Corn
Similarly, Ken Ferrie says to time your post-herbicide application in corn based on weed size and to address cutworm based on the level of damage you find. One pass in the field could work for both, but don’t bet on it.
A perfect stand sets the stage for high ear count at harvest. But what if, despite your best efforts, a stand starts out troubled?
Farmers made significant headway in planting progress last week. USDA shows nearly half of the country’s corn crop is planted and 35% of the soybean crop is now in the ground. There are several states setting records.
The change will not impact how farmers work with their current seed salesman in 2023, a Bayer spokesman tells Farm Journal. However, a different go-to-market approach is in the works.
Soil conditions, temperatures and weather outlook are aligned. “Let the big dogs run, and keep the planters running until you’re finished,” says Ken Ferrie. “This corn will fly out of the ground.”
Farmers in some states can expect BCW damage in corn by mid-May. One larva can ruin five corn plants in a 24-hour period. Rescue treatments are most effective and economical -- not seed treatments or Bt hybrids.
According to John Phipps, the legendary Third Crop has been the Holy Grail for many corn and soy growers for decades. He explains why more Midwest farms moved away from diversified crops and livestock operations.
China canceled more corn purchases this past week. As the country switches to cheaper sources from places such as Brazil, it puts more focus on a possible demand problem in the U.S. and causing beginning stocks to swell.
Soybeans planted from April 3 to April 10 were hit the hardest as they were snared by temperatures dipping below 28°F. Corn didn’t dodge the damage, either. Ferrie says some corn crops at the V1 stage were smoked.
For a developed country as large as the US, we are almost unique in our lack of robust rail capabilities. John Phipps answers a viewer’s question about the possibility of updating the rail system to move grain faster.