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| Row Crop Roundup - Aug. 3, 2011 (Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Iowa) |
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Ohio
Hot, dry conditions in Ohio have affected growers of all crops adversely. According to the NASS office in Reynoldsburg, the percentage of progress of all field crops is down compared figures of a year ago, and weather is to blame.
Is there a silver lining to these hot and humid conditions? One expert thinks so.
“It has been way too hot even for corn diseases,” says Dr. Pierce Paul, assistant professor of plant pathology at The Ohio State University’s research center in Wooster. “Most of the foliar diseases of greatest concern in corn in Ohio develop best under cooler conditions than those we have had over the last few weeks, so although it has been humid and even wet in some locations, the level of disease has been very low across most of the state.”
According to Pierce, all stages of pathogen growth and disease development require temperature and moisture within a favorable, or optimum, range. “Temperatures above or below these ranges may cause disease development to slow down or even stop,” he said.
“For instance, gray leaf spot, one of our most important foliar diseases of corn, develops best at temperatures between 70 and 86 degrees under high relative humidity or foggy conditions for extended periods during the day.”
At temperatures above 85, Pierce added, several processes important for infection and disease development, including spore production and fungal growth, slow down or even stop, even if moisture is present. “But corn growers should realize that when we get a couple of cooler days these diseases can return to normal, so they should still do some field spot checks,” Pierce said.
As of July 24, just 30 percent of corn was tasseled, compared to 90 percent last year and 69 percent for the five-year average.
Other crops are behind schedule as well. Just 2 percent of potatoes are harvested, compared to 12 percent at this time last season. Forty percent of soybeans are blooming, compared to 77 percent a year ago. Just 5 percent of those are setting pods, compared to 33 percent a year ago.
The harvesting of oats is at 37 percent (45 percent last year). Sixty-nine percent of that crop has ripened. Cucumbers harvested stands at 20 percent (39 percent a year ago) while 35 percent of apples have been harvested, compared to 49 percent in 2010.
Ninety-one percent of the second cutting of hay is complete, with just 9 percent of the third complete. Ninety-nine percent of winter wheat has been harvested.
By Doug Graves
Ohio Correspondent
Kentucky
Where a wet spring seemed never-ending, dry conditions are now starting to be an issue in some areas of the Commonwealth, according to Tom Priddy, University of Kentucky extension agricultural meteorologist.
“What’s amazing is that not everyone has gotten the volume of rain when it did hit,” said Priddy. “The purchase area, including Fulton, Hickman, Carlisle and Ballard counties, are dry as well, as along the Tennessee and Kentucky border. This is a departure from normal with weather and dry conditions. Relatively large dry areas are indeed starting to show up.”
Priddy also cited the wet spring as the main reason for planting being interrupted early: “The wet spring packed a wallop, but this intense heat is also really impacting the crops. The weather is what has kept the crop conditions and completion below last year’s and the five-year averages. Unless things turn around weather-wise, we may see yields reduced somewhat.”
Though the heat and precipitation have wreaked some havoc on crops, he said wheat has ultimately fared well. “We thought wheat wouldn’t do very well, but some areas of Kentucky have netted 100 bushels per acre. We needed that good news.”
Priddy recommends watching the 6-10 and 8-14 day weather outlooks over the next 30 or 90 days. “The closer predictions usually ring truer than the longer projections. A lot of change can happen in the weather over the long term,” he explained.
By Susan Hayhurst
Indiana Correspondent
Tennessee
The weather pendulum that has swung back and forth between too much heat and too much rain in the Volunteer State this year has swung once again to heat. Near the end of the third week of July, crops were beginning to show signs of stress because of high temperatures and lack of moisture, according to a report from NASS.
Soybeans are blooming and setting pods at a pace running a week to 10 days behind their five-year average. Similarly, cotton is setting bolls at a week behind its five-year average, according to NASS.
Despite the lack of moisture, crops seem to be doing well. More than half of the state’s corn crop is rated as being in good condition, with 27 percent rated as excellent. Sixty-six percent of cotton, 64 percent of soybeans and 61 percent of the tobacco crop also rated in good condition.
The heat is beginning to take its toll on some crops, according to reports from county extension agents. “Things are beginning to dry out quickly. Very little rain for the last 10 days and hot temperatures are really beginning to stress row crops,” reported Kevin Rose, extension agent for Giles County.
“A lot of forage producers are getting second hay cutting this week.”
“We need rain. Pastures are drying up, and soybeans are beginning to hurt,” explained agent Larry Moorehead of Moore County.
“Heat continues to be a major problem with field crops and livestock,” Ricky Skillington, Marshall County extension agent, added.
Loudon County agent John Goddard reported the heat also is plaguing some livestock in the state: “Spotty showers have helped struggling corn and soybeans. Pastures are extremely weedy due to heat and moisture. Livestock are struggling due to extreme heat. Fly problems are abundant, with many cases of pink-eye reported.”
By Tesa Nauman
Tennessee Correspondent
Iowa
The record-high heat and humidity were concerns the week of July 18-24, but adequate moisture levels helped Iowa crops come through the extremes without substantial stress, according to the July 25 Iowa Crop & Weather report.
“The persistent heat and humidity is a challenge for both crops and livestock, and farmers are hoping for a break in the heat,” said Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey. “Fortunately, 80 percent of both the corn and soybean crop remains in good to excellent condition, but timely rains remain very important.”
State Meteorologist Harry Hillaker said “the heat index officially climbed above 110 degrees in some areas” of the state, with unofficial heat indices soaring as high as 130 degrees.
Despite the high heat and humidity, the report stated 90 percent of Iowa corn is now tasseling, with three-quarters silking and 7 percent reaching the milk stage, and 1 percent hit the dough stage. Seventy-nine percent of Iowa soybeans are blooming, with pods set at 24 percent.
By Doug Schmitz
Iowa Correspondent |
| 8/3/2011 |
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