Ned Birkey

Weather
The weather has been great as we have had rain and some warmer temperatures to try to catch up on some growing degree units. We will need a warm September and early October to allow full season soybeans to reach their yield potential.

Crop report
Alfalfa and hay crops have generally had good yields this growing season. Potato leafhoppers and now grasshoppers have been into fields causing damage. Some newly seeded fields look good.

Corn is denting for most maturities. I have seen very little corn silage put up so far as plants have remained very green, though that should change very soon. Although corn yields look promising, the tip ends of many ears do not have kernels, either pollination did not occur or kernel aborted.

Soybeans are generally at the R6 to R7 stage with very few early Group II fields that may be combined late next week. Earlier maturing varieties seem to be losing leaves daily and even Group III soybean leaves are starting to turn yellow. The later maturing soybeans can use all the time that Mother Nature will provide, and this time will add to the yield. Sudden Death Syndrome, Sclerotinia white mold and soybean cyst nematodes can be found now in some fields. All three will affect yields in those respective fields.

Wheat planting will begin around October 1 as the Hessian fly-free date is September 18 for Washtenaw County and September 21 for Monroe County. MSU Extension recommends that farmers begin seeding winter wheat seven to 10 days after the Hessian fly-free date. About 60 percent of the yield potential for wheat is set once the drill leaves the field.

Miscellaneous
The last fall field day will be on Wednesday, September 23 at the MSU Corn and Soybean Variety Trial location in Lenawee County. The field day will be from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM and the location is on Hoagland Road, north of Holloway Road, south of Britton, Michigan. Lunch will be served on site and there will be a corn yield guessing contest with the winners announced at the February 18 MSU IPM meeting at Cabela’s.