Indiana
Extreme heat has stressed Indiana livestock this summer and has begun to stress pasture and crops, as well.
For the week ending Aug. 15, the Indiana office of the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) reported high temperatures ranging from 89 degrees at Kendallville to 101 at Evansville. Across the state, temperatures were 5-12 degrees above normal.
“It’s been a testy time for livestock growers the last two months,” said Daviess County farmer Scott Lottes, who raises 66,000 turkeys and 9,000 hogs. “It’s been extremely warm.”
He said turkeys, especially, don’t dissipate body heat very well. From 14-20 weeks, he said, they start building up body heat and filling the barn, so extreme heat at that time creates more stress on the birds. Lottes said when temperatures top 90 degrees, extra labor is necessary to ensure fans and an automatic fogging system work properly and to spray water.
Even with the extra effort, Lottes said his operation has lost more turkeys than normal this summer. “It seems as though, in our particular operation, swine has actually fared much better as far as how they’re handling things,” he said. “They’re not at an age where they’re stressed right now.”
Dale Allison, who raises shorthorn cattle in Daviess County, said his bovine are doing fine. “Like any other mammal right now, they like plenty of water and shade,” he said. “Anything to beat the heat.”
Through the heat of day, he said they stay in the woods, then venture out to graze in the evening. “Humidity here almost makes shade mandatory,” he said.
Allison said he’s been fortunate his pasture is just now starting to dry out, because his cattle feed almost strictly on that. “They’re designed to be grass burners,” he said. “They turn grass into hamburger.”
NASS rated pasture 45 percent good to excellent; 22 was rated poor to very poor. Last year at the same time, 62 percent of pasture was in good to excellent shape.
Crop condition also is declining because of the intense heat, but is fast approaching maturity. The corn crop was 60 percent good to excellent during the week ending Aug. 15, and soybeans were 59 percent good to excellent.
Eighty percent of corn was in the dough stage, compared to 39 last year at the same time and 62 for the five-year average. Thirty-nine percent was dented, compared to none at the same time last year and 17 for the five-year average.
Ninety-seven percent of the soybean crop was blooming, compared to 88 at the same time a year ago and 94 for the five-year average. Eighty-three percent were setting pods, compared to 58 a year ago and 72 for the five-year average.
By Andrea McCann
Indiana Correspondent Illinois
“Hot and dry” continues to describe most of the state. University of Illinois extension specialists note the only exception is in portions of northern Illinois, where a majority of the counties received 1-3.8 inches of rain this month.
Extension officials said a few observations of Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) and white mold in soybeans have been reported in northern Illinois, but the conditions are not widespread at this time. Some producers continue to treat for potato leafhoppers in alfalfa.
In southern Illinois, they said continued high nighttime temperatures and lack of rainfall are affecting potential corn yield, with kernel abortion at the ear tips being the most obvious symptom. Even so, the crop appears to be holding up well throughout most of the region.
Given relatively early planting dates and high temperatures throughout most of the summer, harvest will begin much sooner than the past two years.
Soybean development, other than double-crop fields, is at R5 (pod fill), and flowering is nearly complete. Few foliar diseases are apparent so far, though some SDS can be found along the northern edge of the region. Spider mite damage can be observed along field edges in drier areas.
West-central Illinois conditions include up to 3 inches of rain in some isolated area on Aug. 10, but most areas received little or no rain. April-planted corn has dented and the milk line is 1/3 to 1/2 down the kernel.
With temperatures forecasted to remain above normal, black line won’t be too far into the future. Diplodia ear rot can be seen to varying degrees in some fields. Many fields also have quite a few ear tips nosed back.
Soybean development ranges from vegetative to R5. SDS has been seen in some April- and May-planted fields. Other diseases present include frogeye leaf spot, septoria and bacterial diseases.
By Karen Binder
Illinois Correspondent
Ohio
According to the latest Ohio NASS crop report, grape production is estimated at 3,800 tons, down 1,940 tons from a year ago. Those at Valley Vineyards in southwestern Ohio, with their 35 varieties of grapes, however, have witnessed their best growing season in nearly 20 years.
“There’s something special with our vineyard this season,” said Ken Schuchter, second-generation caretaker of this 65-acre vineyard in Morrow. “The grape season started two weeks early because it was really warm and we had plenty of rain. We’re three weeks ahead of schedule and started harvesting on Aug. 16.
“Something special has happened out here. Our original 20 acres of grapes is now 42 years old. For us things couldn’t be better.”
There are 1,500 acres of grape vineyards in Ohio. NASS officials point out ideal growing conditions for grapes occurred in southwestern Ohio, while growers in the central and northeastern parts of the state had slightly less favorable conditions.
Apple producers across the state are reporting fewer bushels than in previous seasons. Apple production in the state is forecast at 110 million pounds, down 5 percent from 2009. Still, 80 percent of summer apples have been harvested, up 16 from this time last year.
On the brighter side, growers of corn, soybeans, alfalfa, peaches, cucumbers and potatoes are providing good harvesting reports. Eighty-two percent of corn was in dough, compared to just 43 last season.
Eight-two percent of soybeans were setting pods, compared to just 69 a year ago. Sixty-nine percent of the third cutting of alfalfa was complete, up 12 from last year. Eleven percent of the fourth cutting of hay was reported.
Peach, cucumber and potato harvesting is ahead of schedule as well. Seventy-five percent of peaches have been harvested. Cucumbers are at are at 88 percent, while potato harvest stands at 52. The latter two are ahead of last year’s harvest at this time.
Growers are in need of steady rains. According to Jim Noel of the Crop Observation and Recommendation Network (CORN) in Columbus, rainfall will remain below average the rest of the month. Most in the state will see an inch or less of rain for the remainder of August.
Noel calls for much above normal temperatures to continue, to average 4-10 degrees above normal throughout the state.
By Doug Graves
Ohio Correspondent
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