A little farm physics humor….I’m not sure many of us needed to be home schooling to come up with something like this when we were kids….

Topics:

• Growing Degree Day Update
• What’s going on in my fields?….Corn Development, Disease, Crop Water Use, Maturity Timeline….
• Soybean Development Update….
• Pioneer Seeds – Yield Estimator App…

As of August 12th, we have accumulated approximately the following for Growing Degree Days in 2020:

Planting Date     GDD’s2020          Average GDD     Departure from average

April 21               2082                        1943                        +139 (+6 days)

April 26              2029                        1904                        +125 (+5.5 days)

May 1                  1978                         1864                         +114 (+5 days)

As far as GDU’s are concerned, we continue to trend above normal for the year.  Since the last update two weeks ago, we continue to be 5-6 days ahead of the normal and 8-10 days ahead of 2019.  We have averaged 21 GDu’s/day over the past two weeks and the forecast is predicting basically the same per day over the next 14 days as well.

These two maps are the forecast maps for temperatures over the next 6-10 and 8-14 days.  It looks like we will continue to have overall temps be conducive to grain-fill as we seem to be in the normal to slightly above normal area for temps over the next two weeks.   Cooler temps slow down crop development, but respiration slows more than photosynthesis, which is why it is a positive to yield and overall late-season plant health to have have as much sunlight as we can get.  Cooler days usually means an extended grain-fill period.

These two maps are the forecast maps for precipitation over the next 6-10 and 8-14 days.  It appears that, while we may have temps conducive to grain-fill, we will be on the drier side during this time frame.  This will keep irrigation needs to the forefront and possibly impact dryland yields, especially soybeans.

What’s going on in my field?

Much of the corn crop is in the Dough to Beg. Dent stage, with some of the later planted corn in the Late-Milk stage.

• When the plant reaches Dough, kernel abortion will no longer take place, and any yield reduction from then on out will be from lower test weights.
• We are seeing more inconsistency in ear size within some fields, mainly due to the uneven emergence we
• As mentioned above, cooler temps during grain fill means less stress on the crop, which is a positive for high yields.
• As far as sunlight is concerned, we are running 3% below the average since silking started.  Overall sunlight has been better the past two weeks of fill versus the first two weeks of fill. Sunlight, of course, is now a much bigger yield factor, since we are now in the crucial grain fill period.   As such, how much sunlight and when it occurs during the grain-fill period, will play a role in overall yield and late-season plant health.   From our preliminary observations, we are not seeing any major ear tip-back, which can occur from reduced sunlight early in the grain-fill period.
• Relative Humidity is tracking 7% higher than normal since grain-fill started.  Overall, we are not seeing a significant increase in leaf diseases on corn.  Much of the area has been treated with fungicides, but even on those fields that have not been treated, we are seeing low to moderate infestations of Gray Leaf Spot, with minimal Northern Corn Leaf Blight….Southern Rust is present but has not increased over the past 7 or so days.   If anything, we continue to see a lot of bacterial leaf streak in the area.
• Overall insect pressures are currently light in area fields.   We still see Western Bean Cutworm infestations in untreated fields…heaviest pressures on the later planted fields.  Corn earworms are also present in low numbers.  Seeing a few Spider Mite colonies, but overall numbers very low.
• Crop water use has been averaging .20/day for the Elgin area for corn, with soybeans slightly above that.   With the cooler temps, we have been seeing lower overall ET rates for both crops. Keep the following figures in mind as the crop moves forward….corn in the R4/Dough stage will still require 7.5-8.2″ of water and Soybeans in R5/Beginning Seed still require over 6.5-7.5″ of water….again, we are currently sitting at these stages of growth.
• The tables below are the UNL ET rates and they show daily averages and total crop water needs for corn and soybeans during the grain-fill periods.
•                                            

Corn Maturity Timeline

         

• Considering our current stage of growth, we are looking at approximately 30-35 days to maturity.
• This matches up pretty well with what we are seeing in the field.  The two week forecast is predicted to see a GDU accumulation of 335 GDU’s.  Add this to the above totals and by August 26th, we should have accumulated approximately 2419 GDU’s using an April 21st planting date…just 80 shy of
• If this trend occurs as forecasted, we are looking at corn maturity to occur around September 10-20th depending upon hybrid maturity.  Once corn reaches 1/2 milk line it is considered Full Dent.  We have the potential for an extended grain-fill period, which will be conducive to higher yields and hopefully improved late-season plant health.

Soybean Update

• The soybean crop is currently in the R5 (beginning seed) stage of growth.  The later planted soybeans fields are late-R4.
• As mentioned above, total water needs at this stage are over 6.5″
• We are starting to see areas of White Mold show up in some fields.  Areas of infestation are still minor, but expect these areas to grow in size over the next few weeks.
• We are beginning to see some fields with scattered plants showing early Sudden Death Syndrome(SDS) symptoms over the past week.  Expect to see these symptoms and areas increase in size over the next few weeks as well.  Remember, the most effective SDS management opions (ILeVO seed treatment coupled with varietal tolerance) are done when the planter leaves the field.  We continue to see an overall increase in this disease from year-to-year.  https://www.pioneer.com/us/agronomy/sudden_death_syndrome_cropfocus.html
• Insect pressure continues to be light in area fields.  Hardly any Soybean Aphids present.  Bean Leaf Beetle numbers are also low.

Pioneer Seeds – Yield Estimator App

The Pioneer Seeds app is a great tool that allows you to take pictures of corn ears and estimate yield using your smart phone! This app uses ear photometry technology that Pioneer researchers have used for several years and it is available to customers for FREE. You can adjust the yield estimate based on harvestable ear count and kernels per bushel (kernel weight). I would use 85,000 kernels/bu for yellow corn as a conservative starting point right now, but you can get a range of estimates by trying several different kernel/bushel settings.  As always, the more ears used in the sample the more accurate the estimates will be.  I recommend using the tool later in the grain-fill period, especially once the grain gets to ½ milk line stage or later; anything before that and the yield estimates vary greatly.   Go to wherever you download apps for your device and search PIONEER SEEDS to get the free Pioneer Seeds app.

Thanks for your support and business!!  Please contact us with any questions, observations, or concerns you may have!

Starman Seed Service, Inc.

 

 

Fun fact: A single tassel produces approximately 5+ million pollen grains….

Topics:

– Growing Degree Day Update

– What’s going on in my fields?…..Corn Development, Disease, Roots

– Insect Update

– Soybean Development

As of July 10^th, we have accumulated approximately the following for Growing Degree Days in 2020:

Planting Date     GDD’s2020          Average GDD     Departure from average

April 21               1327                        1220                      +107 (+4 days)

April 26               1274                       1190                       +84 (+3 days)

May 1                  1223                        1145                        +78 (+2.5 days)

 The heat of the past two weeks has really allowed the corn crop to gain ground since last update.  Last update we were trending right at the normal…currently, we are trending above normal.  2020 is now ahead of 2019 for growth stage and GDU accumulation.  However, this rapid growth has widened the window for exposure to green snap and we have seen some of this in the area from the recent spate of storms.  As usual, it is related to many factors such as hybrid, recent N applications, field conditions, etc.

The above maps show the 6-14 day temperature  and precipitation forecasts.   As you can see, temperatures for much of the rest of July are forecasted to be above much above normal.  This will speed  up crop development.  However, precipitation over this same time period is forecasted to me normal to slightly below normal.  The recent rains will be a blessing during the next few weeks if the heat forecast is true.

• Based on the above numbers, when can we expect to silk?  If we look at P1197 genetics we see that it takes approx. 1400 GDU’s to silk, this means that we would be looking at a potential silk date around July 13-17.  Hybrids such as P0688 (1280 GDU’s to silk) are close to tasseling and should be pollinating next week.   In other words, due to the fact that most of the corn was planted in a 7-9 day window, we can expect to see most all fields begin tasseling next week, with pollination occurring at the end of next week into the following week.   This is slightly ahead of the average.

What’s going on in my field?

• Overall much of the corn crop looks very good!  Very good color and uniformity for the most part.  Much of the corn crop is in the V14-V16 leaf stage, depending upon hybrid and planting date.  This is slightly ahead of last year.   From V10-VT, corn gains a new color every 50 GDU’s, or about every other day.   
• Kernels per row begin around V12 and continue through and up to tassel stage
• Nitrogen needs will continue to grow through tasseling and into early reproductive stages.  Nitrogen uptake in corn – very rapid now through tassel (up to 4-8 lbs per day).  Today’s hybrids use nitrogen later in the growing season and into the reproductive phases.  You will want to keep that last shot of N available for after tasseling.    This year so far, we haven’t experienced conditions that usually lead to N loss from leaching or denitrification.   Expectations are that more N is potentially available in the soil profile.  Also, the higher temps over the past few weeks and those that are forecasted should lead to higher N-mineralization rates versus other years, meaning a potential increase of available N to the plants.
• We are now into the rapid growth and accumulation of dry matter by the plant.  The window for brittle snap is still open over the next 7-10 days.
• Under field conditions, pollen shed usually occurs in the late morning and early evenings.
• Pollen shed will extend for one to two weeks, but if field is uniform in plant emergence and height, pollen shed is 80% complete in 5-7 days from full tassel emergence.
• At tassel, vegetative development is now complete; maximum plant height and root depth is achieved.  The storms of the past week have led to some root lodging in spots, mainly on those hybrids with a weaker root strength score.
• VT overlaps with R1 (silking stage) when visible silks appear before the tassel is fully emerged.  By definition, growth stage R1 (Abendroth et al., 2011) for an individual ear is defined when a single silk strand is visible from the tip of the husk. An entire field is defined as being at growth stage R1 when silks are visible on at least 50 % of the plants. This whole field definition for growth stage R1 is synonymous with the term “mid-silk”.
• A captured pollen grain takes about 24 hours to grow down the silk to the ovule for fertilization.
•  Peak pollen shed usually occurs in mid-morning.   Some research indicates that pollen shed decreases after temperatures surpass 86F.   A second “flush” of pollen often occurs in late afternoon or evening as temperatures cool.   Pollen shed may occur throughout most of the day under relatively cool, cloudy conditions….. https://www.pioneer.com/us/agronomy/corn_pollination_success_cropfocus.html
• Weather conditions influence pollen shed.  If the anthers are wet, the pores will not open and pollen will not be released.   Thus, on an average summer morning following a heavy evening dew, pollen shed will not begin until the dew dries and the anther pores open.  Similarly, pollen is not shed during rainy conditions.   Cool, humid temperatures delay pollen shed, while hot, dry conditions hasten pollen shed.
• Generally 2-3 days are required for all silks on a single ear to be exposed and pollinated, with the silks on the butt of the ear emerging first.  The silks will grow from 1-1.5 inches each day and will continue to elongate until fertilized.  If not pollinated, silk elongation stops about 10 days after silk emergence due to senescence of the silk tissue. Unusually long silks can be a diagnostic symptom that the ear was not successfully pollinated.
• Silk emergence and growth is dependent upon turgid pressure within the plant, in other words how much water is available in the plant to cover all of its needs.   If this is limited, (ie. dryland, low-gallon wells, etc.) silk emergence will be slowed and delayed with potential to miss the pollen shed.   Under severe water stress conditions pollen shed will still take place like normal, however, silks can be delayed, which means potential for poor pollination.
• It takes approximately 55-60 days from silking to physiological maturity.  So if a field is silking on July 14^th, it will need until September 14^th to reach maturity, given average weather.  Current forecast for the next two weeks is slightly above normal GDD accumulation of 26-27 GDU’s per day.
•  High nighttime temperatures (ie. any stress) begin to play a role in final yield during grain-fill as this causes the plant to work harder to maintain both yield and overall plant health.

Corn Leaf Disease/Fungicide

• The next four to six weeks will be critical for disease infestations and fungicide applications.
• Begin scouting now and through the next few weeks for disease infestations.  So far not seeing much for leaf disease, mainly bacterial leaf streak (see attachment).    However, overall temps and humidity levels the past week or so, have been conducive for an increased development of leaf diseases.
• If you are planning on only one fungicide application, the best timing for this application is after pollination as the crop is working the hardest and has the highest demand for energy at this time.  We want to protect as much of the leaf surface as possible in this time frame, which is two weeks after pollination.  (See attachment on disease and fungicide management)
• While any hybrid can have a response to foliar fungicides, hybrids such as P0589, P0950, P1138, P1244, P1185, & P1366, are hybrids to focus on first for higher probability of response from foliar fungicides, especially if gray leaf spot infestations are high…..https://www.pioneer.com/us/agronomy/maximizing_foliar_fungicides_corn.html   Also, corn on corn acres…. https://www.pioneer.com/us/agronomy/bacterial-leaf-streak.html

Water Management

Below are some key water management tips to keep in mind:

• The greatest yield loss from moisture stress occurs in the period two weeks prior to two weeks after pollination.  For the next two weeks, the corn crop will be at its peak water usage, with ET rates of .30+ inches per day – higher when temps are in the mid-90’s and higher yet when combined low humidity.
• ET rates over the past couple of weeks have been high.  Thankfully we have received some timely rainfall in this period.  However, we are now fast approaching peak water use in corn, and with the higher temps forecasted for the next couple of weeks, it will be important to stay on top of overall water needs by the crop.
• At present, we are seeing fairly good root depth according to the soil moisture probes….sandier soils are 12-24” and heavy soils are 20-36+” depending upon plant date, conditions and soil type.  Remember that maximum plant height and root depth are achieved once the plant tassels.

Insect Update

Western Bean Cutworm should begin to show up over the few weeks.  Keep these tips in mind over the next few weeks:

• To scout for this insect, check the sandier fields first and look on the upper side of the leaf for a white, or purple, egg mass.  These will be found on the upper 1/3 of the plant.
• We will again have the pheromone moth traps located west of Elgin.   We caught our first moth’s just the end of this week.   See this website under Grower resources for continued updated counts.
• Treat when the fields are 95% tasseled.  Use high rates of a Capture-like produce to give you 3-4 weeks of residual control.
• WBC are attracted to those fields that are closest to tasseling.
• Once a field has been tasseled, any egg masses that hatch will see the larvae head straight to the ear tip, so treatment soon after tasseling is critical.

Corn Rootworm pressure appears to be higher this year versus the past few years.   Monitor corn rootworm beetle emergence over the next two weeks for any potential silk-clipping issues.

Gall Midge in Soybeans – There is a continued increase of reports of Gall Midge in the counties to the east of us.  I would assume that we have this insect somewhere in our area in very light numbers.  Keep an eye out for plants dying on the edges of your field, or in the end rows, as this insect is most common on field borders.   See attachment for more info.   https://www.pioneer.com/us/agronomy/Gall-Midge-New-Pest-In-Soybeans.html

Soybean Development

• Most of the soybeans in our area are at late R1 (Beg flower) to mostly R2 (Full flower).  Soybeans are somewhat ahead of normal for development.   I would not be surprised to see early R3 (pod set) on some fields next week.   Most fields are finally coming around and growing….not seeing as much leaf-cupping going on now.
• Soybeans should be nodulating heavily at this stage.   At the beginning of the reproductive stage, soybeans will still put on 50% of their vegetative growth.
• Crop water use in soybeans starts to increase rapidly at full flower, peaks at R3 and will stay high through R6, or full seed.
• Flower stage is usually the time when the soybean plant begins to pull from the deeper root zones.  We are beginning to see this according to the soil moisture probes.
• We continue to see a yield response from a fungicide application in soybeans, either at R1 for white mold or a later R3 stage of growth.  Environmental conditions over the next two months will determine disease incidence and overall level of disease infestation.  In 2019 we saw a lot of Frogeye Leaf Spot occur in soybeans, keep an eye out on this disease as well.  See attachment for more info on this disease….https://www.pioneer.com/us/agronomy/frogeye_leaf_spot_on_soybeans.html     Not all fungicides control this disease so make sure you check the label to see if this disease is controlled.  It remains to be seen what the drier conditions we have experienced so far this year will mean as far as disease outbreak is concerned.
• White mold attachment:  https://www.pioneer.com/us/agronomy/managing_white_mold_soybeans.html

Thank you for your business!!   Please let us know any questions or concerns you may have!!

Starman Seed Service, Inc.

I think this is a pretty apt description (among others!) for how the year of 2020 has gone.  It’s been a mess in more ways than one.

Topics for this Update:

• Temperatures and GDU accumulation.
• What’s going on in my fields right now….
• Granular Insights & Imagery

Temperatures and GDU accumulation:

As of June 11th, we have accumulated approximately the following for Growing Degree Days in 2020:

Planting Date     GDD’s2016          Average GDD     Departure from average

April 21                 630                          645                                      -15 (- 1 day)

April 26                 577                         610                                       -33  (-2 days)

May 1                     526                        570                                        -44 (-3 days)

Even though we have had heat as of late, we continue to be behind in GDU’s compared to normal.  This shows  how much ground we lost from the very cool May.  The average high temp for May was 8 degrees below normal and the average low was 3.5 degrees below normal.  This goes along way to explaining why, even though our crop was in much earlier than normal, we are still behind and why our stands are somewhat erratic and uneven….however, most stands actually turned our much better than first anticipated at the end of May!

The above photos show the impact of residue on crop emergence and unevenness.  In the left photo, you will see a spot in the field where the plant height drops versus the rest of the field.  This area had more soybean residue and the trash wippers did not do as a good a job moving the residue….as you can see in the other two photos.  Where the residue was moved from the row, the stand is very good and even….where the trash was not moved as well the stand is good, but delayed and more uneven.

These two photos are from the same field (end rows) looking in the same direction.  The first photo was at V1 stage and the second is at V6 (taken June 12th).  The main thing to notice here is the row where the stand is missing and comparing that to the second photo.  Notice how well the row eventually filled in from the second photo.  In the first photo, the seed soil contact was very poor as the soil was very loose and very dry.  The plants in the filled in row are only 1 leaf stage behind.  Just a curious observation!

The above pictures are the 6-10 day temperature, the 8-14 day temperature, and the 8-14 day precipitation forecast maps.  After this upcoming few days of heat, it looks like we will have a cool spell.  This will make it harder to gain any ground versus normal GDU accumulation.  It also means that we could potentially see rapid growth syndrome in the corn as we move through the month of June.  See link below for more info.

https://www.pioneer.com/us/agronomy/rapid_growth_syndrome_corn_cropfocus.html#:~:text=Rapid%20growth%20syndrome%20occurs%20when,acceleration%20in%20plant%20growth%20rate.

What’s Going On in My Fields…..

Overall much of the corn crop looks good.  The majority of the crop is in the 6-7 leaf stage-of-growth depending upon planting date.   From V1-V10, corn gains a leaf collar about every 83 GDUs.  From V10-VT, corn gains a new collar every 50 GDUs, or about every other day.

• At V6, the growing point and tassel are above the soil surface and the stalk is beginning a period of greatly increased elongation.
• The growing point is above the ground, so major hail at this point can cause some serious damage
• You can find a tassel by dissecting the plant
• The primary ear will usually be located at node 12,13, or 14
• Determination of potential kernel rows around will be completed around V7 (range of V5-V8)…we are currently at this stage!
• Kernels per row begin around V12 and continue through and up to tassel stage
• Nitrogen needs will continue to grow through tasseling and into early reproductive stages.  Nitrogen uptake in corn is now increasing rapidly and will stay that way through tassel (up to 4-8 lbs per day).  Remember that today’s hybrids use nitrogen later in the growing season and into the reproductive phases.  You will want to keep that last shot of N available for after tasseling.
• We are now heading into the rapid growth and accumulation of dry matter by the plant.  The window for brittle snap will start to grow exponentially over the next few weeks.
• Watch temperatures as you are spraying post-herbicides on corn or beans over the next several days.  When temps are in the 90’s and humidity is low, the potential for crop response from post-application of herbicides will increase.  It is not recommended to be spraying during the heat of the day if temps are in the mid-upper 90’s…both for potential crop response and herbicide control.

Granular Insights and Imagery

The above photo is a screenshot of a June 10th satellite image from the Granular Insights app.  Corn is on the top half of the photo and soybeans are on the bottom half.  One can readily pick up the soybean plot that is planted in this field from the blue strip to the left of the image.   Granular Insights imagery is now ‘live’ and running with a new image showing up every 1-3 days.  This imagery is an excellent scouting tool as well as diagnostic tool.   Many growers already qualify for this imagery.  Please contact us to get you set up on using this new tool from Pioneer and Granular.

Thanks for your support!  Stay safe and healthy!

 

 

 

Some observations from scouting….

These photos illustrate some of what we are trying to accomplish by a quick circle of water on those heavy soils that are close to, or just emerging….especially corn/corn.   Notice the swelled mesocotyl and the coleoptile.  These plants just made it through the soil surface before they would’ve leafed out under ground.  This is a sandy soil…corn on corn….one tillage pass, so more hair-pinning of residue.   This is where a quick circle can help those plants that may be struggling to make it through…..may save 1000+ plants per acre possibly.  The field that these pictures come from was planted April 22-23, with a nice stand of 32-33 average on 33-34K drop….hybrid is P1082AM.

Picture of a plant with a corkscrewed mesocotyl from the recent cold temperatures.  This plant also, just broke the surface, however, in my experience this plant will always be behind the rest of the field.

Just a photo showing damage from the freeze.  Have not seen any lasting affects from the freeze so far on corn or soybeans.  In the photo, the soil surface is where the injured tissue is begins…the tissue is diseased now, but notice the green tip at the top of the plant….the plant is still trying to grow!

The power of the corn plant!  I am always amazed at what a corn plant will grow through!  You can see the dead tissue at the top of the plant from the freeze.   This plant is also a somewhat later emerged plant as the field is at V1 stage.  Here again, moisture was key to keeping this plant moving as planting depth and seed-soil contact was less than ideal….this slowed emergence down by itself…and lack of adequate moisture and the plant would not have emerged.

Thanks for reading….and let the sunshine and the heat continue!

 

 

Pioneer, we have….emergence!   First planted corn is starting to emerge.   Here are a couple of photos from a plot planted April 21st.   The first photo shows a newly emerged plant on P1366AML and the second photo shows our emergence trial.  The flags represent emerged plants.  We will be checking this plot each day and flagging emerged plants with a different colored flag to mark the different emergence dates.  We will follow up on this throughout the year and show results at our field days later in the summer.  We are tracking five different hybrids in this plot with different stress emergence ratings.  The flags in the foreground are from P1563AM, then P1366AML and the bunch towards the back is from P1138AML.  All three hybrids are good at getting ‘out-of-the-ground’ early.   Almost all of the P1138 is up already.   Look for more updates as the growing season progresses.  Have a great week!  Stay safe!