Montgomery and Macoupin Counties Road Trip

I took a road trip today to Raymond, Farmersville, Girard, Carlinville, Shipman, Gillespie and Litchfield. Some fields are very wet, some just kind of wet.  The fields I wanted to sample are too wet.

On the positive side, early corn is tasseling and silking in some areas. Early soybeans are looking ok where they re not drowned.  Uneven stands are the rule.  There is wheat to harvest, but between Vomitoxin and sprouting heads, it might not be worth much.  I know of one producer who destroyed his wheat because of vomitoxin.

More on Wetness

I went to Vandalia today to do  septic tank investigation.  The photos below give some clue.  Crops are drowned and yellow.  Soybeans remain unplanted.  Major rivers are flooding and levees are over topping in some places.  I could be mistaken but so far, even though the rainfall pattern is similar to 1993, the amounts do not seem quite as large and we do get  a dry day once in a while. However, consider that at least in St. Louis, we are nearing a top 20 gauge reading.  In some tributaries, gauge readings have exceeded 1993 records.

Yellow and drowned corn

Yellow and drowned soybeans

Unplanted

Planter waiting for dry weather

Corn Harvest in Brazil

By Eduardo Paim:

Here in Mato Grosso we are beginning to harvest the second crop corn (called winter maize), maize this year received good rains and developed well. The first farms that are reaping are happy with the production from 140 to 150 bags per hectare, which is the same production of corn first crop.

Last 30 days we're not getting rain, unlike the year 2014 it rained the 12 months of the year in Mato Grosso. We are already accustomed to the drought that begins in May and ends in September. In 2014 we were very blessed with 12 months of rains.

Preparations for planting of the crop 2016 soybean have started, I think if everything goes normal in September or early October we'll be planting soybeans. Many producers were slow to buy their fertilizer and this should cause a delay in deliveries because now if all buy at the same time it can lead to higher freight rates.

Rainfall Past 7 Days

It seems like the rain has never stopped for the last 10 days.  The last 7 days have been especially rainy.  Below is from National Weather Service for the past 7 days.  Below I-70 there is a lot in the 6 to 10 inch range.  Most fields in our area have standing water all over.  The only good thing is that corn is getting big, so we can't see how bad it  looks.  IT looks like rain will continue this week.  Click to enlarge.

So Far the Flood is Not near a Record

The top photo shows the River side of the levee near Columbia.  The bottom photo shows a releif well that is running.  The relief wells are installed to reduce the chances that water pressure will undermine the levees.  The water it is releasing is causing some crop damage.  The forecast is for a 37 foot crest in St. Louis.  That is 12 feet below the 1993 record.

Very Wet

The photo below shows the Mississippi River out of bank at Alton. I took a trip to Portage Des Sioux today and did not see any dry land.  I have not heard anyone talk prevented planting on soybeans, but it could happen.  The Missouri River is also out of bank.

Clark Bridge at Alton, IL

Local Ag Supporter Passes on

One of our community leaders and a pioneer in radio broadcasting recently passed away.  Hayward Talley was the founder and operator of WSMI AM and FM in Litchfield.  Mr. Talley was one of the earliest to broadcast on the FM dial.  Mr. Talley was active in the company well in to his 80's.  Here is his obituary.

The reason that he is deserving of being mentioned in this blog, is his undying support of agriculture.  Rita Frazier of RFD worked WSMI for 22 years.  Mr. Talley had Rita doing remote farm broadcasts from Ag related events all over, and the tradition continues.  Highlights included broadcasts from State and National FFA conventions and State and National Farm Bureau Conventions.  WSMI has always supported our local FFA chapters with coverage and publicity.  They also serve as a publicity outlet for our local USDA offices.  I have done several interviews over the years.

Thanks Mr. Talley.

Grapes looking good for now

These grapes may have too much fruit.

Seed Cleaner

The boat oars are not part of the seed cleaner below.  We spotted it at the Litchfield Picker's market today.  I am not sure it is functional.  Seed was shaken across screens and past  a fan to remove weeds and chaff so that seed would plant evenly.  We spent many after school evenings cleaning wheat, clover seed, and soybeans for planting the next year.  With patented genetics, we don't see much of this any more.

Seed Cleaner

Soybeans Planted in Cover Crop

The soybeans below were planted early in a cover crop of Cereal Rye. The beans look excellent.  The weed control is excellent.  The producer likes to plant into green cover crop because he says the planter works better.  You can't argue with success.  This field is near Portage Des Sioux, Missouri.

Soybeans in Cover Crop

Wetness in West Alton

Missouri River is running Bank Full.

Water ponded in a swale

Egrets trying to catch frogs.

Wheat Condition

The wheat below is just starting to turn.  It has a lot of disease.  I would like it to stay green a week longer.  We saw wheat today near Troy and O'Fallon that is completely turned.  Harvvest might start next week if it stays dry.

Amazing Row Shutoffs

I sampled the extremely irregularly shaped field on Thursday.  The row shutoffs on the planter were amazing.  I did not find any overlap anywhere in the field.  The aerial photo of the field is below so you can see the shape.  

Wetness

Wetness is becoming an issue in our area. Corn is definitely showing the effects.  Corn is uneven, stunted and yellow.  It might be a good year to invest in a chlorophyll sensor.

Flood Plain Management

The house below is in a floodplain in Missouri.  It appears to meet flood plain construction requirements except for one small flaw.  The Air conditioner should be at least as high as the first floor.  Elevating things like air conditioners and electrical services can be relatively inexpensive ways to reduce flood damages.