The West Tennessee Research and Education Center (WTREC) would like to cordially invite you to the 2015 University of Tennessee Cotton Tour. This event is scheduled Continue reading
While prices have declined for grains, they are not that far off from when the crop was planted. Grains and soybean prices for harvest delivery have dropped 2 percent to 5 percent since mid-May. Prices have been volatile in between with some opportunities for pricing. Still, further declines in prices even at record or close-to record yields are not needed. Continue reading at Southeast Farm Press.
USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) recently released publication Farm Computer Usage and Ownership. Highlights for Tennessee include an increase of the number of farms with computers from 55% in 2011 to 68% in 2015; increase of farms that use computers for farm business from 26% in 2011 to 35% in 2015; and increase in farms that purchase inputs over the internet from 10% in 2011 to 17% in 2015. The publication in its entirety can be found at Farm Computer Use – Aug 2015.
Comments by Dr. Aaron Smith
August 12, 2015 – USDA World Supply and Demand Estimates
Corn Projected 2015/16 U.S. feed grain supplies are increased this month with higher forecast corn, sorghum, barley, and oats production. Corn production is forecast at 13.7 billion bushels, up 156 million from the July projection, with the season’s first survey-based corn yield forecast at 168.8 bushels per acre, 2.0 bushels higher than last month’s trend-based projection. Corn supplies for 2015/16 are projected at a record 15.5 billion bushels, up 154 million from last month with a small reduction in beginning stocks. Continue reading at USDA WASDE Comments & Profitability Outlook update.
By definition, the last effective bloom date is the day in which the probability of a new flower developing into a boll and making its way into the basket declines to below 50%. Since it is unlikely (probability less than 50%) that fruiting positions which develop after this date will contribute to yield, end-of-season insecticide termination and defoliation recommendations for our area are based upon protecting/managing those positions which will be flowering Continue reading
As written by Dr. Larry Steckal on UT Crops News Blog , producers in Tennessee in the Mississippi River bottoms are planting ultra-late soybeans on ground previously flooded. Before planting, there may be some crop insurance considerations to take into account. Producers should have already contacted their crop insurance agent and discussed the situation with them. This is critical as this can be a complicated issue and if timely reporting has not been done, there may not be an indemnity payment. Continue reading
Tyson Raper (Cotton and Small Grains Specialist) and Frank Yin (Systems Agronomist)
Sulfur (S) deficiencies have been becoming more common in cotton fields in recent years. This is in part due to a reduction in sulfur emissions from manufacturing plants and diesel fuels. Nitrogen (N) and S deficiencies are commonly confused- particularly late in the season. Although both cause chlorosis of leaf tissue, the mobile nature of N within the plant results in deficiency symptoms first appearing low in the canopy. In contrast, S is very immobile in the plant and, as a result, S deficiency symptoms first appear in new growth near the top of the plant. Continue reading
A rough start for many of TN’s cotton acres has turned into a decent summer for the majority of our acreage. This is very evident when looking at accumulated heat units noted at the West Tennessee Research and Education Center in Jackson, TN. As you can see in the below graph, we are quite a bit ahead of the last two years on accumulated heat units. Warm temperatures in mid/late June and timely rains have Continue reading
