Crop production sees woes across Indiana

Mother Nature has not been too kind to Indiana given all the rain and low temperatures we have incurred. These gloomy conditions have left the ground saturated with water, froze plants, and caused many farmers to hold off on their spring planting tasks.

Here are a few tidbits of information from Purdue Extension Specialist about how this cold, wet spring has impacted crop production.

When it comes to forages, the weather is simply not cooperating. It is important to get the first cutting harvested timely in order to keep the rest of the hay harvests on schedule.

If you do try to rush and get your hay harvested when it is on the wet side, it is important to acknowledge that hay harvested too wet has an increased potential of spontaneous combustion and fire. To prevent this, bales should be checked to see if they are heating up for four weeks following harvest. Additionally, farmers should set mower conditions properly and only ted when warranted. Excessive tedding can damage the hay, increase leaf loss, and ultimately result in power quality.

Across the state there has been cases of stripe rust found in wheat causing growers to be concerned about spraying a fungicide for stripe rust and then an additional fungicide treatment for scab. Spraying two fungicide treatments is rarely economical, thus one possible way to handle this situation would be to wait and spray a fungicide a little on the early side for scab protection while still getting some protection for stripe rust.

When it comes to corn and soybeans, there has been reports of poor stand establishment. One possible cause of this poor stand development could be seedling blight. Likewise, the current weather is favorable for needle nematodes in corn. Symptoms of needle nematodes include stunted corn in patches and deformed, club shaped roots. Typically once soil temperatures get into the 80s, needle nematodes will disappear.

If you haven't been lucky enough to get into the field and plant your corn and soybeans, then you might still be dealing with cover crops. If you are in this situation, realize that you are not alone as many producers across the state are reporting failed cover crop termination attempts. Please realize that burndowns with big weeds require higher rates and good coverage. Additionally, lots of ALS and glyphosate resistant canola made its way into cover crop seed lots and are struggling to be controlled with the spring termination. It is important to note that if you have any canola appearing in your planted fields, that you have limited control options for soybeans, but some do exist for corn.

You may have already heard the headlines in some Ag newspapers, but with the big move in soybean prices, Purdue University Ag Economics Department is now projecting an $80 to $90 net return advantage for growing soybeans compared to corn. This might result in some farmers experiencing a planting delay to consider moving some of their corn acres to soybeans.

Visit www.extension.purdue.edu/putnam or contact the local Purdue Extension Office by calling 653-8411 for more information regarding this week's column topic or to RSVP for upcoming events.

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Upcoming Events

May 24 -- Extension Board meeting, 7:30 p.m., Extension Office.

May 24 -- Pond management workshop, 6 p.m., Parke County Fairgrounds.

May 26 -- Farm finances webinar, 12-1 p/m/, register at ag.purdue.edu/Extension/wia/Pages/webinars.aspx

May 30 -- Extension office closed in observance of Memorial Day.

June 2 -- Celebrate Indiana field trip to Indianapolis.

June 23 -- Farmstead Planning webinar, 12-1 p.m., register at ag.purdue.edu/Extension/wia/Pages/webinars.aspx