Field Crop News at Penn State

Field Crop News

Website Address: http://fcn.agronomy.psu.edu/

November 19, 2004    Vol. 04:13

IN THIS ISSUE:

Mark Your Calendar

Announcements

Weather Outlook

Production

Agents Corner

ANNOUNCEMENTS

AG SERVICE SCHOOLS SCHEDULED

Our Crop Management Extension Group is gearing up for our Ag Service School programs in early December. These are designed to provide some updates on timely crop production issues for ag service providers in northern and western counties of the state. I think we have a great program pulled together this year which will update you on some of the latest research and ideas on soil compaction and soil quality, soybean rust, wheat scab, N fertility issues, Roundup Ready alfalfa, seed treatments for corn and more. Dates and locations are as follows with the appropriate extension educator who is hosting the program: December 7 - Days Inn, Meadville, Joel Hunter - 814-333-7460, December 8 - Oakhurst Tea Room, Somerset, Don Fretts - 724-438-0111, December 9 - Watsontown Inn, Watsontown, Tom Murphy - 570-433-3040. The program will offer 3.5 CCA credits. A copy of the brochure is available at: http://cornandsoybeans.psu.edu/2004agserviceschool.cfm

Greg Roth, gwr@psu.edu
Grain Crops Management,
Crop and Soil Sciences

WEATHER OUTLOOK

After the record rains of September, the remainder of the autumn has featured below normal rainfall and generally above average temperatures. It took until earlier this week (November 14-15) for freezing temperatures to be measured in southeastern Pennsylvania. While northwest and northeast parts of the state have measured their first snowfall of the season. The recent mild spell has kept the ground from freezing in virtually all sections. Winds have been rather light and sunshine slightly above average.

The general weather pattern for the next month or so will favor frequent disturbances traveling northeast from the southern Plains. This storm track favors regular spells of rain and above seasonal temperatures. It is expected that there will be at least a couple of occasions (2-3 times) between now and the Christmas holiday that this pattern will feature a split in the jet stream. This should allow colder air (near to below seasonal chill) to invade the Northeast and be followed by a moist disturbance from the Gulf States resulting in a wintry mixture in many sections. The winter outlook favors colder than normal conditions during later December and January. The lake effect region should measure well above average snowfall.

Paul Knight, PGK2@psu.edu
Pennsylvania State Climatologist

PRODUCTION

EXPLAINING OUR RECORD CORN CROP

Our most recent USDA corn yield forecast in Pennsylvania is 145 bu/a, which is 18 bu/A higher than our previous yield record of 127 bu/A set in 2000. Yield reports over 200 bushels/per acre are common with some exceptionally high yields being reported. There are a number of factors that contributed to our huge success this year, including management, genetics, and certainly the weather. While we didn't have a perfect season weather-wise, it was close, and there were a few aspects of the season's weather worth noting. Temperatures were above average in April, which led to great conditions for timely planting and emergence of the crop. We also had few days that exceeded 90° F during the grain fill period and had many days that temperatures were below average in August. This contributed to lower losses from night respiration in the crop and also contributed to higher grain fill rates. Then in September, when we began to have some concerns about crop maturity in northern areas, we were blessed with above average temperatures that hastened crop maturity and promoted rapid dry down of early planted crops. Our precipitation was probably a bit on the excessive side at times, especially in September, but a key for these high yields was the lack of moisture stress in July and August. As a result, many producers have reported super yields on our normally droughty shale soils this year that confirmed that with ample precipitation, these soils can really produce. The ample moisture also likely reduced the effects of some other common stress factors on the corn crop such as soil compaction and corn rootworm injury. Other factors, such as root and stalk rots seemed to be more prevalent this year in some fields, but overall had minimal effects on the crop. Combined with all the positive weather effects, I feel that management and genetic factors such as our higher plant populations, sidedressing, effective weed and insect management and stress tolerant hybrids helped to really push our yields to levels we have not seen before in many fields. Our extension educators in the field are reporting to me that many producers are documenting their highest yields of their career. This should be an interesting year for our Five Acre Corn Club, where we will report some of these yields in our report due out in January.

Greg Roth, gwr@psu.edu
Grain Crops Management,
Crop and Soil Sciences

System components

Agents Corner

CAPITAL

There are still plenty of acres of corn and soybeans to be harvested. In my area there was 0.6 inches of rain last Friday. Even so I saw a combine back in the field by late Saturday. There are already enough signs of ruts in fields as the harvest conditions went south. The forecast for this week here is for fair weather so hopefully a lot of progress will be made. A couple weeks ago, harvest was slowed because storages at local mills had become filled up. I'm not sure how much that is still a problem. Wheat seeding is down this fall. That's probably no surprise in light of the problems caused by Fusarium head blight the last two years.

John Rowehl, jer2@psu.edu
Cumberland County

CENTRAL

Breaks in the rainy weather have allowed grain harvest to continue. The majority of the corn is off, with reports of good to great yields. Local grain elevators and farmer bins are full and the question now is where will the remaining grain be stored? Much of the flooded grain has been harvested. Testing results from local fields flooded by river and stream water showed very little problems as a result of the flood waters. The biggest challenge seemed to be the large amount of silt left on the flooded plants. Soybeans are also being harvested rapidly. Yields again being reported good to excellent.

Corn silage forage tests continue to show excellent quality forage was made and stored this crop season. Good quality dry hay is in limited supply and is bringing a good price at market. There were many thousands of wrapped silage bales made this past summer. The quality of this forage is yet to be determined as these bales will soon be opened for feeding.

The wheat and barley that was able to be planted looks good so far. Some of the wheat, in particular was and will continue to be planted late since harvest during the dry days took precedence over fall grain planting.

Greg Hostetter, gjh10@psu.edu
Juniata County

SOUTHEAST

Most of the corn & bean harvest has been completed. Corn far outnumbers beans still standing. Most everyone took advantage of the dry weather and switched over to beans when the opportunity arose. Overall, corn yields were excellent and soybean yields were above average. Winter wheat development looks very good, with a few very late fields sprouted, but not yet visible. This last streak of warmer weather should help things out with that. We even had some producers "trying" to make hay last week. Getting it to fully dry was a challenge!

Dwane Miller, dmiller@psu.edu
Montgomery County


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Douglas Beegle, editor,
Professor, Agronomy, dbb@psu.edu

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