Row Shutoffs

This picture is a good example to illustrate how row shutoffs can save money on seed.  Yields should also increase because plant populations are correct instead of being doubled up. 

Row Shutoffs

Subsoil Moisture

I did a septic tank investigation yesterday.  It is a busy time to slow down from sampling cropland, but it also gives me the opportunity to look at subsoil moisture.  The site I looked at was grassy so water infiltration should be good, although the slope will not allow for standing water.  Subsoil moisture was good on the site I looked at.  It was a little surprising that there was no water table considering how wet it has been. 

Corn Harvest in Brazil

by Eduardo Paim: 

Here in Mato Grosso we are beginning to harvest maize; we are talking to producers and most are reaping average of 120 bags and 125 bags per hectare. The average should continue to be good on  about 50% of the planted area, then we'll get the last 50% that failed to get good rains.

Does Walmart Call this Service?

I went to Walmart in Litchfield tonight to pick up a few items on  my way home.  How is this Ag related?  Walmart is the largest food retailer and I was buying food.  Lines were long so I decided to use the self checkout.  That is what they want anyway.  I scanned 3 items and then some sweet cherries.  When I scanned my last item t would not scan.  The "Helper" came very to help.   She said the cherries did not have the right price on them.  I told her it was what the scanner put on.  She tried to correct it multiple times.  I told her that self checkout at Walmart is a lot of trouble and seldom works.  She said that management wants more people to use the self check out and that is why the lines are long.   She then told me that maybe I should have waited for a real checker.  Right after she told me I was doing what management wanted????  She then walked away without a word.  I stood there for several more minutes and she never came back, so I left my stuff at the checkout and told them rather loudly I was going somewhere where I could get service. 

I doubt that Mr. Sam would approve of this and I speculate that he is rolling in his grave. 

Killing Weeds

I am not sure what he is using, but my client is having good luck killing some fairly large weeds.  It is easy for the professor or crop consultant to tell you to spray when the weeds are 2 inches tall, but this year's wet weather made it difficult to spray in a timely manner.

Water Hemp

Cocklebur

Marestail

SeepWater

The water below is in areas protected by levees in St. Charles County MO.  Even with levee protection, water seeps under the levee and internal water is trapped in these swales and closed depressions.  Water will move out through the ground as river levels dropped.  Some of these areas will be reported as prevented planting.  Some may be planted to soybeans.  For the moment, the waterfowl such as Egrets and Herons are making use of them.  A small flock of geese was swimming in one field we were working on today. 

St. Charles County River Bottoms

We worked today from West Alton to Orchard Farm.  South of US 67 was flooded as well as land that was riverward of the levee and some land that is unprotected.  There was about 2 feet of water in the hangers at Smart Field.  Crops not affected by wetness were looking OK.  Wheat is starting to turn.  We sampled some corn that was chest high in the best parts of the field.  Yes we walk that.  We also did some nitrogen sampling.  Soybean planting is still in progress.  Everyone we talked to had a positive and optimistic attitude.  Most in that area are giving up on corn and moving toward planting soybeans.  Some of the wet areas will be prevented planting for crop insurance.  All the low areas have water in them at this point.  It would be a great place to watch shorebirds right now. Seep water will go out as river levels go down.