CMEG Crop Management Extension Group

Field Crop News

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

September 12, 2007    Vol. 07:28

IN THIS ISSUE:

Weather Outlook — Paul Knight, Pennsylvania State Climatologist

The first rains of September have become more widespread and in about half of the state, rainfall has returned to near normal for this month (about an inch in the first ten days). The weather pattern will now return to a changeable, cooler regime with only intermittent rain. In general, rainfall for the next two weeks should be below to well below average. After a cooler period during the middle of this week and an even cooler shot of air this coming weekend, the final two weeks of this month (Sept 17–30) should be warmer than normal.

Week One (Sept 12 – Sept 18): Much more pleasant conditions with chilly (foggy) mornings and mild afternoons are expected on Wednesday and Thursday. A return flow of mild, moist air should bring back low clouds and patches of drizzle —especially to the eastern half of the state on Friday. A sharp cold front will trigger a few showers late Friday or Saturday morning and be followed by brisk conditions for the weekend.

The lowest readings of the season are likely Sunday and/or Monday morning with frost in some northern valleys.

Week Two (Sept 19 – Sept. 24): A rapid warming trend is expected for the first half of next week with temperatures returning to well above seasonal levels by mid—week. Morning fog and haze will reduce the warmth in some valleys. The tropics may threaten the eastern seaboard late next week or on the weekend as moisture levels rise. The next risk of significant widespread rain will be the latter half of next week.

Check out the predicted Growing Degree Days (base 55) for Pennsylvania for the next two weeks at: http://climate.met.psu.edu/data/regional_gdd.php

Late Planting of Forage Crops — Marvin Hall, PSU Forage Specialist

Farmers are frequently faced with the situation of planting perennial cool—season forage crops later in the fall than is recommended. The risks of late planting must be weighed against considerations such as need for forage the following year or ground cover to comply with conservation plans. Research done by Penn State, found that planting forage legumes after Aug. 1 reduced percent ground cover and yield during the year after planting. Total DM yields for the year after planting were reduced by an average of 158, 105, and 76 lb/acre/day for alfalfa, red clover, and birdsfoot trefoil, respectively, when planting was delayed after Aug. 1. Generally, planting legumes after Sept. 5 in central Pennsylvania and Oct. 1 in southern Pennsylvania resulted in total yields of less than one ton/acre during the year after planting.

Delays in planting had less effect on grass than legumes, but each grass responded differently. Orchardgrass and perennial ryegrass yields did not decrease until planting was delayed until after Sept. 5 when average yield the year after planting declined by 100 and 153 lb/acre/day, respectively. Planting reed canarygrass after Sept. 5 resulted in total DM yields of less than one ton/acre during the year after planting.

Recommendations Planting early is best but if that is not possible then planting perennial cool—season forage crops, in fertile well—drained soils, after Sept. 5 in central and Oct. 1 in southern regions of Pennsylvania severely jeopardizes the vigor of the seedlings and results in yields that are too low for practical forage harvesting.

Late Season Stem Diseases of Soybean — Del Voight, Lebanon County Extension (adapted from an article from Dr. Eric DeWolf)

Reports from around the state indicate that some soybean fields are showing signs of late season disease. One common symptom this year includes patches of plants that appear shorter and paler than the surrounding canopy. Upon closer examination plants within the affected areas appear to be wilting and plants in the center of the patch may already be dead. The stems of the affected plants often have a lesions on the main stem that range in color from tan to almost black. This season it is particularly difficult to diagnose fields since many have or are nearing the final dry down to harvest. Inspection of the stems can determine the probable cause of disease.

These symptoms are consistent with a number of diseases that can affect the stems of soybean plants late in the growing season including anthracnose, phomopsis, and stem canker. These diseases often get started early in the reproductive stages of growth, but show no symptoms until later in the growing season when the plants begin to invest more energy in filling pods. This late symptom development can be accelerated by drought or other stress factors that weaken the plant. In many areas this is exactly the type of situation we experienced this season; rain in early — mid July followed by prolonged dry periods in late July and August. Fields with soil types prone to drought seem to have more disease relative to soils with greater moisture holding capacity.

Little can be done at this time to manage the diseases. Interestingly, at least some of these fields received a fungicide application during the early reproductive stages of growth. I would not expect fungicides to be very effective at controlling these diseases because the application timing is a little too late for good control, the stems are not easy application targets, and the fungicides are only locally systemic (unlikely to move into the stem). It may be wise to note the fields that this occurs in and if a pattern is evident. Selection of highly resistant varieties and or rotations with a non host crop that offer a longer waiting period between soybean crops may prove useful.

Be Alert and Ready for Hi—Moisture Corn Opportunities — Joel Hunter, Crawford County Extension

Even though corn prices have softened a bit form their earlier highs, it’s likely that the markets will remain very volatile and higher prices will return at some point. In addition, with the increases in acreage for corn production this year, it seems very likely that we may find that we are lacking the drying and storage capacity for the increased production. In such a scenario, dairy and livestock producers should consider the potential for “fire sales” of cheap corn at harvest this year. Last year, for example, some producers were able to purchase hi—moisture corn at $60/ton delivered. Sellers benefit by getting this corn off a little earlier and are spared drying and storage costs. In order to take advantage, interested producers should “have their ducks in a row” with adequate silo or bag storage availability, bags and bagger equipment if needed, inoculant, grinding capabilities, etc. Then, with the combination of being physically ready and being attentive to availability/opportunities with nearby neighbors, the potential for securing some economical feed energy may be realized. Of course, proper moisture content and grind fineness are key considerations to insure that the product can be utilized to its full potential in a livestock ration. The following link will take you to an article that provides information about harvest moisture and preservation in more detail. http://www.uwex.edu/ces/crops/HMcorn2000.htm

Grain Market Report — Tom Murphy, Lycoming County Extension

What a time to have a bin full of wheat to sell! On Monday wheat climbed to an all time high for December and closed at 8.61, up 17 ½. The big news and driver is still the tight world stocks situation. The crop from Eastern Europe and other wheat areas was very short but now traders are hearing that Australia, which is in the midst of a hard drought, will potentially have a tough time bringing wheat to market. Apparently it is so bad there, they are even planning to import U.S. corn for livestock feed which hasn’t happened in a long time. Demand for the U.S. wheat crop continues to be very strong. USDA will have a grain report on Wednesday which will likely show even further reduction of world ending stocks. There is an argument to be made that sales are unsustainable at this point and price rationing will change the dynamics of the market. If you are holding some wheat, watch the market daily for signals to price. A more reasoned approach would be to sell some grain over time using your marketing plan as the basis for the decision dates and/or price points to sell. Unquestionably you are making a profit on the 2007 crop now, so you might want to take some of it out of this volatile market. An additional thought suggested by a colleague, is that like most other commodities, wheat prices could just as easy go the other way in 2008 and you could be left harvesting cheap grain if you didn’t contract ahead. If you don’t already grow wheat in your rotation, be cautious vs. corn and beans where demand is increasing due to biofuels usage. Another consideration is that the quality of PA wheat is often a challenge due to sprouting and other issues. When you combine that with a negative basis in PA, there are a number of reasons to pause before jumping into wheat if you don’t normally plant it.

Corn prices were still somewhat level over the last week with very little overall movement. Seems one day brings enough good news to the market to move it up small amount followed by enough bad news the next day to cancel it out. What we do know is that the crop is projected to be a record and that storage will be very tight, i.e. lots of big piles in the mid west! Still seems to be some positive signs in the global market which could take price higher. As low—end wheat moves away from feed usage, corn will likely fill some of the void. Ethanol is still expanding, although at a slowing pace, and demand for corn for industrial use continues to climb. The question will be how much corn will go from the field to the market and skip on—farm storage. Market history this past year will give growers plenty to think about in deciding whether to sell at harvest or hold. If it is largely held, wheat prices keep moving up, and the market needs corn, price will follow. But those are a lot of pieces to get right. Again, develop a good post harvest marketing plan and implement it. When your selling objectives (dates, desired price or both) in the plan show a profit, sell some grain.

Cooperative Extension will be holding a series of Post Harvest grain marketing sessions across PA in Nov., Dec., and early Jan. These will be followed by a group of Pre—Harvest sessions through late March ‘08. If you would like to know more about the short 3 ½ hour seminars, contact John Berry in Lehigh Co. jwb15@psu.edu or Tom Murphy in Lycoming Co. tmurphy@psu.edu

Southeastern Pennsylvania
Grain Range Avg Contract for Harvest
Corn No. 2 3.45-4.20 3.96 3.90-4.03
Wheat No. 2 5.40-6.00 5.94 7.83-7.90
Barley No. 3 3.20 3.20 2.80
Oats No. 2 2.70 2.70 ---
Soybeans No. 2 8.45-8.75 8.56 8.30-8.62
*Gr. Sorghum --- --- ---
Ear Corn 108.00-118.00 113.00 ---
Western Pennsylvania
Grain Range Avg
Corn No. 2 3.60-4.00 3.74
Wheat No. 2 5.00 5.00
Barley No. 3 --- ---
Oats No. 2 1.85-2.00 1.95
Soybeans No. 2 7.75-8.00 7.90
Ear Corn 115.00 115.00
South Central Pennsylvania
Grain Range Avg
Corn No. 2 3.90-4.20 4.04
Wheat No. 2 6.10-6.80 6.45
Barley No. 3 2.80-3.35 3.05
Oats No. 2 2.50-3.00 2.80
Soybeans No. 2 7.90-8.65 8.23
*Gr. Sorghum --- ---
Ear Corn 114.00-130.00 121.80
Central Pennsylvania
Grain Range Avg
Corn No. 2 3.90-4.20 4.09
Wheat No. 2 5.43 5.43
Barley No. 3 2.75-3.10 2.91
Oats No. 2 2.30-2.50 2.40
Soybeans No. 2 8.00-8.65 8.26
Ear Corn 118.00-119.00 118.50

Alfalfa Stand Evaluation — Paul Craig, Dauphin County Extension

All hay producers recognize the fact that as an alfalfa stand ages, it eventually thins out. There are many factors that cause stand thinning. These include diseases, insect and weed pressure, poor fertility and poor harvest management. The big question is not why the stand is failing but rather is the existing older stand thick enough to keep for another season?

How thick a stand is directly affects both the yield and quality of the cutting; however economics of existing forage supplies and costs of reseeding compound the decision on individual farms. Unfortunately, at some point, a decision must be made. The current alfalfa stand evaluation tool is based on work done at The University of Wisconsin by Dr. Dan Undersander and evaluated in Pennsylvania by Dr. Marvin Hall at Penn State.

These forage agronomists recommend looking at alfalfa stands in the fall for the best method for stand assessment. They note that a second appraisal is helpful in the spring after the stand breaks dormancy. Fall evaluations help to identify troubled stands that may be prone to winter injury. This can allow for tillage or fall applied herbicides for optimum rotation affects. Spring evaluations reveal winter injury damage.

Wisconsin research notes that stem counts are more accurate for estimating yield potentials than crown counts. A stand may have density of 5 to 8 crowns but individual crowns may have few, poorly growing shoots. Research indicates that total stem counts per square foot is a better method. Their conclusions are that stands with more than 55 stems per square foot will have maximum yields; stands with fewer than 40 stems per square foot were not profitable and needed to be replaced; and densities between 40 and 55 will need additional considerations.

In addition to counting stems, agronomists recommend evaluating the condition of crowns and roots stand at the same time. By considering the crown and root health, an estimate of the long range yield potential can be part of the final decision. Healthy crowns and roots are large, symmetrical or balanced in shape, have many roots and shoots, are resistant to bark peeling and have creamy bright internal coloration. Crowns and roots with few roots, a soft feel and/or darken spots are damaged and prone to decline. Healthy stands have less than 30% injured crowns.

To evaluate your alfalfa stands this fall, make a simple 12 inch x 12 inch frame of wire or small PVC pipe. Select 3 or 4 areas of the field, toss the frame and then count alfalfa stems in this area. An alfalfa height of about 6 inches helps. Keep track of your results and then average the counts across the field. The most reliable estimate will result from multiple tosses. Then dig a few crowns from the nearby area and look for signs of weak crowns.

Stands with stem densities of greater than 55 per square foot can still be high yielding with some crown damage. However, many stands with densities in the lower 40’s/square foot may also have a high yield potential if those stems are growing on healthy vigor crowns. There is no magical number to make this decision error free. Nevertheless, taking the time to walk (or 4–wheel) over your stands this fall may help you identify potentially poorer stands in time to modify cropping plans for 2008.

Start the Wheat Crop Off Right — John Rowehl, Cumberland County Extension

It has been said that as much as 60% of the yield of wheat has been determined by the time the field has been planted. Variety selection is a big one and hopefully you have made use of the variety test reports that were referred to from this newsletter several weeks ago. Waiting until the optimum period to plant is also important. This optimum date is a two week period centered on the date of the expected first frost. Planting wheat too early increases the risk of powdery mildew and barley yellow dwarf virus infections. We don’t think about the Hessian fly much but you do avoid that insect by planting after that date as well as lower winter annual weed pressure. In Oklahoma, researchers found that test weight is lower if planted earlier than their optimum date.

Not much wheat is planted back to back but sometimes it is, especially in fields where it got too late to double crop soybeans. This invites diseases such as Staganospora, take—all and powdery mildew, particularly if volunteer wheat is growing, or old straw and chaff remain on the surface. Most wheat is planted following corn and soybeans. The red zone I would want to avoid is wheat planted no—till in corn fields with a lot of stalks on the surface. There is more potential for head scab next year in that situation than if it were soybean ground or corn chopped for silage.

In a recent study at the Southeast Research and Extension Center in Lancaster County where the effect of previous crop was tested, wheat grown after soybeans yielded higher than wheat planted in corn stalk ground, averaging 11 bushels/acre better averaged over two years. This advantage occurred in both a heavy scab year (2004) and a light scab year (2005) and across all tillage systems both years. So this supports the recommendation to rotate wheat after soybeans rather than corn whenever possible, as long as it is within the normal planting time period. Tillage systems were also compared. For wheat after soybeans, the study indicated that all the tillage systems used produced the same yields. In corn stubble ground, although the differences were small, wheat yields tended to be a little lower in no—till compared to the other two tillage systems used.

Fields testing low in phosphorus are not as scarce as some people think. Make sure that you fertilize accordingly if any of yours are in that category. Soil pH is more critical for barley than wheat but don’t take that as an excuse to let it drop down too low.

When seeding during the optimum time, 20 or 21 seeds/foot of row for 7 and 7 ½ inch rows respectively, is adequate. This is about 100 lbs/ac of seed with 15,000 seeds per pound. Uniform depth of planting resulting in even emergence is very important. If planting later than the end of the optimum period, increase the seeding rate 30%. The seeding rate may also need to be increased 10-15 % if you are no—till planting into corn stalks.

Interseeding Triticale and Alfalfa — Paul Craig, Dauphin County Extension

In 2001, I had an opportunity to visit the University of Maryland’s Clarksville Facility. One of the most interesting trials I observed was looking at an interseeding of triticale into an existing alfalfa stand following the last fall harvest to increase first cutting yields. This work began in the fall of 1996 and has shown some very impressive results. With extremely short forage production in 2007, this practice may be very handy next spring following a winter/spring of feeding stored feeds.

The initial response from producers about overseeding triticale is that older, thinner stands would be best suited for the practice. Work at Maryland has shown, however, that there is an advantage to this practice on even younger stands of alfalfa, 1 to 3 years old, without any detrimental effects to the alfalfa. Here’s how it works, based on Maryland research.

Following September harvests, triticale is sown at 50 to 60 pounds per acre into newer stands of alfalfa (1 to 3 years old) and 80 pounds/acre into older, thinner stands. Then in the spring, additional nitrogen is top dressed to get optimum production of the triticale. On newer stands, highest production has resulted from the addition of 50 pounds of nitrogen. On older alfalfa stands, with higher triticale seeding rates, optimum yields were achieved with the addition of 120 pounds of nitrogen. In one trial, yields of first cut alfalfa, without triticale but with 80 pounds of nitrogen, were 1.93 tons/acre; with triticale and 80 pounds of nitrogen, yields were 2.79 tons/acre of forage. Eighty pounds of triticale and 120 pounds of nitrogen yielded 3.22 tons/acre. Forage analysis of the triticale/alfalfa silage cut at the late boot stage in the 2000 crop was 24.1% CP. 33.1%ADF, 42.9%NDF.

Maryland faculty feel the addition of nitrogen is the secret to success of the alfalfa stand persistence. They believe that although alfalfa can “fix” nitrogen, there does not appear to be sufficient nitrogen for the companion crop. Other benefits include an improvement in the first cut harvest efficiency and cleanliness without any lodging. The triticale supports the alfalfa and keeps it standing. This upright position results in less leaf shading and leaf loss. The upright position also results in better air circulation within the stand that keeps the lower part of the plant and the soil surface drier. The triticale also offers good winter annual weed competition in older stands.

Why triticale and not rye? Triticale is 2 to 3 weeks later in reaching maturity than rye and does not reach full head as quickly as rye, thus providing a wider harvest window more closely related to the optimum time to make first cutting of alfalfa. Triticale is taller than wheat or barley and thus has a higher yield potential. And the optimum harvest stage for wheat and barley is later than the desired time for alfalfa.

Upcoming Events:

No—Till Short Course — Part 1 (fundamentals and theory)
October 3–4
PSU Agronomy Research Farm / Rock Springs, PA
• This course will provide an introduction to the no—till SYSTEM approach contrasting the differences between a tilled and no—till system. Attendees will gain a understanding of the challenges and opportunities that no—till offers so they can confidently answer the questions “Why No—Till?”

No—Till Short Course — Part 2 (management and field applications)
October 10–11
PSU Agronomy Research Farm / Landisville, PA
• This course will provide applied instruction in problem solving and field decision making in a no—till farming SYSTEM. Learn practical solutions and field tested ideas that make no—till both practical and profitable.

Register online at http://www.panotill.com/shortcourse.html or call Lisa Crytser 814–865–2543 for more information.

Field Extension Educational Lab — October 11, Southeast Research and Extension Center Contact: Del Voight 717–270–4391

Keystone Crops and Soils Conference — October 23–24, Holiday Inn, Grantville
Registration information will be coming out soon. If you don’t receive the program brochure or need more information, contact Amy Bradford 717–651–5920

Contributors: Dept. Crop & Soil Science: Bill Curran, Sjoerd Duiker, Marvin Hall, Ron Hoover. Extension Educators: Paul Craig (Dauphin), Andrew Frankenfield (Montgomery), Don Fretts (Union), Mena Hautau (Berks), Joel Hunter (Crawford), Tom Murphy (Lycoming), Del Voight (Lebanon), Craig Williams (Tioga).

Editor: John Rowehl, Cumberland County Extension

Upcoming Events

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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If you have problems subscribing or wish to cancel your subscription, please contact Lisa Crytser by e-mail at lac8@psu.edu or by phone at 814-865-2543.

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