Agronomy Zone 14

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• Jeff Anderson (12)
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• Dustin Ellis (1)
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• Tony Lenz (19)
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• Tony Plenggenkuhle (10)
• Matt Raml (1)
• Kyle Ross (15)
• Jim Rowley (14)
• Kevin Ryan (14)
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• Doug Score (1)
• Stine Seed (21)
• Trevor Stockstad (2)
• Louis Sutton (18)
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While things are quiet in the fields, Regional Sales Agronomist Kyle Ross recommends growers think hard about 2012 seed decisions. “Right now, growers have begun to lock-in prices for the spring,” says Ross. “It’s the perfect time to evaluate your 2011 crops and think ahead to next year.”

Because of the weed resistant crops in southern Illinois and western Kentucky in 2011, Ross suggests growers in his region plant Stine’s LibertyLink® next season. In addition to planting LibertyLink®, Ross says growers should use pre and post-herbicide treatments to combat glyphosate resistance.

Contact your Regional Sales Agronomist to lock in your seed prices.

With pollination coming to an end, now is the time to check your crops pollination success. I have been in several fields during the past couple of weeks and have been noticing several ears that have tipped back or have aborted kernels.  July was one of the hottest months on record. Much of the late planted corn was flowering during this 3-4 week period of 90+ degree weather, with several days reaching triple digits.

While the corn plant can handle a fair amount of stress and heat, chances are that some kernel abortion and/or lack of full pollination may have occurred. The high heat and lack of soil moisture could have led some emerging silks to die pre-pollination. The chances of this happening were likely less then kernels aborting post-pollination.  Kernels can abort while the plant is stressed, when the overall photosynthesis process is reduced. Silks clipped by insects can be another cause for poor pollination; since there were few reports of Japanese beetles this year, it was not likely the cause.

Some people ask, “How can I tell whether the kernel aborted, or did not pollinate?” Kernels that have aborted will be shriveled, and be white or light yellow in color. In cases where pollination did not occur, no kernel development will be visible; all that is present is cob tissue.

However, not all tip back is a cause for concern. If the ears are filled out to the tip, you likely did not plant your corn thick enough. Typically a 1/2 to 1” of tip back is a good sign that your population was optimal.

Now is the time to check your corn to start estimating your yield potential so that you do not over-market your crop before you have had a chance to harvest it.

With a number of new seed treatment options available for seed corn, it will be important to remember to use talc or graphite in your planter to help ensure proper seed accuracy and seed flow.

Talc is usually recommended for vacuum and air planters. Before any planting is done, it is recommended that you clean the vacuum system to rid it of any dirt or talc buildup from the previous year. Check your planter's operator’s manual for the proper way to purge the system.  Talc quality and rate can vary from one manufacturer to another, as can application rates. Most will be recommended at a rate of ½ to 1 cup per unit of seed (80000 kernel unit). Very large or very small seed varieties may need a higher amount of talc for proper flow. Seed treated with sticky seed treatment or double rate seed treatment will likely need a double rate of talc. If the humidity is high at planting, you may need to increase the rate of talc to help with seed flow.

Graphite is recommended for use in finger-pickup meters and brush type meters. Graphite will help lubricate the seed meter and can help reduce wear on the plates (poly or metal). The rate may vary from meters or quality of the graphite; rates can range from ½ tablespoon to 2 tablespoon per unit of seed (80000 kernel unit).  If the humidity is high at planting or a buildup of treatment occurs on the backing plates or fingers, you will need to increase the rate of graphite. You may want to increase the rate of graphite when you start in the spring to ensure the meter is lubricated properly. If you are using a high rate of a seed treatment, or a product that seems to be stickier than what you are used to, you should increase the rate of the graphite to help ensure proper seed drop.  However, be careful not to add too much graphite, as it can build up on the seed tube eyes and give false readings of seed drops. It may be a good idea to run a brush down the seed tubes every couple of fill ups to clean the sensors.

These tips, along with properly functioning seed meters and proper planter setup, should help you get the accurate seed drop you need for the stands that you desire.

With springtime just around the corner, now is a good time to drop off your seed meters to have them checked. Sometimes overlooked, it is a good practice to have your seed corn meters checked every year. Having the meters calibrated with a sample of your intended seed could help pick up a couple bushels per acre, just from the increased accuracy of the seed drop. The bean meters should not be forgotten either. They should be checked bi-annually, if not annually.  

Finger Pickup Meters:

The brushes should be checked for wear or damage; they can wear out after just 100 acres per row. The carrier plate should be checked for wear or for seed treatment buildup. Some seed treatments can build up fast and need to be removed by hand. These carrier plates should last about 300 acres per row. The fingers and springs can last for up to 800-900 acres per row; however, they need to be checked to make sure they are working properly and are free of wear, damage or rust. The drive sprocket, seed belt and belt housing all should be checked for wear and damage.

Vac Type Meters:

All the brushes should be checked for wear, damaged or frayed bristles. They can wear out after 300-400 acres per row. The seed disk should be checked for wear or warpage; it should be cleaned to make sure all cells are free of foreign material. The meter housing should be checked for damage. The breathers should be cleaned.

Brush Meters:

The meter itself should be cleaned. If you’re planting treated seed, you could have a buildup of residue in the meter that may cause more wear on the seed disk. The seed disk itself needs to be checked for wear or damage. These discs should be replaced after about 200 acres per row. The cells themselves can be worn down and allow doubles to drop on some smaller seed or allow seeds to get wedged in the cells and prevent accurate seed drop. The brushes should be checked for frayed, missing or damaged bristles. The upper brushes should wear out (at about 200-400 acres per row) before the lower brushes (at about 400-800 acres per row). The wear band needs to be checked to make sure there isn’t a groove running down it.

These are just a few tips to think about as we get closer to spring. They are not a cure-all, but having your meters in the best possible condition as we go into spring will help ensure proper seed drop and the best possible start for your crop.