack of it following wheat production.
Comments for Wiersma can be left at www.AgBuzz.com, an Internet agriculture
blog. Wiersma's column is titled "Wheat and Northern Corn Root Worm."
Source: University of Minnesota
Extension
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Corn
Killers
Wouldn't it be great if there were no such things as
gray leaf spot or rootworms? If all you had to do was plant your crop,
hope for good weather and then harvest?
Unfortunately, we live in a world of reality, where corn diseases and
pests are abundant. To alleviate the pain and pressure of that, though,
university and Extension personnel have a wealth of data and advice to
help combat those pesky pests and dreadful diseases.
To continue reading this article about management methods to control
common corn insects and diseases, click here: cornandsoybeandigest.com/corn/insects-diesease-watch-0301/.
By Jen Bennett, Corn & Soybean
Digest
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Planning Your Weed Management Program In
Corn
Whether you are planning to plant a Roundup Ready,
Liberty Link or a conventional corn variety this year, it is important
to plan ahead and think about the type of weed management program you
will utilize. Over the past five years, I’ve had the opportunity to
evaluate a lot of different herbicides and herbicide programs for use in
corn and recently I’ve compiled much of this data. Understand that
these are not comparisons of specific herbicide treatments and trade
names, but rather are comparisons of different herbicidal program
approaches.
I was able to make a fair comparison of three different program
approaches that have been evaluated in 37 trials in Missouri over the
past five years. What I found was that in 64% of the trials, highest
corn yields were obtained with a two-pass program consisting of a
preemergence herbicide followed by a postemergence herbicide.
To continue reading this article about corn weed management in Missouri,
click here: ppp.missouri.edu/newsletters.
By Kevin Bradley, University of
Missouri
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Starting
Clean In No-till
As more Iowa fields develop a history of no-till
production, infestations of winter annual weeds are on the increase. The
first step in managing winter annuals is proper identification of the
species infesting the field. Many agronomists are relatively weak at
identifying these weeds. A regional Extension publication, "Early Spring
Weeds On No-till Crop Production" (NCR 614), can assist in this process.
To view the publication in PDF format, click here: extension.missouri.edu.
After the weeds have been identified, appropriate treatments and
application timing can be selected. Applications in early to mid-April
often have advantages compared to treatments made at planting.
To continue reading this article on appropriate treatments to control
early-season weeds in no-till, click here: www.extension.iastate.edu/CropNews.
By Bob Hartzler, Iowa State University
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Stretching Limited
Phosphate
A projected shortage of phosphate fertilizer has been
a hot topic of conversation all winter -- I hope that these projections
are wrong. However, if the supply of phosphate is short, there are some
management options.
Priorities are important. Three factors should be used to establish
those priorities. These are: tillage system, crop rotation and soil test
levels for phosphorus (P). My thoughts on the use of these priorities
follow.
The first decision is easy. A banded application of phosphate reduces
the recommended rate by one-half. This is the case for both corn and
small grain production. The band can be placed either with the seed or
close to the seed. A 2×2 placement is not necessary.
Regardless of soil test value for P, some phosphate near the seed at
planting is very important for corn on corn. The importance in this
application increases as the tillage becomes more limited. You can
conclude that some phosphate in a band near the seed is essential for
continuous corn planted with conservation tillage systems.
To continue reading this article about management options for phosphate
fertilizers in Minnesota, click here: minnesotafarmguide.com/blog/?p=85.
By George Rehm, University of
Minnesota
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Watch Input
Costs
Machinery and other input costs determine profits more
than prices, say Kansas growers Terry Kastens, his son Dietrich and
brother Gary. Terry's part-time job as Extension ag economist for Kansas
State University has helped him to scrutinize the balance between costs
and profits.
The Kastens plug in price vs. inputs numbers right and left for their
corn, wheat and sorghum farm in northwest Kansas outside Atwood.
While conducting statewide ag econ seminars, Terry sees strong
opportunities to lock in solid corn prices. "Marketing corn and wheat is
almost easy now," he says. "If you have sufficient rainfall or
irrigation, you can go out three years and price corn in the high $3.90s
or low $4 range."
But even at that level, the profit potential can be in jeopardy if
inputs are not managed as well or better than prices, he says.
These 100% no-till growers have upgraded their machinery and technology
to match their farm's 20-in. annual rainfall (no irrigation). Corn
yields average below 100 bu./acre, so cost management is a must. And it
starts with equipment.
To continue reading this article about managing input costs to assure
profitability, click here: cornandsoybeandigest.com/inputs/news/watch-input-costs-0301/.
By Larry Stalcup, Corn & Soybean
Digest
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Stand
Establishment Could Pose Challenges This Spring
Cool, wet weather conditions are expected to continue
this spring, which may result in stand establishment and soil compaction
concerns for many Hoosier farmers, says Corey Gerber, director of the
Purdue Crop Diagnostic Training and Research Center at Purdue
University.
"Typically, those farmers who need to prepare ground for the planting
season are in the fields about now, but not this year," says Gerber.
"It’s just too wet. Either on ground needing spring tillage or on
no-till ground, farmers may be left with getting seed into the ground at
the risk of soil compaction."
Soil compaction restricts rooting depth of corn and soybean plants and,
because of this, limits soil moisture availability to the plants later
in the growing season, explains Gerber. "When compaction issues are
combined with cool temperatures, the seed will tend not to germinate as
quickly as we would like," he says. "This is when diseases and insects
like wireworm and seed corn maggot readily attack the seed, potentially
resulting in uneven stand establishment and lower plant populations than
originally desired."
To continue reading this article about the impact on crops from soil
compaction and to obtain more resources on crop management decisions,
click here: www.agriculture.purdue.edu/aganswers.
Source: Purdue University Extension
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Buying
Acres
The old gymnasium buzzed with talk as farmers and
investors strolled in and sat on the bleachers. The smell of chicken and
noodles wafted through the air. A land auction for 2,842 acres of
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) ground was drawing a crowd last fall
to this small town in eastern Colorado. Even a local community group got
involved; it raised funds for its activities by selling food.
Haswell, CO, probably hadn't seen this much activity in months. And land
buyers probably hadn't been much interested in CRP acres until the
recent boom in land prices. About 30 people signed up to bid on the
land, with many of the bidders from out of the area.
Orchestrating the auction was Murray Wise, CEO of the Westchester Group,
a land auction company out of Champaign, IL. Wise and his team were
staging four land auctions within three days in the wheat land of
Kansas, Colorado and Nebraska.
A total of 8,400 acres (about half CRP ground) in 34 different tracts
were to be sold in the four auctions. Normally, the tracts would be
auctioned off one at a time. But the Westchester Group features a
different type of auction that uses combination bids and whole bids to
give buyers the best opportunity to purchase a piece of property. In the
process, the seller receives the “maximum dollar per tract,” reports
Rex Schrader, Westchester partner and auctioneer.
To continue reading this article about grouping farmland parcels for
auctions, click here: farmindustrynews.com/shop-office/business/multi-parcels-auction-maximizes-bids-0301/.
By Karen McMahon, Farm Industry
News
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Corn Plus Ethanol Plant First To Harness Wind
Power
On Feb. 18, two wind turbines located at the Corn Plus
ethanol plant in Winnebago, MN, began turning and made Corn Plus the
first ethanol plant in the nation to harness wind power to produce
ethanol. When the wind is blowing, the two 2.1-megawatt turbines deliver
almost half of the electric power the plant needs.
Corn Plus is a 45-million-gallon/year ethanol facility with about 750
farmer-owners. "Corn Plus wants to be very efficient and very
competitive, and they wanted to be first to have wind energy," says Dan
Moore, a Blue Earth, MN, farmer who has become a wind power developer in
south-central Minnesota.
The two large turbines make for a very visible sign of Corn Plus'
commitment to clean energy.
To continue reading this article on harnessing wind to power ethanol
production, click here: www.mncorn.org.
By Jonathan Eisenthal, special correspondent,
Minnesota Corn Growers Association
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Farm Safety -- A Note From The Corn
E-Digest Editor
As you begin making preparations for spring field
work, remember that your occupation can sometimes be extremely
dangerous, to yourself, your employees and your loved ones. If you
haven’t already done so, please take time now to think about the
potential dangers on your farm and any steps that you can take to
minimize them.
The following are some Web links that should help you to implement
better farm safety practices:
If you have a comment about farm safety or have a tip on helping corn
growers and other farmers to avoid accidents this spring, please write
to me (John Pocock) at: jpocock@csdigest.com. Just let me
know your name, where you farm, what your comment is and whether or not
I have permission to use your comment in a future Corn E-Digest
newsletter. As always, you’re also welcome to write to me if you have
a comment on any other topic related to corn production or if you have
concerns or questions about this issue.
I look forward to hearing from you. Think safety -- and thanks for your
readership!
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