BEST WEEK OF PLANTING THIS SPRING, BUT STILL WELL BEHIND NORMAL

Favorable weather conditions finally arrived last week as farmers made the most of the four and a half days of decent planting conditions. Cotton and soybean plantings at the week’s end still lagged a full two weeks behind the five-year average pace. Corn producers last week were re-seeding some fields and working around wet spots in others. Overall, progress is about ten days behind the five-year average. Tobacco transplanting began last week. In addition to planting, other farm activities last week included side dressing corn, herbicide applications and working cattle. The encouraging news is that the wheat crop has continued to be rated in good-to-excellent condition.

Topsoil moisture levels were rated 60 percent adequate and 40 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels were rated 1 percent short, 62 percent adequate and 37 percent surplus. Temperatures across the state last week averaged 1 degree below normal across east Tennessee and the plateau and 2 to 3 degrees above normal across middle and west Tennessee. Rainfall amounts averaged 0.6 to 0.94 inches below normal across middle and west Tennessee and 0.6 to 1.94 inches above normal across east Tennessee and the plateau.

County Agent Comments

“Progress has been made this week in finishing up late corn planting on good ground and under irrigation. Some spotty replants have also occurred. Producers started planting cotton and early soybeans this week as well. Dyer County is still experiencing flooded acreage in Mississippi Delta bottom areas along Forked Deer and Obion Rivers. Farmers are moving around from dry spot to dry spot or airing out ground to be able to plant some fields. Wheat is progressing well and looking really good at this point in time. Wheat crop yield potential looks great but things can change before harvest time. Planted corn acres have had surprisingly good uniform emergence in most cases despite the cool, wet weather we have experienced over the last three weeks.” Tim Campbell, Dyer County

“Once again rains have stopped planting. More rain forecasted. Corn planting will probably be finished with last night’s rain and the calendar date. There is wheat down in quite a few fields this morning.” Richard Buntin, Crockett County

“The farmers in Fayette County have been very busy this week planting corn, re-planting corn, beans and cotton. Other activities include hay cutting and spraying. The ground has finally warmed up enough to plant cotton and, up until Thursday, was dry enough to plant with sunshine most of the week. Later in the week showers came back in.”  Jeffery Via, Fayette County

“Producers were able to take advantage of the sunshine, warm temperatures and windy conditions that dried soil enough to get back into the fields this week. Additional acres of corn were planted or re-planted in some cases, while other corn acres received side-dress applications of nitrogen or post-emerge herbicides. Forage producers were able to harvest several acres of first-cut hay with the good drying conditions.” Jeff Lannom, Weakley County

“Tobacco transplanting and hay cutting is underway this week. Replant of corn and planting of “wet” fields finally completed by Thursday. Strawberry producers began selling on Monday.” Paul Hart, Robertson County

“Drier conditions allowed producers to get back into fields. Showers at the beginning and end of the week produced from 0.5 to 0.75 inches of rain for most of the county, with a few isolated areas reporting 1.0 to 1.3 inches. The wheat crop has pollinated and is beginning to show signs of turning. Warmer temperatures have helped corn progress; producers were busy planting/replanting, and side dressing. Most producers still trying to get a few more acres planted or are replanting flooded areas. A few producers have switched to soybeans. About 10% of the (soybean) crop is planted. Cotton producers got a few acres in. Hay producers took advantage of the drier conditions to get about 40% of the first cutting harvested.”  Ed Burns, Franklin County

“Haymaking began in earnest last week with favorable weather until Saturday when rains returned. Wind and heavy rains over the weekend caused some reported damage to a few wheat fields.” John Wilson, Blount County

“Wet conditions continue to hamper corn and soybean planting as well as hay cutting. Many farmers have wrapped wheat for baleage instead of making hay. Apple growers are reporting great pollination of all varieties despite the wet conditions. Major concern is hitting the window for chemical thinning of crops.” Kim Frady, Bradley County

Just a quick reminder that The University of Tennessee Weed Tour will be held Thursday, June 20 at the West Tennessee Research & Education Center in Jackson, TN.  Registration will start at 8:30 A.M. and the tour will begin at 9:00 A.M..  The tour will culminate at 12:00 with lunch in room A in the main building.

The tour will cover 60 weed management research tests in corn, soybean and cotton.  Most of the research shown will be on management of glyphosate resistant horseweed and Palmer amaranth.  Management of these weeds in Liberty as well as glyphosate based systems in cotton and soybeans will be highlighted. Moreover, many of the newer premixes in corn will be demonstrated. As usual, a plot plan book will be available.  UT personnel will be available for consultation and discussion of issues and product performance.

Hope to see you there,

Larry

Fusarium head blight (Scab) pathogens can survive on host residues, which typically include wheat, barley, and corn; and can persist there for several years. Losses due to Scab include reduction in yield due to sterile florets and poor seed filling.  Additionally, disease wheat may contain mycotoxins, usually deoxynivalenol (DON or vomitoxin), which can remain stable for years in stored grain. The consumption of mycotoxin-contaminated grain has been associated with several acute and chronic diseases in humans and animals. The level of DON in grain, flour, and finished products derived from wheat is regulated, with various limits set by different countries (for more info on U.S. guidance for DON levels visit: http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/…).

Symptoms of ‘Scabby wheat’ include bleached spikelets or entire heads. If the rachis (stem of the spikelet) is infected, all the tissue above that point may be killed, though not necessarily colonized by the fungus. On bleached spikelets the fungicide appears as pink or orange growths, usually at the base of a diseased spikelet (see images below). Sometimes after initial infection small, dark fruiting bodies will be abundant on infected spikelets, nodes, and crowns.  Diseased spikelets are often sterile or have discolored or shriveled seed, that is chalky in appearance and can be referred to as ‘tombstones’.

We will hold Soybean Scout Schools at dates and locations TBD at a later date, but look for an early July timeframe with a minimum of 2 schools each for West and Middle Tennessee.  Details will be provide in future announcements.

The early maturity varieties like AM 1550, DP 0912, FM 1944, PHY 367, PHY 375 and ST 4145 would be the varieties of choice to plant this next week.  There are some new varieties that I understand are in limited supply like DP 1311, PHY 339 and ST 4946 that would also fit in the later planting window. Hopefully we can get cotton planting wrapped up in the next 10 days or so.  If not and you elect to plant around June 1 then we need to progress to the earliest of the early varieties most notably AM 1550, DP 0912, PHY 367 and PHY 375. Darrin Dodds of Mississippi State University has put together a very good cotton maturity guide (2013 Cotton Maturity Guide) that can be useful in making variety switching decisions.  In general go with the varieties on his chart that are in the green.

In the rush to plant next week while switching intended cotton varieties be mindful of variety placement.  For example if you switch from say a PHY 499 to PHY 367 to get that earlier maturity be aware that PHY 367, though early, will not perform near as well on a Crockett or Haywood county eroded hill side like PHY 499 would.  Another early season variety would probably be a better fit in that situation. If the variety is new to you it would be a good idea to contact your county agent, cotton seed company representative or your retailer before you plant it.

North West Tenn. (Dyersburg): Predicted DD60 accumulation for that 5 day window: 75 (Very Good). Temperatures will range from the mid 80s to mid 60s over the 5 day period. There is a 50% chance of rain on Wednesday (5/22).

Central West Tenn. (Jackson): Predicted DD60 accumulation over the 5 day period: 75 (Very Good). Temperatures will range from the low 90s to mid 60s during that window of time. It looks like a 70% chance of rain on Wednesday (5/22).

South West Tennessee (Memphis): Predicted DD60 accumulation over the 5 day period: 80 (Very Good). Temperatures will range from the low 80s to high 60s during that stretch of time. The forecast calls for 50% chance of rain on Wednesday (5/22).

Middle Tennessee (Fayetteville): Predicted DD60 accumulation over the 5 day period: 72 (Very Good). Temperatures will range from the high 80s to mid 60s during that 5 day window. The forecast calls for 40% chance of rain on Thursday (5/23).

The horseweed in question has either escaped an earlier burndown attempt or was never treated at all.  In all cases the horseweed is now very large (12 to 18”). Unfortunately, there is no one pass answer to this question that will let the field be planted back to soybean immediately.  The most consistent answer is 32 ozs of glyphosate plus 7.5 ozs of Verdict or 1.5 ozs of Sharpen plus 16 ozs of 2,4-D.  This treatment has the best chance of success but the plant back to soybean is 14 days.  If you want to plant immediately then go with 5 ozs of Verdict or 1 oz of Sharpen plus glyphosate.  Some have asked about tankmixing Gramoxone in with Verdict or Sharpen.  There will be antagonism with this mix and horseweed control will be very poor. 

Another option here, particularly if other weeds are also an issue, is Gramoxone plus metribuzin.  Regardless of which way one goes expect at least some horseweed to escape and recover as the soybeans emerge.  The best plan on these escapes is either Liberty at 32 oz/A  in LL soybeans or FirstRate at 0.25 oz/A plus glyphosate in RR soybeans. 

The ryegrass questions have become much more prevalent this year.  The only real answer to control large ryegrass at this late date  and plant quickly is a clethodim based system. In the Mississippi Delta where the ryegrass is 100% resistant to glyphosate they are utilizing 16 ozs of Select Max as their best treatment and still not getting complete control.  In Tennessee, where the ryegrass population ranges in glyphosate tolerance from moderate to in some locations highly resistant, a tankmix of clethodim (Select Max 10 ozs) plus glyphosate (Roundup PowerMax 32 ozs) has proven to be effective. Both cotton and soybeans can be planted back immediately after a clethodim application.

 COOL, WET CONDITIONS CONTINUE TO SLOW SPRING PLANTING

Farmers once again struggled to get out into the fields last week due to persistent wet conditions. Almost half of the farmland in the state is reported as having surplus soil moisture levels. These wet conditions have made for a very slow start with corn, cotton, and soybean plantings falling about two weeks below the five year average. Corn growth is also being slowed due to the cooler than normal weather for this time of year. A majority of the wheat crop has headed and some fields were reported to have begun flowering. Cattle and pastures are in great condition, with only a few farmers having already made their first hay cutting. Other farm activities this past week included burn down application and the completion of most fungicide applications. Many farmers are ready to begin tobacco transplanting.

There were 3 days suitable for field work across the state. Topsoil moisture levels were rated 45 percent adequate and 55 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels were rated 1 percent short, 54 percent adequate and 45 percent surplus. Temperatures across the state last week averaged 4 to 5 degrees below normal. Rainfall amounts averaged below normal over all of Tennessee this week, with the west being closest to their respective average.

County Agent Comments

“Wet weather continues to halt corn and cotton planting. Wheat is looking good despite cool weather. Newly planted corn has emerged but is off to a slow start. No injury reported due to cool weather. Mississippi River bottom land is flooded. Cattle and pasture ground is in excellent condition.” J.C. Dupree, Jr., Lauderdale County

“This week we have sprayed some burn downs and planted a little cotton and soybeans. Most are waiting on the Friday rains that are headed our way. Most of our wheat has had a fungicide treatment. I hope our conditions change next week so we can resume planting. We are behind. Cattle are looking great and pastures are green.”  Jake Mallard, Madison County

“Very limited field work this week. Even with sunshine and 80 degree weather, soils were very slow to dry out. Wheat producers were able to complete fungicide applications for a majority of their acres.” Jeff Lannom, Weakley County

“Seven inches of rain over the last 2 weeks has greatly hampered all field activity. Only a few hundred acres of corn have been planted on some of the upland ground. River and creek bottoms are still saturated. No hay has been cut and no tobacco has been set. To say the least, we are way behind schedule.” Ronnie Barron, Cheatham County

“Corn acres for grain not planted are being shifted to soybeans due to weather delays in planting corn. Most farmers are at the 60-75% level of acres intended for corn and have changed plans. Silage corn will most likely continue as planned, percent of corn acres planted reported this week reflects that change.” John Teague, Bedford County

“Rainfall amounts across the county ranged from 1.47-2.94 inches according to the CoCoRahs reports. Some sunshine mid-week followed by more rain. Row crop producers just cannot get an opportunity to get much done in the field. Corn producers continue to plan for corn acreage but time is running short. Wheat is reported as headed to flowering. Wheat/small grain haylage harvest is progressing. Pastures are reported as good and cattle are in good condition, although some producers expressed concern that fescue hay fields look thin.” Ruth Correll, Wilson County

“Rain from Saturday through Monday produced between 3.5 to 5.5 inches of rain. Pea size hail on Sunday produced up to 10 inches of ice, most of the accumulations fell in Winchester, no crop damage reported. Showers at the end of the week added an additional half inch, keeping field activity to a minimal. Most of the corn has been planted and has emerged; growth has been slow due to wet and cool conditions. Producers are hoping to finish up next week with drier conditions in the forecast. Ponding water in fields planted has drowned a few acres, less than one percent. Wheat has fully headed and 60% of the crop was flowering. Producers have been busy applying fungicides by air and ground. A few acres of soybeans have been planted. Cotton and hay producers hope to get started next week with a drier outlook.”  Ed Burns, Franklin County

“Wet weather continues to delay planting and harvesting. Grass hay is maturing quickly and will affect hay quality at the time of harvest. Weather may improve next week and many farmers are anxious to begin hay harvesting and finish planting crops. Strawberries are 2 weeks later than last year, but the crop seems larger.” Jerry Lamb, Rhea County

Some differences have occurred due to rounding.

North West Tenn. (Dyersburg): Predicted DD60 accumulation for that 5 day window: 48 (Good). Temperatures will range from the low 80s to mid 50s over the 5 day period. There is a 60% chance of rain on Thursday (5/17). This is a very similar forecast as last week for Dyersburg.  The biggest difference is there will be a little more DD60 accumulation to work with.  Hopefully the rain chances will dissipate for Thursday.   

Central West Tenn. (Jackson): Predicted DD60 accumulation over the 5 day period: 43 (Good). Temperatures will range from the low 80s to low 50s during that window of time. It looks like a 30% chance of rain on Thursday (5/17) so the window for planting looks pretty good. 

South West Tennessee (Memphis): Predicted DD60 accumulation over the 5 day period: 51 (Very Good). Temperatures will range from the low 80s to mid 50s during that stretch of time. The forecast calls for 0% chance of rain during that period of time so looks like a good window to plant cotton. 

Middle Tennessee (Fayetteville): Predicted DD60 accumulation over the 5 day period: 26 (Good). Temperatures will range from the low 80s to Mid 40s during that 5 day window. No chance of rain is forecasted so looks like the planting window has opened. 

Paraquat (48 fl oz/A) + NIS (0.25%)

Some reports of ineffective burndown applications to winter annual cover crops (winter wheat, cereal rye, hairy vetch, crimson clover, etc.) have been coming in.  Even in our research at the West Tennessee Research and Education Center cover crops have proven difficult to control with a single pass of the sprayer.  Paraquat and glyphosate are the typical go-to herbicides for this type of burndown application, but neither has proven consistently effective this spring.

 The lack of consistency with these herbicides could be due to this spring’s cool-damp weather, lack of adequate coverage needed to penetrate thick residues, robust cover crop growth or a little bit of all three.  We have been evaluating the effectiveness of these herbicides in controlling winter wheat, cereal rye, hairy vetch, and crimson clover since the beginning of March.  Applying glyphosate (32 fl oz/A) or paraquat (48 fl oz/A + 0.25% NIS) alone has provided inconsistent control (15% – 75%) of all the evaluated species.  Glyphosate provided better control of the two, as paraquat only burned the foliage back and growth later continued.  Since this was the case, we decided to switch gears to see if tank-mixing a Photosystem II inhibitor with paraquat or adding dicamba to glyphosate would increase effectiveness of the two non-selective herbicide options.  As it turned out, both tank-mixes increased effectiveness.

Metribuzin (5 oz/A) was added to paraquat (48 fl oz/A + 0.25% NIS) and resulted in greater than 90% control of all cover crop species.  Dicamba (8 fl oz/A) was added to glyphosate (32 fl oz/A) and increased control of both broadleaf species to greater than 80%, but added little to the control of the grass species.  Therefore, adding a Photosystem II inhibitor to paraquat is the best choice that we have evaluated this year to control winter annual cover crops.  Photosystem II options include atrazine for corn, metribuzin for soybean, and fluometuron for cotton.  However, it will take 10 – 14 days to achieve complete burndown to attain good seed-soil contact.  Moving forward, the warmer weather in the upcoming week suggests that the planters will be headed to the field in full swing.  So if you haven’t terminated your cover crops yet, it is definitely time.