The End’s in Sight!

Kim Shepherd (DSM, Region 3 – Western Nebraska)

The end’s in sight? I’m writing this on the Friday of Memorial Weekend and planting in my area is mostly completed; what a difference from 2012. We’ve received some much needed measurable rains last weekend and can now row many of the planted fields. Just one more request Mother Nature, could we have a little more sunshine, heat units, keep the rains coming and not have as much wind (a guy can dream in Nebraska too).

A big thanks to the cooperators who planted the NET plots and P3 corn and bean plots this challenging spring. The data received during this season will help us to provide you with the right product in the right place. Also along those lines, Producers Hybrids has new trademark colors for dealer signs and field signs. Lets let the competition know that we are READY FOR MORE and mark our territory.

Those of you who have completed planting and have some product left, please let your Dealer or DSM know so arrangements can be made for returns. This also helps so final billing can be correct the first time around. Thanks for your business!

One Extra Day

Mike Morrison (DSM, Region 5 – Iowa)

As you can see by the pictures, planting here in southwest Iowa has been a struggle. With the cold wet conditions hanging around for the third straight week, very few acres are in the ground. The calendar is the only thing telling us to get the corn in the ground.  Right now, it looks like this week the weatherman might let us get going again.

We’re still in the 95 percentile of yield for the date if we have things planted by May 27-28, so lets make sure the field conditions are ideal before we go. Most growers can plant their corn in 7-10 days; so waiting that one extra day may be the right decision. A few growers are talking about switching to shorter season hybrids; again, I think waiting until the end of the month is a better option. We only get one chance a year to get the crop in right. Holding off a day might be the best choice.

Planting Affects Everything

Scott Dugan (Sales Agronomist, Region 3 – Western Nebraska)

Weather is always a conversation starter at the coffee shop, but this spring the weather has not only been the starter, but the main topic of conversation.  The last month has provided numerous weather systems that have made the thermometers go up and down like a yo-yo, and therefore, put a major wrench into a lot of growers’ planting plans.  Despite the frustration of the delayed planting date, the moisture was and still is a welcome sight for the region.  Unfortunately the entire region did not receive all of the rains that came with these systems.  The western part of Nebraska is still extremely dry and continues to be in the “severe drought” stage.  Even with the obstacles, planting is slowing moving along.  Planting progress is all over the board though; I have areas where growers are finishing up their corn acres and others that are just starting.  Overall as a region, I would estimate that we are 35%-50% completed (corn acres).

As we trench through this planting season there are just a couple things I would like to touch on.  Planting is the most important operation you will have this season.  It is the one operation that will have an effect on every decision you make throughout the growing season: weed control, side-dress nutrients, irrigation, and harvest.  Accurate depth, spacing, and soil-to-seed contact plays a huge role in your yield outcome.

Depth– too shallow and the crown is forced above the soil surface dramatically affecting nodal root development; too deep and you risk the plant not reaching the surface (common in colder soils and high residue).

Spacing– is critical for maximum sunlight absorption, weed control and even nutrient distribution.

Soil seed contact– wet planting conditions are prone for sidewall compaction.  Make sure that the seed firmers are accurate and that the furrow is closing properly to avoid the seed drying out.

Again, as you start planting or continue to plant, remember to get out and check your depth, check your spacing and your soil-to-seed contact at every field and sporadically throughout as conditions change.   These small things can make the difference between a viable grain producing corn plant and essentially a corn weed.

With a cooler wetter forecast model now being discussed, there are some things to be aware of as the seeds begin to grow.  Cooler/wetter soils will promote more seedling diseases such as pythium, phytophthora and fusarium.  These diseases can cause “dampening off” and influence later infections of stalk rots.  Also, cooler/wetter soils tend to increase certain insect activity such as wireworm, seedcorn maggots and grubs.  Shortly after the corn emerges, one pest to be aware of with cooler weather is black cutworm.  Corn stages from VE-V5 are at a greater risk because the larvae can chew the stalk completely off at the base of the plant.

This spring could not be more different from last year.  There are obstacles to overcome and adjustments to be made.   If there is any way we can help please contact your local DSM or Agronomist and let us know.  Thank you for your business and have a safe planting season.

Plenty of Time

Cody Graham (DSM, Region 6 – Southern)

Be patient, we still have plenty of time.  According to the USDA, this time last year the state of Kansas was 30% planted.  On the other hand, this year we are only 3% planted.  Temperature fluctuations, cool soil temperatures and, in some cases in eastern Kansas, overly saturated soils have caused our unpleasant delays in planting.  Once we get on our normal warming trend, planting will take off as it should have several weeks ago.  We should be able to get going hopefully as soon as the middle of this week, laying to rest the debate of whether or not we may need to shorten the maturity of hybrids currently in the shed.

The “we need to hurry up and get corn in the ground” statement I have been hearing from growers has me a little concerned for our plots.  Ultimately, the importance of our plot data is understood by our cooperators and dealers and I feel they will take the time to plant our plots to gain valuable knowledge of our new hybrids and trait packages.

Even though some areas in Northwest Kansas received 5-10 inches of snow last week and it was only 18 degrees for well over 9 hours, we are still very dry and have not been able to put a dent into our deficient moisture levels.  Our extended forecast does not look very promising either.  This has really affected the willingness of growers to plant dry land corn.  We are still waiting for warmer temperatures and better growing conditions so we can evaluate winter wheat possibly damaged due to winter kill we received last week.  If winter kill has set into some wheat acres, we could potentially gain some dry land acres if chemical applications will allow. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The ladies in the office have done a phenomenal job getting seed scheduled and shipped out into our dealers’ warehouses.  Most all seed has been delivered to our customers and is waiting on Mother Nature to cooperate.

Corn planting 2013 has just begun for some or is about ready to begin for others. Remember to please be patient, take your time and stay safe this planting season and as always thank you for choosing Producers Hybrids!