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Harvest time

By John Fulton

[SEPT. 25, 2001]  With harvest having begun in earnest this past week, we are having the yield results that everyone expected. That is to say that they are highly variable. Take the corn yields that have been discussed. The range that I have heard has been from 90 to 214 bushels per acre. The 214 seems to be a more isolated yield, with other yields running 20 bushels under that. Most corn yields seem to be running from 120 to 170 bushels per acre, with areas that had rain on the upper end and dryer areas running lower yield averages.

With soybean yields, the range of yields has been from 30 to 74 bushels per acre. Both the top and the bottom yields of the range are extreme. Most soybean yields have been from the low 40s to the low 50s, with rainfall and the relative maturity of the soybean having the major influence on yields. This year the mid to late Group 3 soybeans seem to have a yield advantage because of rains that fell very late in the growing season. The earlier maturing soybeans were already mature when the rains fell. The earlier beans have also had smaller seeds and lesser seed quality on the whole.

 

As harvest continues, we’ll begin to get a better handle on where the yields will settle. Of course the Illinois Department of Agriculture will provide its county yield estimates in February. But in the end we only tend to focus on our own farms and fields, as they are the ones that have to pay the bills.

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Corn borer survey

The annual ritual of evaluating corn borer damage has begun in the county. In fact, we are about to complete our field assignments. Each year, we are asked to assess corn borer damage and counts in 10 fields. Last year the counts of overwintering corn borers were light in the west area of the county and heavier to the east. This year the counts seem to have averaged out with heavy populations in most areas of the county.

Averages thus far on the survey show about 80 percent plant infestation and about two corn borers present per plant. Some plants that were damaged had no borers currently in them, as the borers had moved on. Other plants had as high as eight borers in one plant.

The results of our county survey will be sent to campus to combine with the other counties conducting surveys. This data collection helps campus specialists with predictions for overwintering numbers and potential damage for next year.

[John Fulton]

 


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