Extension > Minnesota Crop News > Archives > September 2010 Archives
September 2010 Archives
I am attaching my summary of the Sauk Centre Hay Auction held on September 16, 2010.
Click on the link SC Hay Auction 09 16 10.pdf for a document that include all tested lots and bedding materials. The lots are grouped by kind of hay, type of bale, in groups by 25 RFV points. The third page is a history of selected lots. I encourage people to consider the usefulness of averages carefully with small numbers of loads and some significant differences in physical condition.
Heavy rain fell across much southern Minnesota on September 22nd
and 23rd and left large areas of Minnesota corn and soybean fields
submerged. Flood waters covered, perhaps
100,000 acres for several hours as rain water moved from fields into creeks and
rivers. Longer term flooding of fields
affected tens of thousands of acres of cropland. In most instances, drainage tile, where
present, were unable to prevent ponded waters.
In other cases, streams swollen by
4 -12 inches of rain falling on fields, roads and cities came out of
their banks and flooded fields.
This information is from the Sauk Centre Hay Auction held on September 2, 2010.
Click on the link SC Hay Auction 09 02 10.pdf for a list of all tested lots sold and bedding materials sold. The lots are grouped by kind of hay, type of bale, in groups by 25 RFV points. The last page of the report is a history of selected groups with averages and ranges from previous years along with corresponding September 2, 2010 information.
Dean Malvick
Extension Plant Pathologist
Not only have the hot and dry conditions and hail affected corn yields in Minnesota this year, these conditions have also favored development of ear rots. Reports of ear rots have been coming in from several different areas, and the quality of grain that comes off these affected fields may be reduced. Several different types of ear rots occur in Minnesota, and all are not equally important. Aspergillus ear rot and Fusarium ear rot may be of particular importance this year due to the hot and dry conditions in much of Minnesota.
Below are key points to establish winter wheat successfully and give it the best changes to survive Minnesota's winter.
1. Plant winter wheat into standing stubble - Survival of winter wheat during the winter is enhanced when it is covered with snow during the coldest months of the year. Standing crop residues can effectively retain snow that may fall. Tall, erect flax and canola stubble works best, but any erect stubble that will retain snow is recommended. Abandoned stands of alfalfa that have been killed with glyphosate work well. Even standing soybean stubble is capable of trapping snow and reducing winterkill. Planting winter wheat into wheat stubble is not ideal for reasons described below, but as long as disease management is planned, wheat stubble can be an acceptable residue.
2. Plant winter-hardy, adapted varieties - Use a winter hardy variety, especially if you are not planting into residue. Likewise, planting past the optimum planting window demands you use the most winter hardy varieties. Jerry, the latest NDSU release and varieties developed in Canada are among the most winter hardy varieties currently available
3. Calculate the correct seeding rate - An optimum stand for winter wheat in the spring is 23 to 25 plants/ft2. Calculate a seeding rate accordingly, knowing that a poor seedbed and planting past the optimum window will mean a higher percent stand lossn and/or more winterkill.
4. Apply phosphorus at time of seeding - Phosphorus fertilization can play a role in winter hardiness, especially if soil tests are low for P. Applying 10-15 lbs of P with the seed may improve winter survival some years. Excessive N prior to winter freeze-up, however, can reduce winter survival.
5. Plant 1 to 1.5 inches deep - Adequate moisture for establishing winter wheat is often a concern as the soil profile is usually depleted of moisture in the fall. If there is little or no moisture in the soil's surface, planting shallow (1 to 1.5 inches deep) and waiting for rain is recommended. Furthermore, these relatively shallow planting depths allow for faster emergence when temperatures are rapidly declining.
6. Avoid the Green Bridge - Avoid fall infections of Wheat Streak Mosaic virus, Barley Yellow Dwarf virus, Hessian Fly, and/or tan spot by not planting too early and ensuring the removal of any volunteer wheat and grassy weeds at least two weeks prior to planting.
7. Choose the correct planting date - The optimum planting date windows are between September 20th and October 10th south of I-90, September 10 and September 30th south of I-94, and between September 1st and September 15th north of I-94.
