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Features
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Not out of the woods yet?
[JUNE
10, 2002]
Farmers know that you don’t count your yield until it is
in the bin. This year makes it especially tough to even think about
yield prospects. Most of the corn that went in late has popped right
out of the ground and has a good stand. Same goes for the soybeans.
One potential problem now is some late-season insects showing up.
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Normally we think of
black cutworms as early-season insects. Cutworms are working in
cornfields now, with some corn as tall as 12 inches being cut. Corn
cut above the growing point will regrow and be fine, while corn cut
below ground or below the growing point will be a loss for the plant
cut. In addition to cutting corn, cutworms can spot feed and damage
the growing point causing a loss.
Rescue treatments for
cutworms should be applied when 3 percent of the plants are cut and
there are larvae present. Several insecticides provide good control
of cutworms when moisture is adequate, so that cutworms aren’t just
cutting below the soil surface. Also, you need to know what type of
cutworm is causing damage. Variegated cutworms cut leaves and plant
tops but don’t completely cut plants off. Black, sandhill, and
clayback cutworms usually cut entire plants.
We have also seen
delayed damage from wireworms, grubs and grape colaspis. Many of
these insects developed slower due to the very cool soil conditions
this year during the spring months. By now, most of the grubs and
colaspis have pupated — meaning they will soon change to adult
stages, if they haven’t already.
[to top of second column in this
article]
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There are many weeks
before the reproductive stages begin for corn, and then months
before the combines roll. When crop reports are seen at this time,
you have to take them with a grain of salt since a lot of things can
happen. Just ask the Freeport area with 7 inches of water in a
weekend. As for our prospects, they look OK at this point, but time
will tell.
[Photo provided by John Fulton]
Plots and
research in the county
Each year the
Extension office coordinates many demonstration and research plots
in the county. This year these would include: "Nitrogen and Manure
Rate Study on Corn," "Amino Sugar Soil Analysis and Nitrogen
Application on Corn," "Value-Added Traits Yield Plot — Corn,"
"Perennial Weed Control Programs For Corn and Soybeans," and the
"Commercial Corn Variety Yield Plot."
Information from many of these plots goes
into the University of Illinois Research System and is distributed
in many ways. The commercial variety corn plot will have local
information as well as a fall field day. If you would like more
information on any of these demonstration and research efforts,
please feel free to e-mail
fultonj@uiuc.edu.
[John Fulton]
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U of I launches new center for
studying soybean pathogens
[JUNE
10, 2002]
URBANA — Although considerable research money has been
spent to combat a wide range of soybean diseases, there has not been
any systematic effort over the years to preserve and collect samples
of the various pathogens that cause those diseases. As researchers
retire or move on to other projects, there is a real danger of
losing isolates of the pathogens that could be used to help control
major soybean diseases ranging from cyst nematode to sudden death
syndrome.
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"Assembling an
extensive and genetically diverse collection of soybean pathogens in
one location would provide an invaluable resource for identifying
new genes for resistance in soybeans and understanding the genetics
of the pathogens that cause major soybean diseases," said Glen
Hartman, USDA plant pathologist at the University of Illinois. "In
recent years, it has become abundantly clear that such a collection
is essential if we are to protect the long-term productivity of the
soybean in the U.S."
To meet this need,
Hartman and other collaborators across the country have recently
begun assembling just such a collection at the U of I’s National
Soybean Research Laboratory. The National Soybean Pathogen Center
will focus on collecting, maintaining and studying a wide range of
bacterial, fungal, nematode and viral pathogens.
Initial support for
the project came from the United Soybean Board, the American Seed
Trade Association and the USDA Agricultural Research Service. Recent
funding includes a grant from the USDA-IFASF Program.
"The main function of
the center is to provide soybean pathogens to researchers who are
working on host resistance as a means of reducing yield losses
caused by disease," Hartman said. "The center also will widely
disseminate information about the accessions in the collection and
present workshops so that researchers can work more efficiently with
the pathogens."
The center is
committed to maintaining the soybean pathogens in a viable and
stable state, while maintaining all original properties. The
collection will serve as a reference collection for researchers in
both the public and private sectors.
"We will describe and
document the variations in the soybean pathogens from our
collection," Hartman said. "All that information will be made
readily available to other interested researchers. We also will
assist other scientists in identifying soybean pathogens and
studying variations among the samples in the collection as they
relate to understanding pathogen biology and the interactions with
the hosts."
[to top of second column in this
article]
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Hartman notes that
the collection will include living pathogens, representing the range
of genetic diversity within bacteria, fungi, nematodes and viruses
that are considered important for improving soybean germplasm. Other
programs at the center will focus on training in germplasm screening
and developing research strategies for better understanding pathogen
diversity.
"An accession number
will be allocated to each incoming strain," he said. "Those that are
further purified or selected will be assigned a new accession
number. A top priority will be to maintain the identity and
viability of the strains in the collection. Some pathogens will be
maintained as frozen stock, while others may be kept on living plant
material."
Accessions in the
collection will be distributed through an online catalogue without
any charge. The collection will housed at the National Soybean
Research Center at the U of I. Other cooperators on the project will
maintain duplicate collections at several different locations.
He further points out
that the location of the center at the NSRC provides ready access to
the USDA Soybean Germplasm Collection at the U of I.
"This unique collection contains more
than 16,000 soybean accessions and more than 1,000 accessions of the
progenitor of the soybean," Hartman said. "The germplasm collection
also has about 1,000 accessions of the wild perennial Glycine
species. We expect to have strong collaboration between the curator
of the germplasm collection and the scientists working with the
pathogen collection, all of which should prove of great benefit for
soybean producers as new resistant soybean varieties are developed
and released."
[News
release]
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Maximum
yield charts
show potential crop losses
Farmers
face replant decisions
[MAY
28, 2002]
Logan County planting progress has grown by a "small
leap" this past week with marginal field conditions allowing some
farmers to forge ahead, while others were forced to keep machinery
parked. Highly variable field conditions have allowed corn to reach
about 90 percent completed and soybeans to reach approximately 30
percent planted.
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One of the key
concerns in late planting is the amount of potential yield loss that
has occurred to date. The percentage of maximum yield chart shows
that we have lost about 20 percent of yield to date from corn, and
the yield losses will add to that rate at about 1 percent a day from
here on out.
The other thing that
enters into this is replant decisions. A total of 15,000 corn plants
left from a May 4 planting will about equal the yield potential of a
perfect stand of about 30,000 plants planted May 29. For soybeans,
there has been some potential yield reduction due to late planting,
but the numbers haven’t been great thus far. August rains that fill
seeds will have more impact on soybean yields than the lateness of
planting so far.
Another important
question is the potential loss of nitrogen from cornfields. Most
estimates place losses in the ballpark of 40 to 80 pounds of
nitrogen per acre from most applications to date. Applications of
additional nitrogen should take into account your specific situation
and revised corn yield goals. Application type and source of
nitrogen need to be considered when considering applying additional
material.
[to top of second column in
this article] |
Many Web-based
sources are available to help you in determining management
strategies related to delayed planting. One of the most
comprehensive is the Purdue site, which has put many related sources
in one spot. That web address is
http://www.ces.purdue.edu/delayedplanting/.
Another source of
good information is the University of Illinois site that has the
crop management newsletter on it at
http://www.ag.uiuc.edu/cespubs/pest/. This site hosts the
current and back issues of the crop development and pest management
newsletter, which would be very applicable to our area.
Remember the source
as you look for information. Most university sites are very good
sources, but their location may make some of the dates and
information of questionable value.
Remember the potential for soil
compaction as spot showers hit certain fields. Compaction is
something we get to battle with all season.
[John Fulton]
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Bomke denounces
plan to hurt ag community
[MAY
28, 2002]
SPRINGFIELD — Senate Democratic Leader
Emil Jones’ most recent budget plan could affect even more jobs in
central Illinois, according to Sen. Larry Bomke.
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Jones, R-Chicago, offered the governor a plan Wednesday to increase
sales taxes on agriculture and manufacturing. Among the sales tax
increases Jones proposed are those affecting manufacturer’s purchase
credit, manufacturing and assembling machinery and equipment, farm
chemicals, new and used farm machinery, ethanol fuels, and coal
mining equipment.
"First they want to lay off state employees; now they want to hit
our agriculture and manufacturing jobs as well," said Bomke,
R-Springfield. "If the Democrats have their way, there won’t be any
jobs left in my district."
Bomke indicated he will fight the Democratic plan and instead
continue pushing for cuts in spending and better fiscal management
to balance the budget.
[to top of second column in this
article]
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"We need to look at ways to cut the fat and better manage government
before we ask for more money," said Bomke. "The last thing we want
to do is place a huge burden where jobs hang in the balance."
Bomke has already
proposed several budget alternatives to raise revenues, such as
allowing state employees to opt out of the health insurance program
if they have other coverage ($24 million) and increasing taxes on
riverboats ($118 million), as well as rejecting raises for himself,
other lawmakers, constitutional officers, judges and high-ranking
state officials ($11-12 million). He is also sponsoring an early
retirement plan that could save $356.5 million in payroll and salary
each year.
[News
release] |
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Cool
temperatures slow
drying of saturated soils [MAY
24, 2002]
"With
11.8 inches of rainfall — 183 percent of average — since April 1,
this is the wettest April 1-May 19 period in Illinois since 1900,
and the month is not over yet," says Jim Angel, state climatologist
with the Illinois State Water
Survey, a division of the Illinois Department of Natural
Resources. |
The new record beats the
old record set in 1943 by a third of an inch. With 10.60 inches, 1957
was third. Although the year 1995 came in fourth with 10.59 inches,
precipitation was near average for the rest of that growing season. The
latest National Weather Service long-term outlooks call for an increased
chance of above average precipitation this June and for the entire
summer (June-August).
Weather observers
throughout the state have reported more than 10 inches of precipitation
since April 1, including 2 to 5 inches this past week (see map below).
Precipitation in inches, April 1-May 19
[Click on map to enlarge]
[to top of second column in
this article]
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Totals exceed 15
inches for these Illinois sites: Hardin, Morrisonville, Pana,
Riverton, Beecher City, Charleston, Effingham, Lovington, Mattoon,
Olney, Ramsey, Tuscola, Vandalia and Windsor.
Rainfall has been
heaviest between Interstates 70 and 72 in Illinois. Beecher City,
near Effingham, has accumulated 19.32 inches since April 1,
including 11.35 inches on May 6-14, which exceeds the 10-day,
100-year storm for that region, says Angel.
Besides already
averaging 6.60 inches of rainfall across Illinois in the first 19
days of May (2.48 inches more than the May average), temperatures 4
degrees cooler than average have further slowed the drying of
saturated soils.
"While some folks are saying this is
similar to what occurred in 1993, conditions this spring are
different. Unusually heavy June-August rains centered over Iowa
caused the 1993 flood. Heavy rains this spring are occurring much
earlier and are centered over southern Illinois and Indiana," says
Angel.
[Eva Kingston, editor,
Illinois State Water Survey] |
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Honors
& Awards
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Ag
Announcements
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FFA to invade capital
[JUNE
7, 2002]
That’s
right, FFA members from across the state will be heading to
Springfield for the annual Illinois FFA Convention June 11-13. The
Prairie Capital Career Center will be filled with FFA members
enjoying the festivities.
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There will be five
main sessions during the convention, with awards being given out and
winners announced at each session. FFA members and chapters will
be recognized for their outstanding achievements throughout the
year. Also, the major state officers will give their retiring
addresses, and new officers will be elected and installed for the
2002-2003 year.
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For more information about the FFA and
for convention updates, visit
www.illinoisffa.org.
[Provided by Natalie Coers] |
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New
beef organization formed
[APRIL
8, 2002] Beef
producers from the Logan, Mason and Tazewell County areas have
recently formed the Heartland Beef Alliance. The object of this
new group will be to share ideas on beef
production, highlight educational benefits of beef to the
consumer, tour beef production facilities, learn from guest
speakers and enjoy socializing among area producers. Any beef
producer, whether owner of one or many beef animals, is encouraged
to join.
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For
more information contact the following officers: Jason Miller,
president, (309) 247-3231; Troy Gehrke, vice-president, (309)
244-7826; Betsy Pech, secretary, (217) 732-4384; or Rick McKown,
treasurer, (217) 648-2712.
The
next meeting will be June 3, 7:30 p.m., at the Greenhaven
Animal Clinic in San Jose.
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