Ag Partners Agronomic Insights
 Joe DeeMorristown |
 Casey CarlsonGoodhue |
 Hailey HauladenElgin |
Kirsten Bauer |
WEST
Soybean harvest is nearing the end in our area with substantial variability in yields. This was somewhat expected due to the early wet conditions of this challenging growing season. Most growers have moved on to corn and are seeing similar results: extremely variable! In some instances, swinging more than 150 bushels in a single pass across the field. As far as corn moisture is concerned, we are seeing anywhere from 14-25%. It seems like only two weeks ago when it was hard to find moisture levels below 30%, during soybean harvest.
With the crop changing this fast and the unusually warm weather sticking around in the forecast, we want to keep stalk quality on the top of our minds. The first half of our growing season was abnormally wet and caused the plant to go through stressors that favor diseases such as crown and stalk rot. We are now seeing some hybrids beginning to weaken and go backward in stalk quality.
The following picture is after a push test. Stalk push tests are an easy way to plan your harvest order. Don’t wait for corn to continue to dry down, it’s important to protect the yield that’s out there.
Talk to your agronomist about what hybrids or harvest order you should be performing on your farm today. Have a safe rest of the harvest!
– Joe
Home runs, train wrecks, and everything in between would be a good description of the corn yields in the area this Fall. Here is what we have learned so far this fall:
- Tar Spot pressure and how you managed it is the #1 yield factor we are seeing this fall. Tar Spot pressure varied from medium to very high across the area. Fields that were not sprayed with a fungicide are yielding 30 to 100 bushels below normal yields.
- Corn sprayed with Miravis Neo at VT provided 30 to 100 bushels of yield protection.
- All seed companies and nearly all corn varieties suffered yield loss from not managing Tar Spot and other diseases this year, some worse than others. Varieties with poor tolerance are seeing some 100-bushel yield responses to fungicide, medium tolerance we are seeing about a 50-bushel response to fungicide, and varieties with good tolerance we are seeing closer to a 30-bushel response.
- Tar Spot pressure was high enough in some neighborhoods to justify a second fungicide application 3 to 4 weeks after the first application. Of the 2 pass trials that are harvested we are seeing an average yield increase of 20 bushels (10 – 30)
- Other diseases were also present in high numbers: rust, Northern Corn Leaf Blight, and stalk rots. These diseases also contributed & caused significant yield loss.
- Fall applied manure and heavy soils with spring only nitrogen applications saw significant denitrification, causing yield loss from the lack of nitrogen at grain fill.
Most fields under high management (Fungicide + Split N + High P&K + New Seed Genetics) are yielding quite well.
Pictured Here : A field with a 10-acre block of a second Miravis Neo application sprayed with a drone at milk stage.
Results Of Trial :
- Two pass Miravis Neo: 251 bushels per acre at 16.1 % moisture.
- One pass Miravis Neo: 217 bushels per acre at 13.4% moisture.
- No fungicide: 175 bushels per acre (not shown).
Trial Notes: Heavy tar spot during grain fill. Tar spot found in mid-July.
– Casey
SOUTH
As Fall progresses rapidly, we are pleased to report another successful harvest in our southeastern region of Ag Partners. Soybeans are essentially wrapped up, and many farmers are now harvesting corn. Initial reports from the corn harvest indicate good to exceptional yields, and soybean yields have exceeded expectations in most areas.
However, as we enter a new season where crop prices are lower than we’d like, it’s vital that we make strategic decisions to protect our profits and set ourselves up for success in the coming year. One of the most effective steps you can take right now is to apply fertilizer this fall, and here are some reasons why:
- Maximizing Yield Potential + Nutrient Availability: Fertilizing this fall for next year’s crop enables better breakdown during winter, enhancing nutrient availability in the growing season. Our AYS data shows a consistent increase in bushels over the past decade. Given the decline in crop prices, it’s crucial to optimize yields through effective nutrient management to sustain and improve this year’s strong yields amongst fluctuating market conditions.
- Cost-Effective Investment: With crop prices down, every dollar counts. Taking advantage of fall fertilizer application can help lock in lower prices before demand rises in spring. By applying in the fall, it also allows for variable rate application, targeting nutrient needs in specific field zones and reducing application in fertile areas which can optimize your cost per acre.
- Timing and Convenience: Fall offers an ideal opportunity for fertilizer application when soil conditions are optimal. By applying phosphorus and potassium (P+K) this fall, we can reduce spring application rates, enabling us to cover your fields more quickly and facilitating faster planting
These are just a few of many reasons as to why to apply fertilizer this fall! If you have any questions or would like to get lined up for fall fertilizer applications reach out to your local Ag Partners Agronomist! Hope that everyone has a safe and bountiful rest of harvest!
– Hailey
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WISCONSIN
Harvest time is well underway here in Western WI. It’s safe to say we have seen it all this year from excessive moisture to drought. Nothing was left off the table for 2024 and so it is no surprise because of this our yields have been all across the board. Most growers have wrapped up soybean harvest and as corn continues to come off, we continue to see the adverse effects of Tar Spot and the other diseases/fungi that rode its coattails. Stalks are decaying more rapidly than usual, and the reduced strength is easily visible as tops begin to snap and internal tissues degrade and change color (red or pink coloration indicating Fusarium or Gibberella stalk rot infections). This has been especially visible in varieties that were more susceptible to disease and fields that did not receive a fungicide application. That being said it all comes down to yield and test weight, not just looks.
(Picture taken 9/17/24: a fungicide check strip in Plum City, WI)
Be sure to check in with your Ag Partners Agronomist as the numbers roll in and we gather more insights on the 2024 season. I hope everyone takes advantage of this long dry window we have had while we still can, and that we all wrap up this season safely! – Kirsten