in-crop-weather State Indiana Crop Weather Week Ending Date April 29, 2007 Issue IN-CW172007 Agricultural Summary Farmers made good progress planting corn early in the week until rain halted most field activities, according to the Indiana Field Office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Farmers continue to destroy damaged fields of winter wheat in order to plant corn. Planting of corn is 9 days behind the average pace and 5 days behind last year. Planting of soybeans is 7 days behind the average pace and 3 days behind last year. Field Crops Report There were 2.9 days suitable for field work. Thirteen percent of the intended corn acreage has been planted compared with 30 percent last year and 34 percent for the 5-year average. By area, 11 percent has been planted in the north, 14 percent the central region, and 17 percent in the south. Two percent of the intended soybean acreage has been planted compared with 4 percent last year and 8 percent for the 5-year average. Sixty percent of the winter wheat acreage is jointed compared with 73 percent for last year and 76 percent for the 5-year average. Winter wheat condition is rated 34 percent good to excellent compared to 80 percent last year at this time. Major activities during the week included: inspecting wheat fields, spraying, soil preparation, applying anhydrous ammonia, preparing planting equipment, hauling grain to market, hauling manure and taking care of livestock. Livestock, Pasture and Range Report Pasture condition is rated 8% excellent, 47% good, 34% fair, 10% poor, and 1% very poor. Livestock are reported to be in mostly good condition. Pastures have improved as the warmer temperatures have prevailed over the last week. Crop Progress Table ------------------------------------------------------- : This : Last : Last : 5-Year Crop : Week : Week : Year : Avg ------------------------------------------------------- Percent Corn Planted 13 4 30 34 Soybeans Planted 2 NA 4 8 Winter Wheat Jointed 60 46 73 76 Crop Condition Table ----------------------------------------------------------- : Very : : : : Excel- Crop : Poor : Poor : Fair : Good : lent ----------------------------------------------------------- Percent Pasture 1 10 34 47 8 Winter Wheat 2007 8 18 40 31 3 Winter Wheat 2006 0 3 17 61 19 Soil Moisture & Days Suitable for Fieldwork Table ---------------------------------------- : This : Last : Last : : Week : Week : Year : ---------------------------------------- Percent Topsoil Very Short 0 0 0 Short 0 0 4 Adequate 54 71 66 Surplus 46 29 30 Subsoil Very Short 0 0 1 Short 0 1 7 Adequate 67 71 72 Surplus 33 28 20 Days Suitable 2.9 3.4 4.1 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 THE EMERGENCE PROCESS IN CORN Successful germination alone does not guarantee successful emergence of a corn crop. The coleoptile must reach the soil surface before its internal leaves emerge from the protective tissue of the coleoptile. Growth stage VE refers to emergence of the coleoptile or first leaves through the soil surface (Ritchie et al., 1992). As with all of corn growth and development, germination and emergence are dependent on temperature, especially soil temperature. Corn typically requires from 100 to 120 GDD (growing degree days) to emerge (Nielsen, 2007b; Nielsen, 2007c). Under warm soil conditions, the calendar time from planting to emergence can be as little as 5 to 7 days. Under cold soil conditions, emergence can easily take up to four weeks. Elongation of the mesocotyl elevates the coleoptile towards the soil surface. The mesocotyl is the tubular, white, stemlike tissue connecting the seed and the base of the coleoptile. Technically, the mesocotyl is the first internode of the stem. USEFUL TIP: Physiologically, mesocotyls have the capability to lengthen from at least a 6-inch planting depth. Realistically, corn can be planted at least three inches deep if necessary to reach adequate moisture. As the coleoptile nears the soil surface, exposure of the mesocotyl to the red light portion of the solar radiation spectrum halts mesocotyl elongation. Continued expansion of the leaves inside the coleoptile ruptures the coleoptile tip, allowing the first true leaf to emerge above the soil surface. Since the depth at which the mesocotyl senses red light is fairly constant, the resulting depth of the crown (base) of the coleoptile is nearly the same (1/2 to 3/4 inch) at seeding depths of one-inch or greater. USEFUL TIP: When corn is seeded very shallow (less than about 1/2 inch), the crown of the coleoptile will naturally be closer to the soil surface if not right at the surface. Subsequent development of the nodal root system can be restricted by exposure to high temperatures and dry surface soils. TROUBLESHOOTING CONSIDERATIONS Several factors can cause the coleoptile to split prematurely, allowing the leaves to emerge underground. Usually, more than one of the following factors are present when this problem occurs, making it difficult to place the blame on any one factor. Exposure to light at deeper soil depths than usual due to cloddy seedbeds, dry seedbeds, sandy soils, or open slots in no-till. Injury from certain herbicides, particularly under stressful environmental conditions. Symptoms include corkscrewed coleoptile, swollen mesocotyl and true leaves emerged from side of coleoptile. Surface crusting, cloddy seedbeds, rocky seedbeds, planter furrow compaction, or otherwise dense surface soil that physically restrict mesocotyl elongation and coleoptile penetration. The pressure of the expanding leaves within the coleoptile eventually ruptures the side of the coleoptile. Symptoms include corkscrewed coleoptile, swollen mesocotyl and true leaves emerged from side of coleoptile. Note the similarity to those symptoms from herbicide injury. Cold temperature injury, either from exposure to long periods of soil temperatures around 50ºF or from exposure to wide daily swings (25 to 30ºF) in soil temperatures. Symptoms include absence of emerged coleoptile, corkscrewed mesocotyl or coleoptile and true leaves emerged from side of coleoptile. Note the similarity to those symptoms from herbicide injury. USEFUL TIP: The mesocotyl should remain firm, white and healthy through at least the 6-leaf stage, if not longer. If it is mushy, discolored, or damaged prior to this stage, then it is likely part of the crop problem being investigated. In order to view the listing of "Related References" for this article, go to: URL: http://www.kingcorn.org/news/timeless/ Emergence.html, page 3. R.L. (Bob) Nielsen, Department of Agronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2054. Email address: rnielsen@purdue.edu --------------------------------------------------------------------- APHIDS IN FREEZE-DAMAGED WHEAT * Aphids observed in some Indiana wheat. * Virus transmission by aphids occurs mainly in the fall. * Watch for aphids accumulating on wheat heads later in spring. While out inspecting freeze-damaged wheat, some have noticed aphids on the sickly looking plants. Actually, the presence of aphids is common every spring but more people are out looking this year. Though the wheat may be stressed from freeze damage, scattered aphids feeding contribute little, if anything, to yield losses. In addition, aphids at this time aren't likely to infect and spread Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus (BYDV). Plants infested with aphids in the fall are more likely to be infected with BYDV and possibly severely damaged. Insecticide applications applied after wheat reaches Feekes growth stage 4.0 does little good to prevent the transmission of BYD (refer to "Feekes Growth Stages for Wheat" in Pest & Crop, #3, April 13, 2007). In short, there is little justification to treat aphids at this time. However, aphid populations may increase as wheat heads begin to emerge and fill. The aphids can injure developing heads by sucking plant juices. An average of 50 or more aphids per head indicates that an insecticide treatment should be considered. Normally when aphid numbers build to 10 or more per plant, aphid predators and parasites increase rapidly in response to this food source. Lady beetles (adults and larvae), syrphid fly larvae, lacewing larvae, and several species of parasites will soon be scouring fields for aphids. In Indiana, because of a reduced virus threat and the natural enemies, the necessity to treat for aphids in the spring is rare. In order to view the listing of "Related References" for this article, go to: http://www.entm.purdue.edu/extension/pestcrop/2007/issue3/index.html John Obermeyer, Christian Krupke, and Larry Bledsoe, Department of Entomology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN. --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. Second Class postage paid at Lafayette IN. 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 April 29, 2007 ----------------------------------------------------- | Past Week Weather Summary Data |--------------------------------- Station | Air | | Avg | Temperature | Precip. |4 in. |---------------|------------|Soil |Hi |Lo |Avg|DFN| Total|Days |Temp ----------------------------------------------------- Northwest (1) Chalmers_5W 81 41 57 +2 2.06 3 Francesville 80 39 57 +4 2.50 4 Valparaiso_AP_I 82 39 57 +5 2.21 3 Wanatah 82 38 56 +5 3.63 4 59 Winamac 81 41 57 +5 2.30 4 55 North Central(2) Plymouth 82 40 56 +3 2.29 4 South_Bend 82 37 57 +5 3.04 4 Young_America 80 42 58 +5 1.48 3 Northeast (3) Columbia_City 80 43 57 +6 1.92 3 51 Fort_Wayne 81 46 59 +6 1.57 5 West Central(4) Greencastle 80 43 61 +5 1.08 4 Perrysville 82 47 62 +8 0.99 3 61 Spencer_Ag 81 43 61 +7 1.99 4 Terre_Haute_AFB 81 44 64 +9 1.68 3 W_Lafayette_6NW 81 42 58 +5 1.87 4 61 Central (5) Eagle_Creek_AP 79 50 63 +8 0.70 4 Greenfield 80 46 61 +7 1.75 5 Indianapolis_AP 79 48 63 +8 0.88 4 Indianapolis_SE 80 47 61 +6 1.72 5 Tipton_Ag 79 46 58 +6 1.27 4 61 East Central(6) Farmland 79 45 58 +6 2.09 5 56 New_Castle 79 47 60 +8 2.31 4 Southwest (7) Evansville 82 48 67 +9 0.52 4 Freelandville 80 49 64 +8 0.96 3 Shoals 82 43 63 +7 0.75 4 Stendal 85 51 66 +9 0.80 5 Vincennes_5NE 83 49 66 +9 0.98 3 64 South Central(8) Leavenworth 82 49 65 +9 1.18 4 Oolitic 81 45 63 +8 1.53 5 61 Tell_City 82 53 66 +8 1.60 5 Southeast (9) Brookville 81 42 63 +9 1.23 5 Greensburg 80 47 63 +8 1.89 5 Scottsburg 82 45 64 +8 2.11 4 ---------------------------------------------------- Weather Information Table (Continued) Week ending Sunday April 29, 2007 ------------------------------------------------ Accumulation -------------------------------- April 1, 2007 thru Station April 29, 2007 -------------------------------- Precipitation |GDD Base 50oF -------------------------------- | | | | Total | DFN |Days|Total| DFN ------------------------------------------------- Northwest (1) | Chalmers_5W | 4.20 +0.70 10 95 -14 Francesville | 4.24 +0.68 10 87 +5 Valparaiso_AP_I | 2.91 -0.92 6 98 +21 Wanatah | 5.07 +1.38 9 76 +17 Winamac | 4.18 +0.62 9 88 +6 North Central(2)| Plymouth | 5.06 +1.32 12 83 -7 South_Bend | 4.58 +0.87 11 102 +34 Young_America | 3.19 -0.16 8 111 +32 Northeast (3) | Columbia_City | 3.28 -0.22 8 86 +30 Fort_Wayne | 3.56 +0.29 13 112 +39 West Central(4) | Greencastle | 4.15 +0.57 10 125 +0 Perrysville | 3.53 -0.21 10 150 +49 Spencer_Ag | 4.95 +1.09 10 133 +26 Terre_Haute_AFB | 4.16 +0.41 9 166 +40 W_Lafayette_6NW | 4.26 +0.68 12 110 +27 Central (5) | Eagle_Creek_AP | 4.24 +0.67 13 161 +45 Greenfield | 5.22 +1.34 17 134 +40 Indianapolis_AP | 3.80 +0.23 13 162 +46 Indianapolis_SE | 5.44 +1.83 14 133 +27 Tipton_Ag | 3.52 -0.24 11 103 +37 East Central(6) | Farmland | 4.59 +1.14 11 97 +36 New_Castle | 5.37 +1.44 10 121 +56 Southwest (7) | Evansville | 3.62 -0.25 10 220 +23 Freelandville | 2.84 -0.88 9 181 +39 Shoals | 5.12 +1.17 10 164 +24 Stendal | 4.67 +0.39 11 233 +67 Vincennes_5NE | 3.19 -0.53 9 188 +46 South Central(8)| Leavenworth | 5.48 +1.05 10 194 +49 Oolitic | 4.79 +0.93 11 151 +31 Tell_City | 4.60 -0.05 11 215 +39 Southeast (9) | Brookville | 3.63 -0.06 11 168 +79 Greensburg | 4.95 +1.03 13 170 +62 Scottsburg | 6.09 +2.05 11 184 +42 ------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 2007: 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