Crop News Weekly: Harvest Efficiency Boosts Quality

It's one of those years when a late Labor Day weekend has me feeling like we're still in the late stages of summer. The reality of it, of course, is that once Labor Day has come and gone this year we will be well into the month of September and all our attention must turn to harvest. Call it an age thing I suppose, but it seems like the summer drifted by rather quickly this year. None-the-less, it's business as usual on the farm. The fall is my favorite time of year, but the shorter days and the potential for changing weather make it challenging to complete the coming harvest on schedule.

In the news this week, the USDA announced the results of the request for referendum on the Soybean Promotion and Research Program (soybean checkoff). Get the results below. And time is money, and soybean farmers and crop consultants don’t seem to have a surplus of either these days. So some Extension Service experts have begun recommending a faster, simpler method of scouting for soybean aphids.

You'll find these stories and more in this issue of Crop News Weekly. Happy reading.

South Dakota Corn Growers Association President Bill Chase, Wolsey, SD, took a stand against TIME magazine's attack on our industry and our nation's safe food supply in a recent cover story. On stands now, the article is based on fallacies and outlandish misconceptions. Read Bill Chase's response. - Corn & Soybean Digest

The USDA announced the results of the request for referendum on the Soybean Promotion and Research Program (soybean checkoff).

USDA received only 759 requests for referendum forms at county Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices, which reflects approximately 1/10 of 1% of all eligible U.S. soybean farmers. Had 10% of the 589,182 eligible farmers – with no more than 1/5 of the 10% coming from any one state – requested a referendum, the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture would have conducted the referendum on the soybean checkoff within 12 months.

USDA requires a soybean checkoff request for referendum period every five years. The most recent period took place from May 4 to May 29, 2009. - Corn & Soybean Digest

Time is money, and soybean farmers and crop consultants don’t seem to have a surplus of either these days. So some Extension Service experts have begun recommending a faster, simpler method of scouting for soybean aphids.

While crop advisers typically collect extensive insect data on randomly selected plants in a field, the idea behind speed scouting is to get in, count up to a pre-determined number of aphids on selected plants and make a decision to spray or not spray.

“The premise of speed scouting is you look at a plant, and, if you count 40 aphids or more, the plant is infested,” says Erin Hodgson, Extension entomologist with Iowa State University. “If you have 39 or less, the plant is not infested. It saves time because when you get to 40, you can stop counting and move to the next plant.” - Forrest Laws, Farm Press Editorial Staff

On-farm grain storage can offer growers several potential advantages: Gaining early market premiums; improved market flexibility; reduced risk of severe weather; aflatoxin reduction; early fall tillage; improved management of the farm operation, and more timely harvesting.

But, says Herb Willcutt, Mississippi State University Extension agricultural engineer, farmers must evaluate whether these advantages will help offset the costs of constructing the facilities for handling, storing, and drying the grain.

And, he says, farmers should strive for harvesting efficiency in order to insure maximum quality of grain going into storage. - Hembree Brandon, Farm Press Editorial Staff

Late planting and a milder summer in many areas have impacted the spread of western bean cutworm (WBC), but only in the sense of delaying the emergence of this destructive pest.

Recent trappings by university entomologists indicate the pest is moving eastward, with the heaviest infestations being reported in unprotected cornfields across northern Indiana, with some reports extending into Illinois and Ohio. Additional reports have confirmed the spread of WBC into central and northeastern areas of Michigan, areas new to WBC infestations. - Corn & Soybean Digest Briefing Room

He may be known as “Senator-for-life” Charles Grassley in Iowa, but that doesn’t mean farmers in a number of other states wouldn’t relish the idea of seeing him forced into retirement.

Grassley, who has served in the Senate for 28 years, has seemed unbeatable for most of that time, rolling up impressive victories every six years as Democrats were unable to mount more than token opposition.

But political pundits are beginning to see cracks in his armor following some highly publicized incidents involving the senator in connection with the health care debate and his opposition to Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor. - Forrest Laws, Farm Press Editorial Staff

Farm buildings and equipment are at greater risk of fires during hot, dry weather. “Dust — from fresh hay, grains and other crops — that gets into shops and barns and on equipment can create a fire hazard,” said Jimmy Maass, safety coordinator for Virginia Farm Bureau.

“It’s very important that farmers and others who work outdoors take note of potential fire hazards and work to correct any problems.” Fire extinguishers should be kept by the door of all buildings, including barns, shops and garages. A fully charged water fire extinguisher should be kept on hay balers, and a dry chemical fire extinguisher is appropriate on tractors and other equipment.

Unseasonably cool weather is a concern for all crops. Development is retarded and late crops usually yield less. China has eminent production potential reductions related to weather. Heat unit accumulation could affect corn, cotton and soybean yields as harvest moves north.

Tightening supplies are expected in soybeans, meal and oil by September. Private estimates of soybean production are near 3 billion bushels but that is below USDA predictions and bullish in light of current demand. Canadian canola production is estimated to be 24.5 percent less than average. Less canola oil and less palm oil will be available next year. Soy oil is the best substitute available. Soy oil supplies could become very tight forcing soybean prices to rise. - Ray Nabors, Heartland Ag Network

U.S. soybean farmers have much to lose and little to gain from the current language in the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed rule on the implementation of the expanded Renewable Fuel Standard.

EPA challenged on land use changes “The EPA’s proposed rule on RFS-2 implementation is significantly flawed and would do unnecessary harm to the competitive position of the U.S. soy biodiesel industry,” American Soybean Association President Johnny Dodson said in a press release issued by ASA.

For that reason, said Dodson, a soybean producer from Halls, Tenn., ASA is calling on all U.S. soybean producers and their family members to contact EPA and other government officials to voice concerns about the expanded RFS-2 proposed rule.

Louisiana’s soybean harvest is just getting started. A small portion of the crop is out of the fields, and these early-harvested beans revealed lingering effects of the midsummer drought, according to experts with the LSU AgCenter.

Some farmers are seeing low yields, said LSU AgCenter soybean specialist Ron Levy.

“A lot of these beans that were early went through the worst part of the drought,” Levy said. “We’re seeing late-season disease issues in there — quality issues and yield losses.”

Although farmers typically get yields of 30-40 bushels to the acre, some are getting yields in the teens. Levy said farmers are seeing plants that are short and don’t have full canopies. - Tobie Blanchard, LSU AgCenter

On Wednesday evening, low-level Asian soybean rust was found in Mississippi’s northern Delta region. Reported by Tom Allen, assistant Extension/research professor at the Delta Research and Extension Center in Stoneville, Miss., the rust is “in a commercial soybean field in southeastern Tunica County. Soybeans were in the R6 growth stage, not quite to R7 at this point.

“The only thing that changes with regards to suggestions (see bottom for link) is the number of counties where rust has been detected — 19 as of Thursday morning.

EDITOR'S NOTE

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