To Spray Funcide on corn or not

When we look at the yes or no answer on whether or not to spray fungicide we are left on the fence. We hope to get that yield bump, and it does not always happen.  One thing that needs to be done is to find out if gray leaf spot susceptible seed has been planted.  Scouting also important along with a look at growing conditions.   A look at yesterday's map shows where conditions are likely to be wet and good for growing fungi. 

Iowa State University offers good advice. 

30 Day Rainfall

Rainfall totals for the past 30 days are excessive in some areas and a little short in others.  I have outlined the area in Missouri and Illinois that appears to be short.  Most of my county is in that area. Click on the picture to enlarge it. 

Cover Crops

The time is drawing near to have seed bought and to be ready for planting cover crops.  June Prairie Farmer Devoted a good deal of print to the topic.  Building better soil is the cover story about a Marion Illinois farm.  The second story, Digging into the Organic Matter debate covers the issue of how we measure organic matter.  Dr. Ken Olson tried to start the debate a number of years ago, but has only recently gotten coverage on the issue.  I am proud to say that I shared Dr Olson's proposed  protocols for measuring organic matter in no-till and cover crop situations right here last year.  The issue also contains tips from the experts including The Dahmers from Marion.  Be sure and read all the sidebars too.  Josh Flint sums it all up a few pages later looking at the surprisingly controversial topic. 

My advice on cover crops would be:

• Start small
• Plant cover crops on  your worst soils
• Use No-till or very reduced tillage
• Read as much as you can
• Set a baseline on your own farm.  
• Start with a Soil Health Test 
• Expect to make mistakes

Passing of the Seasons

I hope everyone had a great Independence Day.  This is the view from the first I-55 overpass north of Litchfield. Soybeans and corn have both reach reproductive stage.  The soybeans are flowering and the corn is tasseling.  I think the streaks of yellow are areas that are stressed by wetness. 

Spreading Manure

I make an effort to have photographs of just about any ag related field activity you can think of.  I sampled a recently harvested wheat field today and my customer was spreading manure.  He was planning to incorporate it and then plant soybeans.  Soil moisture was ideal in this field.  I can't say it would be that way everywhere because we have some dry spots in the area. 

Grapevine beetle

I found the beetle below on my dewberries.  He is about an inch long.  He is a grapevine beetle.  My neighbor has some untended grape vines very close, so I guess he was eating them.  He is about an inch long.  According to most of what I have read, the grapevine beetle seldom does economic damage. 

Wheat Harvest Continues

I pulled a few soil health samples yesterday and toured Eastern Montgomery County.  Wheat harvest was about 50% done.  Today I went to Carbondale.  I crossed Washington County, Illinois' leading wheat producing county.  Wheat harvest in that area is about 90% done.  I saw many planters planting double crop soybeans. Montgomery County is in a dry patch, but soil moisture should be good for double crop soybeans to germinate.