Agronomy Zone 2

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As we reach the final days of February, the remnants of a long winter are hopefully fading fast. Like all winters, producers have had plenty of time to watch the markets and ponder their spring planting intentions. We have once again seen some switching of acres in my region over to corn on corn. Hopefully producers did a good job of residue management on soils that are normally wet or have a history of high residue. Harvest or soon afterwards is the right time to prepare for success the next spring. Here are some key things to consider when going to corn on corn:

• Have a good corn head that shreds up stalks and allows for better microbial decomposition, especially in a no-till environment.
• Remember that aggressive tillage in the fall on heavier soils helps in preparing a good spring seedbed and will reduce the amount of disease inoculums present.
• Select fields that are the most productive, are well drained and have adequate water-holding capacity.
• Keep in mind that higher rates of Nitrogen will be needed. Apply 30-50#/acre more than you would in a corn-soybean rotation.
• Consider using starter fertilizer for quicker nutrient uptake, which will lessen the effect of any potentially adverse soil conditions early on and get seed off to a fast, healthy start.
• Split applications of Nitrogen is preferred, by either traditional sidedressing equipment or with high clearance applicators that can dribble N between the row; injection with coulters is ideal.
• Select hybrids with excellent seed vigor, excellent disease packages and consistent yields across multiple years/locations.
• Inspect planters for proper operation of various components including disc openers, row cleaner attachments, soil applied insecticides, starter fertilizers, etc.  Use proper planting speeds and proper down pressure to achieve adequate, uniform planting depth and emergence.
• May need to use a fungicide, especially on certain hybrid families, at either the V5 stage or just before tassels emerge (VT stage).

I have had a few questions this fall about aphid-resistant soybeans. What they are and whether or not the technology works.

Up to this point, the only method for control of soybean aphids has been insecticides, but now soybean breeders like Stine are working with a number of different aphid-resistant, or “RAG,” genes. So far, the main varieties that have been introduced into the marketplace feature either Rag 1 or Rag 2, which are both single genes. The main problem with varieties containing a single gene is that aphids may eventually, or may have already, become resistant to the gene. At that point, the gene ceases to become effective in controlling aphids. 

Another important consideration with the current crop of aphid-resistant soybeans is none of the varieties currently on the market offer complete protection from aphids. So, even though the use of the gene may result in fewer aphids compared to non-aphid-resistant varieties, a grower will still need to scout and possibly spray if economic thresholds are exceeded. For example, in 2007 and 2008 Iowa research plots evaluating aphid-resistant varieties still required an insecticide application.

So, while technology will evenutally help us minimize problems caused by soybean aphids, the solution isn't quite here yet. For the reasons outlined above, I still recommend growers purchase the highest-yielding Stine soybean variety that fits their soil type, then scout for aphids and spray insecticide if thresholds are exceeded.

Crop progress is quite different comparing South Dakota to NW Iowa and SW Minnesota, especially the rolling hills and well-tiled farms of my eastern 2 states I cover. Not having tile on your farm is the most limiting factor to yield I see in my field visits, when it used to be moisture stress. NW Iowa and SW Minnesota have great yield potential, but the pot holes with stunted yellow corn will limit top end. These areas tasseling is all over the board with some fields starting 2 weeks ago and some tassels just starting to come out in some fields. We are also seeing nitrogen and potash deficiencies, mainly from denitrification or some leaching on lighter soils. Yields in South Dakota will be very up and down. To the north, some producers only got about two-thirds of their crops planted (or worse) and soybean planting extended into July. All you can say here is that it has been a tough year!

Soybeans have been growing extremely slow, showing just how little they like excessive soil moisture early in the season. I have been on many calls looking at brown spot and bacterial blight. This should be a good year for producers to split fields and try some fungicide on beans to see if it pays for itself. Just starting to see aphids in my area this past week, but so far numbers are very low.

Today is the last day of April, who would of thought a month ago we would have this much corn planted? Here is an update for my region of NW Iowa, SW Minnesota and South Dakota.

On April 25th USDA estimated that South Dakota had 13 percent of the corn acres planted, and it has been wet this week so that number will not change much. The last 5 year average has been 5 percent planted, so we are moving along nicely. Some of my area south and west of Sioux Falls have had 2-4 inches of rain over the last week.

SW Minnesota has been drier and I would estimate that around 70 percent of the corn was planted the beginning of the week.  Some areas had a few days to plant between showers this week so that number could be higher. Minnesota's last 5 year average has been 16 percent corn planted this time of year.

NW Iowa has had the best run of my region, with about 70 to 80 percent of the corn planted. This would be comparable to the USDA numbers for Iowa of 70 percent planted. The last 5 year average for the state has been 23 percent corn planted as of April 25th.

This is great news compared to the last few years, and most of my area would say the ideal planting date for corn would be April 20th to May 5th window. We have set ourselves up nicely for good yield potential.

Soybean planting started this past week in NW Iowa and SW Minnesota, with an ideal target of finishing by May 20-25th. With 3 good weeks of planting, we should have plenty of time to finish. Farmers are cautiously waiting to start mainly because of the early finish to corn planting and the cool nighttime temperatures predicted this coming week.