Update on Brazil Soybean planting.

By Eduardo Paim: 

I'm here looking at the weather and wondering when I should send you news of our soy planting. We still do not know if we will have a good grain yield, the rains are undefined and the sun very hot. Many farms are replanting soybeans, it has been planted and due to lack of rain the seeds will die. Soybean planting is not yet 100% complete and this will make the area of ​​second crop corn shrink in Brazil. At this moment I can say that we did not start well! It reminds me of the year 2016/2017, little rainfall and very hot. "It rains in the living room and not in the kitchen"!
I don't see mud on farm roads, just dust. There is little rain here.

Potassium for Crop Production

Originally written for CCA Soy Envoy Blog 

Having spent my time as a CCA Soy Envoy writing about micronutrients, sulfur, nitrogen and phosphorus, it seems appropriate to close out the year focusing on potassium. Of the plant nutrients, potassium is part of the big 3—nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium (NPK). When I run soil tests in my area potassium is the most likely to be low, although some soils I work with can be high and stay high. 

Potassium helps plants withstand drought damage. It is also credited with general plant health and preventing lodging. Potassium helps the plant produce starch and transform sugars. This nutrient is also essential for photosynthesis. Potassium deficiency is characterized by yellowing and then tissue death starting at the edges of leaves in both corn and soybeans. This Iowa State University Bulletin has more information on potassium deficiencies. They go into some explanation of causes of potassium deficiencies other than low soil test.

In past years we have seen some drought-induced deficiencies in fields. Fields with good potassium levels to begin with seem to resist that deficiency better. We also thought we saw some compaction-induced deficiencies because of working and planting in wet soil conditions this spring. Several years ago, University of Illinois (UIUC) researchers hypothesized that we do not need potassium fertilizer. Research from other credible sources including the International Plant Nutrition Institute has called the researchers’ premise into question and disproved some of their findings. Emerson Nafziger, Ph.D., also argues for potassium fertilizer in this article.

Potassium is common in our Illinois soils because it is present in the crystal lattice of a prevalent clay mineral, illite. The nutrient seems to move in and out of the lattice depending on moisture. This makes potassium soil testing imperfect, but it is all we have to establish a scientific basis for determining fertility needs.

One reason that we test soils more often than the university recommendation is that it helps us keep better track of potassium. It has been my experience that crops do respond to potassium when soil test levels are below 230 pounds per acres. Ideal levels are considered to be 300 to 400 pounds per acre in Illinois. Potassium is critical to help weather a drought. Levels need to be high because availability goes down when soil is dry.

We do have clients with soils that have not needed potassium fertilizer in twenty years or more. These growers haven’t had any apparent yield loss and the test levels remain high. We also have clients who have low potassium test levels who have benefited from potassium fertilizer. 

One of my clients raised 80 bu/A wheat a few years ago after increasing his potassium fertilizer on that field. We do find that potassium levels sometimes remain low for several years as we attempt to build the nutrient up. We will then have a sudden and unexpected rise in soil test potassium. I will sometimes suggest 100 pounds per acre of potassium fertilizer to prevent wild swings in soil test levels even though soil tests would seem to indicate we can skip a year.   

Iowa State University has endorsed a moist soil test where they do not let the soil dry down. I have no problem with using the moist test, but we continue to use the Mehlich 3 extraction. I am not ready to give up on potassium testing even knowing the limitations of the test. We are going to continue to test frequently and recommend potassium fertilizer on soils that have low soil test levels, making adjustments as needed.

Brazilian Soybean Planting,

November 4, 2019

By Eduardo Paim

Here in Mato Grosso we have many farms with little rainfall. We are looking at the farms being very careful with the soy planting and the moisture that is in the ground. We are already seeing some farms that believed that the rains would come and planted the soybean seeds and lost part of what was planted! I see farms that germination is not good, some seeds are born and some die. Too much rain in southern Brazil, this can hurt the grain crop there too. Now we are looking at how much second crop corn we can plant, considering that soy planting has been delayed due to lack of rainfall! I am also realizing that we are getting about 15 days without rain and very sunny and intense heat. If I'm not mistaken in the 2015/2016 crop it was like that, it was raining a lot and the water didn't enter the ground to retain moisture, soon after there was an interval of 15 or 20 days without rain and very hot heat and there was a big reduction in production. of grain from Brazil.

Planting Progress in Brazil.

By Eduardo Paim:  

Good afternoon friend! Today it rained very well here in Mato Grosso! Surely we will accelerate soybean planting with this rain. It will not take the worry out of our thoughts if we are going to be slow to see another good rain like this, but we have to go and ask God to direct us. To this day there have been few rains and it rains in the living room and not in the kitchen. 

Many growers in the state of Paraná will have to replant because the rains were not enough to save the soybeans planted. In Mato Grosso there was delay for fear of planting and losing!
It's a little bit, but we need attention!

Managing Soil Phosphorous

Originally posted as my September blog as an Illinois Soy Envoy Under the title of  "Three Phosphorus Tests and Which to Use on Your Soil"

Phosphorus was recently in the spotlight as the American Society of Agronomy celebrated Phosphorus Week, September 15-21. It seems appropriate to celebrate the discovery of one of our most important crop nutrients and focus on how to manage it better.

Discovered 350 years ago, phosphorus is the 11^th most abundant element on earth. Because it is so plentiful, it would seem it should be one of the easiest to manage for crop production. However, it is not evenly distributed and not always readily available for plant growth. According to Emerson Nafzinger, University of Illinois Extension, soybeans remove 0.75 pounds of P₂O₅ per bushel of grain. Some of that phosphorus comes from the soil and some comes from added fertilizer. 

The first step to better phosphorus management is testing. Over the years, many tests have been developed to help producers determine if they need to be adding phosphorus fertility to maximize crop production. One of the first universally accepted tests was the Bray P1 test. Ideal P1 levels have been established and the test has been in use since the 1930s, so we have lots of data on removal and ideal levels. P1 ideal level is 70 pounds per acre. Bray P2 uses a slightly more acidic extractant. It was developed to help with application of rock phosphate as a fertilizer. Today, in soils with pH below 7.0, P2 can be used to determine reserve levels of phosphorus in the soil. The Bray tests are colorimetric, which means the amount of light passing through a liquid is measured to determine P levels. 

Mehlich 3 is also a commonly used test for phosphorus. The Mehlich 3 extraction is used to analyze many of our nutrients including potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium and the micronutrients. The test is read by ICP which is a type of atomic absorption spectrometer. Mehlich 3 readings tend to average a bit lower for P, so ideal levels could be adjusted higher, although University of Illinois Extension does not do so. I have run both P1 and Mehlich 3 on many samples over the years and find that the comparison is not always linear. Use whichever you or your lab prefers and use the same test every time. Beware that some labs run Mehlich 3 but calculate a P1 test—this is not ideal.  

Olsen P is another test I use on high pH soils. The calcium in high pH soils can tie up phosphorus and make it less available for plant growth. Olsen gives a better idea about P availability on high pH soils and you should consider running this test if you are in that situation. Ideal Olsen Test is 30 pounds per acre. 

Iowa State University presents a good comparison of the P tests.  

While low soil phosphorus can have a negative impact on crop production, high soil phosphorus is associated with high levels of dissolved phosphorus in our water. When I was matriculating at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), we were taught that phosphorus did not leave the field except by erosion, and movement was not really a problem because it did not affect crop production.

We have since learned that about half the phosphorus that leaves the field is by erosion and the other half is dissolved in runoff and drainage water. The other problem with phosphorus loss is that relatively low levels can cause harmful algae blooms as we’ve seen with Lake Erie in recent years. The phosphorus itself is not harmful for human consumption, but the toxins produced by the algae are harmful. The algae bloom caused by excessive nutrients can also remove oxygen from the ecosystem and cause eutrophication, or the death of animal life due to lack of oxygen. The eutrophication can negatively affect a lot of aquatic life. Some of our most desirable game fish are the most vulnerable. Excessive phosphorus can also interfere with zinc uptake. 

Managing the phosphorus levels in our soils is important to crops and the environment. Phosphorus is already one of the most highly regulated nutrients in the United States. Places like the Chesapeake Bay and Lake Erie watersheds are the most prominent. The regulatory levels of phosphorus may be reasonable enough, but the problem with regulations is that they remove management flexibility for the producer. The target now for more regulation is focused on the Midwest because of hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico.  Perhaps we can hold back those regulations by responsible management.

Here is a list of steps to take to better manage phosphorus

• ·       Keep phosphorus test levels in the 70 pound per acre range.
• ·       Don’t add fertilizer when soil test levels exceed the ideal amount.
• ·       Placing fertilizer below the surface can be effective in managing losses.
• ·       Keep soil pH in the 6.0 to 7.0 range.
• ·       Do not apply manure on snow or frozen ground.
• ·       In manure systems, keep soil test levels below 300 pounds per acre. 
• ·       Keep soil loss at or below tolerable levels.
• ·       Keep sediment on the field using structural and vegetative methods.
• ·       Soil test often to monitor levels.
• ·       Use soil tests appropriate for your soils. 
• ·       Use 4R principles in making decisions about how much phosphorus to apply and when. 

As we celebrate the discovery of phosphorus, we need to understand that levels that are too low can have a negative effect on crop production, but levels that are too high can have a negative effect on our planet. If you’d like to learn more, Pete Kleinman, U.S. Department of Agriculture, gives a good overview in his blog on why phosphorus is needed on farms. The site also has additional resources for added context and perspective. 

Visit rpmsoils.com to learn how we can help you manage your phosphorous.  

Heat in Brazil

By Eduardo Paim

I waited with good expectations to tell you about the start of our soy planting. It is not happening so far, the heat is very strong, far beyond what I remember. Our planting did not start well. Who is planting is risking a lot because the rains are irregular. I believe it will be a difficult year if the heat continues like this!

Cover Crop Selection

Cover crops are being widely promoted and slowly adopted. Farmers don’t doubt the benefits covers play in soil health, but often question the economic prospects of planting one and if there will be a return.



Since cover crops are still the exception, here are seven reasons to plant cover crops. 

1.       Cover crops can help you implement a no-till system.

2.       Cover crops can help reduce erosion by improving aggregate stability.

3.       Cover crops support soil microbial activity.

4.       Cover crops can help with weed control. 

5.       Cover crops help build soil organic matter.

6.       Cover crops can reduce the need for commercial fertilizers.

7.       Cover crops can extend the grazing season for livestock.

As with any new practice, you want to do everything possible to make it successful. Selecting what will work best with your operation will support your decision to use cover crops. Often, we hear suggestions that you should first decide what you want the cover crop to do, but that may be difficult as one of my clients said, “I want it to do everything.”



One of the big things to focus on is to increase soil microbial activity. Soil microbes drive the soil system.  The more microbes we have, the more we release nutrients, and the more we promote aggregate stability. There are many microbial products on the market, but why not grow your own? Multispecies mixes will best support microbial activity. Each species added to the mix promotes different microbes.  Five or more species would be considered ideal. Nitrogen-fixing species should be part of the mix, too. There can be pitfalls to growing a lot of different crops so you might want to consider something simpler to start with.



Extending your grazing season sounds simpler. Lots of producers like to graze turnips in the wintertime.  This a good choice because the cattle love them. Ideally, turnips should be planted by early September.  How do you do this? Fly them on or use a high clearance applicator adapted to seeding. Sounds expensive? Maybe you can start with cereal rye or triticale drilled after harvest. Both are suitable for winter grazing and both are also suitable for green chopping in the spring.



Maybe you want to start by growing your own nitrogen. Legumes are the way to go. Crimson clover, red clover and hairy vetch are popular choices. One traditional way to use clover is to plant it in a small grain crop in spring. Then after harvesting the grain, let it grow out for hay. Next spring, once again it needs to grow into May to maximize nitrogen production. Hairy vetch or clover may be planted into soybeans aerially or by high clearance equipment by September 1. It should also grow into May to maximize nitrogen fixed and stored in the soil for the next corn crop.    



If you want to open your no-till ground to increase water infiltration and improve root penetration, you may want to try oilseed radishes or annual ryegrass or maybe both. Radishes experience winter-kill, so that is a bonus. Annual ryegrass can be difficult to kill, so work out how you plan to terminate it in spring.



Some producers like to keep it simple by planting cereal rye or triticale after corn. Soybeans can be planted or drilled either before or after termination. A simple cover after soybeans is oats and radish. It winter-kills and can be easy to plant into in spring. Oats and radish should be flown on or planted into early maturity beans after harvest.



Consider soil health testing to provide yourself with some scientific data to prove that you are accomplishing what you want to with cover crops. Run a before test and another maybe two or three years down the road, and notice the difference you will see.



There are way too many options to cover them all in this short blog. Michigan State University maintains the Midwest Cover Crop Tool, which is a good place to start when picking your species of cover crop to plant. Don’t be afraid of choosing a more complicated mix, but do your homework on how to make it work. Contact us at rpmsoils.com 

Road trip Effingham

I made a short road trip to Effingham today to do a septic tank evaluation.  Most of the corn along the way was pollinating or past pollination, although not in some of the uneven parts of fields.  Some fields are starting to run out of nitrogen.

Soybeans looked better than corn.  We had a lot of rain earlier in the week and the soybeans were putting on a lot of top growth.  Two issues that will cut into yields at this point are weeds that were starting to show through, and poor stands.

Zombie Weed Apocalypse

By: W Kevin Nelson, CCA 4R NMSSenior Agronomist, Prairie Agronomics, LLC 

The growing season of 2019 just keeps on giving. Without going over all the morbid details, let’s just say that it’s been challenging from the very beginning, and looks like the challenges will continue on through to harvest and beyond.

As we get into the latter part of summer we are still contending with weeds that have refused to die. For lack of a better term, zombie weeds. These weeds have had burndown herbicide treatments, pre-emergent residual treatments, one or more post treatments, and still refuse to die. Some are newly emerged, some have just not succumbed to the programs we had planned before the spring weather went off the tracks. And now they have gone to seed, or soon will.

At this point, another spray trip becomes little more than an attempt at revenge. The plants are way above label size restrictions, and have hardened off with the dry conditions of the last few weeks. The chances are they won’t die, and the seed on them is probably already viable to bring on the next generation.

Am I going to give you the solution to the zombie weed apocalypse? Probably not. But I’ll point out that this weed control disaster isn’t a failure in any one program or system. We can find fields under all types of management that is experiencing problems, owing mainly to the conditions of the growing season. What I will say is this: start right now addressing the weed problems that will probably be coming our way in 2020.

Since many, though not all, weed control systems now combine seed traits with herbicide products, now is the time to start putting those combinations together. These systems must start with variety and hybrid selection, and seed companies will be on your doorstep early this fall. Choose a system that fits your needs from a production standpoint as well as weed control ability.

Consider cover crops to suppress weeds this fall. Some cover crop mixtures are better than others at keeping weeds down, and the consideration on how to terminate these crops needs to be factored in. Seed supplies may be an issue, as well.

Talk to your retailer about a fall burndown treatment. This can make a tremendous difference in weed pressure in the spring. With what looks like an extended harvest, it is crucial that you make your plans and let your retailer know with plenty of time what you intend to do.

So as you look out over your fields, frustrated with the zombie weeds poking through your crops or covering your Prevented Planting acres, remember that they aren’t coming after your brains, but you will need to put your brain to work now to prepare to hold them in check in the coming seasons.

Corn Harvest in Brazil

By Euardo Paim:

 Here in MT we are harvesting corn and the yields are very good! In an average harvest we harvest 90 bags of corn per HA, this year the yields are at 135 bags of corn per HA. In some regions we had rain breakdown, but it won't be a big problem

Managing Micro-Nutrients in Soybeans,

Written for IL SoyAdvisor,  

Are you paying enough attention to all the nutrients your crops need?

Byline: Dave Rahe

Topic: Nutrient Management

There are 18 essential nutrients [JF1] in plants: Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are the most likely to be added as fertilizer. Water, carbon and oxygen come from air and water. Calcium, magnesium and sulfur are needed in large amounts as well, and in Illinois we generally take what we get from nature.  Sulfur now commonly needs to be added along with the big 3. We add calcium and magnesium when we lime, although in Southern Illinois we generally come up short on magnesium in our liming materials. And micronutrients are also essential, but needed in smaller amounts. Boron, iron, manganese, zinc, copper, chlorine, molybdenum and cobalt are generally considered essential micronutrients and round out the 18. Some would add silicon to that list as well. 

The first step in getting your micronutrient levels in order is to get your soil pH right. Soil pH affects the availability of all plant nutrients, but in order to keep micronutrients available, pH needs to be in the sweet spot between 6.0 and 7.0. The chart above is from Michigan State University.

Once soil pH is corrected, the next step is to soil test for micronutrients. It is surprising how many people still say that testing is not needed for micronutrients. In the modern world, it costs very little to get the extra data. Another rub is, micronutrient testing is thought to be unreliable in determining a plant or yield response to soil test levels. My response is that you need to start somewhere. 

If you still want more data, I have found tissue sampling to be useful in determining whether micronutrient deficiencies exist. Last year, I had some soils with relatively low manganese test levels, but by tissue testing, I found that manganese wasn’t an issue. Tissue sampling in soybeans is done at R-1 or R-3 growth stages. North Central States has a publication on Managing Micro-Nutrients for Soybean Production in the North Central Region.

A few cautions are in order concerning tissue testing:

·        Time of day sampled can make a difference.

·        Sometimes dust on the plant can skew results.

·        Don’t test when the crop is stressed. Of course, it will show deficiencies, but the plants are unlikely to respond to treatment.

After collecting your data and determining you have a problem, what do you do about it? First off keep in mind that micronutrients can be toxic if over applied. Soybeans are especially sensitive to boron.  Copper can be toxic at as little as 10 ppm. I work on some soils where copper is over 100 ppm caused by industrial pollution, which is very difficult to manage.

Many researchers report that a blanket application of micronutrients without some indication they are needed isn’t economically wise. If treatments are needed during the growing season, foliar applications can be effective in treating symptoms. I have also found that soil applied micronutrients can be effective in treating low soil test levels. Sometimes soil test levels remain at desired levels for several years after treatment. I suspect we are stimulating microbes who will consume and then recycle micronutrients back into the soil. 

This leads to the question about biological treatments for micronutrients. One of the reasons that pH between 6 and 7 is so important is that it is ideal for microbial activity. But the big question is, can I improve micronutrient availability by using one of the new biological seed treatments? I think biological treatments can work, but it seems to be on a farm by farm and year by year basis, so if you want to try biologicals, you should also be prepared to do some strip trials to see what works on your farm.

There are also some farmers using silicon as a fertilizer. Silicon is one of the most abundant elements.  The building framework of our soils is alumno-silicate clays. There should be enough available in most soils, however some trials have shown a good response to fertilizer silicon. The downside is that we have little idea on response or economics and currently there is no soil test for available silica. To learn more about this element click Silicon Fertilizer Gaining Ground.  

In summary, micronutrient deficiency isn’t a common problem in soybean production, especially when pH is maintained between 6 and 7. Soil and tissue tests can be useful in identifying micronutrient issues, and microbial treatments may be useful as well. Finally, keep your eye on silicon as an emerging fertilizer. 

Crop Condition

I have read recently that we should expect the  third largest soybean crop ever this fall.  I realize a 30 mile loop through Montgomery County is not the whole midwest, but at least in this area, there is no chance for an above trend line crop.  The picture below is showing an average looking crop at best.  Soybean growth stages almost all look like they were planted as double crops.  To make matters worse, stands are very spotty as well.  Yes, some people will be patching some in, but that will not make the yields jump much. 

The corn crop is showing stress as well.  the wet yellow areas from las week are now showing as green and rolled up.  All the corn I saw looked like it could use a little shower.  I would venture the moisture is there, but shallow rooted crops are not getting through the compacted soils to get what they need for vigorous growth.  The picture below shows the gamut of corn condition.  Stands are very uneven and we know that cuts into yields.  We are still seeing yellow corn in ponded areas that will not recover.  

Also, it is now pretty easy to see the prevent plant acres.  While we know that the Mississippi and Missouri River Bottoms will not get planted in many areas, we can now see upland areas that will not get planted too.  The windows for planting were just too small.  

Spring Soil Sampling

Soil sampling has traditionally been done in the fall, after crops are harvested. The objective is to know how much fertility the soil already has to produce next year’s crop. 

But in my business, more than half my sampling is done in the spring. We usually begin sampling when fields are planted or ready to plant and continue until crops are no more than 12-inchs tall to minimize damage to the crop. I have found ATV damage to be minimal at this stage. The photo below shows corn has recovered a day after sampling.

  

One of the reasons for spring sampling is that the soil moisture and temperature conditions are usually more consistent in the spring. Moisture and temperature when soils are sampled can affect soil test results. That is the reason that experts agree you should sample at the same time of year every time you sample. In fall, soils can be dry and/or cold. I have seen potassium results as much as 75 pounds per acre lower when sampled dry as opposed to sampling later after soil is moistened by rain. I have not been able to find any problems with sampling wet soils if you are not cutting ruts. 

Another advantage to sampling in spring is that results and recommendations can be ready before harvest to allow for earlier fertilizer purchase and more timely application. Application can follow the combine. With fall sampling, there is usually a delay between harvest and getting results. 

Frequency of sampling is also an issue in the fall. The Illinois Agronomy Handbook says that once in four years is enough. The problem is that variations in crop yields because of dry or wet conditions may be difficult to account for when sampling only once in four years. We sample every year or two to take the guesswork out. If you base your fertilizer application on removal rates, keep in mind that your crop does not read the removal charts and removal is often more or less than the charts say. 

No matter when you sample it is important to use proper techniques to assure consistent results. A soil probe and bucket are essential tools. Sample depth should be 7 inches in order to assure that your pounds per acre of nutrient is calculated correctly. 

I like to sample in management zones, but the zones can be difficult to define for some people. Using USDA SSURGO data can be a place to start, but I find that about half the time it does not suit my needs.  I like to use the five factors of soil formation to help me determine where the lines are between the zones. The factors include climate, organisms including vegetation, relief (or topography), parent material, and time. Yield maps can sometimes be used to determine zones. Some scientists like to use a Veris to measure electrical conductivity, which can define zones. I usually divide the field into major landforms and then subdivide to get 8- to 11-acre zones. I pull 10 to 15 cores over the zone to put less weight on old spread gaps and overlaps. Zones can be smaller if needed. 

If you grid sample, you should still make sure the grid point defines the part of the field sampled. Avoid waterways or anomalies. Also, to avoid the old spreading gaps and overlaps, be sure to go 10 to 15 feet from your ATV and maintain that distance as you walk in a circle pulling 8 to 10 cores. There is a good bit of research that supports the need to pull many cores. 

This illustration from Michael Dunn of Anez Consulting, LLC in Little Falls, Minnesota, shows how grid sampling can distort what is in the field.  It is used by permission. 

Samples should be air dried. It is OK to use a fan but avoid heat over 125 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Many people are considering switching corn acres to soybeans. One consideration is crop insurance.  Check with your agent for help sorting it out. You may have a soil consideration with saturated soils if you have applied nitrogen for corn. Denitrification can occur fast on saturated soils. If there is nitrogen left, you may want to plant corn. You should soil test to see how much nitrogen remains in the soil. Your pattern for nitrogen sampling should assure that some of the cores are from the knife track and some are from the in-between areas. I get good results sampling a foot deep, but the University of Illinois says to sample 2 feet deep. Samples need to be spread out and fanned so they dry in 24 hours. You can also use an in-field nitrate tester, but they will miss the ammonium form of nitrogen. If you know you are not wasting nitrogen applied, you may not feel bad about switching to soybeans. If herbicides have been applied, make sure they will not cause a problem either. 

The bottom line when growing soybeans is that you need to make sure that your fertility levels and fertilizer applied will support the high yields desired.

Friends Don’t Let Friends Work Wet.

By W Kevin Nelson - Senior Agronomist Prairie Agronomics LLC

2019 A Year We’ll Remember

Though the year isn’t even half over, 2019 will go down as a milestone year for anyone involved in agriculture. Every year is different, but some remain more memorable than others. We got off on somewhat of a wrong foot by finishing off ‘18 without getting as much work done as we would have liked. Fertilizer applications and tillage were not completed in many areas last fall, putting farmers behind before the crop year even started.

Then the rains came. When we would have liked to have been catching up on those things left uncompleted, soil conditions kept getting wetter, and time kept on ticking. Several of my colleagues and I were talking about images and posts we were seeing on social media of people working ground in less than optimum conditions, and in the second week of April, we didn’t feel there was any need to feel rushed. There was plenty of time to get the #plant19 crop in the ground. I even created a meme: Friends Don’t Let Friends Work Wet.

And still the rains came. Most of Illinois, and much of the middle part of the country continued to receive above average precipitation. My colleagues and I continued to counsel patience and stress levels of growers continued to mount. April turned to May, then May was fast fading, June was in the windshield, approaching fast. Patience was nearly gone, and growers began looking at getting something in the ground, even if soil conditions weren’t ideal.

And the rains continued. The end of May and first few days of June brought a flurry of discussion surrounding Prevented Plant options, corn hybrid maturities, drying costs, black layer, the dreaded “F” word (frost) and MFP ”Trump Money.” Patience flew out the window. Planters rolled on corn, seedsmen were asked to find earlier maturing hybrids, and any window of sunshine brought the machines to the fields.

But the rains stopped. Now it’s starting to become apparent that those decisions made earlier may not pan out the way we hoped. Seed slots not closed, crusting, mud balls turned to dry clay balls. This crop is far from in the bin. The remainder of the growing season will challenge everyone. Even far from the farm gate. I have said that the ripples on these ponds in the fields will spread wide, and will touch everyone.

So 2019 is going to go down as a milestone year. Young people today will say to their grandchildren in 2049, “I remember ‘19. That was a terrible year in farming.” Much as my grandfathers talked about 1934 (drought and heat), my father talked about 1970  Southern Corn Leaf Blight and Texas Male Sterile seedcorn) and I talk about 1988 (drought.) We all have milestones in our lives, some personal, some shared with the broader community. The challenge before us is to not let the negative milestones become millstones around our necks, but to find positive milestones to balance the negative and keep us looking forward to the future

W Kevin Nelson

Corn Harvest Continues in Brazil

 By Eduardo Paim:

Here in Mato Grosso we are beginning to harvest second harvest corn, in the state we have 15% harvested. In the northern region in the first harvests we had corn burned due to excessive rains during development. Farmers are not handling corn to make the blending of corn harvested with corn that they are harvesting good at the moment. The situation will get regularized and I do not believe that we will have problems of too much corn fire. At this moment the quality is excellent and the productivity between 130 bags per ha and 150 bags per ha. In two weeks we will have more farms starting to harvest corn and I send you message. In the south of Mato Grosso we have not started yet. 

Corn Harvest in Brazil

By Eduardo Paim:

Here in Brazil we are beginning the harvest of the second crop maize. Some states are realizing that corn will get its quality compromised due to excessive rains. In the north of the state of Mato Grosso, the producers at this beginning of the harvest have already identified maize with 30% of damage. This week some farms had difficulty harvesting because they received rains. We still do not know if this is going to be a major loss. 

Honda of Illinois Deceitful

We have been searching for a new car for several weeks.  We test drove a number of very nice vehicles and my wife decided she would like to drive a Honda Odyssey.  It has many good safety features we like and passenger seating is very comfortable compared to other vehicles we looked at.

We first test drove one at Roy Schmidt Honda in Effingham.   The nice young man we talked to was up front and said we would get the internet price.  We were travelling at the time so we went on our trip to Indiana.

On our return on Monday, my wife checked the Honda of Illinois  website and found the exact same vehicle for $500 less.  That evening we went and test drove it and indicated we would take it.  The nice young salesman in Springfield named Dustin Morris brought  us a price that did not match the internet price, I asked him if it was correct and he said yes, so because of the fact that dealers play with numbers and we thought the price included dealer prep and other stuff and that we were still getting the internet price.

He took us to the "closer"  whose name escapes me.  When the closer told us the payment, I said it was higher than I expected.  He also pressured us to get the extended warranty which I did not want,  It turned out the the extended warranty also committed us to dealer added extras.  I did not realize this.  The closer used the tactic of lowering the payment by extending the term.

It has been so long since I purchased a vehicle from such a deceptive dealer that I was not cautious about what I was signing. Over the next weekend I reread the paperwork and found that they had cheated me out of the internet price by about $2500.  That is not to mention the warranty and the extras.  I stopped by Honda of Illinois on my way home from a job on Monday and raised the issue with them.  They offered me 5 oil changes which I refused.   I have since been promised $1000 and $750 which I have not received. 

I am a little embarrassed to post this, but I decided that since they did not own up to their deception with at least a partial refund, I would put it out there as fair warning. I promised I would do this if  they did not give me a refund, so here it is.  It has been 3 weeks. 

We do like the vehicle, but if you want a new Honda, beware. 

How late is late?

When I was in High School, someone asked my dad, " When do you plant corn"  I was getting ready to jump in and say we like to start in early April.  My Dad's wise but simple response was " when the soil is ready."  Of course he was right then, and  that is still correct today.  We are hearing about lots of farmers stressing over planting dates, but in my opinion, we are still in a position to have a good to excellent crop year.  I heard many top corn producers say that their best corn was not their earliest. 

Early soybean planting has been an emphasis of many people in the past few years.  The thought being that increased yields of very early planted soybeans may offset the risk of freezing.  I have seen some compelling research data that favors early planting, but I have also been told by some reliable sources that the best soybean yields in my part of South Central Illinois come when soybeans are planted between May 25 and June 7. 

Another thing to consider is Crop Insurance Planting Dates for Corn and Soybeans.  The crop insurance people are not in business to lose money and they have more data than anyone to support their dates.  Corn date in my area is June 5 and Soybean date is June 20.  We have all seen good to excellent yields in soybeans that are planted in late June especially first crop beans. 

And what is the cost of compaction created by getting on fields when they are too wet?  A quick google search today gave me information from all across the Midwest.  Universities say that yield losses related to compaction is 10 to 30%.  One of the problems with compaction is that it can last for several years. So in the end, my father's advise from 50 years ago is still relevant.  Plant when soil moisture conditions are right. 

If you still cannot come to terms with the fact that you may end up planting corn in June, maybe you should see a clergyman or mental health professional to help you deal with the stress.  Patience is certainly a virtue when you can't take care of business like you normally do.     

Soybean Yield Challenge 2019

The Illinois Soybean Association will be holding a webinar on April 4 to present the Illinois Soybean Yield Challenge for 2019.  The yield challenge is a good way to challenge yourself to test higher levels of inputs to see if you can beat your normal management practices and learn what your return on investment might be.  Register now for the webinar and tune in next week.

Agent Orange in Vietnam

My friend Dr. Ken Olsen has released his study of Agent Orange Residues in Vietnam.  This is a followup to his studies of tunnels in Vietnam.  Agent Orange is made up of 2-4D and 2-4-5T.  Neither chemical is persistent in the environment, but the mixture sprayed in Vietnam did not have toxic dioxin removed.  He has found that the dioxin is still persisting in the environment and in places around some of the airports, the dioxin is still found in very high levels.  I wrote a term paper on Agent Orange for my Weeds Class at U of I, so I am very familiar with the issue. 

Burn Workshop

Burn management is a great way to enhance natural areas and CRP plantings.  Hickory Hills Chapter of Illinois Audubon Society and Illinois Chapter of Soil and Water Conservation Society are hosting prescription burn workshop next week to help teach people what steps are needed to plan a prescribed burn.  CCA Credits are available.

How Much Better Do You Need to Be

David Kohl of Virginia Tech was one of the only Farm Futures speakers I have heard before this year. His advice and guidance is excellent.  I think it was one of the other speakers who share 2 slides.  One showed farm profits prior to 2013.  Top Producers were making excellent money.  Average producers were doing well.  The bottom tier was still showing a profit.  Now, Top Producers are still doing well, although maybe not as good as 6 years ago.  Average producers are above break even, but the Bottom tier is in trouble.  Kohl says that producers need to be 5% better than average in order to succeed.  He says the businesses a that are a little better at production, marketing, cost control, and asset and capital efficiency are going to stay in business.  

Certified Livestock Manager

We completed Certified Livestock Manger training in Springfield yesterday and took the test for Large CAFO work.  This certification is needed in order to take manure samples in Illinois.  It also brings us up to date o n rules so that we can give our livestock owning  clients the best possible advice on how to manage their manure applications and stay in compliance with the Livestock Facilities Management Act.

If you are a livestock owner in Illinois, this is excellent training whether it is required or not.   Even if the training is not required, you  are still required to comply with the rules.  This means manurermuch be stored and applied in such a way as to prevent pollution and preserve water quality.  Classes are being offered throughout the rest of the winter in many locations.  Extension Service and Illinois Department of Agriculture teach appropriate sections.  Be warned that if you are taking the test, you will need more than the 3.5 hours on the schedule. 

Farm Futures Summit

 I attended the Farm Futures Business Summit for the first time in several years.  As always there were many interesting speakers.  The top presentation was in the even by Kevin Van Trump. 

He spent  a lot of time discussing the demographics of Millennial.  Millennial have now surpassed Baby Boomers in population.  We Boomers no longer rule the roost in terms of consumer preferences.  He suggested that the future of farming is likely to include various groups of producers catering to various consumer preferences.  He suggests that large producers can continue to supply Industrial needs such as ethanol and bio-diesel.  The next tier may be producing for feed. 

No GMO, organic and specialty products are preferred by our biggest demographic, so maybe we should be catering to them.  There is also a desire in the consumer market for products to be produced in an environmentally sensitive way.  There are a number of certifying organizations available that do the certifications. 

I first heard similar sentiments expressed by Danny Klinefelter  a few years back.  Maybe there is something to it. 

2018 - The year the Sulfur Ran Out

I have written posts on Sulfur in the past, but the past year bears mentioning more than any time date concerning Sulfur.  we saw many fields that were low in sulfur this spring.  It was easy to spot fields needing sulfur even at 55 MPH.  At 55 MPH sulfur deficiency looks a lot like nitrogen deficiency.  If you stop and walk into the field, you will find interveinal chlorosis.  Sulfur is found in all living things and in plants, it is a key to photosynthesis. Sulfur is also needed for the formation of some amino acids and in turn proteins. Sulfur is one of the key nutrients for drought resistance.   

As our air has become cleaner and easier to breathe, less sulfur is deposited from the air for our crops to utilize. We have found that when available sulfur gets down to less than 10 ppm, we are most likely going to have sulfur issues.  On one of our larger clients, I have data as far back as 2007.  Soil test levels have gone from an average of 24 ppm to an average of 6 ppm with no sulfur added. Sulfur is available in the sulfate form.  Sulfate is a negative ion, so it is more mobile in the soil than positive ions.

Because of mobility, sulfur buildup is not necessary. Sulfur fertilizers include, elemental sulfur, gypsum, ammonium sulfate, and ammonium thiosulfate.  Elemental sulfur needs to be converted microbially to the sulfate form, so I recommend higher rates of that material. A 200 bushel corn crop will take up 30 pounds per acre of sulfur.  60 bushel soybeans will remove 20 pounds of sulfur.  Recent research has found response to sulfur in both corn and soybeans, 

Pioneer has a thorough article on sulfur if you want to know more.  

Securing the Nation's Infrastructure

 I have written several times over the years about the importance of our inland navigation system to  agriculture. Much of the Midwest's agricultural products for export move on the Mississippi, Missouri and Ohio River systems, which are all connected.  My friend Ken Olson and his co-author Lois Wright Morton take a look at "Securing the Nation's Infrastructure" in a new Soil and Water Conservation Society paper on the Ohio River.  They do an excellent job of discussing history so that threader can understand why the lock and dam system is necessary and then bring us up to date to the newest structures in place.  Click on the link to learn more.