From the Week of October 2, 2023
The one-stop-shop for everything you need to know about what’s happening this week in your fields.
This week’s featured agronomists are:
Ben Wagner – Le Sueur
Gregg Gustine – Pine Island
Zach Hinsch – Wanamingo
Gary Suess – Stewartville
Chace Kinneman – Ellsworth
Scroll down to hear from your local agronomist, and click for contact info!
WEST
Belle Plaine – Le Center – Le Sueur
Ben Wagner
The first week in October brought us temperatures in the low 90’s and will leave us in the low 40’s. What a first “official” week of harvest! With harvest in full swing across most of our area everyone seems to be pleasantly surprised with the yields coming out of the fields. Personally, I’ve received calls from growers asking me to verify their yield monitor, and in 80% of cases, it was within a 5% margin of error, which was a great relief. To that, make sure to have your machines calibrated for the greatest amount of accuracy on yield because “Good Data in means Good Data Out.” When we know for certain that the numbers are correct, we can use this data to help us make better decisions down the road. If you need a combine calibration, reach out to your Ag Partners Agronomist or AYS Specialist.
I wish everyone a safe and bountiful harvest!
EAST
Pine Island – Cannon Falls – Goodhue – Lake City
Gregg Gustine
Fall is a great time to evaluate the rootworm pressure in your acres of corn on corn. After the combine goes through, it is easier to get around in the field and your view is unobstructed. Look for stalks that are leaning or loose in the ground. Dig random plants and check for feeding. We have had two years of heavy rootworm pressure, and there is no reason to believe next year will be any different.
If you find excessive feeding in your fields there are several options available. You can change your trait package, the new Dekalb SmartStax Pro looks quite impressive. Another choice would be applying a quality insecticide at planting. Insecticide applied at tassel to reduce populations has some merit but can be hit or miss. Inadequate fertility can also affect trait performance.
Make sure and get out in your fields before you plow and have a look at your roots to help avoid future problems. If you any questions, contact your Ag Partners Agronomist. Have a safe Harvest!
CENTRAL
Morristown – Wanamingo – Kenyon
Zach Hinsch
What a roller coaster of a year it’s been again. Thank you to everyone involved in making this growing season another one for the books. The soybean harvest is at full tilt here in the central region and won’t take long with the higher-than-normal temps we are experiencing. Like we’ve said in the past, let’s be sure to take good notes on what we are seeing as the harvesters are going across the fields. With the dryer than normal growing season we experienced in 2023, herbicides struggled to achieve season-long control throughout whole fields. Let’s identify and mark these spots as we strive for weed-free fields in years to come. Be in communication with your local Ag Partners agronomist on recommendations to alleviate these areas in the future. Have a safe harvest! Thanks everyone!
SOUTH
Elgin – Lewiston – Stewartville
Gary Suess
Harvest is in full swing with combines running in both corn & soybeans. As expected, yield reports have been all over the board. Good yields are tracking the moisture conditions and soil textures found field to field. Now is also the time we start getting fields ready for next year’s crop. Fall fertilizing, liming, & soil sampling are all actively happening. If you pick up a new farm, get some grid samples pulled to find out what you’ve got to work with and make the applications needed to get the farm in shape for next year. Most fall fertilizing plans are in place already, but if you’re on the fence whether to apply your P & K fertilizer this fall or wait until next Spring, here is some AYS data supporting Fall applications.
Charted below is corn yield data over 6 years comparing different rates of Potassium using Spring versus Fall application timings. Yield advantage to Fall applied Potash was greater than 7 bushel/acre when compared to Spring applied.
Same type of chart below here, but this time comparing Phosphorus. Yield Advantage to Fall applied Phosphorus was around 9 bushel/acre when compared to Spring applied.
The yield response to Fall applied P & K occurs because Fall timing gives the soil time to get the nutrients into an available form and ready for plants to use right away next year instead of waiting for Spring applied nutrients to become available for plant uptake.
Have a safe and enjoyable harvest!
WISCONSIN
Ellsworth
Chace Kinneman
This last week much needed rain has fell, totaling in some area up to 2+ inches. Unfortunately, it came a little too late for our growing crop. One thing it did bring was plant disease. As the rain fell anthracnose and late season tar spot spores exposed themselves in our corn crop. I’ve had numerous calls this week wondering why the corn was dying. Hybrids on Corn on Corn with less plant health scores or fields that suffered more with dry conditions seem be the fields that were most effected. If you have any on these fields, looking forward to the upcoming days and weeks, we will need to watch stalk health very closely. Stalks in these fields are very weak and it may be better to harvest them early. It’s never fun to pick down corn!
Corn silage is coming to an end and tonnage was a few tons better than we were expecting. A few soybeans came off before the rain, with some yields coming out in the 60’s and 70’s. We are very excited to see what the rest of harvest brings. Honestly, it’s hard to believe what yields I have been witnessing with the little rainfall received in our area this year. Yes, we are going to have areas and spots in our fields that will be far under average. This is a great year to analyze what areas of your fields produce high yields, low yields, and ask yourself how you can manage these areas better in the future. Hope everyone has a safe a hearty harvest.
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I am also happy to announce that sunflower harvest was a success with the JD 3300! |
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