Extension Update is a weekly summary of news from Extension, government, and other attributable sources, focused on marketing, farm management, and other issues that are of interest to Midwestern farm owners and operators.

With harvest underway, Southern Hemisphere corn and soybean crops are substantially improved from a year ago. Iowa State’s Bob Wisner reports in his latest newsletter:
1) The Argentine corn crop is forecast 36% larger than last year’s weather-reduced harvest.
2) The Brazilian corn crop is expected to be 15% larger than last years harvest.
3) The South African crop is estimated at 8% better than last years weather reduced crop.
4) These 3 will raise 495 mil. bu. more than 2006, with exports at 11% of US exports.
5) Brazil & Argentina will raise 200 mil. bu. more soybeans, exporting most of that.

As private forecasters project a 10 mil. acre increase for US corn, Iowa State’s Bob Wisner says those acres will probably yield less than acreage usually planted to corn:
1) Cotton acreage in TX, MS & LA only has a 3-year average corn yield of 129 bu
2) Spring wheat acreage in ND only has a 3-year average corn yield of 115 bu.
3) Private forecasters expect significant hay and pastureland will be planted to corn.
4) Some CRP may also be planted, but it gives better soybean yields than corn yields.

Manage your price risk going into the Mar. 30 planting report says Ohio State’s Matt Roberts. He says an 11 mil. increase in corn acres could drop prices 50-75¢, and an 8 mil acre increase might increase prices 50-75¢. But he says there is a greater chance of a drop than an increase, and it is too early in the marketing year for a big price increase. Read his comments.

To protect prices, Roberts suggests the options market. “For the old crop, I would suggest looking into the purchase of $3.90 July puts for about 18¢ if you would like longer-term protection, or $3.90 May puts for about 10¢ if you want very short-term protection for old crop bushels. For new crop, if you haven’t marketing any, I would advise some forward sales to lock in what are undoubtedly significant profits.

Are corn and bean prices high enough, or are you seeking extra cash through specialty grain premiums?
1) Food grade yellow corn: +5-15¢ over local cash, variety specific +40¢.
2) White corn: +30-40¢ over CBOT, variety specific +50-65¢.
3) High oil corn: +40-60¢, variety specific only. Hard endosperm: +15-26¢.
4) High starch corn (70%+ yield): +20-30¢ over CBOT, variety specific.
5) Blue corn: $9-9.20/bu. Non-GMO corn: +20-25¢.
6) Non-GMO beans: mostly +65-75¢ over local cash
7) High protein beans: +80-90¢ over local cash, variety specific.
8) Low linolenic beans: +60-65¢ over local cash, variety specific.

High wheat prices have resulted in significant acreage increases compared to 2007. The 44 mil. acres of winter wheat exceeded 2006 by 3.5 mil. and the 8.3 mil. acres of soft red wheat was a 13% increase. As some producers consider replacing wheat acreage with corn, IL Outlook Specialist Darrel Good says, “Current weather patterns maintain the potential for relatively high wheat yields, making replacement with spring planted crops a very risky decision.”

Darrel Good says, “Price volatility will likely continue due to the uncertainty about US and world production of wheat and other crops. However, the longer term price trend may be lower as current high prices will likely lead to large crops and more abundant world stocks. If so, pricing opportunities may be best early in the ‘07-08 marketing year.”

Regardless of its appearance, almost any wheat crop with an adequate stand at the time it greens up has the potential to produce a good yield, says Extension Specialist Emerson Nafziger. That means enough tillers to produce 60+ heads/sq. ft. The decision whether a wheat crop is worth keeping can be made when the crop is 8 to 10 inches tall, by which time you can usually count what will likely become productive (head-bearing) tillers.

If you are leaning toward converting wheat to corn, your biggest unrecoverable cost is seed. Any topdress N can be used by the corn. Wait on herbicide application until your decision is final, and remember Harmony needs 45 days before corn can be planted. For a burndown, glyphosate works well, but keeps armyworms hungry until corn spouts up. Read more Nafziger comments.

Extension entomologists are taking a hard line on the issue of planting refuges adjacent to Bt corn hybrids. They say the 20% refuge acreage requirement is part of the agreement with seed companies, and the slight loss of yield with a refuge is not worth sacrificing the viability of Bt technology to control caterpillar and rootworm pests.

The sledgehammer approach to rootworm control is applying granular insecticide on top of seed-treated Bt corn. But IL Extension bug gurus say, “There is no data to support the rationale for using three active ingredients against corn rootworm larvae, whose populations have a rich history of developing resistance to control tactics.”

Prepare for soybean aphids. Based on egg sampling this week at Michigan State Univ., soybean aphid eggs made it through the winter, and they will hatch as buckthorn buds break in the next few weeks. Aphid specialists remind producers that the soybean rust website, offers aphid updates. Under the date, the site can be switched to aphids and a commentary about aphids is available when a state appears in color.

Are you a no-tiller who is planning to increase corn acreage and plant corn on corn? You may have researched the problems, but NE Specialist Paul Jasa offers some tips for no-tilling corn on corn in a NE weekly Internet newsletter.
1) Crop rotation cut many pest and disease problems and increased soil biological activity
2) Rotation also spread the workload and production risks and generally improved yields.
3) Are the prices worth the higher production expenses, increased risks, and lower yields.
4) Do you have adequate machinery and labor capacity for more corn acres?
5) To aid soil drying and warming, consider strip-till on poorly drained soils.
6) Consider ridge-till to provide a warmer, drier soil providing good early growth.

Some new herbicides on the market this year provide added control flexibility:
1) Impact 2.8SC is a PRE for grass and broadleaves, and has soil persistence.
2) Canopy 75DG has been re-introduced for soybeans after withdrawal a few years ago.
3) Canopy EX is a fall applied herbicide, equivalent to Classic, Sencor, & Express.
4) Authority First and Sonic 70DF are soybean pre-mixes for PRE or PPI.
5) Status is equivalent to Distinct with a safener for corn protection from 4 to 36 in.
6) Prefix CP blends Reflex, Flexstar, & Dual Magnum for grass and broadleaf control.
7) Valor XLT is Valor & Classic burndown for use up to 3 days after bean planting.
8) Autumn 10WDG is a fall herbicide which can be used only ahead of corn planting.
9) Stout mp is Accent & Harmony and controls some grass and broadleaves in corn.
10) SureStart is a new soil-applied herbicide which includes acetochlor and others.

Corn population research is difficult because of variable weather, but IL Extension reports in its March newsletter.
1) 35,000 population provided more profit than 30,000 or 40,000 in favorable conditions.
2) Less productive and dry soils have a better yield response with 25-30,000 population.
3) Target populations under 30,000 might want to be modestly raised.
4) Raising the population in continuous corn often lowers yield, and seldom increases it.
5) If planting can be finished by May 10, there is no need to adjust population by date.

Will starter fertilizer provide missing micronutrients to boost yield? Nafziger believes new hybrids with rapid growth will root faster and reach nutrients quicker. He says moisture is more important to yield than micronutrients and the combination of good soil contact with early root growth will provide better water uptake at important times.

Federal courts have halted sales of roundup Ready alfalfa. There was a problem at USDA in shortcutting the testing process, and is not your fault. If you plant any prior to March 30, 2007, it is exempt from this ruling and can be harvested, sold and fed to animals. Any Roundup Ready alfalfa seed purchased before March 12, 2007, must be planted before March 30, 2007. After then all alfalfa must be a conventional variety.

Conservation tillage continued to grow in 2006, according to a survey across 22% of US cropland by the Conservation Technology Information Center. No-till and strip till acres totaled 31.5%, ridge till reached .9%, mulch till dropped to 22.3%. Total conservation tillage acres are at 54.7%, reduced till dropped to 21.8%, conventional tillage is at 23.5%. Only 20.4% of corn and 30.4% of small grains, but 44.5% of soybeans were no-tilled.

Negotiations to resume beef exports to South Korea are stalled, but US pork exports are hot. Missouri’s Glenn Grimes says they were up 35% over 2006, and pork exports were up 43% to Japan, where beef has been slow to re-enter the market. He says the US exports 11% of our pork production, and pork exports began the year 20% above 2006.