in-crop-weather State Indiana Crop Weather Week Ending Date October 19, 2008 IN-CW101908 AGRICULTURAL SUMMARY Harvest of both corn and soybeans pushed forward with only light precipitation slowing progress, according to the Indiana Field Office of USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Moisture levels in the corn crop have been slow to fall below 20 percent which has kept harvest at a slow pace. Corn harvest is running about 5 days behind the 5-year average pace while soybean harvest is about 1 day ahead of the 5-year average. Other activities included fall tillage, spreading fertilizer and lime, planting winter wheat and hauling grain to market. FIELD CROPS REPORT There were 6.0 days suitable for field work. Corn condition is rated 56 percent good to excellent. Ninety-three percent of the corn acreage is now mature compared with 99 percent last year and 97 percent for the 5-year average. Forty-one percent of the corn acreage has been harvested compared with 66 percent last year and 50 percent for the 5-year average. By area, 36 percent of the corn acreage has been harvested in the north, 39 percent in the central region and 53 percent in the south. Moisture content of harvested corn is averaging about 19 percent. Soybean condition is rated 49 percent good to excellent. Seventy-four percent of the soybean acreage has been harvested compared with 78 percent last year and 72 percent for the 5-year average. By area, 79 percent of the soybean acreage has been harvested in the north, 82 percent in the central region and 50 percent in the south. Moisture content of harvested soybeans is averaging about 11.5 percent. Seventy percent of the 2009 winter wheat acreage has been planted compared with 80 percent last year and 69 percent for the 5-year average. Ninety-seven percent of the tobacco acreage is reported to be harvested at this time compared with 98 percent for both last year and the 5-year average. LIVESTOCK, PASTURE AND RANGE REPORT Pasture condition is rated as 4% excellent, 21% good, 38% fair, 24% poor and 13% very poor. Livestock remain in mostly good condition. Crop Progress Table ------------------------------------------------------- : This : Last : Last : 5-Year Crop : Week : Week : Year : Avg ------------------------------------------------------- Percent Corn Mature 93 88 99 97 Corn Harvested 41 26 66 50 Soybeans Harvested 74 55 78 72 Tobacco Harvested 97 90 98 98 Winter Wheat Planted 70 47 80 69 Winter Wheat Emerged 31 8 47 29 Crop Condition Table ----------------------------------------------------------- : Very : : : : Excel- Crop : Poor : Poor : Fair : Good : lent ----------------------------------------------------------- Percent Corn 5 12 27 41 15 Soybean 7 12 32 39 10 Pasture 13 24 38 21 4 Soil Moisture & Days Suitable for Fieldwork Table ---------------------------------------- : This : Last : Last : : Week : Week : Year : ---------------------------------------- Percent Topsoil Very Short 11 14 19 Short 38 37 30 Adequate 50 47 49 Surplus 1 2 2 Subsoil Very Short 15 14 35 Short 36 35 32 Adequate 47 50 33 Surplus 2 1 0 Days Suitable 6.0 5.6 5.0 Contact Information --Greg Preston, Director --Andy Higgins, Agricultural Statistician E-Mail Address: nass-in@nass.usda.gov http://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Indiana ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Other Agricultural Comments And News DIPLODIA EAR ROT - Published Oct., 2008 Diplodia ear rot has become a common disease in Indiana corn. The increase in no-till or reduced-till fields and the repeated planting of corn without rotation increase the likelihood that the disease, caused by the fungus, Stenocarpella maydis, will be present in the field. Hybrid genetics and weather are also major factors that contribute to disease development. The purpose of this bulletin is to describe 1) how to recognize the disease, 2) the conditions that favor disease development, 3) steps that can be taken to prevent the disease, and 4) how to handle diseased grain after harvest. SYMPTOMS: If you walk through the cornfield prior to harvest and pull back the husks on ears, Diplodia ear rot is easily recognized. The most severely affected ears will be completely rotted, with visible mold that is grayish or grayish brown on and between the kernels (Figure 1). The ear will also be noticeably lightweight. In less severe infection the mold will be appear white to grayish, visible on and between the kernels, but only affecting part of the ear. The disease typically starts at the base of the ear progressing toward the tip (Figure 2). Infected kernel tips are discolored. On occasion, we have observed disease symptoms at only the tip-end or middle part of the ear. Another diagnostic feature of Diplodia ear rot is the presence of spore producing structures called pycnidia. Pycnidia appear as black specks that may be scattered on the husks, cobs, and sides of kernels (Figure 3). DISEASE CYCLE: The pycnidia-covered corn debris that remains on the soil surface will overwinter and provide a source of infection for the following year. Infection by Diplodia is enhanced by dry weather prior to silking, followed by wet conditions at and just after silking. Ears are most susceptible to this disease during the first 21 days after silking. Earworm damage at the ear shank is often associated with the disease (Figure 4). ECONOMIC LOSSES: Diplodia infected corn will result in potentially significant discounts when graded at the first point of sale. The light kernels will lower the test weight of a sample. Corn kernels in a sample that show damage caused by cob rot, mold infection, and surface mold are hand picked out of the sampling screen and graded as part of Total Damaged Kernels (Figure 5). Diplodia infected corn also results in more cobs and kernels being ground up during the combine shelling operation, which results in higher levels of broken corn and foreign material (BCFM). Diplodia kernels will easily break during post-harvest handling, causing an increase in the amount of fine material in a storage bin. These fines will decrease airflow during aeration, which will increase the potential for spoilage. Pre-cleaning, especially after drying and before delivery and/or storage, is highly recommended to remove the lighter weight damaged kernels, cob pieces, fines, and foreign material. This will help to minimize discounts and improve storability of the corn. STORAGE: Proper storage of Diplodia infected corn is crucial. Drying the grain to 15% moisture will stop further growth of the fungus. However, other fungi, which can grow at 14 to 15% moisture will find it easy to invade the kernels damaged by Diplodia and cause further spoilage, damage, and self-heating. If Diplodia ear rot is significant, the grain should be dried to below 14% and cooled to below 50°F as quickly after harvest as possible. Infected grain should be stored at 30°F.. Storage time should be limited to the cold weather season and no Diplodia infected corn should be held into the following summer. MANAGEMENT: To prevent a reoccurrence of Diplodia ear rot, avoiding reduced-tilled corn following corn is advised. Rotation out of corn will allow corn residue to degrade, reducing the presence of the pathogen. Corn hybrids vary in susceptibility to Diplodia ear rot. In areas where the disease is problematic, a resistant variety should be considered. In order to view the various photos referred to as Figures 1 - 5 in this article, go to:http://www.agry.purdue.edu/ext/corn/news/ articles.08/DiplodiaEarRot-1010.pdf (.) Written by Charles Woloshuk and Kiersten Wise, Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The INDIANA CROP & WEATHER REPORT (USPS 675-770), (ISSN 0442-817X) is issued weekly April through November by the USDA, NASS, Indiana Field Office, 1435 Win Hentschel Blvd, Suite 110, West Lafayette IN 47906-4145. For information on subscribing, send request to above address. POSTMASTER: Send address change to the USDA, NASS, Indiana Field Office, 1435 Win Hentschel Blvd, Suite 110, West Lafayette IN 47906-4145. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Weather Information Table Week ending Sunday October 19, 2008 ----------------------------------------------------- | Past Week Weather Summary Data |--------------------------------- Station | Air | | Avg | Temperature | Precip. |4 in. |---------------|------------|Soil |Hi |Lo |Avg|DFN| Total|Days |Temp ----------------------------------------------------- Northwest (1) Chalmers_5W 86 35 58 +6 0.52 2 Francesville 84 36 58 +7 1.23 2 Valparaiso_AP_I 85 38 58 +6 0.78 2 Wanatah 85 34 56 +5 1.18 3 62 Winamac 85 37 58 +7 1.03 1 62 North Central(2) Plymouth 84 37 58 +6 1.07 3 South_Bend 84 39 58 +7 0.68 2 Young_America 81 36 58 +7 0.93 1 Northeast (3) Columbia_City 85 35 58 +8 0.78 1 68 Fort_Wayne 87 32 60 +8 0.89 1 West Central(4) Greencastle 83 33 59 +5 0.40 1 Perrysville 85 32 59 +6 0.50 4 64 Spencer_Ag 83 34 60 +7 0.49 2 Terre_Haute_AFB 83 35 61 +7 0.46 1 W_Lafayette_6NW 86 36 58 +7 0.40 2 60 Central (5) Eagle_Creek_AP 84 37 62 +8 0.13 1 Greenfield 84 34 60 +8 0.34 1 Indianapolis_AP 84 39 63 +9 0.17 2 Indianapolis_SE 84 37 60 +7 0.45 1 Tipton_Ag 85 33 61 +10 0.80 2 64 East Central(6) Farmland 86 29 59 +9 0.80 1 62 New_Castle 85 32 60 +9 0.32 2 Southwest (7) Evansville 86 37 64 +8 0.21 1 Freelandville 83 40 62 +8 0.22 2 Shoals_8S 85 35 60 +6 0.10 2 Stendal 85 39 62 +8 0.14 2 Vincennes_5NE 86 42 63 +9 0.19 1 70 South Central(8) Leavenworth 86 37 61 +7 0.05 1 Oolitic 85 35 61 +8 0.21 3 62 Tell_City 86 42 64 +8 0.00 0 Southeast (9) Brookville 87 34 61 +10 0.00 0 Greensburg 84 36 62 +9 0.02 1 Scottsburg 85 36 61 +7 0.30 2 ----------------------------------------------------- Weather Information Table (Continued) Week ending Sunday October 19, 2008 ------------------------------------------------- | Accumulation |-------------------------------- | April 1, 2008 thru Station | October 19, 2008 |-------------------------------- | Precipitation |GDD Base 50oF |-------------------------------- | | | | | |Total | DFN |Days|Total| DFN ------------------------------------------------- Northwest (1) | Chalmers_5W |24.72 +1.09 65 2823 -352 Francesville |29.59 +5.57 73 2808 -96 Valparaiso_AP_I |19.21 -6.81 61 3011 +106 Wanatah |32.17 +7.22 73 2671 -88 Winamac |31.07 +7.05 72 2849 -55 North Central(2)| Plymouth |27.62 +2.82 77 2833 -224 South_Bend |27.96 +3.82 70 3032 +167 Young_America |28.06 +4.69 64 2910 -92 Northeast (3) | Columbia_City |23.14 -0.20 70 2778 +45 Fort_Wayne |21.17 -0.22 72 3178 +168 West Central(4) | Greencastle |36.27 +9.34 65 2969 -441 Perrysville |30.03 +4.94 73 3203 +38 Spencer_Ag |37.53 +10.64 74 3230 +45 Terre_Haute_AFB |30.53 +5.20 57 3409 +26 W_Lafayette_6NW |25.25 +1.54 74 3005 +8 Central (5) | Eagle_Creek_AP |30.61 +6.93 70 3548 +199 Greenfield |33.30 +7.34 77 3125 -96 Indianapolis_AP |27.28 +3.60 69 3624 +275 Indianapolis_SE |30.82 +6.53 62 3114 -230 Tipton_Ag |24.34 -0.03 73 2962 +62 East Central(6) | Farmland |22.39 -1.01 66 2845 +18 New_Castle |27.74 +2.85 71 2893 -7 Southwest (7) | Evansville |24.84 +0.80 57 4097 +203 Freelandville |31.79 +6.79 63 3551 +55 Shoals_8S |31.43 +4.43 61 3243 -146 Stendal |32.02 +5.30 89 3821 +160 Vincennes_5NE |25.67 +0.67 54 3711 +215 South Central(8)| Leavenworth |29.56 +2.41 93 3724 +359 Oolitic |29.53 +3.54 68 3243 +15 Tell_City |25.41 -1.88 54 4000 +227 Southeast (9) | Brookville |23.33 -1.71 71 3397 +337 Greensburg |29.47 +4.25 68 3393 +257 Scottsburg |27.19 +1.46 85 3597 +117 ------------------------------------------------------------------ DFN = Departure From Normal (Using 1961-90 Normals Period). GDD = Growing Degree Days. Precipitation (Rainfall or melted snow/ice) in inches. Precipitation Days = Days with precip of .01 inch or more. Air Temperatures in Degrees Fahrenheit. Copyright 2008: Agricultural Weather Information Service, Inc. All rights reserved. The above weather information is provided by AWIS, Inc. For detailed ag weather forecasts and data visit the AWIS home page at: www.awis.com