CMEG Crop Management Extension Group

Field Crop News

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

May 17, 2006    Vol. 06:04

IN THIS ISSUE:

Weather Outlook — Paul Knight

Expect to bottom out with unseasonable chill during the next week. Actually, Wednesday will be a pleasant respite with only widely separated showers and nearer to normal temperatures. A strong cold front will cross the state on Thursday with gusty showers and thunderstorms, perhaps even with small hail in a few places. Friday and Saturday will stay very cool and blustery. Each afternoon will bring a smattering of showers. A reinforcement of cold air will arrive on Sunday with more organized showers. Frost is likely in the northern tier any clear morning from Friday through Tuesday and frost is possible in the central valleys either Monday or Tuesday morning. Next week will see the start of a steady warming trend that may culminate during the Memorial Day weekend with near record heat!

What to do with wet hay? — Marvin Hall

With the rains Pennsylvania began getting last week, there was some hay put up a little on the wet side without preservatives. Combine that with high humidity weather for the past week and you’ve got a situation that can lead to a couple of different problems.

First, the excess moisture creates an environment inside the bale for fungi and bacteria to grow.  These microbes produce excessive heat which causes the hay to get very hot. This heating process leads to the breakdown of protein and thus reduces the quality of the hay.  Molds and fungus that are produced are in fact sometimes harmful to the animals that are being fed this heat damaged hay and sometimes they can be fatal especially if fed to equine.

Another problem arising from the baling of high moisture hay is barn fires.  If hay with too high of moisture is stored inside, a fire could ensue within a week to six weeks of storage.  If you are the least bit concerned that you baled your hay with too high a moisture (20% or greater for small rectangular bales and 16% for large rectangular or round bales), it is a good idea to monitor the temperatures inside the storage facility.

Good ventilation is extremely important in any hay storage structure no matter what the condition of your hay is when storing.

Frequency of temperature monitoring in hay.
Keep monitoring temperatures until the hay is below 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
120 degrees or below no concern
130 to 140 monitor daily
140 to 150 monitor twice daily
150 to 160 monitor every two hours (begin moving hay out of structure)
160 to 175 call fire department, have them onsite before moving hay

Hay preservatives are an option to reduce risk of mold and fire when baling hay slightly above the recommended moisture level. The most commonly hay preservatives are organic acid and the most common and most effective of the organic acids has been propionic acid. Some commercial products also contain a small percentage of acetic acid. However, acetic acid is less effective as a hay preservative.

Not all organic acids or commercial organic acid products are created equal. Product effectiveness, cost per pound of acid, or concentration of active ingredient varies among the different products sold. Some products only contain 15% propionic acid. Typically, the most cost-effective products are those with the highest concentration of propionic acid.

Bale moisture is the primary factor determining effective application rates. An easy method to determine effective preservation rate (actual pounds of propionic acid per dry matter ton) is to take the moisture percentage of the hay and subtract 10.  For example, hay baled at 25% moisture requires about 15 pounds of acid per ton of dry matter (25% moisture - 10 = 15 lbs acid required per ton).

Recommended application rates assume a hay product that is uniform in moisture. If some bales or parts of bales are significantly higher in moisture than the field average, application rates will need to be adjusted upward to insure effective preservation of the entire hay lot.

To be effective, preservative must be uniformly distributed on the hay crop as it enters the baling chamber. This often means that multiple application nozzles are needed on the baler. Some hay producers dilute the propionic acid product with water and then increase flow rates through the application equipment to improve coverage on the crop.

Unfortunately, the preservation effect initially gained from using organic acids is not long-term in nature. With time, the acid will dissipate from the hay. This can result in mold formation after 4 to 6 months of storage if enough moisture is still present to support such growth. Using an organic acid preservative will not necessarily improve storage characteristics such as long-term dry matter loss or hay color.

Hay in a Day, or “Haylage” in a Day — Paul Craig

For the past few years Tom Kilcer, a fellow County Agent from New York, has been investigating management of swath width of forage crops to maximize the harvest of the highest quality forages. Tom points out that profitability in the dairy industry hinges on the quantity and the quality of forages fed.

Forage investigators note that the quality of the forage that reaches the cow’s mouth is dependant on three factors: when you start harvesting, how long it takes for you to complete harvest and how much quality is lost during harvest. Tom’s work on swath management shows how much quality loss during harvest is affected by HOW you harvest hay crop silage.

Tom began his work by comparing the net energy of lactation (Nel) of a forage crop in the field ((0.65 to 0.75 Nel) to fermented samples with Nel of 0.47 to 0.57 Nel. The dairyman’s question should be: Where did this energy go?

The answer is that the energy is lost during the drying process. The longer it takes forage to dry to the ideal moisture content for chopping, the longer the forage is respiring in the field. During respiration the cut plant continues to use plant sugars, contained in the plant cells. Respiration of these cells continues until the plant is fermented as a haylage crop or dried sufficiently as a hay crop. In addition to energy losses, dry matter losses can be significant. How producers manage their hay swath can greatly affect the time of haylage harvest. Producers in Tom’s area of New York and in parts of south-central Pennsylvania are beginning to use wide swath management to more rapidly shorten the time from cutting to harvest to minimize this period.

The drying rate of hay crops is influenced the most by sunlight hitting the forages which increases the swath temperature and reduces humidity. A full width swath increases the drying surface of the swath by 2.8 times. In Tom’s trials he has shown that moisture reductions from 85% to 60% can be reached in as little as 5 to 7 hours, hence the term Haylage in a Day. The bottom line is that the forage produced with minimal respiration results in higher nutrient content of the forage. Tom’s work found forages with 300 pounds more milk potential for every ton of dry matter produced.

Think about laundry drying. A dense pile of laundry does not dry, neither does haylage. The rate of water loss is dependant on the amount of the forage that intercepts sunlight. The greater the amount of forage surface exposure exposed to sunlight will have a greater affect on drying rate than either conditioning, mixing or turning the mown swath.

Clearly the management of a forage swath can have a huge impact on the rate of drying. Open your hay harvesting equipment to get maximum sunlight interception to get Haylage in a Day.

Bean Leaf Beetle in Pennsylvania: an Emerging Pest — Greg Roth and Del Voight

Bean leaf beetles have been recognized as a potential pest of soybeans in Midwestern states for some time, but we have seen increasing populations of this pest in southeastern counties of the state for the past several years.  With the mild winter, we may see increased levels of overwintering beetles that may cause injury to emerging soybeans.  Feeding on emerged soybeans should be visible soon. The beetles can cause defoliation and stand reduction which can impact soybean yields.  In some cases the bean leaf beetle can also transmit the bean pod mottle mosaic virus, which can also cause yield loss and can cause green stems in mature soybeans at harvest.

Identification.  Bean leaf beetles typically are yellow and usually can be distinguished by four quadrangular, black marks on their wing covers. However, these beetles frequently are without markings on the wing covers and range from red to yellow. The most reliable character is a small, black triangle between the "neck" and wing covers. This marking is always present and distinguishes the bean leaf beetle from other beetles in soybean. Examples of the bean leaf beetles and variation of coloration shown in the Iowa state publication.

The bean leaf beetle can be confused with some other spotted beetles that can be found in soybean, such as the twelvespotted lady beetle, Coleomegilla maculata; the multicolored Asian lady beetle, Harmonia axyridis; and spotted cucumber beetle, Diabrotica undecimpunctata. Photos of the lady beetles can be found at http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/icm/2002/5-20-2002/ladybean.html

Life Cycle.  Bean leaf beetle adults over-winter in PA. The over winter survival of the beetles is highly affected by below freezing winter temperatures. In an Iowa State University study, beetle mortality ranged from 41 to 95% depending on the severity of the winter.  They determined winter severity is best predicted by an index of degree days below a base temperature of 32°F from October 1 to April 15.  No data is available for Pennsylvania, but it is likely the index would be low following this past winter and overwintering populations should be high.

The beetle has two generations per year in PA. It is actually the second-generation beetles, which emerged from the soil to feed on pods last fall and then spent the winter in hibernation, that attack seedling soybeans in the spring. The females of this generation lay eggs in the soil that then develop into first-generation beetles that emerge in late June and July. These first-generation adult populations usually peak in the late vegetative or the early reproductive soybean stages, whereas the second-generation adults peak during the pod-fill stage. The feeding by first-generation beetles on soybean leaves seldom results in economic yield losses, but the second-generation feeding on pods in late summer can be very significant.

Scouting Considerations - Overwintering Adults.  The earliest planted and germinated soybeans will be the most attractive to overwintering beetles and for this reason those fields need to be priority.  In Iowa State research, bean leaf beetle populations often begin to appear in early to mid May, peak in late May and then decline in mid June.

Our Penn State recommendations are to treat if 20% of the plants are cut and the stand has gaps of 1 foot or more; or if at least 1 seedling per foot of row is destroyed.  The Iowa State economic threshold for VC (cotyledon stage) stage soybean with a $5/bushel soybean cost and a $10 per acre treatment cost would be four beetles per plant or 30.4 per foot of row. At V1 and V2 the thresholds increase to 6.2 and 9.8 beetles/plant.  Populations this large are rarely seen but may be possible on rare occasions.

If bean pottle virus symptoms such as crinkled leaves or green stems in soybeans have been observed in soybeans, then lower threshold levels and more aggressive treatment may be warranted.  This article from Iowa State describes their management recommendations for dealing with fields with a history of bean pottle virus. I have not confirmed bean pottle virus in Lebanon County but have some growers who suspect they have some issues with it, because of a growing number of reports of soybeans with green stems at maturity.  We will be following up on this with more observations this year to help us manage these early bean leaf beetle populations.

Management.  If above threshold levels of bean leaf beetles are observed in the field then consider treating with one of the insecticides listed in the Agronomy Guide.  The seed treatment Cruiser 5FS can also provide early season control of this pest.

Summary.  At this point, you should be on the lookout for the bean leaf beetle and its damage in emerging soybeans.  If levels are above threshold, consider some control options.  Later in the season, we should initiate scouting for the first and especially the second generations.  We will cover these procedures in subsequent newsletter articles.  Also, be on the lookout for symptoms of the bean pod mottle mosaic virus.

An Unpleasant Surprise — Tillage Erosion — Sjoerd Duiker

Until recently, we considered water erosion to be the big threat to sustainable crop production in Pennsylvania. Now there is new information to suggest we had it wrong all this time. Researchers are telling us that tillage erosion is much more important in complex landscapes like ours. Tillage erosion is soil displacement within fields by tillage tools. It is now suggested that tillage erosion is the reason for our clay knobs and rock outcroppings, not water erosion. Tillage erosion moves soil from the top of the field downward, exposing subsoil. After many years the whole topsoil is moved downhill, accumulating at the bottom. No soil leaves the field due to tillage erosion, but the effects for productivity and increased yield variability can be huge. Exposed subsoil has unfavorable properties for crop growth (50% yield reduction is not uncommon on clay knobs), but still takes the same amount of inputs such as fertilizer, herbicides, etc. Because crop growth is poor, the soil is not protected from erosion, and weeds have a greater chance to become a problem in these areas. Water erosion tends to move more soil at the toe of slopes. So in practice, tillage erosion delivers soil to the lower parts of the slope where it is susceptible to water erosion.

The unpleasant surprise is that many practices that have been promoted to control water erosion do nothing to control tillage erosion. For example, it is suggested that chisel plows cause as much tillage erosion as moldboard plows. Field cultivators can also move substantial amounts of soil. Leaving crop residue at the surface doesn’t help one bit in controlling tillage erosion. Narrow contour strips, often promoted on steep slopes to control water erosion, favor tillage erosion. At the top of each strip topsoil is slowly plowed away, exposing subsoil, while at the bottom of each strip soil accumulates. The more narrow strips you have, the more subsoil can be exposed.

What can be done to limit tillage erosion? The best solution is to eliminate tillage. On most of our Pennsylvania soils tillage does not result in a yield benefit, so why do it? With the use of continuous no-till systems tillage erosion can be completely eliminated. If people do still want to till the soil, they should eliminate all unnecessary tillage trips, reduce speed (especially downhill), and set the tillage tool to the shallowest depth possible. They should avoid plowing down-hill. Plowing on the contour is better, and plowing uphill is best (although it doesn’t totally eliminate tillage erosion like no-till). It may be beneficial to turn soil uphill if one plows along the contour. However, this becomes basically impossible if slopes exceed 17%. Running the tillage tool at constant depth and speed is recommended to limit tillage erosion (so don’t reduce tillage depth or slow down on clay knobs or rock outcroppings). This often means additional horsepower is required to pull the tillage tool, and can result in additional damage to tillage equipment. The final solution for tillage fans is to transport topsoil from the depositional areas to remediate clay knobs and rock outcroppings. In all, it seems that this surprise is another important reason to park the plow.

Impact of Wet Weather on Wheat Head Scab — Erick De Wolf

Reports from around the state indicate that wheat is now in the boot and beginning heading stages of growth in Central and Western Pennsylvania.  In the South and Southeast wheat is in advanced heading stages of growth and Dave Johnson, crops extension specialist in Landisville, reports that some varieties began to flower late this past week.  These reports indicate that our wheat in PA will be most vulnerable to wheat head scab over the next two weeks.

The current risk of head scab appears to be low in Pennsylvania despite frequent rains.  This low risk is the result of cool temperatures that have dominated during these raining periods. The reproduction of the fungus is most rapid at temperatures between 60 and 80°F, but is greatly reduced when temperatures are near 50°F or below.  Temperature requirements for infection are similar and invasion by the fungus is not favored by temperatures less than 60°F.  The risk of scab could increase dramatically if temperatures become more favorable.  You can check for daily updates on the risk of head scab in PA and surrounding states by visiting the Fusarium head blight prediction center on-line at http://www.wheatscab.psu.edu/

The management options for control of head scab are limited.  Pennsylvania does have a label for Tilt fungicide, which has shown the ability to suppress disease development.  The fungicide will not completely eliminate the disease, and I believe the economics of these applications are questionable given the narrow profit margins for wheat. The last possible growth stage for application of Tilt fungicide is full head emergence, and growers interested in attempting to limit disease with the fungicide should target this growth stage.  No applications of Tilt can be made when the crop is at the flowering growth stage.  You will know your wheat is flowering if you see yellow or white anthers on the heads. Please also note that these anthers are easily dislodged by wind or rain, and can be readily seen on the soil surface.  Products belonging to the strobulrin class of fungicides (Quadirs, Headline) are not recommended for potential control of head scab.  These products have not been shown to effectively reduce disease pressure and in some cases may increase the risk of mycotoxin contamination.

Grain Marketing — John Berry and Andrew Frankenfield

Local corn, soybean and soft wheat prices are at levels that are in the top 1/3 of average. Is it time to do some price protection for the upcoming harvest?

Typically, following commodity prices can be a challenge when there is field work needing to be done. Recalling the impact even a slight price difference will make to our net revenue may encourage us to spend some energy on keeping track of what markets are trying to tell us even in busier times. With more and more investor and speculator money chasing the agriculture futures markets it can seem there is no fundamental reasoning behind current market conditions. Not only do price levels occasionally defy reason, but the rate of a price change can be dramatic. This price change, or volatility, is often cited as the key price risk component to watch. When markets are dominated by non-users and their perspectives on expected demand, expected yield, expected policy and especially expected weather — look out. Anything can happen, it can happen quickly, and it may not last long.

Trying to find a comfort zone leads me to reflecting on historical records and their comparison to the current situation. The Chicago Board of Trade, Agriculture web site not only contains the current futures and options price levels but it also has the past few years records for our use. Local (PA) markets report to a PDA staffer once a week. These regional market reports can give a feel for local conditions. PA Price Reporting is found at http://www.agriculture.state.pa.us/agriculture/cwp/view.asp?a=391&q=131575

A local farmer called a mill on Friday, May 12th and asked the price of dried corn delivered in the fall at harvest. The price was $3.00/bu = (Dec CBOT price + local basis OR $2.78 + $0.22).  He sold a few thousand bushels, because he didn’t have storage for all his expected yield and felt comfortable that at that price he was making a fair profit and didn’t want to risk taking a lower price at harvest.  He also asked the price of soybeans for fall delivery, they were $5.97 = (Nov CBOT price + local basis OR $6.32 - $0.35).  He also sold a couple trailer loads of soybeans, since he felt confident that it was over $2.00/bu profit after all costs.

Sometimes we wonder how our local conditions compare to others across this country. These marketing reports can be mined from the USDA, Ag Marketing Services web site at  http://www.ams.usda.gov/marketnews.htm

Of course, knowing where we are today is not nearly as exciting as thinking we know where we'll be tomorrow. For some insight into where commodities might be headed I often use a Michigan State University Ag Econ professors web resources. Jim Hilker’s Crop Commentary http://www.msu.edu/user/hilker/outlook.htm is a great way to get some professional market advice.

Saving the most significant piece of marketing for last does not detract from its value. It does reflect the fun most of us have with this business management chore. How can I determine appropriate marketing strategies without knowing my cost-of-production? Would I recognize a good price if it jumped up and bit me? It may be too late this year for effective budgeting, but let’s not forget to push the pencil as much as possible as we try to maintain and grow our enterprises. With the current cost of fertilizer, fuel, rent and labor it is advisable to have a handle on the expected return to our management skill. Most businesses strive to make a profit. The budgets found at the National Ag Risk, Budget Library http://www.agrisk.umn.edu/Budgets/CustomSearch.aspx can be quite helpful. I recently did a quick corn silage budget for a local dairyperson and calculated that if they were valuing their silage at $28 a ton, they needed in excess of 18 tons to the acre to just break even on costs.

In the midst of this busy planting season don’t forget about taking a look at the grain markets every few days and consider forward contracting some grain.  It may be the most profitable few minutes of the day and by harvest time you might be glad you took the time.

Contributors: State Specialists: Marvin Hall, Doug Beegle, Erick DeWolf, Sjoerd Duiker, Greg Roth, Bill Curran, and Dwight Lingenfelter.  Extension Educators:  Paul Craig (Dauphin), Del Voight (Lebanon) Kevin Fry (Armstrong), Andrew Frankenfield (Montgomery), Jere Wingert (Franklin), Mena Hautau (Berks), Joel Hunter (Crawford), Jeff Graybill (Lancaster), and Dave Messersmith (Wayne).

Editor:  Kevin Fry

Real time pest and heat unit activity:  http://psu.zedxinc.com/cgi-bin/site.cgi?location=2&user=psu#

Calendar of Events: http://www.events.psu.edu/cgi-bin/cal/webevent.cgi?cmd=opencal&cal=cal209&

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