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.

Even with Dec futures over $6.25, corn remains a commodity in demand. The latest export projection is for 2.5 bil. bu. and that is 18% larger than the last marketing year when prices were lower. IL Extension Specialist Darrel Good says the extra demand results from Chinese corn being unavailable to the Orient. But high prices have slowed demand from the ethanol industry, as the rate has slowed for new plants coming on line.

The demand for corn by the livestock industry remains strong, but Darrel Good said actual numbers are hard to reconcile because of possible errors in determining the size of the 2007 crop, and the shift to feed wheat and distillers dried grain when corn prices rose.

2008 corn acreage is still a question mark with the shift in prices before and after the USDA Prospective Planting Report. Good says some farmers may have rethought their plans, but now cold, wet conditions may reduce corn and increase bean acreage. Read his newsletter.

Diesel fuel costs continue to rise, and the NYMEX crude oil futures give an indication of what you’ll have to pay in coming months. Kansas St. economist Kevin Dhuyvetter says there is very little break in sight. This fall, count on prices 30-40% higher than last fall. Find his chart and graph.

Live hog weights are down 1.8 lbs, but dressed weights are up 1 lb., compared to a year ago says MO livestock economist Glenn Grimes. “There have been trade reports that producers are making an effort to lower slaughter weights. It is difficult to pull weights down when hogs are gaining well. The seasonal pattern is for weights to top out near the end of a year or beginning of a year and reach a low in weight in July-August.”

The winter survival of corn rootworms depends on the temperature, and Purdue bug gurus say they probably did well this winter. “One common misconception is that a single “hard freeze” will wipe out many of the insects or eggs during the winter season. In fact, it often takes much more than this to make a difference to insect populations. For example, our key corn pest, the Western corn rootworm, which overwinters in the egg stage, requires a total of 35 days at or below 14ºF for large-scale egg mortality to occur.”

The winter survival of flea beetles also depends on cold temperatures, and Iowa State entomologists say the risk is negligible for them this year. The opinion is based on average temperatures December through February. Although flea beetles cause minimal crop damage themselves, they carry Stewart’s Wilt, which can devastate corn seedlings.

We are not to the point yet of losing yield on either corn or soybeans because of the late date. However, NE Extension provides an economic comparison to determine whether corn or beans should be planted first, if the planting season gets seriously delayed.
1) In NE corn yields drop 0.75% for each day after May 10. For 200 bu/ac corn this is 1.5 bu/day. With $5.00 corn that amounts to $7.50/ac/day; on 1000 acres this is $7500.
2) Soybean yields decrease from 1/4 to 5/8 bu/ac/day (average of 0.44 bu/ac/day or $5.28/ac/day for $12.00 soybeans) when planting after May 1 in eastern Nebraska.

So, what happens if planting is really delayed? OSU agronomists share their ideas:
1) Avoid tillage and planting is soils are wet, because of compaction penalties.
2) Planting date is only one of many factors that determine optimum corn yields.
3) Shift from pre-plant fertilizer and herbicide application to a post plant operation.
4) Keep tillage and other seedbed preparations to a minimum and hasten planting.
5) Don’t worry about switching hybrid maturities until late May.
6) With no or reduced tillage, increase seeding rate 10% for maximum population.

“Patience is important when it comes to planting corn in April!” That is the advice of Iowa State agronomists, who say 6% is the most corn ever planted in Iowa before mid April and that was in 2006. (But that jumped to 25% by the third week of April.) They believe there is plenty of time, and seed should not sit in cold, wet soils without a short term promise that better days lie ahead. After all, corn can be planted faster than ever.

With delayed corn planting, IL Extension entomologist Kevin Steffey says black cutworms will be waiting, “Black cutworms could be a more widespread issue this year than in the past few years. People will have to sharpen their scouting skills and prepare for frequent scouting trips to keep up with rapidly developing cutworm larvae.”

If you are still worried about nitrogen loss before your corn gets planted, John Lory of MO Extension says soils are still too cold to have denitrification. “If nitrogen is not leaching, there is little chance for nitrogen loss right now. It's when soil temperatures are in the 60 to 70 degree range when rapid nitrogen loss happens. A late spring saturation event lasting 3-4 days is really when we see nitrogen loss from denitrification take off." Bone up on this.

If field crop insects have been bugging you, some answers to your questions will be available at: www.ipm.uiuc.edu/ontarget . The IL Extension website provides details of management trials for corn rootworm, black cutworm, and soybean aphids. Previews of insects moving into the Cornbelt can be found at two Extension websites:
1) University of Kentucky
2) University of Missouri

Whether you call them horseweeds or marestail, a growing number are becoming resistant to glyphosate. IL Extension weed specialist Aaron Hager suggests solving that problem early, “Ideally, all horseweed should be controlled before planting, especially before planting beans.” Read more.

Depending on the weeds growing in your fields, some burndown herbicides will work and others will not. Regardless where you farm in the Cornbelt, find an efficacy rating for a wide range of chemicals.

If you are chewing nails over glyphosate prices, consider the philosophy of WI weed specialist Chris Boerboom, who says, “The goal of a weed management program is to protect yield. The old saying about being penny wise and pound foolish certainly applies to weed management. Herbicides are a wise investment. This investment may now include more than just glyphosate.” He says consider alternatives for good weed control.

There may be no escaping Asian rust, since spores were found last year as far north as Minnesota. Rust was detected in Iowa, but with no impact on crop production. While no rust was found in Minnesota, the spores did arrive, but did not get the chance to affect the crop, even though they arrived as early as June 22. Conditions were just not favorable for development of the disease says MN Extension pathologist Dean Malvick. In Iowa, the early warning system is being changed, to speed up the identification process for Asian rust. The 700 First Detectors will not have to identify it, just deliver it to Iowa State.

Wheat is breaking dormancy, and it is time to make a stand count. IL crop specialist Jim Morrison suggests checking the crown to see if it is in good condition. “Dig shovelful "plugs" of soil and wheat. Put them in a sunny, cool area (unheated enclosed porch) and check the crowns in about a week.” Live crowns produce new leaves.

You probably carry hail insurance and MO climatologist Pat Guinan says property and crop losses from hail exceed $2 bil. annually and represent 1-2% of crop value. But, that amount rises to 5-6% of the crop value produced in the High Plains. Learn about the biggest hailstone.

Illinois may soon join other states that have experienced significant downsizing in their Extension staff. Personnel layoffs are scheduled to begin after May 1 that will impact 450 county-level educators, program and support staff. Expected state funding of more than $12 mil. has been used to expand state-funded health programs and isn’t available. IL agriculture will be losing a wealth of institutional knowledge and dedicated educators.

Illinois state budget cuts also will eliminate county-level SWCD offices, which begin closing May 2. Also being terminated is the AgrAbility program that provides services to disabled farmers, the Council on Food and Agricultural Research, and the Grape and Wine Resources Council. The Governor had earlier vetoed funds for 29 4-H educators.

Hit several birds with one stone by implementing the idea of an OSU Extension specialist, which addresses crop production expense, environmental issues and others.
1) Capture ammonia emissions from livestock manure pits to prevent unintended release.
2) Convert the ammonia into nitrogen fertilizer for crops and reduce production expense.
3) Try to figure out why this simple idea has not been implemented previously.