Palmer amaranth started emerging in West Tennessee just over the past few days. The first pigweed I noticed emerging was on April 30. This late emergence is very different from past springs. Continue reading
I’ve visited with several over the past few days who either started planting yesterday (4/30), who plan to begin today (5/1), or who will be planting by tomorrow (5/2). While we have a few very early planting-date trials established here in Jackson, none of our large-plot trials have been planted and none of our small-plot work requiring normal planting dates have been planted either. That will change for my program today (5/1). Continue reading
RAINS AND COOL TEMPERATURES HALT PRODUCTIVITY
Producers in Tennessee found themselves out of the fields due to only 1.9 days suitable for field work. Increased rainfall and unseasonably cool temperatures prevented farmers from continued planting, applying fungicide, and other fieldwork activities. Many are hopeful for warmer temperatures and dry conditions. Some flooding was reported. Topsoil moisture was 1 percent short, 44 percent adequate, and 55 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was 2 percent short, 55 percent adequate, and 43 percent surplus. Hay and Roughage Supplies
were rated as 2 percent very short, 25 percent short, 65 percent adequate, and 8 percent surplus. Continue reading at TN_04_30_18. The U.S. Crop Progress report can be read at CropProg-04-30-2018.
Corn, soybeans, and wheat were up; cotton was down for the week.
Delayed planting has pushed futures prices higher, however planting progress
will be monitored closely over the weekend and prices could retreat if the
weather allows for substantial progress in spring field work and planting. With
the size and speed of today’s equipment, acres can be tilled/sprayed/planted very quickly, so look for continued volatility for the next 2-3 weeks as weather dictates progress in fields across the Corn Belt and Mid-South. Continue reading at Tennessee Market Highlights.
According to Dr. Scott Stewart, the cool, wet spring could lead to increased slug damage in Mid-South crops. Watch his update on slug research, including sampling and control options.
The wet weather we’ve been having is likely increasing Fusarium spores (inoculum) that can infect the wheat crop that is starting to head in most areas and develop into Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) or Head Scab. Continue reading
Residual herbicides will play a large role in the success or failure of our weed control program in 2018. Last year a number of folks used Engenia plus Roundup followed by Engenia plus Roundup as needed in soybean. That will lead to failure if not in the short term certainly in the long term. Continue reading
With continued wet weather, growers are sharing concerns about how rains may have impacted pre-plant or at-plant nitrogen in fields designated for corn. Continue reading