Ag Partners Agronomic Insights
 Erin StackhouseLe Sueur |
 Justin SchaeferWanamingo |
 Gary SuessStewartville |
 Chace KinnemanEllsworth |
WEST
Wow! What a fall it has been. As we wrap up with harvest, AYS Specialists are excited to enter our most anticipated time of the year: Data Analytics. This is one of our favorite seasons, or as I like to call it, report card time. There’s a lot to discuss after this past season—much of which some of us may want to forget. Our Western territory experienced record rainfall amounts over just three months this summer, followed by nearly 60 days without rain to close out the fall.
We’ve already processed a substantial amount of harvest data and look forward to diving deeper. Our initial focus will be on fertility responses, fungicide responses, and nitrogen management. Nitrogen availability became quite limited after the 7–10 inches of rain we received in late June.
While many of us may want to put 2024 behind us, it’s essential to acknowledge the positives and the successful strategies we implemented, even if the yields weren’t what we expected.
Key Data Takeaways from 2024 Thus Far:
- Patience is Key
- Fertility Matters
- Our Soils Struggle with Excess Water
- Weather Extremes:
- Wet conditions in May and June
- Dry spells from July to October
Have a great and safe winter! – Erin
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We haven’t even reached November yet and harvest is nearing an end. Corn yields, like soybeans, have been all over the board, but most growers I’ve talked with are happy overall with how the crop year has ended.
Variability has been a word used frequently this fall in our area when talking about both soybean and corn yields. Variability will never be eliminated but can be minimized by taking appropriate steps. We don’t have time to go through all the factors, but the main ones I see from year to year are drainage, soil fertility levels, and sticking too and adapting in season management. I realize there were areas this summer that got much more rain than what tile could handle but make notes of areas where tile could improve production on normal precipitation years. Building soil fertility levels and correcting pHs with lime play a huge role in maintaining high yields and not seeing the drop offs in production that can be caused by mother nature throwing us curveballs. Grid sampling and variable rate spreading are two things everyone can use to help in this area. Finally, it is important to not give up on in season plans and it is just as important to make inseason adjustments when needed. Soybeans were dealt more aphid pressure in many areas this year than what we’ve seen in quite some time. That is something we can manage in season and create a nice ROI. As for corn, you will hear a lot of information this winter on two inseason management practices that drove yield as much as anything, those being side dress nitrogen and tassel fungicide. Putting on additional nitrogen this summer and/or having a split application should show really good results after all the early season rain we had. Corn fungicide continues to help year after year in protecting yield from Tar Spot and other diseases, while also improving stalk integrity for improved harvestability.
Enjoy the rest of fall! Please reach out to your local agronomist with any questions or concerns. Stay Safe! – Justin
SOUTH
The 2024 harvest is coming to an end. While there are still some acres left to harvest, many growers have finished. It’s difficult to remember the last time the majority of harvest was done this early. I guess that’s what happens when it doesn’t rain the entire season, and harvest just keeps plugging along day after day. Yield reports ranges from growers are just like any other year – some had the best yields ever, while others are experiencing lower than average yield. Many times, these high and low yield reports occur in very close proximity to each other. With the huge variability of weather events we now experience, it just depends on the area these operations were located in relation to the yield outcome.
I’m starting to process AYS yield data for this year and Nitrogen management is starting to stand out on corn yields. Since Nitrogen is a mobile nutrient in our soil, this isn’t too surprising due to our wetter than normal Spring. Here are a few of the key early takeaways from Nitrogen this year:
- Single applications of Nitrogen, combined with high precipitation causing Nitrogen loss, resulted in yield loss due to Nitrogen shortages later in the season at grain fill.
- Heavy and fine textured soils that remained saturated for extended periods had significant denitrification and loss of Nitrogen, ending in lower yields.
- Nitrogen stabilizers proved to be effective in protecting your Nitrogen investment and prevented nutrient loss and protected yield potential.
Sidedress/Split Applications improved Nitrogen Use Efficiency and yields. The secondary application also allowed for replacement of Nitrogen lost due to the heavy rainfalls earlier in the year. Total applied nitrogen also had an impact. These charts show results from a couple sidedress Nitrogen Enhanced Learning Block trials I made in for a grower in AYS. The ELB compares yields to different rates of Nitrogen applied. In both cases, increasing the amount of Nitrogen sidedressed resulted in higher yields. With the wet Spring weather this year, this seems intuitive, but the ELB allows us to statistically analyze this and quantify the effects of the various Nitrogen application rates. – Gary
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WISCONSIN
We are finally getting some much needed rain up here in Ellsworth! It’s been 64 days with no measurable rain. Crazy how we go from it won’t stop raining to please let it rain. On the bright side though, most guys have wrapped up harvest for the year, which is something that we normally don’t talk about at this time of the season.
Our soil sample crew has been busting their butts to get samples in so we can get results back in time to make variable rate recommendation. for fertilizer and lime. It’s been a great fall for getting this done. If you’ve been thinking you want to sample your farm, stop in and talk to one of our agronomists. We’d love to help you out!
Hope everyone’s fall has been great and have a Happy Halloween!!! – Chace
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