Field Crop News

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

July 8, 2005    Vol. 05:08

IN THIS ISSUE:

Mark Your Calendar

Weather Outlook

Production

Pest Management

Agents Corner

WEATHER OUTLOOK

Much needed rain finally fell during the latter half of this week. The remnants of Cindy were expected to contribute mainly to the southeast third of the state. The deficits in rainfall are still rather large, averaging two to four inches below normal across much of the state, with only the southeast corner measuring near average rain since May 1st. The very warm weather during June and early July has added to evaporation rates especially since sunshine has been above normal too.

Hurricane Dennis seems unlikely to play a direct role in Pennsylvania's weather early in the period. A steady warming trend is expected from July 10-13 such that it will become quite sultry by the middle of next week. Apart from scattered afternoon thundershowers on Saturday, little rain is forecast until after July 14. A mound of cooler air from Canada should push into the region between July 15-17, touching off some thunderstorms, but since it will be coming from the northwest, rainfall should continue to be below average. The cooler conditions should prevail from July 17-20 until a resurgence of hot, humid air is expected in the Northeast. Unless the moisture from Dennis' remnants can become involved with a cool front later next week, it will continue to be drier than average in most sections. The early and active start to the Atlantic hurricane season does not necessarily bode well for a wet mid-summer as previous active starts have been followed by rather dry late summers.

Paul Knight, pgk2@psu.edu
Pennsylvania State Climatologist

PRODUCTION

APD HAY SHOW

Do you know a hay grower that produces good hay? Then get them to enter a slice of their hay in the APD Hay Show. It is easy, free and can provide some ideas about how to improve their hay making system for next year. An additional bonus is that there are cash prizes for the top entries. Entry forms are available at your county extension office or in the Lancaster Farming.

Marvin Hall, mhh2@psu.edu
Forage Management, Crop and Soil Sciences

PEST MANAGEMENT

ROUNDUP READY ALFALFA APPROVED FOR SALE IN U.S.

field of alfalfa

On June 14 and 15, 2005 Roundup Ready alfalfa was deregulated and glyphosate was approved for in crop application. Monsanto and Forage Genetics, the development arm behind the technology expect limited availability of seed for late summer establishment. According to the manufacturers, seed supplies for late summer establishment nationwide will be sufficient for about 75,000 acres. Although seed supplies will be limited the first year or two, a number of seed companies are on-board with the technology. Like other Roundup-Ready crops, a Technology Use Agreement will be necessary as well as a "Line Item Technology Royalty Fee" in addition to the cost of the seed. The cost of the technology to the grower has not been officially announced, but it is anticipated that growers in the western U.S. will pay slightly more than Midwestern or eastern alfalfa producers. Roundup Ready alfalfa has not yet been approved for export, although this should not impact eastern growers since most of our hay is consumed locally.

Bill Curran, wcurran@psu.edu
Weed Science, Crop and Soil Sciences

ROUNDUP READY ALFALFA TRIAL AT PENN STATE

Research at Penn State has investigated herbicide performance, crop tolerance, yield, and quality of Roundup Ready alfalfa in several experiments. Although we do not have data comparing Roundup Ready to conventional alfalfa yield and quality, herbicide performance and tolerance of the Roundup Ready cultivars is good and should add value to producers that desire weed-free pure seeded alfalfa. Yield and quality comparisons should become available in the next several years as forage variety trials incorporate this technology into their tests. For more information about seed availability, visit with your local forage seed suppliers.

Bill Curran, wcurran@psu.edu
Weed Science, Crop and Soil Sciences

Agents Corner

Central

The weather here has been very dry and hot with many of the crops showing signs of stress. That changed on 7/5/05 when we had over 3" of rain recorded with some areas in the region recording over 4". With the new moisture and the heat expected this week, conditions will improve dramatically. Corn is averaging waist high in most locations with some approaching 6' tall in river bottom locations. Insect pressure is minimal with ECB being the biggest offender. Some fields are erratic in height due to the earlier stress. No tasseling yet. Soybeans are shorter then normal with some early planted reaching knee high in better soils. Pokeweed seems to be the problem weed this year in beans along with quite a few corn fields. Wheat is progressing nicely and is starting to come off. One grower reported 13.2% at 61# locally. With recent rain, concern has shifted to sprouting in the ripening crop.

Second crop hay has been shorter then normal. Some alternative forage crops like sudex being planted. Pastures yields are lower with supplemental forages being utilized. Overall assessment is that rain came at a very critical time in determining the outcome of the cropping year, in particular with the grains.

Tom Murphy, tbm1@psu.edu
Extension Educator Agronomy/Marketing
Lycoming County

Northwest

Finally some rains that will help crops grow better. Rain has been scarce in the region, with widely scattered showers or quick thunderstorms that didn't really relieve the moisture problem till Tuesday, July 5th. Rains accumulated about 1 ½ inches should help considerably along with the reduction in temperatures too.

The corn crop in most areas of the northwest is looking very good. Some areas are better than others. A few fields that were replanted are really behind schedule, but moisture and warm temperatures should help them progress well. Weed control for the most part was good this year with a limited number of fields showing weed breakouts. More producers are using a post emergent weed control program as corn acres increase. Those using minimum tillage or no-till seem to be having better luck this year with weed control than in the past several years.

Soybean fields were finally sprayed and they are beginning to look in much better condition since the rain came also. If we get continued moisture the bean crop should do very well in the region this year. Seems everyone got beans planted in good time, but getting weed control measures taken in a timely fashion was lacking by many producers.

The wheat and oat crop seems to be shaping up well, with both beginning to color and should produce be ready to harvest by the end of July if all goes well.

The hay crop is still a work in progress in the region with some producers working on their second cutting while many others are finishing up the last of the first cutting. The dry weather the past couple weeks gave producers the opportunity to get many acres of dry hay baled. Producers working on second cutting making haylage or baleage as regrowth occurs in fields that were made early in the spring. The rain should help with regrowth especially in predominately grass fields. The legumes seem to be holding their own so far, but those fields of mixed grasses and legumes are showing the effects of a rain shortfall.

Pastures, like the hay crop are in need of more rain especially those not adequately managed. Many producers holding off fertilization on many pastures till rains come. For the most part things are progressing well in the northwest, just hope the rains continue throughout the summer.

Nelson E. Smith, nes2@psu.edu
Extension Educator Dairy/Ag
Clarion County

Southeast

Hit and miss thunderstorms have be the norm for the past couple weeks leaving behind a few inches in some areas and a few tenths in others. Corn is around shoulder tall and growing night and day, ECB feeding is evident in non-bt fields. Soybeans have really grown in the past couple weeks most fields have canopy closure. Nearly all the post applications of glyphosate have been completed and I expect to see some flowers on the soybeans soon. First cutting of grass and timothy is nearly complete, yields are average to slightly below average in the drier areas. Good weather for hay making over the holiday weekend had everyone working instead of sitting by the pool. Second cutting alfalfa progress varies by location, but is a little short. Wheat harvest is delayed because of high humidity and showers this week of the 4th. Oats are yellowing and the straw is short. Japanese beetles are everywhere starting the last week in June. Maybe this tropical storm Carol or Dennis (in the Caribbean) will give some widespread rains to the region.

Andrew Frankenfield, adf13@psu.edu
Montgomery County

Southwest

Most parts of the southwest region are experiencing dry conditions. Temperatures in the high 80's and into the 90's are stressing many field crops. Although some counties have gotten some rain from recent storms, some of the counties have not seen any more than one or two tenths of rain over the past six weeks. Corn in these areas is showing drought stress with rolling during the day and in some cases the plants are not recovering over night. A few fields that were planted on shaley ground are beginning to die. Some farmers applied fertilizer to their corn fields in anticipation of the rain showers and those fields are showing burning from the fertilizer if they didn't get any rain. The oats are beginning to ripen and will be ready for combining shortly. Pastures are in very poor condition and many farms are feeding hay. Second cuttings of hay are short, but quality appears to be good. Rain is forecast for this week and will hopefully bring much needed relief to the dry conditions.

Melanie Barkley, meh7@psu.edu
Bedford County