Weather Stress in Corn

Doug Ranslem (DSM, Region 4 – Eastern Nebraska)

With the corn growing now as fast as it is, weather stress can play a major role on yields this fall. The relationship between weather and yield is at a peak now through tasseling. Normally, this occurs the last week of June and the first three weeks of July.

When the daily mean temperature is above 77 degrees and the daily maximum temperature is above 95 degrees, temperature stress can occur. Peak moisture stress can occur during the early stages of silking, contributing to the increased time required for pollination. The result of moisture stress is that all the pollen may be shed before the silks emerge. Moisture stress can reduce yield as much as 3% a day. If your corn field is on dryland, then little can be done except pray for rain. If you’re fortunate enough to have access to water, monitor your fields closely at this time. Usually by the time you realize your crops are stressed due to one of the two problems stated above, some of the yield loss has already occurred.

Your local Producers Hybrids Agronomist or DSM can help you with your farming decisions. Continue to check articles on this web page from your area Producers Hybrids Agronomist.

Crazy Year in Iowa

Lance Studer (DSM, Region 5 – Iowa)

To begin, it’s been a crazy start to the 2013 season in central Iowa. We had 6 to 8 inches of snow on the first planted corn, which, when all said and done it looks very good! Then the rains started and as everyone knows it hasn’t slacked off much. All the corn is done around my area with some just finishing and some doing replants.  There has been a lot of talk of side dressing nitrogen on corn with a lot of urea being used.  Many sprayers have been starting to run on post emerge corn with guys finding many different stages of corn and heavy weed pressure. Beans are in full swing with most farmers getting done with beans and a few have decided to take preventive planting.

I would like to thank you for your business this year. If you ever need anything, feel free to contact me or the DSM in your area.

Hear Comes the Heat!

Charlie Haas (DSM, Region 6 – Southern)

Unfortunately, I am not talking about basketball.  While much of the country has been out of the field because of too much rain, we are still stuck in the middle of a drought and the 100 degree days are back.  Yesterday was our first 100 degree day and tomorrow it is projected to hit 104 with wind.  For some reading this it may be hard to comprehend, but the dryland corn is really starting to stress.  Overall, our corn went in very well and is looking good, but moisture is a problem.  With the cool spring we were able to save some water on the irrigation but they are starting to run hard now.  When I look at corn this year, it is hard to believe that we started tasseling on the 12^th of June last year.  We are several weeks behind last year and it may be July before wheat harvest starts.

For all of those Producers Hybrids customers in central Kansas, thank you so much for your business and support.  Stay cool and let it rain.

Where’s the Heat?

Jason Fryda (DSM, Region 3 – Western Nebraska)

Where’s the heat?

As I sit at my computer writing this blog, I can’t believe it is already June 11. Well, I say that now because, to be honest, here in central Nebraska we have not seen much of a summer…yet. The weather man says it will be around 100 today!

Now, I am not complaining because in the majority of my district, we have been blessed with some very nice and welcomed rain. We have also been able to enjoy our afternoons without overheating and most evenings require a light jacket. That all being said: The corn and beans definitely need some heat.

Corn right now is anywhere from V3 to V5. For the most part, stands are very good. I have had several phone calls from customers that were amazed in our vigor and how quickly our plants popped out of the ground. Always good to hear! In some areas, we have experienced some cold soil injuries caused by long periods of temperatures around 50 degrees or below.  Our snow storm and cold spell in early April didn’t help us out at all! So if you are walking your fields and dig a plant that has “cork screwed” under the ground, check your planting date.

Like I said, the corn needs some heat. We are starting to see a lot of yellowing and the past week it almost seemed as if the corn had just stopped growing. If we get the heat this week we should see a substantial change in both color and height.

Beans are anywhere from just being able to row to V2. Just like the corn, the beans have been slow to come with the cool weather. But I hope to see some good growth from them too this week if the heat comes.

To wrap things up, keep scouting your fields. I know with the cool weather and some of the wind and hail, we have opened that plant up for some potential disease pressure. AV5 fungicide may be something to think about.

From central Nebraska, I wish you all a great growing season filled with high yields!

Interesting Year in Iowa

Jeff Morey (Sales Agronomist, Region 5 – Iowa)

The planting season that won’t end. That is what best describes the spring of 2013 in Iowa. We have growers that are still trying to plant corn for the first time, finish planting corn, have already replanted corn, trying to get started planting soybeans, want to finish soybeans and replanting soybeans.  All of these things are occurring on the same day throughout Iowa. There are also growers that are weighing the option of prevented planting. And just to prove that supply and demand economics still work, the oats you will need for a cover crop on the prevented planting acres have increased in price by 250% in the last 3 weeks…which I have heard has upset a lot of horse owners.

For those corn acres that were planted before the May 1^st snow storm, it is time to get them sprayed.  While most of the corn planted ahead of the snowstorm has been progressing right along, the weed pressure is starting to cause problems. In some cases the PRE herbicide has diluted after all of our moisture and is not as effective anymore. Or where we don’t have a PRE down and need to get started on our post programs, the wet conditions have hindered spraying so much that the grasses are as tall as or taller than the corn in some fields. Some studies have shown as much as a 5-10% yield loss as early as V1-V2 corn stage because of weed competition. And for soybeans, we may lose 1% for every day weed control is delayed past V1-V2 stage.

This would be good year to consider a Late Spring Nitrate Test (LSNT) on your cornfields. Iowa State University Extension Agronomists collected soil samples this spring from the same locations as last fall.  The results have shown that the nitrate-N has moved deeper in the soil profile and in most cases the nitrate-N has decreased from last fall.  Talk to your local extension office for more details on how and when to do the testing.  With all of the rain that we have had so far this year and the yield potential that is still in the field, doing at least one test in every corn field could provide a big ROI.  And the least it would do is provide you with a piece of mind that the N levels are there for a bumper crop.