in-crop-weather State Indiana Crop Weather Week Ending Date April 28, 2002 Issue IN-CW1702 Agricultural Summary Rain and wet field conditions slowed fieldwork during most of last week. Corn planting is 13 days behind last year, according to the Indiana Agricultural Statistics Service. Other activities included tilling soils, spreading anhydrous ammonia, spraying chemicals and seeding CRP filter strips. Temperatures were much cooler and poor drying conditions existed during most of the week. Weekend rain will keep most farmers out of their fields for the next few days. Field Crops Report There were 1.4 days suitable for fieldwork. Four percent of the corn acreage is planted compared with 36 percent last year and 22 percent for the 5-year average. By area, 6 percent of the corn acreage is planted in the north, 3 percent in the central regions and 1 percent in the south. A few fields of early planted corn have emerged, mostly in the southwest. Summer-like conditions during mid-April put the growing season for fruit trees into high gear. Peaches were blooming in some orchards. Apples are now at pink in the northern parts of the state, full bloom in most central regions and petal fall in the southern areas. Seventy-seven percent of the winter wheat acreage is jointed compared with 78 percent last year and 80 percent for the 5-year average. One percent of the winter wheat is headed compared with 3 percent last year and 4 percent for the average. Winter wheat condition is rated 62 percent good to excellent, above the 61 percent last week, but below the 75 percent a year ago at this time. Wheat growth and development continues to improve. Livestock, Pasture and Range Report Pasture condition is rated 14 percent excellent, 58 percent good, 25 percent fair, 2 percent poor and 1 percent very poor. Hay supplies are mostly adequate. Pastures are now providing most of the necessary feed for livestock. Livestock are in mostly good condition. Calving remains active. Spring lambing is winding down. Crop Progress Table -------------------------------------------------------- : This : Last : Last : 5-Year Crop : Week : Week : Year : Avg -------------------------------------------------------- Percent Corn Planted 4 2 36 22 Winter Wheat Jointed 77 52 78 80 Winter Wheat Headed 1 0 3 4 Crop Condition Table -------------------------------------------------------- : Very : : : : Excel- Crop : Poor : Poor : Fair : Good : lent -------------------------------------------------------- Percent Pasture 1 2 25 58 14 Winter Wheat 2002 0 7 31 52 10 Winter Wheat 2001 0 5 20 61 14 Soil Moisture & Days Suitable For Fieldwork Table ------------------------------------------------------- : This : Last : Last : Week : Week : Year ------------------------------------------------------- Percent Topsoil Very Short 0 0 5 Short 0 0 19 Adequate 37 50 70 Surplus 63 50 6 Subsoil Very Short 0 0 5 Short 1 3 23 Adequate 52 63 68 Surplus 47 34 4 Days Suitable 1.4 2.2 5.2 Contact information --Ralph W. Gann, State Statistician --Bud Bever, Agricultural Statistician E-Mail Address: nass-in@nass.usda.gov http://www.nass.usda.gov/in/index.htm Other Agricultural Comments And News Aphids in Wheat -Yellow wheat could be Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus which is vectored by aphids -Transmission by aphids mainly occurs in the Fall -Later on, watch for aphids on wheat heads A caller this week from southwest Indiana was concerned about the presence of aphids on wheat and disease potential. Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus (BYDV), which is transmitted by aphids, causes yellowing of wheat. BYDV usually is observed in late spring, at about jointing, and usually occurs in patches of varying sizes. Plants infested with aphids in the fall, usually more likely in early plantings, are more likely to be infected with BYDV and severely damaged. Insecticide applications applied after wheat reaches Feekes' 4.0 does little good to prevent the transmission of BYDV (refer to "Feekes Growth Stages for Wheat" in Pest & Crop, Issue #1). Watch for aphid population increases as wheat heads begin to emerge and fill. The aphids 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, it is not uncommon for predators and parasites to increase rapidly in response to this increased source of food. Lady beetles (adults and larvae), syrphid fly larvae, lacewing larvae, and several species of parasites are probably now or shortly will be numerous in most fields. These natural control agents should help reduce aphid numbers. John Obermeyer, Rich Edwards, and Larry Bledsoe, Dept of Entomology, Purdue University. Atrazine and Frogs "Ubi dubium ibi libertas" which is Latin for, "Where there is doubt, there is freedom." Far too often in the media one study is dictated in such a manner that suggests proof. The media does this with the full knowledge of what sells. In fact, as many high school science classes will teach, one study only means that a hypothesis has been supported, never proven. The word "proof" is almost never heard in research. We see and hear words like "suggests" and "supports." Generally in science, whether it be butterflies or frogs, one study will raise eyebrows that lead to other studies revolving around or repeating the first. It is important to have a study repeated by others before strong over all conclusions can be made. An idea or hypothesis has to be supported by others and in the field. Research recently released by Dr.Tyrone B.Hayes of the University of California at Berkeley suggests that atrazine can interfere with the African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) sexual development. Dr. Hayes reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science that atrazine levels from 0.1 ppb to 200 ppb can increase the production of the enzyme aromatase, which is involved in the conversion of androgen hormones to estrogen hormones. These hormones are involved in the sexual development of the frog. As the levels of atrazine were increased to 200 ppm up to 20 percent of the frogs showed multiple sex organs. Vocal chord development was also suggested to be effected. Which would affect the frogs ability to attract a mate and reproduce. At present, EPA allows 3 ppbof atrazine in drinking water and the chronic exposure limit for aquatic life is 12 ppb for aquatic life. Is this a concern for people? The effects on people have not been addressed by the research. However, the point is made that unlike frogs people do not live in the water (ABC News.com). Also unlike frogs, people generally don't have the ability to change their sex mid life cycle (excluding the use of modern medicine). In populations of frogs, males can become females if there is an over abundance of male frogs in a population indicating a certain plasticity of sex determination. What does this all mean to the producer? Atrazine has become a staple in corn production due to its efficacy and cost. However, atrazine is up for re-registration by the EPA. Furthermore, the EPA has been pressured by governing bodies to make a decision on atrazine's registration. Its future as a weed management tool is uncertain. This study has raised new environmental concerns. Also, whether the results of this study are supported by other research from other institution or not, many people's minds will be made up and pressure to take atrazine out off the market will be there. I do not doubt the credibility of the above research at all; however it is important to note that one study does not make gospel. Glenn Nice and Thomas Bauman, Dept. of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University. Weather Information Table Week Ending Sunday April 28, 2002 --------------------------------------------------------------- | Past Week Weather Summary Data |--------------------------------- Station | Air | | Avg | Temperature | Precip. |4 in. |---------------|-----------|Soil |Hi |Lo |Avg|DFN|Total |Days|Temp --------------------------------------------------------------- Northwest (1) | Valparaiso_AP_I |73 31 47 -7 1.37 3 Wanatah |73 28 45 -7 1.24 3 53 Wheatfield |74 28 46 -7 1.55 4 Winamac |73 30 47 -7 1.57 3 52 North Central(2)| Chalmers_5W |75 32 46 -9 1.99 3 Plymouth |74 29 45 -10 1.35 4 South_Bend |73 27 46 -7 0.93 3 Young_America |75 31 47 -7 1.91 3 Northeast (3) | Columbia_City |73 29 46 -6 1.23 3 50 Fort_Wayne |73 31 47 -6 1.18 3 West Central (4)| Greencastle |72 29 48 -9 3.34 3 Perrysville |71 31 49 -6 2.23 5 54 Terre_Haute_AFB |69 32 52 -5 3.02 3 W_Lafayette_6NW |75 31 48 -6 2.18 3 52 Central (5) | Brookville |76 34 50 -4 2.56 3 Eagle_Creek_AP |73 34 50 -6 2.83 3 Greenfield |71 33 49 -6 2.62 3 Indianapolis_AP |74 33 51 -5 3.83 4 Indianapolis_SE |72 31 49 -7 2.64 3 Tipton_Ag |73 31 46 -7 2.55 4 55 East Central (6)| Farmland |73 31 48 -6 2.01 4 47 New_Castle |70 31 45 -8 1.62 2 Southwest (7) | Evansville |81 40 58 -2 4.87 3 Freelandville |68 37 52 -5 2.67 3 Shoals |69 34 52 -5 2.52 3 Stendal |75 39 55 -3 3.10 3 Vincennes_5NE |70 36 54 -3 2.61 3 54 South Central(8)| Spencer_Ag |69 31 50 -6 3.26 3 Tell_City |76 43 58 +0 4.50 3 Southeast (9) | Milan_5NE |70 30 48 -6 3.30 4 Scottsburg |71 35 53 -5 2.98 4 ------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------- | Accumulation | April 1, 2002 thru Station | April 28, 2002 | Precipitation |GDD Base 50oF | | | | | |Total | DFN |Days|Total| DFN ------------------------------------------------------------- Northwest (1) | Valparaiso_AP_I | 5.24 +1.54 14 176 +105 Wanatah | 5.29 +1.72 13 143 +89 Wheatfield | 4.16 +0.62 12 162 +104 Winamac | 4.03 +0.59 15 152 +76 North Central(2)| Chalmers_5W | 4.10 +0.73 15 156 +54 Plymouth | 4.91 +1.30 15 154 +70 South_Bend | 3.41 -0.18 15 166 +103 Young_America | 4.66 +1.43 11 176 +103 Northeast (3) | Columbia_City | 4.62 +1.24 13 154 +103 Fort_Wayne | 3.73 +0.57 12 194 +126 West Central (4)| Greencastle | 5.90 +2.46 11 175 +58 Perrysville | 5.26 +1.65 13 181 +87 Terre_Haute_AFB | 5.23 +1.62 12 237 +119 W_Lafayette_6NW | 5.38 +1.93 14 179 +102 Central (5) | Brookville | 6.95 +3.40 12 212 +129 Eagle_Creek_AP | 5.69 +2.25 12 214 +105 Greenfield | 6.28 +2.54 15 195 +108 Indianapolis_AP | 5.65 +2.21 11 236 +127 Indianapolis_SE | 5.87 +2.40 10 197 +98 Tipton_Ag | 4.86 +1.23 14 168 +107 East Central (6)| Farmland | 5.32 +1.99 16 171 +115 New_Castle | 5.71 +1.92 11 150 +90 Southwest (7) | Evansville | 8.58 +4.85 12 318 +131 Freelandville | 5.23 +1.66 11 231 +97 Shoals | 5.34 +1.54 11 220 +88 Stendal | 7.12 +3.00 11 274 +117 Vincennes_5NE | 5.65 +2.08 9 255 +121 South Central(8)| Spencer_Ag | 7.15 +3.43 13 184 +84 Tell_City | 7.70 +3.21 10 330 +163 Southeast (9) | Milan_5NE | 8.38 +4.83 14 182 +99 Scottsburg | 5.75 +1.85 13 234 +100 ------------------------------------------------------------- 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 2002: AWIS, 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 or call toll free at 1-888-798-9955. The INDIANA CROP WEATHER REPORT (USPS 675-770), (ISSN 0442-817X) is issued weekly April through November by the Indiana Agricultural Statistics Service, 1435 Win Hentschel Blvd, Suite B105, 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 Indiana Agricultural Statistics Service, 1435 Win Hentschel Blvd, Suite B105, West Lafayette IN 47906-4145. Source: Indiana Agricultural Statistics Service