As we wrap up the 2024 growing season, it is a good time to reflect on problems we have experienced in the field and make plans to address them in 2025. In many cases when you observe a problem above ground, looking below the soil surface can shed light on the issue. An essential part of growing a productive crop is the soil’s ability to support it. Many factors impact the health of a soil and its ability to produce a successful crop.
One of the most important tools for assessing problems in the field is a shovel. Because of the drought and extremely dry soil conditions, assessing roots was more challenging late in the 2024 growing season. While it is easy to blame difficulty using a shovel this year on the dry soil conditions, I visited several fields prior to the drought where I had difficulty getting the shovel into the soil profile.… Continue reading
What did we learn in a year of weather extremes: heat, flash droughts, extended drought, localized flooding, hurricane-force winds? In years like this, the weather often takes the blame for both expected results and those surprises. However, it’s growing seasons like 2024 that I usually find to be the most revealing.
Population is a stress
Human nature and our industry have trained us to believe the key to higher corn yields is all about ear count. If we produce more ears, albeit smaller, our yield will still be higher than if we had fewer, more impressive-looking ears.
While for some hybrids, increasing plant population will result in higher yields, many hybrids today have substantial ear flex. However, ear flex today differs from what we spoke of in the early 2000s. Genetic ear flex today is more about kernel depth flex or increased girth if given space. … Continue reading
By Troy Putnam, Pioneer Field Agronomist Southern Ohio
Troy Putnam
The business of agriculture might be the most diverse, unpredictable, frustrating, fulfilling, variable, volatile, and rewarding career path anyone could choose. Regardless of which piece or part of you participate in, you can likely relate to all the above.
As we make application let’s take 2024 for example. The geography I work in is primarily south of I-70 and we experienced a wonderful start to the growing season planting both corn and soybeans in April and May for most of the area — but not all. Remember the frustrating part? The rains in May prevented several acres of corn from being planted in the southern counties near the river. By and large the early planted crop got off to a decent start and it seems we were nearly 100 GDUs or more ahead from the start and stayed that way all season.… Continue reading
By Luke Schulte, CCA, Beck’s Hybrids field agronomist
It is undeniable that 2025 currently looks to be much leaner economically than farmers have experienced in several years. In tighter times, inputs like dry fertilizer are often some of the first to be scrutinized because their potential impact is less obvious than skimping on herbicide use, for example.
Over the years, annual rainfall accumulation throughout the eastern U.S. has increased modestly. However, the intensity of those rain events has increased dramatically.
While it may seem subtle, how we receive a large portion of our rain today has impacted how our soils function altogether, mainly due to sustained periods of limited soil oxygen.
Contrary to what may appear to be the case in agronomic textbooks, soil fertility is more complex than a mathematical equation. The state of soil nutrients, available vs. unavailable or “tied up,” is continually evolving.
By Robert Waller, Seed Genetics Direct sales agronomist
Robert Waller, Seed Genetics Direct sales agronomist
As we enter into the final laps of this growing season, it is important to keep assessing the conditions of your crops. We’ve had early wet, mid-summer heat, dry then wet depending on where you are, with extremely different conditions all over the state. Check on your crops for progressing diseases, especially tar spot in corn.
We continue to evaluate our current lineup and new experimental hybrids in many research plots across the Indiana and Ohio geographies and need as many observations as possible to help select products that have improved tolerance to this new disease. Please respond with any comments and observations from your fields to help us get a better handle on how our lineup is handling this new challenge.
Also keep an eye out for gray leaf spot and northern corn leaf blight so that we can better assess the impact of those diseases.… Continue reading
By Alexandra Stinemetz, Ph.D., Pioneer field agronomist
Alexandra Stinemetz, Ph.D., Pioneer field agronomist
The rainfall pattern across Ohio during the early part of the 2024 growing season has been irregular. The precipitation kept fields wet in many of the northwestern counties delaying planting until late May and early June. The state has witnessed a variety of weather conditions but the above average temperatures and accelerated growing degree unit (GDU) accumulation has been experienced by all. What impact will high temperatures have on our corn and soybean crops?
Warm weather causes corn to grow faster. Optimal daytime temperatures for corn ranges between 77 degrees F and 91 degrees F. Growth decreases when temperatures exceed 95 degrees F but even temperatures in the mid-90s are not a problem until soil moisture is lacking. Leaf rolling is thought to be the first sign of drought stress in corn. The extent of corn yield loss is determined by stage of growth and the duration of plant wilting.… Continue reading
Matt Hutcheson, CCA, Soybean Lead/Field Agronomist, Seed Consultants, Inc.
The 2024 growing season started off in a challenging way for eastern Corn Belt growers. Learning from these challenges and making sound management decisions throughout the remainder of the growing season will be critical to achieving top-end yield potential.
Although some growers were able to get crops planted early, wet weather caused delays in many areas. Field work was delayed due to patterns of wet weather and crops were not planted (or replanted) until the end of May. While early planting favors high yields, it does not guarantee them. Even with delayed planting growers can still achieve high yields depending on several other factors. The key to achieving top-end yield potential will be sound management decisions throughout the remainder of the growing season.
In addition to creating challenges early in the season, wet weather and saturated soils may cause some issues that will linger throughout the season.… Continue reading
The wide planting window throughout the state has led to a large variance in the growth stage of our corn crops. However, for some, fungicide season will be here before we know it.
Over the years, vomitoxin (VOM) in corn has become increasingly more common. Much of this is due to the increase of relative humidity levels post-pollination. Vomitoxin begins as gibberella ear mold. The causal pathogen, fusarium graminearum, is present to some degree in most all fields but is especially abundant in fields with a history of gib ear mold, fields with minimal air movement, and often corn after corn fields.
Infection primarily enters the ear via silk channels, particularly the straggler green, unpollinated silks remaining after pollen shed has concluded.
Infection primarily enters the ear via silk channels, particularly the straggler green, unpollinated silks remaining after pollen shed has concluded. The fungus will attach and grow down the silk to infect the ear.… Continue reading
There’s no shortage of things to do during May for Ohio farmers. Whether it’s working ground, planting, or spraying, every hour counts when conditions are fit to be in the field. Yet an important application in wheat still needs to get done among the chaos of getting the corn and soybean crop planted and off to a good start — a fungicide pass when the wheat is at the heading stage to manage Fusarium Head Blight (FHB), commonly known as head scab.
For most Ohio farmers, this pass typically falls in the middle of May. Although this year Ohio’s wheat crop appears to be a full week to 10 days ahead of typical. One of the last things a farmer wants to do during this busy time is clean the sprayer out just to spray a few fields of wheat, especially when you’re trying to finish soybean burndown or spray corn.… Continue reading
By Dave Nanda, Ph.D., Director of Genetics for Seed Genetics Direct
Dave Nanda
It has been a wet start to the growing season statewide. I favor early planting, but only if the ground is ready. To set the stage for a successful season, the timely planting also requires timely weed control, which has been a challenge so far in 2024 with the wet weather.
The micro-environment of each plant is very important for its ability to reach maximum yield potential. Plants sense early on if they have competition from weeds or other crop plants, and they start to react and plan their future accordingly. If growers can reduce pressure from weeds, it will encourage crops to produce more yield.
It is especially important to control weeds early so herbicide-resistant weeds won’t get started. Many weeds, such as marestail and waterhemp, have developed resistance to glyphosate herbicide because it was used on millions of acres of corn and soybeans.… Continue reading
By Kyle Poling, Pioneer field agronomist in West Central Ohio
Soybeans are considered to be source limited. In other words, a soybean plant has the ability to consistently make more yield than the environment allows. A soybean crop will adjust its yield potential to match the growing conditions. In a typical Ohio soybean field, it is estimated that flowers and young pods abort at a rate of 60% to 75%.
Soybean yield is ultimately determined by two yield components: the number of seeds per acre and the final seed weight. The number of pods (and seeds) produced by a soybean field is determined by the supply of simple sugars from the leaves during flowering and pod set. A highly productive environment will provide plenty of sunshine, nutrients, and water that results in a large supply of sugars to maximize the number of seeds produced per acre. Additionally, an early planting date and limited stresses from soybean flowering (R1) through seed development (R5) will extend the seed fill duration resulting in increased seed weight.… Continue reading
Matt Hutcheson, CCA, Soybean Lead/Field Agronomist, Seed Consultants, Inc.
Ready or not, spring of 2024 is upon us and with it the beginning of another growing season. Spring is a critical time for making sound decisions that will impact crops throughout the growing season. Each year is different, however, every year we see similar problems in eastern Corn Belt fields relating to spring management decisions. Now is a good time to revisit some of the important things to consider as planting season approaches.
One yield-robbing problem that can significantly impact crops is compaction. Compaction can be caused by any fieldwork that is performed when soil is too wet. Therefore, it is important to consider soil moisture before heading to the field with any implement. Each year, agronomists visit fields to assess stunted crops with poor root development because of compaction.… Continue reading
By Matt Hutcheson, CCA, Soybean Lead/Field Agronomist, Seed Consultants, Inc.
Matt Hutcheson, Seed Consultants, Inc.
The 2023 growing season presented growers with many challenges. Environmental factors caused stress in crops and created obstacles for farmers across the eastern Corn Belt. Although these challenges impacted field work and yields, the lessons learned from these challenges can help growers make management decisions to allow for success in future growing seasons.
Wet spring weather made completing field work a challenge and caused planting delays in some areas. In excessively wet springs where weather delays field work, growers should work to minimize any additional delays. In addition to timely planting, it is important to make sure planting equipment is operating properly and providing consistent seed placement at the correct depth. Every year agronomists observe yield-robbing problems caused by mistakes made at planting. Throughout the planting season, growers should check for adequate down pressure, good seed-to-soil contact, uniform planting depth, correct planting populations, ect.… Continue reading
By Mitch Greve, Channel technical agronomist — Northwest Ohio
Producers in Ohio experienced a unique set of challenges in 2023 including delayed planting, poor emergence, drought and water stress, disease, stalk rots, and ear molds to name a few. This variability can teach farmers lessons around how to manage their crops in future years.
Planting conditions for much of the state were favorable early and not-so favorable the deeper into May that we got. Planting for success starts with good uniform soil moisture and temperature, seed-to-soil contact, and accurate delivery of seed from the planter to the soil. Most growers across the state did not have all three critical components, as weather was less than favorable in the latter half of May with drier soil conditions and delayed planting from early May rainstorms. All this variability can contribute to varying yield ranges that farmers may experience this fall.
Disease was minimal through the midway point of the season, but when we finally started receiving rainfall in August, it set us up to have a conducive environment.… Continue reading
Unfortunately, like last fall, gibberella ear mold has been seen in numerous corn fields amongst a multitude of hybrids. While diplodia, aspergillus, and fusarium are also examples of common ear molds, gibberella is typically the most common and often results in the production of harmful mycotoxins or vomitoxin.
What causes gibberella ear mold and why does it occur?
Gibberella ear mold is caused by the fungus, fusarium graminearum. This fungus is present to some degree in most all fields but is especially abundant in corn following corn or corn following wheat and fields with a history of gibberella. Infection primarily enters the ear via silk channels, particularly the straggler green silks remaining after pollen shed has concluded. The fungus will attach and grow down the silk to infect the ear. Any stress that hinders pollination has the potential to impact gibberella/vomitoxin levels — insufficient N, heat throughout pollination, drought.… Continue reading
The excitement of harvest is upon us. The view from the combine will provide a front row seat to assess the impacts of the growing season with frequent glances at the yield monitor. The 2023 corn crop has experienced a unique combination of challenges including: low accumulation of growing degree units (GDUs), stretches with no rainfall, plant health issues from diseases such as tar spot, crown rot, anthracnose top die-back, times when low soil moisture limited nutrient uptake, and premature plant death. Recognizing the impact of these challenges is an important step toward better understanding the cause for variable performance that can be expected this year from field to field or even within the same combine pass.
Average heat unit accumulation in many areas of Ohio has been tracking about 5 calendar days behind the 30-year average and 14 days behind the 2022 season. A cool summer has many farmers concerned about shelling wet corn.… Continue reading
As harvest begins significantly later than usual for most this fall, much of the intended wheat acreage will also likely get planted later than desired. Wheat planted more than 2 weeks after the “fly-free” date requires several specific management adjustments in order to maximize yield potential next summer. These management tweaks are necessary to account for lost time, heat required to drive tiller formation yet this fall. Fall-developed tillers are larger and more productive than spring-initiated tillers.
Population
Fewer fall-initiated tillers equals fewer stems or eventually heads per plant. In order to compensate for a reduction in tillers/stems per plant, planting population should be increased. If planting more than 2 weeks after the fly-free date, increase population by 10% per week.
Fall fertility
While wheat requires adequate fertility, similar to corn and soybeans, several specific nutrients are essential to stimulating tiller formation. Fall-applied nitrogen (N), sulfur (S), and phosphorous (P) are crucial to increasing the number of tillers per plant.… Continue reading
More than any other industry, the agricultural community should be well aware of herbicide resistance. Over the past few years, it has become crucial to spray multiple herbicide modes of action to get a crop to the finish line. Without multiple modes, we risk fields having “super weeds” that continue to be harder to control because of herbicide resistance. With that in mind, are we heading down the same path using too much insecticide?
Todd Jeffries, Vice President of Seed Genetics Direct
The insecticides that seed companies treat soybean seed with are known as neonicotinoids or neonicotinoid soybean treatment, commonly called “neonics” or “NSTs” for short. They are a synthetic neuro-active insecticide that react very similarly to the way nicotine does in humans. The most common ones used are clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam. Do they work at killing insects? Absolutely. For instance, if you look at a Seresto flea and tick collar, the active ingredient is imidacloprid.… Continue reading
By Roy A. Ulrich, Technical Agronomist, Dekalb & Asgrow
There is no such thing as normal when it comes to a growing season. However, they are usually marked by a pattern or trends that dictate the year and the outcomes. The 2023 growing season seems like it will be marked by periods of extremes and quick changes in the weather and growing conditions.
For many areas of the state the growing season started off cool and slow, but dry, with many growers having a large portion of acres planted over several weeks of time before the first plants had even accumulated enough heat units to emerge. Then, late spring and early summer turned into a drought from the middle of May through the middle to the end June. The drought was quickly erased for many with a few very large rain events which took the soils from dry and hard to saturated and deprived of oxygen.… Continue reading
By John Schoenhals, Pioneer Field Agronomist, Northern Ohio
There are many “adages” that fit all sorts of weather or farming situations, but one of my favorites came from my mom: “Normal is just a setting on the dryer.” Like most years, there has been nothing “normal” about the first half of the 2023 growing season.
Crop growth this year has been subjected to extremes in temperature, precipitation, and air quality/sunlight. The impacts of these extremes can be seen in the development of crops, and may continue having impacts on crops through the rest of the season.
John Schoenhals, Pioneer Field Agronomist in northern Ohio
Corn development is primarily driven by growing degree unit (GDU) accumulation. So far this year, GDU accumulation is near or below average. This is in contrast to several recent years in which GDU accumulation was above average for most of the growing season. While it may seem that the corn crop is “behind” where it should be based on calendar dates, most fields are at expectations based on GDU accumulation since planting.… Continue reading
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