April 30, 2012
It has been weeks since we had enough rainfall to keep us out of the field, but that is the case on this last day of April. Despite early planting on several of our plots, the only crop currently emerged is our March 29th planted corn. With our recent moisture and the upturn in temperatures expected later this week we expect this to change. We continue to catch Black cutworm moths in our traps at the NIARC and encourage producers to continue to scout their emerging corn fields. This early scouting can also help catching early weeds including Giant ragweed.
Posted by Russel Higgins
at 2:13 PM |
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April 27, 2012
I know there is a song that contains those words, but I cannot remember the remainder of the verses. Nonetheless we are thinking a few words of our own for the wind that is hampering our spraying and making plot work unpleasant. A very busy week at the NIARC. In addition to plots we planted for Dr. Emerson Nafziger and Dr. Forrest Troyer, a number of campus researchers were on hand for their projects. This week we had individuals from entomology, weeds, fertility, variety testing and diseases all on site at one time or another. The fertility researchers finally left left the NIARC after a two day project. Kristin Greer, Mike Alben, Chris Rudisill and Jeff Senffner collected soil samples and applied varying combinations and rates of fertilizer as part of Dr. Fabian Fernandez's 2012 research project in northern Illinois. We will keep you posted on their research project as the year progresses.
Posted by Russel Higgins
at 3:58 PM |
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April 25, 2012
The predicted rain did not appear today, we planted corn in our crop rotation study. We are evaluating continuous corn and corn-corn-soybean, corn-soybean rotations. The flags are indicators of what will be planted.
orange- 2nd year corn
yellow - first year corn
white - soybean
Posted by Russel Higgins
at 3:55 PM |
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April 24, 2012
Planting took place almost from sunup to sundown at the NIARC yesterday. Our first soybean went into the ground and several crews from campus traveled north to plant plots. Darin Joos and his team connected with corn variety testing started last night and is currently on site finishing their plot work. Ron Estes and Nick Tinsley from entomology put in a long day, planting their insecticide and Bt evaluation trials and finishing up in the dark near 8:30 pm before loading up for the return trip to campus.
Posted by Russel Higgins
at 10:05 AM |
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April 20, 2012
Trying to plant research plots in accordance with a calendar date can be a challenge. We are ready, the planter is ready, and the soil is not. Not much drying with a daytime high around 50 degrees. The first soybean planted at the NIARC may have to wait another day. Many growers in northern Illinois are using a soil applied herbicide on their soybean acres in 2012. For most, this is a change from a total post program that has been very effective prior to the emergence of resistant weeds. This week Dr. Aaron Hager shared some interesting thoughts on soil applied chemistries. "Simply applying a soil-residual herbicide to a field does not guarantee that the product will provide the desired level or duration of weed control. Many edaphic and environmental factors influence the level of weed control achieved by any particular soil-residual herbicide, depending on the herbicide, some factors can be even more important than others."
Dr. Hager's article in the Illinois Bulletin can be read in its entirety here
A new brochure by weed scientists from the University of Illinois, Southern Illinois University, and Western Illinois University and financially supported by the Illinois Soybean Association was recently published. The PDF of the brochure "Revisiting the Realm of Residuals" is available at
Posted by Russel Higgins
at 12:46 PM |
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April 20, 2012
We planted the second date of corn planting and plan on starting our soybean date of planting trials today at the NIARC. Cloudy sky's but no measurable rainfall, I did pull a jacket back out of my car. For those who had corn above ground that was affected by last weeks sub freezing temperatures, Dr. Nafziger authored an article on frost and emerged corn. It was published in this weeks Illinois Bulletin and can be accessed here
http://bulletin.ipm.illinois.edu/article.php?id=1619
Posted by Russel Higgins
at 8:29 AM |
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April 18, 2012
Weather conditions have returned closer to "normal". This morning the NIARC soil temperature at 4" under bare soil registered 48.3 degrees Fahrenheit. The decrease in temperatures has slowed emergence in corn fields. Our early corn planted on March 29th emerged on Monday April 16th, an 18 day window. Despite the less than ideal soil temperature we are nearing the optimum time to plant corn in northern Illinois if field conditions permit, and producers should consider doing so. However, do not be fooled by the artificially dry appearance of some fields, the result of this week's high winds. Evaluate the fields plantability by checking the condition of the soil at the 1-3" depth. As many farmers have experienced, in most years you only get the opportunity to plant a field once (in the optimum time frame) and planting fields too wet and the resulting smearing or sidewall compaction is more yield robbing than a later planting date. As some of us get tied in knots as each calendar date passes, I would encourage you to remember last years later planting dates and the favorable yields most of us experienced in northern Illinois.
Posted by Russel Higgins
at 11:42 AM |
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Categories:
corn
April 16, 2012
The weekend storms brought another round of significant Black cutworm catches in northern Illinois. 20 moths were captured in the trap at the NIARC joining significant catches reported by Dale Baird and Jim Morrison. The catches can be observed in the PIPE system web site.
http://apps.csi.iastate.edu/pipe/The windy day gave me the opportunity to finish weighing and packaging seeds for a future soybean trial.
Posted by Russel Higgins
at 6:29 PM |
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April 15, 2012
A weekend when we were almost guaranteed rain resulted in plenty of corn planting before some of Northern Illinois benefited from rainfall while other areas received little or none. One of my favorite days of the year, I had the privilege on Friday to attend the Illinois Extension Agriculture Association retiree's luncheon held in Oregon. This year a number of individuals who had served as County Agricultural agents and later educators were in attendance. As stories were shared among this select group I did a quick estimate and determined that I was surrounded by 300+ years of dedicated Extension service. If you have been involved in agriculture in northern Illinois you may have benefited from the wisdom of these gentlemen and the patience of their spouses. Kudos to their years of representing Illinois extension!
Dale Baird, Stan Eden, Al Pilch, Jim McCurdy, Jim Morrison, Jim Endress, George Swallow, Bob Hayward, Gary Bretthauer, Bill Whiteside
Posted by Russel Higgins
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April 12, 2012
I'm sure it has happened before, but I cannot remember planting after experiencing morning frosts. Our March 29 planted corn has a 1"coleoptile working its way to the soil surface. Our soil has crusted and the future seedlings would benefit greatly with some rainfall. Today we set stakes for our second planting date for corn (April 20th), it is of interest that there will be numerous corn acres planted in northern Illinois in advance of one of our "early" planting dates. Farmers who are burning down fields with mixtures including 2,4-D prior to corn and soybean planting are reminded of the required interval between application and planting in certain situations. In today's Bulletin article Dr. Aaron Hager reminded producers that some 2,4-D ester formulations (3.8 lb acid equivalent per gallon) allow preplant applications without a specified waiting interval between application and planting corn, while other formulations require a 7-day interval. Soybeans always require an interval, at least 7 days after application of 1 pint per acre (0.5 lb ae), and 15 to 30 days (the interval varies by product) after application of up to 2 pints per acre (1.0 lb ae). Some labels even limit tillage operations after application. This is a reminder to pay careful attention to label statements of any 2,4-D formulation used before crop planting.
Read Dr. Hagers article here
Posted by Russel Higgins
at 11:59 AM |
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Categories:
Herbicides
April 11, 2012
Dean Oswald, former Illinois Extension adviser and now a Forage/Grazing Specialist with Midwest Grass & Forage shared the following timely link to a 2005 Iowa State article on frost and alfalfa. The article, authored by Dr. Steve Barnhart stated that alfalfa that has been subjected to a light frost (27° to 31° F) has varying effects on the alfalfa plant. From the article; "Leaves on new alfalfa shoots will often be killed at tissue temperature of about 27° to 28° F (or colder). Buds and growing points are somewhat better insulated at 27° to 28° F and will often continue to grow normally. The only evidence of a light frost will be the loss of several sets of trifoliate leaves down the stem that correlates with the chronological time of the frost. Most plants in the field of a low-lying area will exhibit the same general leaf loss pattern. At these light frosts, the top few inches of alfalfa stems may curl--similar in appearance to 2,4-D herbicide epinasty. Alfalfa plants outgrow this."
Dr. Barnhart further shared that morphological plant development should not be affected by a light frost, and there is no need to change harvest management plans.
The article in its entirety can be found here
http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/icm/2005/5-2-2005/alfalfa.html
* Dr. Barnhart updated his article in this weeks Iowa State Integrated Crop Management News
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/CropNews/2012/0409barnhart.htm
Posted by Russel Higgins
at 5:38 PM |
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April 10, 2012
I woke this morning to the rumbling of the furnace, and was further reminded of variable Illinois April weather when I had to return to the house and get a heavier jacket before doing the morning chores. High winds for a second day have stopped most spray operations from taking place. This morning wind speed measured at the NIARC is averaging near 19 mph with gusts reaching 29 mph. We received our Green Star system several days ago and this afternoon Dave Lindgren is going to give me operating lessons. I know that many producers have embraced this technology for several years, but to actually let the tractor drive itself is a concept that astonishes me. Did grandpa ever envision touchscreens in the cab when he planted with his WD-45? I can only imagine what is in store for the next generation!
Posted by Russel Higgins
at 12:03 PM |
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April 9, 2012
The winter wheat at the NIARC is currently at Feekes 5. If you plan on applying a herbicide to control weeds in your winter wheat, now is the time for most herbicides. Read the label before mixing and applying herbicides.
Posted by Russel Higgins
at 11:55 AM |
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April 9, 2012
The Black cutworm pheromone trap at the NIARC was set on Thursday April 5th. We consider 9 cutworms caught over a two day period to be a significant catch. Our count on this Monday after Easter was 18!
There are here! Once our planted corn emerges we should be scouting weekly for cutworm damage. Last Thursday Dr. Mike Gray, University of Illinois Extension entomologist issued a news release sharing the abundance of Black cutworm moths across Illinois including the northern counties. Dr. Grays article can be read in its entirety here;
Black cutworms are migratory moths that do not typically overwinter in Illinois. Most early season adult moths migrate into Illinois as early as March. The moths are carried north on seasonal spring storm fronts. Moth flights are generally heaviest in April and May. Females often deposit eggs singly or in groups in low areas or weedy fields.
Dr Gray shared the following comment "Fields most at risk from black cutworm injury include those heavily infested with winter annual weeds. Favorite targets for egg-laying black cutworm moths include mouse-eared chickweed, bitter cress, shepherd's purse, yellow rocket, and pepper grass."
The potential injury from Black cutworm larva is their ability to "cut" the corn seedling during the feeding process. Corn is most susceptible when it is under 15" in height.
Posted by Russel Higgins
at 10:32 AM |
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Categories:
corn
April 6, 2012
It was a chilly one last night, Overnight temperatures dropped to 26.6 degrees F. Temperatures stayed below freezing for over six hours until 8 am. The following information is courtesy of the NOAA\CRN weather station located on the NIARC and shares temperatures in Fahrenheit and Celsius at the site. This information along with hourly precipitation can be accessed at the following URL.
http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/crn/station.htm;jsessionid=153A389C490DD6E09BD1CF2F4D43EE2E.lwf1?stationId=1038
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27.1 °F
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27.5 °F
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Apr 06 2012 5:00 AM CDT
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28.2 °F
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27.5 °F
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30.7 °F
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Posted by Russel Higgins
at 11:27 AM |
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April 5, 2012
That period of time between planting and seed emergence can be a trying time for most farmers, it is much easier to keep an eye on the crop (at least the topgrowth) after emergence. Corn planted at the NIARC on March 29th has germinated and has about a 1/4 inch radicle. In an earlier news release Emerson Nafzigar shared that it takes about 115 growing degree days (GDD) to get corn plants to emerge after planting. Our recent weather with highs in the 80's and lows in the 50s meant that we are getting 15 to 18 GDD per day, so we might see emergence within about a week. Now that we are seeing a return to more normal April temperatures we can expect our emergence time to lengthen.
Posted by Russel Higgins
at 1:36 PM |
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Categories:
corn
April 4, 2012
I thought this may be a fun occasional topic for the North 160 Acres blog. Weed management always starts with recognizing the weeds present or the weeds you expect to control. Yesterday I was asked to identify a yellow flowered weed that was present in a local field. Without seeing the plant, my first thought was a plant in the mustard family. Closer inspection to the plant actually gave it away as a forage turnip. We normally do not expect these plants (seeded in this case as a cover crop and forage source behind winter wheat in 2011) to survive the northern Illinois winter. We will test your expertise with other weeds as the growing season progresses!
Posted by Russel Higgins
at 11:52 AM |
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Categories:
Weeds
April 2, 2012
Our first trial (corn planting date) went in the ground March 29th, ahead of thunderstorms that did not materialize. The study will include two hybrids x four planting dates x with and without fungicides.
The scheduled planting dates for the study are
- April 1
- April 20
- May 10
- May 30
Posted by Russel Higgins
at 7:38 PM |
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Categories:
corn
