Midwest agronomists talk September crop progress

<p><span style="color:black">Most cornfields in Illinois have reached or are nearing black layer, and harvest is just getting underway in some areas, according to WinField United agronomist Jason Haegele. Some of the very late planted cornfields are in the early dough stage (R4). Many soybean fields have already begun to turn (R7), while others are still in pod-fill stages (R5 to R6).</span></p>

<p><span style="color:black">Haegele says crop yield potential will vary greatly depending on planting date and in-season stresses that differed across the state. For cornfields that have been harvested prior to September 23, yield reports have been quite good. For fields planted in June that are still maturing, Haegele says yield expectations are typically well below average. This season, soybeans seem to have substantially lower pod counts than in recent years. That could mean disappointing soybean yields for many farmers.</span></p>

<p><span style="color:black">Depending on the region and individual field conditions, corn pathogens like gray leaf spot, tar spot and southern rust have been noticeable, says Haegele. In some cases, these diseases have developed late enough in grain fill that yield might not be affected very much. With day length decreasing and in-season stresses and diseases, soybeans have turned quickly, and plants have died prematurely on select acres. In those cases, Haegele expects that premature death due to disease will affect yield by reducing the pod-fill period.</span></p>

<p><span style="color:black">Haegele advises farmers to work with their seed providers as harvest approaches to understand hybrid characteristics that might influence harvest order. Some hybrids tend to lose stalk integrity quickly at the end of the season, which can lead to dropped ears or increased challenges of harvest. Haegele also recommends that farmers plan to apply inputs this fall to help prepare for the 2020 season. In addition to fall burndown applications, farmers should consider augmenting fall phosphorus and potassium applications with dry micronutrient products to combat expected deficiencies of nutrients like zinc, manganese and boron.</span></p>

<p><span style="color:black">Harvest has started in early-planted fields across Indiana, according to WinField United agronomist Glenn Longabaugh. Warm temperatures and dry weather mean late-planted fields are also progressing nicely. If that forecast continues, Longabaugh expects most of Indiana’s corn crop to be safe from an early frost. Some early-planted soybeans have also reached maturity, but he expects the soybean harvest to be condensed this year as less mature plants give up over the next couple of weeks. </span></p>

<p><span style="color:black">Yield expectations are unpredictable because of planting dates, rainfall amounts and field variability. Low spots in a field that held water might result in reduced yields, while higher, drier spots in the same field could yield well above average. Longabaugh says soybean yields could be lackluster this year due to a wet start and dry finish to the growing season. </span></p>

<p><span style="color:black">Since diseases have been an issue for both corn and soybeans this season, Longabaugh recommends farmers assess plant health and stalk integrity as harvest approaches. In corn, there are plenty of stalk diseases that could affect standability, especially if farmers try to wait for corn to dry down in the field. Soybeans have seen their fair share of disease issues as well, according to Longabaugh. Brown stem rot, stem canker, pod and stem blights, and sudden death syndrome were not uncommon in Indiana fields this season. Soybeans also had to contend with stink bug damage, which could affect both yield and quality.&nbsp; </span></p>

<p><span style="color:black">Monitoring fields and prioritizing harvest order should be at the top of the list for farmers right now. Longabaugh urges farmers to be aggressive with harvest, as it could have benefits for this year’s and next year’s crops. Taking advantage of dry field conditions can reduce compaction issues for next spring and farmers could also have extra time to complete fall fieldwork to get a jump-start on next season</span><span style="color:black">.</span></p>

<p><span style="color:black">Conditions in September have been just what many farmers needed, says WinField United agronomist Ryan Wolf. The high accumulation of GDUs brought corn to black layer in many parts of the state, though late-planted crops are still well behind where they need to be. With soybeans, many crops started to turn within the past week, and Wolf anticipates most parts of the state are two to three weeks from harvest. </span></p>

<p><span style="color:black">Late-season disease was a common factor impacting Iowa crops this month, with increased incidence of gray leaf spot, Northern corn leaf blight and tar spot in the eastern part of the state. According to Wolf, these late-impact diseases are likely to have a detrimental affect on stalk integrity and may reducee overall yield potential. </span></p>

<p><span style="color:black">Sudden death syndrome, white mold and frogeye leaf spot were among the most commonly reported diseases in soybeans. Farmers who experienced white mold should be sure to document those areas of the field and select the right genetics to manage those acres when they switch back to soybeans. </span></p>

<p><span style="color:black">As farmers prepare for harvest, Wolf recommends getting out and walking the crop to help prioritize harvest order. In corn acres, farmers should check stalk integrity and conduct push tests as needed to help decide which fields need the combine sooner or which fields can stand and dry naturally.</span></p>

<p>With this season’s late planting and improbable weather, farmers across the state will be harvesting corn and soybean plants wetter and later than they’d hoped, says WinField United agronomist Jason Roth. In some parts of the state, soybeans slightly behind and corn is a month behind what is typical for this time of the year.</p>

<p>After some much-needed rain throughout Michigan and the recent warmer weather, Roth is optimistic there will be enough growing degree days for many cornfields to reach black layer, with most crops nearing the R4 dough stage or the R5 dent stage. Soybeans are mostly in the R6 stage, well behind where they normally are at this point in the season, but Roth anticipates they will reach their maturities this fall. While overall yield potential looks lower than normal this year, some pockets of crops are expected to pull through for farmers.</p>

<p>Due to the wet conditions, a number of Michigan cornfields experienced crown rot, which could lead to stalk rot down the line and compromise the integrity of the stalk. Roth recommends farmers walk their fields with their agronomist to determine what can be done to support the crops and to prioritize harvest order based on their observations. In addition, farmers who saw ear mold in their fields should consider harvesting early in order to dry their corn crop quickly to avoid mycotoxin development.</p>

<p>Farmers should survey fields diligently and determine harvest order based on moisture, disease and mold pressure, and stalk integrity. If farmers fail to consider things outside moisture levels, Roth warns, they may end up trying to pick up wet, diseased corn off the ground. As always, Roth encourages farmers to reach out to their local agronomist with any questions about harvest or to discuss plans for 2020.</p>

<p>Most cornfields are at early to full dent stage, depending on planting date, says Mark Glady, agronomist for WinField United in west-central Minnesota. Most soybeans are between R6 and R7 with full, plump pods. They are dropping leaves and rapidly approaching maturity.</p>

<p>Glady has seen widespread frogeye leaf spot in soybean fields, similar to last season. But the disease that is really causing trouble in soybeans and will compromise yield potential this year is soybean white mold. The disease came in late, but since many soybeans were planted late and are farther behind in maturity, the disease could have a particularly devastating impact, says Glady. Farmers who have white mold in their soybean fields should consider variety selection, rotating out of soybeans and applying a foliar fungicide at the start of flowering next year to help control the disease.</p>

<p>Southwestern Minnesota had windstorms, which resulted in greensnap. During a recent week, a foot of rain fell in some areas, so there’s corn with ears or lower parts of stalks underwater. This is a prime environment for stalk rot — not only from moisture but from fungal spores found in soil and silt. Farmers should do preharvest check-ups now, kicking some stalks to check integrity and making sure fields with stalks that are tipping over are harvested first.</p>

<p>Glady encourages farmers to take a basal stalk nitrate test prior to harvest but after black layer to determine nitrogen levels in cornfields. Evaluating the differences in fields this year can help farmers identify which type of nitrogen management program — a spring or fall application, with or without a nitrogen stabilizer — worked best. This can lead to better decision making for 2020.</p>

<p>Despite the tough year of growing challenges, many corn and soybean acres are looking strong, says WinField United agronomist Joe Rickard. Corn growth stages are highly variable across the state, ranging from R4 dough stage to R6. Soybean growth ranges from beginning seed (R5) to full maturity (R8).</p>

<p>Some early-planted fields have already been harvested, and in many cases these acres have provided strong yields. While overall yields may end up being below average on later-planted acres, Rickard anticipates that most crops should reach maturity in October after a strong accumulation of GDUs in September. He expects many farmers in Ohio may be surprised with their year-end results, given how the season started off.</p>

<p>Most farmers across Ohio caught a break with relatively low disease pressure this year, says Rickard. Farmers should check weed pressure to determine the necessity of a fall burndown application to help keep up with winter annuals.</p>

<p>When preparing for harvest, Rickard reminds farmers to be sure their equipment is properly lubricated, running smoothly and ready to go. He emphasizes the need to prioritize fields for harvest. In the next few weeks, farmers should get into their fields to conduct push and pinch tests on corn as an indicator of stalk integrity and crop maturity, and plan on using those results to help determine when to get the corn crop out of the field. Finally, Rickard encourages farmers to be safe and make smart decisions going into this harvest season.</p>

<p><span style="color:black">According to WinField United agronomist Ryan Wolf, September has helped push crops closer to the finish line. Wolf has seen early-planted corn reach black layer within the past two weeks, but hasn’t been able to say the same among late-planted acres yet. Many acres experienced green snap in certain areas of the field, which may lead to issues when rolling the combine. </span></p>

<p><span style="color:black">With the exception of late-planted acres, most soybeans are starting to turn and reach maturity, says Wolf. Most soybean acres are two to three weeks out from harvest, though recent wet weather could limit many farmers’ ability to get into the field. </span></p>

<p><span style="color:black">White mold was among the most prevalent diseases in soybean acres this September, says Wolf, with limited emergence of frogeye leaf spot. In corn, gray leaf spot emerged early in some parts of the state, but didn’t become as widespread as it has been in previous years. Cornfields that experienced Physoderma brown spot may end up with stalk rots and could face standability issues come harvest. </span></p>

<p><span style="color:black">As farmers shift into the harvest mindset, Wolf advises them not to forget about weed control, because above-normal moisture this year could lead to issues for next spring. Farmers should consider a burndown program to manage weeds earlier. On prevent plant acres, laying a residual herbicide down will help start clean next year, since many acres had a lot of weeds go to seed and steps should be taken to keep that pressure down.</span></p>

<p><span style="color:black">Most corn in Wisconsin ranges from dent stage to almost black layer, says Tryston Beyrer, agronomist with WinField United. Soybeans are progressing well, with some fields at the R4 or R5 growth stage (podset), while other fields are around R7 or the beginning of senescence.</span></p>

<p>The health of corn plants is probably a little below average. Beyrer attributes this to above-average rainfall, shallow root systems and poor stalk quality, which have also contributed to nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorous and potassium deficiencies. Beyrer encourages farmers to identify which fields need to be harvested first for silage or grain because stalk quality is diminishing rapidly.</p>

<p>Excessive moisture has contributed to corn diseases such as diplodia ear rot, so farmers are probably going to have to harvest grain wetter than they’d want. Beyrer encourages farmers to get grain dried down quickly to help prevent the spread of disease in the field. Eyespot was common in corn this year, with low to moderate levels of gray leaf spot and northern corn leaf blight. Soybean white mold has been abundant throughout Wisconsin, followed by brown stem rot, sudden death syndrome, stem canker, downy mildew and frogeye leaf spot.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Beyrer encourages farmers to have soil tests performed so they can correct nutrient issues this fall or winter and have a plan for managing crops next year. Farmers should also control winter annual weeds like shepherd’s purse, marestail and dandelion with a fall burndown. Using a fall burndown herbicide with residual chemistries can help slow the emergence of weeds in the spring, increasing spring weed control application options prior to planting.</p>

<p>Beyrer recommends giving cornfields with weaker stalks priority for harvest and making sure combines are adjusted for minimal grain loss. Farmers should also ensure dryers are set up and ready to handle wetter grain. Grain should be dried as quickly as possible to minimize the amount of mold, rot or deterioration between harvest and getting grain in the bin. Finally, anything farmers can do to minimize or correct soil compaction will be important in managing crops for success next year.&nbsp;</p>