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.

Soybean prices are stronger says Extension Specialist Darrel Good, because the market is looking toward the future. “Prospects of a sharp decline in US soybean inventories by the end of the 2007-08 marketing year result from a combination of a decline in harvested acreage from 2006 (8.5 mil.), a lower US average yield (1.2 bu.), and yearly consumption remaining near 3.04 bil. bu. Soybean prices have received additional strength from less than an ideal start to the US growing season, such as excess moisture in parts of the western Cornbelt, dryness in parts of the eastern Cornbelt, and drought in the southeast.

Darrel Good also says the market is looking toward Brazil. “Higher fertilizer prices and a weak US dollar make soybeans less attractive in Brazil. Still, at current futures prices a substantial increase in soybean acreage in So. America can be anticipated this year. The market appears to be offering an early opportunity to price a portion of the 2007 crop.” Read his newsletter.

Chris Hurt’s Purdue newsletter provides important corn marketing benchmarks. “Those who are not at least 25% to 35% priced on new crop should consider moving to that level. Prospects are still in place for much higher prices this summer (poor weather) and somewhat lower prices (favorable weather). He says ethanol provides good support.

More on-farm corn storage is being built, but Ohio State marketing specialist Matt Roberts says, “Warmer temperatures means an increasing amount of management to store it, maintain pest control and keep aeration and temperatures at normal levels so the grain won’t degrade. It can get costly to store grain, but the biggest costs in storage will not be management costs, they will be opportunity costs, the idea that stored grain at $3.50-$4 a bushel on the market is not sitting in the bank earning interest.” Read more about this.

The Cornbelt remains outside the warning areas of the Drought Monitor, except for a sliver of southern OH and the upper reaches of WI and MN. However, this week’s update deepened the drought in other areas.

The western Cornbelt has received relief from dry soil in most areas, says Iowa State’s weather guru Elwynn Taylor, who adds, “The La Nina is not a risk factor, yet.”
1) The all important Trade Winds took a turn away from La Nina-like late this past week.
2) Drought in southern GA and FL is a concern to the southeastern U.S.
3) However, southern GA conditions are not a harbinger of Cornbelt conditions.
4) SC conditions in June are indicative, if the “crop moisture index” reaches -2.
5) Follow the weekly Internet map of the crop moisture index.

As more weeds become resistant to glyphosate, NE researchers have announced success in genetically protecting crops against the herbicide dicamba, which will provide an alternative broadleaf control program. Monsanto funded the research and says they should have commercial crops available early in the next decade. The use of dicamba is currently limited to corn, but this makes it applicable on soybeans, canola, and cotton. Read more about this development.

Volunteer corn in bean fields is hard to control if they are both resistant to glyphosate. However there are many alternatives that may have been forgotten, if you have only used glyphosate in the past few years. Details on choices, rates of application, size of corn, and other considerations are available.

Recent rains have spurred a flush of weeds, and Extension weed specialist Aaron Hager says fields in which no soil-residual herbicide, or only a limited amount, was applied are prime candidates to experience additional weed emergence; these fields should be carefully scouted during the next week or two. And he says a second may be needed.

They’re baaaack! Entomologists report this year's hatch of corn rootworms is 1 to 2 weeks earlier than occurred last year. The hatch will continue for several weeks, through early June. Mike Gray at the Univ. of IL says the dry weather and soil conditions in many areas will favor good to excellent survival of corn rootworms this year.

Close, but no cigar, are grape colaspis, which are also white with a brown head and feasting on corn roots. However, they are more plump, curved-shaped, and should not be confused with corn rootworms if you are evaluating the performance of insecticides and Bt hybrids. Grape colaspis are not controlled by Bt genes, so don’t fire your BT corn.

Stalkborers are another active pest in Midwestern corn fields, particularly if your Bt refuge has been planted as a perimeter, the non-Bt plants are susceptible to stalk borer damage. There are no effective rescue treatments for controlling stalk borers after they have entered the corn stalk, and tunneling to the growing point kills the plant in 2 days.

Japanese beetles are emerging from their larval stage in the southern parts of the Cornbelt with the help of warm May temperatures. Their 4-6 week lifetime is beginning early, but that does not mean they won’t be around to create corn pollination problems.

European corn borer moths are being spotted in many cornfields, where eggs are being laid on the tallest stalks in the area. While your Bt corn may control the larvae, the larvae will be at work soon in your refuge areas, or in your non Bt fields. Start scouting now; and if found, IPM guidelines allow for insecticides to be used in your Bt refuge areas.

Soybean aphids are being reported in east central MN, with entomologists recommending that farmers in the northern sectors of the Cornbelt scout for aphids. Finding aphids is one thing, but finding economic threshold populations of aphids is another issue. Authorities suggest it could be a long season if they are here already.

Crazy top is being found where corn was flooded earlier this spring and caught a downey mildew. It occurs when young corn plants are subjected to saturated soil conditions for 24-48 hours from planting to about the five-leaf stage of growth, says Missouri’s Laura Sweets. Rescue treatments are nil; but preventative treatments include better field drainage systems. Crazy top prevents a plant’s pollination process.

If dry soils have hurt your soybean germination, overplanting may be the cure, says Extension Specialist Emerson Nafziger, if soybean stands are well under 90-100,000 per acre (21-23 plants in 10 sq. ft). Filling in soybean stands by planting without destroying plants from original stands has worked as well or better than first destroying the older plants using tillage or herbicide. Replanting should be in 15-inch rows or drilled to help make up for smaller plants that typically grow from late plantings.”

It is too early to predict a breakout of soybean rust, according to Purdue rust specialist Greg Shaner, but he says preparations are always in order. “One thing growers can do to prepare is to check with their local chemical dealer and make sure a fungicide will be available in late July or early August, if needed. However, Shaner does not believe there is a need to stockpile fungicides.” With the right weather it may travel 500 miles in 2-3 days, even hopscotching some areas. Keep tabs on rust outbreaks.

If a warm May gives corn a yield advantage, 2007 could favorably compare with the benchmark year of 2004. IL Extension’s Emerson Nafziger says, “This year, as in 2004, May was warmer than average, and crops spent little time in cool, wet conditions early in vegetative growth.” Read his newsletter.

Cornbelt farmers will find solutions to conservation problems at the IL Conservation Expo, set for Aug. 21-23 on IL Route 9 approximately 15 miles east of Bloomington. The free event will feature pond construction and management, tile drainage/drainage water management, wetland restoration and other erosion control structures.

Dairy Month is underway and Extension Specialist Mike Hutjens says 2007 appears to be an economically positive year for dairy farmers with milk prices up $4-$6/cwt compared to 2006 when milk was below breakeven prices. But he says higher feed and fuel prices will consume half of the revenue increase. Hutjens says ethanol is causing higher corn prices, but is providing cheaper DDGS, which can be fed at a 10-15% rate.

With high corn, wheat, and soybean prices, you’ve probably forgotten about the old political calls for farm parity prices. USDA still computes parity prices and today’s agricultural price report indicated corn and wheat were at 43% of parity and beans at 40%. Beef was at 44%, hogs at 43%, and milk was at 45% of the 1938 parity price.

Spelling Bee participants should study a variety of pests assembling in your soybean fields. The Univ. of MO recommends scouting, whether you have had a dry spring or a wet one. Brush up on your soybean pests.
1) Pythium and Phytophthora are favored by wet conditions at or after planting.
2) Rhizoctonia and Fusarium are not as restricted but need moisture to initiate infection.
3) Macrophomina is most likely to occur in high soil temperatures and low soil moisture.