CMEG Crop Management Extension Group

Field Crop News

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

January 13, 2009    Vol. 09:01

IN THIS ISSUE:

Weather Outlook — Paul Knight, Pennsylvania State Climatologist

The first installment of bitter chill will arrive Tuesday night and Wednesday, preceded by snow showers. A second surge of bitter cold air will move in on Thursday, preceded by a more widespread light snow which will deposit 1–3 inches in the mountains and a fresh inch in the southeast. Readings should be their lowest on Friday with daytime temperatures near zero in the northern mountains to just below 20 in the southeast. Overnight lows will fall to -15°F in the northern hollows to single numbers in the southeast. The frigid weather will relax slowly during the weekend as clouds and snow showers dominate from Saturday into midday Sunday. Many areas will receive a fresh covering to an inch or two. A reinforcement of very cold air is likely next Monday or Tuesday with more snow showers and perhaps a period of steady snow in the eastern counties. The cold air will retreat during the second half of next week, but will return again during the final week of January.

The expected warming trend in January is not even likely to materialize until the middle or later part of February. Precipitation during the six week period from now until late February will be below normal across much of the region.

Soybean Foliar Fertilizer Plot Results — Kevin Fry, County Educator, Armstrong County

A soybean foliar fertilizer test was conducted this past growing season in response to numerous claims of yield increases with various foliar products. The plot was located on a grain farm in Rural Valley, Armstrong County. The four treatments were 1) 5-15-15 liquid fertilizer, 2) Clawel micronutrient pack for soybeans, 3) Crop Booster Manganese, and 4) an untreated check. Purdue researchers believe glyphosate tolerant soybeans have a reduced capacity to uptake Manganese, so Treatments 3 and 4 were included to determine whether additional Manganese was beneficial. Applications were made in late July with the final herbicide application. The soybean field was conventionally tilled and planted with a drill on 7 inch rows on May 5th, 2008. Soil test results were in the optimum range and pH was 6.2. Tissue tests taken in mid July showed no deficiencies with all nutrients being normal to high. The treatments were applied on July 23rd to 24" tall soybeans in growth stage R3. The treatment specifics were as follows.

Treatment 1 Ammonium Sulfate - 8.5 lb/100 gal
Roundup Weather Max - 22 oz/A
Treatment 2 5-15-15 liquid fertilizer - 3.0 gal/A
Ammonium Sulfate - 8.5 lb/100 gal
Roundup Weather Max - 22 oz/A
Treatment 3 Clawel Nutrition Plus - 2 qt/A
(Boron 0.2%, Iron 0.3%, Manganese 3.2%, Molybdenum 0.01%, Zinc 2.1%)
Ammonium Sulfate - 8.5 lb/100 gal
Roundup Weather Max - 22 oz/A
Treatment 4 Crop Booster Mn 5% - 2 qt/A
(Sulfur 2.8%, Manganese 5.0%)
Ammonium Sulfate - 8.5 lb/100 gal
Roundup Weather Max - 22 oz/A

The mean yield results were as follows

Treatment Yield (bu/A)
Untreated 44.1
5-15-15 42.4
Clawel micronutrients 43.1
Crop Booster Manganese 43.1

No significant differences existed (see figure 1) between the various foliar treatments and the untreated check at this location. Note that this is only one year at one location. This study to be repeated this coming growing season.

Winter Manure Application Considerations — Doug Beegle, Soil Fertility Specialist

First we all know that winter is not the best time to apply manure and should be our last choice. The best nutrient utilization will come from applying the manure as close to the time of crop uptake as possible, that is not in the winter. Also, because of no crop utilization and frozen/snow covered soils there is high potential for nutrient loss in the winter. So if we could avoid applying manure to frozen, snow covered soils that would be the best approach but this is not always practical.

In the winter when temperatures in the surface soil fall below 50° F the potential volatilization losses are less, however there is a significant potential for losses of surface applied nutrients in runoff from snow melt or winter rains under these conditions. In the winter try to select fields and timing of application based on minimizing the potential for loss. This is basically common sense:

There is a simple spreadsheet that helps to evaluate and prioritize fields for winter manure applications.

It is too late now, but in the future try to plan ahead so that you will have appropriate fields available when winter conditions limit your spreading options. Don’t spread all of your level fields far from streams in the fall so that you only have the sloping fields near the stream left to spread in the winter.

Even if manure is applied appropriately in good locations over the fall and winter, you are still not out of the woods because a large proportion of late fall and winter nutrient losses from manure come when conditions begin to warm up in the spring. For example, in a corn system as long as physical losses in runoff are minimal, the manure nutrients will often remain pretty stable over the winter. However, soils will warm up enough early in the spring for N to become active and thus susceptible to loss long before the corn crop needs N. Therefore, even though you may have done a good job of conserving the nutrients at application time, there is still a long period of conditions favorable to N loss before the corn needs the N. In grass hay or small grains these crops will begin to grow about the same time the N becomes active and will thus use the nutrients. In a corn system, a cover crop that grows in the early spring, such as rye, can double the recovery of manure N applied in the fall and winter. The cover crop begins growing in the spring about the same time the N becomes active and thus the cover crop will take the N up and hold it and it will not be susceptible to loss. When the cover crop is killed and decays the N will be released closer to the time of corn need. See Table 1.2-14 in the Penn State Agronomy Guide for more details on manure N availability throughout the year.

Developing Oilseed Production in NW PA — Joel Hunter, County Educator Crawford County

Fuel prices had everyone’s attention this past year and renewable fuels are undoubtedly a key part of the solution moving into the future. Biodiesel production is increasing rapidly almost everywhere. Locally, we are actively evaluating the potential for camelina production as a biofuel feedstock. However, canola, a more recognized oilseed crop also in the Brassica family, makes an excellent biofuel feedstock. In addition, the canola meal, or the portion remaining after the oil is extracted, is an excellent high protein feed that, unlike camelina, already has our government’s full approval as a livestock feed. Indeed, some producers have expressed a serious interest in “growing their own” biodiesel and/or meal in today’s economies. But historically, producers may have asked why we don’t grow canola. (Of course, Canada is a major canola producer with over 13 million acres of spring canola production.) The simple answer is that we probably haven’t produced any canola because there has not been a local market for canola. With today’s energy prices/issues, many places are exploring local biofuel and biofuel feedstock production. In most areas, this means starting from scratch as far as building an oil extraction facility as well as a biofuel refinery. In addition, producers must be willing to produce the oilseed crops and there needs to be a local (profitable) market for the meal. Obviously, the prospects of such an endeavor involve considerable challenges. However, in Northwest Pennsylvania, we seem to have most of the “pieces in place” for our producers to exploit the rapid and successful development of a local oilseed biofuel feedstock market. With the recent addition of Lake Erie Biofuels, the largest biodiesel plant East of the Mississippi, there is a new and immediate demand of up to one million pounds of biodiesel feedstocks per day! In addition, an existing but previously idled crush plant exists nearby with a capacity to produce about 5 percent of the annual feedstock needs of Lake Erie Biofuels. In order to help develop local oilseed crop production, we have already initiated funded projects with Camelina sativa which will continue over the next several years concurrently with efforts here and elsewhere to develop markets for camelina meal. We will again be able to offer an incentive payment ($100/a) for qualified camelina growers. However, to fully utilize the capacity of the restarted crush plant, we are proceeding with the development of local canola production. Plans are to push ahead with local oilseed production with the intentions of toll crushing, the formation of a cooperative, local contracts for production, or some other arrangements to produce and market oil for the local biofuel feedstock market (Lake Erie Biofuels) and supplement the local feed markets with meal.

In order to convince producers to grow canola for local production for the oil and meal markets, we believe that it has to be economically competitive with soybeans. In addition, as many local cash grain producers currently opt for a simple soybean/corn rotation and are reluctant to commit acreage to a winter annual, such as wheat, we also expect that spring canola would be preferable to most of these producers. Furthermore, while most producers would justifiably resist following soybeans with soybeans, we believe they would consider following soybeans with spring canola. Finally, our premise for the successful development of a local oilseed market relies on the implementation of a no-till systems approach with the careful design and use of cover crops and rotations to conserve resources, lower input costs, and create more economically and environmentally sustainable production.

Current simple economic analyses reveal that returns to land and management are about $200 per acre for 40 bu/a soybeans compared to about $150 per acre return for 40 bu/a canola. However, 40 bu/a soybeans also fix about 40 pounds of nitrogen per acre for the subsequent crop. This residual nitrogen, in effect, adds another $30 per acre returns (with nitrogen valued at $0.75 per pound of N) as lowered input costs for the subsequent crop, typically corn. Our intention is to develop, encourage, and implement a field scale program where participating producers direct seed spring canola following soybean, utilizing the 40 lbs/a residual N to meet half of the spring canola N needs, with the other half applied as commercial fertilizer nitrogen. By planting a legume crop (clover, vetch, pea, etc.) with (companion) or immediately following the spring canola, we hope to fix 80 to 160 lbs/a of residual nitrogen for an additional $60 to $120 per acre returns towards the subsequent corn crop. This would potentially eliminate the fertilizer nitrogen needs with the exception of “starter nitrogen” (~30 to 60 lbs N/a) for the following no-till corn production. If the expected companion legume residual nitrogen contribution is realized, the canola and residual legume cover nitrogen returns should be economically competitive to soybeans. In a recent field study at the PSU Landisville Research farm, no-ill corn grown following a red clover cover crop green manure crop frost seeded into winter barley averaged a 30 bu/a advantage over no red clover cover at four different levels of nitrogen. Obviously, fertilizer nitrogen requirements were greatly reduced with the red clover cover. See below. Besides being economically competitive with soybeans, the proposed canola/legume companion rotation will offer the advantages of an optimal no-till seedbed into soybean residue. The companion/cover legume will not only provide residual nitrogen for the following year’s corn crop, it will provide an existing living cover after the canola harvest , break the corn/soybean rotation, and distribute planting and harvesting requirements over more of the season than the traditional corn/soybean rotation.

As already stated, spring canola should be planted early like oats and/or forages. Like oats, early planting helps ensure favorable cool temperatures during flowering to avoid blasting (poor or no seed development). Recommended seeding rates are about five pounds per acre and seed costs can be as low as $1.50 per pound. Herbicide resistant varieties [glyphosate (Roundup), glufosinate (Liberty), and ALS (Clearfield)] are available. Yields of 40 to 50 bushels per acre can be expected (55+ bushel per acre potential). See above recent PSU yield data. Current market values are in the $7.50 -$8.59/bu range ($0.15-$0.17/bu or $300-$340/ton).

Local production of winter canola will also likely be critical for the successful development of a local oilseed market, particularly with the goal of about 27,000 acres of new oilseed production in the region needed to run the existing crush plant at full capacity (3 shifts) year round. Winter canola has a relative yield advantage and improved winter hardy varieties continue to be developed. Winter canola does best on well drained, non-crusting soils (what doesn’t?). The planting date for our area is about the same as late-summer forage seeding or the second half of August (not much later than early September). Consequently, it fits well after a cereal grain harvest in our region. With mechanical oil extraction, about two barrels of oil and 1400 pounds of high quality meal per acre should be possible. Approximately 60 acres of production should produce the “minimum” 5000 gallon load of oil bound for Lake Erie Biofuels (smaller amounts could be pooled.) It is noteworthy that the conversion of feedstocks into biodiesel is about 99% efficient and consequently nearly 5000 gallons of B100 biodiesel could be produced from about 60 acres. In addition, if that fuel goes back to the farm for use, additional carbon credits could be generated in compliment with those generated by no-till. On the inputs side, nitrogen recommendations for optimum production generally involve 20 to 30 pounds of nitrogen per acre in the fall and another 80 to 100 pounds of nitrogen per acre in the spring (~$75-$100/a currently). Obviously, the nitrogen requirements for winter canola are comparable to those for winter wheat (in contrast to the lower nitrogen needs for spring canola which gaian are comparable to the nitrogen needs for oats.)

We will continue to assist in the development of a local/regional oilseed market. I strongly encourage producers to seriously consider at least trying the concept of this proposed systems approach keying on rotation and cover crops. Again, our proposed approach involves following soybeans with spring canola and either a companion or follow-up legume cover crop for the corn grain production in the third year of the rotation. We will continue to get the word out during the winter meetings encouraging producers adopt some local spring canola production as we also continue to work on the research and development of camelina production in our area. Of course, we are anxious to work with you and try to assist in any way we can. Indeed, it will take a lot of cooperation among all parties concerned to successfully develop local/regional oilseed production and markets. I am convinced that we should and we can, but the reality is that it is YOU, the producer, that will play a determining role. Can we do it? I believe the answer is, “Yes we can!”

Wheat/Red Clover as an Alternative to Corn — Sjoerd Duiker, Soil Management Specialist

Farmers are looking for alternatives to corn because of its high input costs. An interesting alternative is wheat planted after soybeans, corn silage or early maturing corn grain. Red clover can be frost-seeded into standing wheat in late winter when the soil honeycombs, or it can be mixed with nitrogen fertilizer and seeded while top-dressing wheat. Typical wheat yields are 60 bu/A plus 1 ton/A of straw. If wheat is $6/bu and straw is $100/ton, this makes for $460/A. A cutting of red clover may be harvested in the fall. If the yield is 2 ton DM/A this would add another $120/A (@$60/ton). Total value of wheat and red clover would be $580 in revenue. Input costs of the wheat/red clover package are much lower than those for corn, and in one example net revenue was $220/A. Herbicide costs are low and can be zero in a field with low weed pressure. The wheat/red clover package has some additional benefits in the crop rotation, especially for soil improvement. Corn yields after red clover are typically improved, and nitrogen application can be reduced. The N-value of the red clover harvested for forage is approximately 50 lbs/A, or 80 lbs/a if the red clover is not harvested. In addition, corn yields after red clover are typically improved. It is not uncommon to see a 10% yield increase in corn beyond the nitrogen value of red clover. The wheat/red clover combination also helps to keep living roots in the soil year-round, one of the principles we use in designing optimal no-till systems, making this option worthy of consideration. Get ready now for red clover seeding by acquiring the seed and getting set up for frost seeding your winter small grain acres. For more information see http://cropsoil.psu.edu/extension/facts/agfact67.pdf and http://cropsoil.psu.edu/Extension/Facts/agfact21.pdf.

What’s New for Agronomic Weed Control 2009 (Corn & Small Grains) — Dwight Lingenfelter, Extension Agronomist

Labeled Products — CORN

Balance Flexx (Bayer CropScience) recently received federal registration for use in corn. See details below for more information about this product.

Halex GT 4.38EC (Syngenta) is a new postemergence herbicide premix that includes three different modes of action, s-metolachlor (Dual Magnum), mesotrione (Callisto), and glyphosate (Touchdown Hi-Tech) for use in RR corn. Halex GT at 3.6 – 4 pt/A (plus NIS and AMS) provides both foliar and residual control of many weeds. Halex GT can be applied to corn from emergence up to 30 inches tall (or 8-leaf stage) and to weeds less than 4 inches tall/long. Halex can be used as a one-pass program or in planned pre followed by post programs.

Ignite 280 2.34SL (Bayer CropScience), formerly known as Liberty, is a new higher-load formulation of glufosinate. Ignite 280 is a post, broadspectrum herbicide that controls many annual broadleaf and grassy weeds and provides some suppression to biennials and perennials. Since it is a contact herbicide, it is weaker on perennials compared to glyphosate, and requires uniform spray coverage to achieve consistent weed control. Warm temperatures, high humidity, and bright sunlight improve the performance of Ignite. It does not have residual activity and will not control weeds not yet emerged. Ignite can be used on all glufosinate resistant (LibertyLink) crops and for burndown situations. A pre application or a post application with a residual product may be required for broader spectrum and extended control in problematic fields. The use of soil residual herbicides before crop emergence can reduce the number of post applications required or provide a larger window for later season control. The typical use rate is 22 to 29 fl oz Ignite 280/A; include ammonium sulfate (AMS) at 3 lb/A to the spray solution (use only 1.5 lb/A if temperatures are expected to exceed 85°F). For more consistent lambsquarters and velvetleaf control apply between dawn and 2 hours before sunset. In LL corn, Ignite 280 can be applied over-the-top to corn up to and including V5 (5-leaf growth stage) at a rate of 22 fl oz/A. Ignite 280 and the LL system will be marketed as an alternative to a Roundup Ready (glyphosate resistant) system. It allows rotating herbicide modes of action to reduce the potential of developing glyphosate resistance biotypes of weeds. Glufosinate can be slightly less effective on grasses such as yellow foxtail, johnsongrass, quackgrass, shattercane, and barnyardgrass, but is more effective on some of the broadleaf weeds such as annual morningglory, eastern black nightshade, and smartweed. Although weed size is important with glyphosate, timing is more crucial with Ignite and spray applications should be made when weeds are 4 to 6 inches tall. Liberty will not longer be produced. Ignite 280 supplies will be in short supply for 2009.

Laudis 3.5SC (Bayer CropScience) is a newer post herbicide that contains tembotrione, an HPPD-enzyme inhibitor similar to Callisto and Impact for use in field and sweet corn. Laudis has similar broadleaf activity to Callisto and Impact and similar grass activity to Impact. The typical use rate is 3 oz/A plus necessary adjuvants. The addition of 0.5 lb atrazine or other herbicides improves the weed control spectrum.

Require Q 54.4WDG (DuPont) contains rimsulfuron (Resolve) plus dicamba (Clarity) and a safener (isoxadifen). Require Q was developed to be a postemergence tank-mix partner for glyphosate in RR corn. It should help to improve control of many broadleaves including lambsquarters, velvetleaf, common ragweed, jimsonweed, smartweed, cocklebur, Canada thistle and other perennial broadleaves. The rimsulfuron component can also provides some residual suppression of germinating foxtails, panicum, lambsquarters, pigweed, velvetleaf, common ragweed, and nightshade. The typical use rate is 4 oz/A plus adjuvants and should be applied after corn reaches 4 inches tall and before corn has 7 or more leaf-collars (≤ 20 inches).

Resolve Q 22.4WDG (DuPont) contains rimsulfuron (Resolve) plus thifensulfuron (Harmony SG) and a safener (isoxadifen). Resolve Q (not to be confused with Resolve), is a postemergence, nonvolatile, foliar plus residual herbicide for use as a tank-mix partner with glyphosate or glufosinate. When Resolve Q is applied at 1.25 oz/A (plus necessary adjuvants) with glyphosate it should improve control of lambsquarters, pigweed, velvetleaf, wild buckwheat, smartweed, and provide some residual suppression of annual grasses such as foxtails, barnyardgrass, panicum, and large crabgrass. It must be applied before corn has 7 or more leaf-collars (≤20 inches).

SureStart 4.25L (Dow AgroSciences) is a newer premix for control of annual weeds that contains acetochlor (TopNotch), flumetsulam (Python), clopyralid (Stinger), and a corn safener. It can be applied from pre to the early post stage (11-inch tall corn) and is intended to be used with Roundup Ready or Liberty Link field or silage corn hybrids. When applied pre, it is designed to provide early season control of common annual grasses and broadleaf weeds to allow better timing of the in-crop application of glyphosate or glufosinate. The use rate on medium-texture soils ranges from 1.5 – 1.75 pints/A. SureStart does not contain atrazine, so it provides a non-atrazine alternative for atrazine-sensitive areas.

Valor SX 51WDG (Valent) can be used in fall or spring burndown programs 30 days or more prior to corn planting. The use rate of 1–2 oz/A can provide some residual control, enhance the speed of burndown and increase weed spectrum including chickweed, henbit, mustards, and dandelion.

Pending Products — CORN

Balance Flexx, Corvus and Capreno (Bayer CropScience) are new corn herbicides that include a new corn safener to reduce the potential of crop injury. The new safener is reported by Bayer to increase corn metabolism of isoxaflutole. Balance Flexx (isoxaflutole + safener) is similar to Balance Pro but since it contains the safener, pre or early post applications are possible. Balance Pro can cause severe corn injury if applied post. Balance Flexx will likely be labeled for fall burndown situations as well. Corvus (isoxaflutole + thiencarbazone + safener) is a pre or early post herbicide that will have a broader weed control spectrum than Balance Pro since it contains thiencarbazone (an ALS inhibitor) which controls several grass and broadleaf weeds. Capreno (tembotrione + thiencarbazone + safener) is a postemergence herbicide similar to Laudis but will have a broader weed control spectrum since it also contains thiencarbazone. Balance Flexx recently received registration for the 2009 growing season, Bayer expects Corvus and Capreno to follow soon. Penn State researchers have looked at these products over the past couple years and have noted limited crop injury and good weed control.

Kixor (BASF) is a new herbicide active ingredient called saflufenacil (BAS800H) that will be labeled initially for use in corn, soybean, and small grains; other crops may soon follow. It provides some foliar/burndown and residual control of broadleaf weeds including horseweed, pigweed, lambsquarters, ragweed, velvetleaf, smartweed, cocklebur, annual morningglory, and mustards. It is a low use rate herbicide (1–4 oz/A) and is a PPO inhibitor, similar to Valor and Authority. Instead of Kixor as the main product name, products will be trademarked as Sharpen (saflufenacil alone), Integrity (saflufenacil + dimethenamid-P (Outlook)), and Optill (saflufenacil + imazethapyr (Pursuit)). BASF plans to market products containing Kixor by the 2010 growing season. In Penn State corn and soybean research trials this past year, Kixor was active on several key broadleaves. Future research will be conducted to determine the most effective use rate and herbicide combinations for our area.

Steadfast Q and Accent Q (DuPont) are nicosulfuron-based products that will contain a corn safener (isoxadifen) for improved safety to nicosulfuron. Their utility will be similar to the current Steadfast and Accent products. DuPont hopes to have registration of these by 2009.

Labeled Products — SMALL GRAINS

Harmony Extra 50SG with TotalSol SG (DuPont) is a new formulation of Harmony Extra for improved handling and performance. The 50SG has the same utility as the old formulation. The new formulation contains 50% active ingredient versus the 75% ai in the older XP formulation. Therefore, 0.4 oz/A Harmony Extra XP equals 0.6 oz/A Harmony Extra SG TotalSol; less than the proper rate may be inconsistent. TotalSol formulations form true solutions in the spray tank which allow for easier handling and sprayer cleanup. Harmony SG and Express are also formulated in this way and some other products will soon follow.

Huskie 29.6L (Bayer CropScience) contains pyrasulfotole (an HPPD-inhibitor) plus bromoxynil (Buctril) and controls broadleaf weeds in wheat, barley, oats, rye, and triticale. Huskie controls wild buckwheat, mustards, prickly lettuce, lambsquarters, pigweed, smartweed, ragweed, and velvetleaf. Apply 11 oz/A (plus AMS or UAN) to the small grains between 1 leaf and up to flag leaf emergence and to actively growing weeds that have 1–4 leaves. Do not apply to crops undersown with legumes. Huskie can be tank-mixed with certain herbicides, insecticides and fungicides. In wheat, liquid nitrogen may be used as the carrier. Soybeans can be planted 4 months after application; alfalfa, corn, and potatoes after 9 months.

Orion 2.37 SE (Syngenta) is a postemergence, broadleaf herbicide for use in wheat, barley, oats, rye, and triticale. Orion contains florasulam (an ALS-inhibitor) and MCPA for control of wild buckwheat, chamomile, chickweed, mustards, knotweed, lambsquarters, ragweed, and smartweed. It can be applied at 17 fl oz/A to small grains during the 3-leaf stage up through boot.

2008 PA Corn Club Results — Dave Messersmith, County Educator, Wayne County

The 2008 PA Corn Club entries have been tallied and, once again, the results are impressive! The top placing yield in the no-till shelled corn class, and high yield overall, was posted by Harry Johnston, Fulton County, with a yield of 345.7 bu/acre. Top yield in the tilled shelled corn class was D. Richard Snyder, Lycoming County, with a yield of 269.1 bu/acre. Congratulations to Harry and Dick and all of the participants in the 2008 PA Corn Club.

Visit the PA Corn Club Web site to view more results.

USDA Crop Reports and Market Reactions — John Berry, County Educator, Lehigh County

It seems like the trade might read the newest reports as Bearish News. Today we received the USDA’s January 12, 2009 World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates, the Crop Production 2008 Summary and the Quarterly Grain Stocks report.

USDA’s final report on the 2008 crop placed corn production at 12.101 billion bushels, up 1% with an average yield to 153.9 bushels per acre. The estimate was 119 million bushels higher than what the market expected.

The soybean production summary for 2008 has soybean production totaling 2.96 billion bushels, up 11 per cent from 2007. U.S. production is the fourth largest on record. The average yield per acre is estimated at 39.6 bushels, which is 2.1 bushels below last year’s yield. Harvested area is up 16 percent from 2007 to a record 74.6 million acres.

The Quarterly Grain Stocks report was also released, reflecting grain stocks on December 1. Corn stocks were dropped by USDA to 10.084 billion bushels, down 2% compared to year ago levels. The September to November disappearance was 3.64 billion bushels, compared to 4.06 billion in 2007. The market expected more consumption and for stocks to recede, instead of the 239 million additional bushels.

December 1 soybean stocks totaled 2.275 billion bushels, down 4% compared to year ago levels. Disappearance was measured at 889 million bushels, down slightly from 2007 disappearance. The market also anticipated more soybean use and was surprised at the 95 million bushels of additional stocks.

December 1 wheat stocks totaled 1.422 billion bushels, up 26% from the same period in 2007. The quarterly disappearance was estimated at 436 million bushels, 25% less than the same period in 2007. Traders expected wheat stocks at 1.365 billion bushels, and were surprised with the 57 million additional bushels.

We can quickly recognize increased corn and soybean production with softer corn demand leads to increased ending stocks. No real surprise there. The significant increase in 2008 planted acres, yield gains from crop genetics, and few weather problems could only have been offset by forward leaps in demand. We continue to see some real trouble in this needed demand. Ethanol sports a black eye. Global financial stress has made our international buyers nervous and we need every third row of grain to go overseas to maintain expected demand. The relatively weak dollar is not even enough to overcome these tensions. Additionally, speculative interest in commodities has waned significantly over the past several months and took markets down with it.

2009 winter wheat acreage is down sharply, especially for soft red winter wheat. I guess this could be good news to wheat producers — with the understanding that the market place remains unimpressed with soft wheat. This can be interpreted as a positive influence on the general wheat complex and we will ride those coat tails as best we can.

As markets start to find their footing for the 2009 season, I am watching the growing numbers of foreign commodity buyers starting to refuse shipments, renege on contracts and generally put up trade barriers. When times are tough we tend to try and take care of ourselves first. Unfortunately, this can be considered the wrong policy and serves to prolong the problem. People need to eat, so we are good in the long run. What has me thinking is the short run. Controlling our cost of production might be the most important management task this season. Optimizing crop inputs leads to opportunity for profit.

Worker Protection Standard Reminder — Mena Hautau, County Educator, Berks County

The Worker Protection Standard (WPS) has been a pesticide law since the 1990’s, so this is not new “news”. However, there still may be some confusion about who should comply with the regulation.

The WPS states that the immediate family is exempt from the regulation. This is defined as spouse, children, mother and father, sister and brother to the applicator. It does not include a cousin, nephew or employee who may be working on the farm and is mixing, handling or applying pesticides. The WPS regulation specifies a number of practices that must be followed to ensure the safety of employees. This includes a central location where worker hygiene supplies and information is posted. Personal protection equipment must be used and stored. Trainings are conducted for employees.

A service is available through the Rural Health Farm Worker Program at Penn State. Jim Harvey of the Farm Worker Program is available to help you meet the standard through private consultation. Contact Jim Harvey, jdh18@psu.edu ,814-863-8214.

New Penn State Agronomy Guide Available Soon — Marvin Hall, Penn State Forage Specialist

The 2009-2010 Penn State Agronomy Guide will be available in county Extension Offices in early February. The cost for the Guide is $13. It can also be ordered directly from the College of Agricultural Sciences Publication Distribution Center at (814) 865-6713. It will also be available online at http://cmeg.psu.edu/cmegpubs.cfm after January 26.

Upcoming Events

Professional Crop Producers Conference — Marvin Hall, Penn State Forage Specialist

The 2009 Professional Crop Producers Conference will be held on February 17 & 18 at the Penn State Conference Center and Hotel in State College. Early registration deadline is January 16. This conference is hosted by the Pennsylvania No-till Alliance, Corn Growers, Soybean Growers and Forage and Grassland Council and has something for all crop producers.

The conference will have producer, consultants and scientist coming from across Pennsylvania and North America to speak with Pennsylvania producers. The conference will also have Round Table Discussions which involves producers and speakers getting together and discussing some aspect of crop production. These discussion sessions will be about one hour in length and cover the “down and dirty”, “nuts and bolts” discussion among producers about how they have incorporated a crop production practice into their farming operation.

The conference should be very exciting and informative. If you can only attend one conference this year, this is the one! No other conference in Pennsylvania in 2009 will offer such a national group of producers to expose you to new crop production concepts. Make plans now to attend by going to www.conferences.cas.psu.edu.

PA Agronomic Education Conference
January 20–21, 2009
State College, PA
2009 PAES Conference Flier

NY, OH, PA Tri-State No-Till Conference
January 27, 2009
West Middlesex, PA
2009 Tri-State Brochure

Southwest PA Tillage Conference
January 28, 2009
Greensburg, PA
For more information: call Ed Petrus, 724-662-3740, ext 101, or Edward.petrus@pa.usda.gov

Southeast PA Crops Conferences
January 27-29, 2009
Conference Brochure

Northeast PA No-Till Conference
February 11, 2009
Harford, PA
Conference Brochure

Northwest PA Grazing Conference
March 17, 2009
DuBois, PA
Conference Brochure

Contributors: County Educators: Joel Hunter (Crawford), Andrew Frankenfield (Bucks), Mena Hautau (Berks), Kevin Fry (Armstrong), Paul Craig (Dauphin), Susan Alexander (Jefferson), John Berry (Lehigh) and Dave Messersmith (Wayne). Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Greg Roth, Sjoerd Duiker, Marvin Hall, Doug Beegle, Ron Hoover, Dwight Lingenfelter, and Bill Curran. Department of Entomology, John Tooker. Paul Knight, PA State Climatologist.

Editor: Dave Messersmith, Wayne County Educator

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