Weed control in wheat has become more of a struggle in recent years. This is due to several reasons including that more wheat is following corn where volunteer RR corn can be an issue, Poa has become more of a weed problem in wheat and herbicide resistance development in ryegrass. Continue reading
In this week’s podcast we hear from Richard Buntin and Ryan Blair with UT Extension. With harvest resuming after last week’s rain event, they discuss field conditions and best management practices for weathered crops. Click to listen. Continue reading
INCESSANT RAINS BRING FIELD ACTIVITIES TO NEAR HALT
Lots of ill-timed rainfall this last week of September has delayed crop harvest and even drowned a few soybean fields. Before the rainfall yields were expected to be above average; now, we’ll just have to see. Everything else is as expected for September in TN. Matthew Deist, Marion County
There were 1.3 days suitable for field work, compared to 5.4 last week. Topsoil moisture rated 1 percent short, 46 percent adequate, and 53 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture rated 2 percent short, 59 percent adequate, and 39 percent surplus. Continue reading at TN_10_01_18. The U.S. Crop Progress report can be read at CropProg-10-01-2018.
Weather over the past few days has allowed our cotton crop to dry down substantially. Still, it is unlikely the areas which noted sprouting will be dry enough to pick until mid-week (Oct. 3). In this post, I cover the factors to consider and potential impacts should you rush into harvest before the crop has sufficiently dried. Continue reading
Corn, soybeans, cotton, and wheat were down for the week.
On Friday, the USDA released the much anticipated quarterly Grain Stocks report. The September report provides estimates of corn and soybean stocks at the end of the most recent marketing year (2017/18) and an estimate of wheat stocks as of September 1. The USDA report is available online at USDA Grain Stocks Report.
As of September 1, corn stocks were estimated at 2.14 billion bushels, down 153 million (7%) from last year and 138 million greater than the 2.002 billion bushels estimated in the September WASDE; soybean stocks were estimated at 438 million bushels, up 136 million (45%) from last year and 43 million greater than the 395 million bushels estimated in the September WASDE; and wheat stocks were estimated at 2.379 billion bushels, up 113 million (5%) from last year. Overall, the report was decidedly bearish with the estimates at or exceeding the upper end of the pre-report range. Continue reading at Tennessee Market Highlights.
The past six days of rain found the vast majority of our Upper-MidSouth cotton crop defoliated and open. Unfortunately, these conditions supported emergence of cottonseed while still within the boll- commonly referred to as sprouting. In this blog, I briefly cover best management practices to protect the existing fiber quality. Continue reading
Last week’s article discussed soilborne pathogens as ‘silent yield robbers’ of crops in production fields and the importance of screening. This article elaborates on two of the most common pathogens found in soybean fields, soybean cyst nematode (SCN) and charcoal rot, and presents the results from our 2017 soil screening. Continue reading
FIELD CROP HARVEST CONTINUES AT RAPID PACE AHEAD OF RAIN
Tennessee producers made great harvest progress ahead of weekend rains, as shown in the increase in sub and topsoil moistures from last week. Hay harvest was in its final stages as winter wheat plantings advanced. Cotton is being defoliated and some harvested. The rain is expected to improve the condition of winter wheat, doublecropped beans, and pastures. Some producers finished harvesting corn and changed headers to start harvesting soybeans. Producers were positive about yields for all crops. There were 5.4 days suitable for field work. Topsoil moisture rated 2 percent very short, 20 percent short, 60 percent adequate, and 18 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture rated 4 percent very short, 22 percent short, 63 percent adequate, and 11 percent surplus. Continue reading at TN_09_24_18. The U.S. Crop Progress report can be read at CropProg-09-24-2018.