in-crop-weather State Indiana Crop Weather Week Ending Date October 2, 2005 Issue IN-CW4005 Agricultural Summary Once again, rain showers during the week have slowed harvest progress in several areas of the state, according to the Indiana Field Office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. However, combines have been running in fields where the soil is dry enough to support them. Fall pastures have rebounded with the recent precipitation. Other activities included spreading fertilizer, sowing winter wheat, finishing the last cutting of hay, and tending to livestock. Field Crops Report There were 4.6 days suitable for fieldwork. Corn condition is rated 47 percent good to excellent compared with 83 percent last year at this time. Eighty-nine percent of the corn is mature compared with 90 percent last year and 85 percent for the average. Twenty percent of the corn has been harvested compared with 27 percent for last year and 21 percent for the average. Moisture content of harvested corn is averaging about 21 percent. Soybean condition is rated 55 percent good to excellent compared with 78 percent last year. Ninety-five percent of the soybean acreage is shedding leaves compared with 94 percent last year and 90 percent for the average. Twenty-two percent of the soybean acreage has been harvested compared with 52 percent last year and 27 percent for the average. Moisture content of harvested soybeans is averaging about 13 percent. Eleven percent of the winter wheat acreage has been planted compared with 22 percent last year and 15 percent for the average. Tobacco harvest is 85 percent complete compared with 92 percent for both last year and the average. Livestock, Pasture and Range Report Pasture condition is rated 3 percent excellent, 31 percent good, 44 percent fair, 16 percent poor and 6 percent very poor. Livestock are in mostly good condition. Crop Progress Table ----------------------------------------------------- : This : Last : Last : 5-Year Crop : Week : Week : Year : Avg ----------------------------------------------------- Percent Corn Mature 89 74 90 85 Corn Harvested 20 13 27 21 Soybeans Shedding Lvs 95 86 94 90 Soybeans Mature 78 56 82 71 Soybeans Harvested 22 13 52 27 Tobacco Harvested 85 69 92 92 Winter Wheat Planted 11 6 22 15 Winter Wheat Emerged 1 NA 2 2 Crop Condition Table ---------------------------------------------------------- : Very : : : : Excel- Crop : Poor : Poor : Fair : Good : lent ---------------------------------------------------------- Percent Corn 5 13 35 39 8 Soybeans 4 10 31 47 8 Pasture 6 16 44 31 3 Soil Moisture & Days Suitable for Fieldwork Table -------------------------------------- : This : Last : Last : : Week : Week : Year : -------------------------------------- Percent Topsoil Very Short 2 3 24 Short 10 16 43 Adequate 79 67 33 Surplus 9 14 0 Subsoil Very Short 10 12 15 Short 23 31 34 Adequate 63 52 51 Surplus 4 5 0 Days Suitable 4.6 4.7 6.8 Contact information --Greg Preston, Director --Andy Higgins, Agricultural Statistician E-Mail Address: nass-in@nass.usda.gov http://www.nass.usda.gov/in/index.htm --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Agricultural Comments And News FALL APPLIED HERBICIDES FOR SOYBEAN, CORN AND WHEAT * When to apply fall herbicide treatments for soybean or corn. * Treatments that can be used in front of either corn or soybean. * Treatments that can be used in front of corn only. * Treatments that can be used in front of soybean only. * Wheat. Now is the time to be thinking about fall treatments to control winter weeds. Although recent dry conditions across much of the state has limited winter weed emergence, we have observed cresleaf groundsel (butterweed), chickweed, and dandelion emergence in several fields. It would be advisable to scout fields that won't be tilled this fall to determine the level of winter weed infestations and determine if fall applied herbicide treatments are needed. WHEN TO APPLY FALL HERBICIDE TREATMENTS FOR SOYBEAN OR CORN: For control of winter annual weeds and dandelion, apply herbicide anytime between now and mid-November for best results. The best time to control winter annuals, biennials and herbaceous perennials such as pokeweed is going to be a bit earlier than the optimal timing for dandelion control. So you may need to make a judgment call on the fields that have dense infestations of annuals, biennials, pokeweed and dandelion. Dandelions can be effectively controlled with applications before a frost, but you will need to increase the rate of glyphosate to 1.1 to 1.5 lb acid equivalent per acre for optimum activity. For any fall applied herbicide treatment the herbicide labels are very specific about not apply herbicides once the ground has frozen or is snow covered to minimize offsite movement. To prolong residual activity you should apply residual herbicides when soil temperatures have declined to 50 degrees F or below at a 2-inch depth. Residual activity provided by herbicides applied in the fall can be influenced by the weather during the winter months. Warm wet winter months can promote microbial activity and increase the breakdown of the herbicides in the soil, decreasing residual activity. There are several products that are labeled for fall applications. For a larger list of fall applied herbicides see the 2005 Weed Control Guide for Ohio and Indiana . An important consideration when choosing a fall applied program is to understand the strengths and weakness of the herbicide and inquire about the "clean field guarantee" offered by selected manufacturers. Some manufacturers may offer to respray fields in the spring if weed control is less than satisfactory. Unfortunately, we generally do not have access to this information making it difficult for us to sort through the benefits of specific programs. The information below highlights the herbicide treatments that have worked effectively across a broad range of weed species and environmental conditions in Indiana. TREATMENTS THAT CAN BE USED IN FRONT OF EITHER CORN OR SOYBEAN: Glyphosate + 2,4-D controls most winter annuals, biennials, and also dandelion. A glyphosate rate of 0.38 to 0.5 lb of glyphosate acid should be adequate for most winter annuals, but rate should be increased to at least 0.75 lbs acid where dandelion and other perennials and biennials are present. Apply with ammonium sulfate. 2,4-D should be added if you think you have glyphosate-resistant marestail. A fall applied treatment of glyposate + 2,4-D won't be effective in suppressing spring emergence of winter annual weeds. Valor + 2,4-D and Sencor + 2,4-D will control many winter annual broadleaf weeds, but not biennial or perennial weeds. Sencor rate of at least 8 oz/A or a Valor rate of 2-3 oz/A should be used to provide meaningful residual activity, especially on spring emerging marestail. If chickweed is present, glyphosate or Express should be added to either Sencor or Valor. 2,4-D alone at 1 to 2 lbs ai/A will control many winter annual weeds, but not chickweed or grassy species. Add Express at 0.125 oz/A to control chickweed and provide some additional activity on dandelion seedlings. Add glyphosate to control grassy species and improve control of large dandelion. TREATMENTS THAT CAN BE USED IN FRONT OF CORN ONLY: Simazine (1 lb ai/A) + 2,4-D controls most winter annual weeds, but is less effective on dandelion and grassy weeds than Basis + 2,4-D or glyphosate + 2,4-D. Simazine does not provide much residual control of summer annual weeds the following spring, so expect to use a typical herbicide program in next year's corn. Basis + 2,4-D will control most winter annual weeds and dandelion, and has more activity on grassy species than simazine + 2,4-D. Basis does not provide much residual control of summer annual weeds, so expect to use a typical herbicide program in next year's corn. TREATMENTS THAT CAN BE USED IN FRONT OF SOYBEAN ONLY: Canopy EX + 2,4-D and CanopyXL + Express + 2,4-D will control most winter annual weeds and dandelion and provide residual activity into the spring. The minimum rate of Canopy EX should be 1.1 oz/A. Canopy EX is formulated with Express, but you should add 2,4-D for improved foliar activity on broadleaf weeds or add glyphosate if you have winter annual grasses or volunteer wheat. Rates of CanopyXL range from 2.5 to 4.5 oz/A based on soil type. The 2.5 oz rate is adequate for control of emerged weeds in the fall, but higher rates can extend the length of weed control the following spring. Do not use more than 2.5 oz where soil pH is greater than 6.8. Other products that we have evaluated in our research program and are labeled for fall applications to fields going into soybean include Gangster, Python, Scepter, and Synchrony XP. Gangster is a premix of Valor and FirstRate and would be a good choice for fields that have dense marestail infestations that emerge both in the fall and in the spring. Python and Synchrony XP would also provide some actitivity on marestail. Scepter would provide some residual activity on spring emerging summer annual weeds. Use of 2,4-D or glyphosate with all of these products is recommended to maximize foliar activity. If chickweed is present, glyphosate or Express will be needed to provide effective control of this weed. WHEAT. Wheat planting will commence soon and many growers are utilizing no-till practices for wheat production. Although winter weed pressure at this time appears to be relatively light, it would be prudent to consider a fall treatment to control the seedlings that are present and reduce dandelion infestations. Dandelion control in wheat is becoming a more important issue and if it is not managed before wheat is planted we are left with fewer options after it is planted. Most 2,4-D product labels DO NOT support fall applications either before or after wheat is planted because of crop injury and yield loss concerns. Fall applied glyphosate, before wheat is planted, should be just as effective at controlling winter annuals and dandelion and would be the recommended tactic for control of weeds prior to planting. Other fall treatments that can be used in emerged wheat will be discussed in a subsequent article. This article contains a photo, which can be viewed at: http://128.210.99.160/entomology/ext/ targets/p&c/p&c2005/p&c25_2005.pdf, page 4. Bill Johnson and Glenn Nice, Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University. 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 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 USDA, NASS, Indiana Field Office, 1435 Win Hentschel Blvd, Suite B105, West Lafayette IN 47906-4145. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Weather Information Table Week ending Sunday October 2, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------- | Past Week Weather Summary Data |--------------------------------- Station | Air | | Avg | Temperature | Precip. |4 in. |---------------|------------|Soil |Hi |Lo |Avg|DFN| Total|Days |Temp ----------------------------------------------------- Northwest (1) Chalmers_5W 82 37 61 +0 2.20 2 Valparaiso_AP_I 79 39 61 +1 0.99 2 Wanatah 81 36 60 +2 1.06 3 66 Wheatfield 79 40 61 +2 1.72 3 Winamac 79 40 60 +2 2.33 2 62 North Central(2) Plymouth 79 39 60 +0 2.07 2 South_Bend 77 39 61 +3 1.22 3 Young_America 81 39 62 +2 2.50 2 Northeast (3) Columbia_City 78 36 60 +3 1.83 2 61 Fort_Wayne 79 37 62 +2 2.16 2 West Central(4) Greencastle 77 37 60 -3 2.61 2 Perrysville 82 38 63 +3 1.58 3 64 Spencer_Ag 80 40 63 +3 2.34 2 Terre_Haute_AFB 78 38 63 +1 2.22 2 W_Lafayette_6NW 81 37 62 +2 2.34 2 68 Central (5) Eagle_Creek_AP 76 41 62 +1 2.63 3 Greenfield 78 40 62 +1 1.94 2 Indianapolis_AP 77 46 64 +3 2.19 2 Indianapolis_SE 77 41 61 -1 2.23 3 Tipton_Ag 78 39 60 +1 2.76 2 67 East Central(6) Farmland 80 38 61 +2 1.95 2 61 New_Castle 81 39 62 +3 1.78 3 Southwest (7) Evansville 83 43 67 +3 1.16 2 Freelandville 80 45 63 +2 2.11 2 Shoals 81 42 64 +2 1.50 2 Stendal 82 45 65 +3 1.10 2 Vincennes_5NE 85 43 64 +3 1.54 2 69 South Central(8) Leavenworth 82 42 64 +2 1.32 2 Oolitic 79 40 63 +2 1.68 2 68 Tell_City 85 46 66 +3 1.34 2 Southeast (9) Brookville 82 41 64 +5 1.42 2 Milan_5NE 80 41 63 +3 1.31 3 Scottsburg 82 39 64 +2 1.04 2 ---------------------------------------------------- Weather Information Table (Continued) Week ending Sunday October 2, 2005 ------------------------------------------------ Accumulation -------------------------------- April 1, 2005 thru Station October 2, 2005 -------------------------------- Precipitation |GDD Base 50oF -------------------------------- | | | | Total | DFN |Days|Total| DFN ------------------------------------------------- Northwest (1) | Chalmers_5W |20.22 -2.08 57 3377 +326 Valparaiso_AP_I |15.63 -8.66 51 3186 +400 Wanatah |16.76 -6.69 64 3057 +399 Wheatfield |23.38 +0.66 106 3226 +510 Winamac |20.88 -1.70 64 3247 +449 North Central(2)| Plymouth |17.77 -5.36 61 3142 +198 South_Bend |12.95 -9.53 60 3280 +521 Young_America |23.18 +1.29 57 3250 +355 Northeast (3) | Columbia_City |18.48 -3.48 62 3066 +433 Fort_Wayne |17.20 -2.86 61 3241 +347 West Central(4) | Greencastle |29.60 +4.25 55 3239 -28 Perrysville |20.89 -2.86 60 3510 +472 Spencer_Ag |29.48 +4.07 63 3334 +271 Terre_Haute_AFB |21.81 -2.14 57 3568 +326 W_Lafayette_6NW |16.83 -5.46 61 3327 +446 Central (5) | Eagle_Creek_AP |22.35 +0.00 62 3594 +381 Greenfield |31.62 +7.21 73 3334 +242 Indianapolis_AP |22.64 +0.29 60 3649 +436 Indianapolis_SE |24.70 +1.92 62 3351 +143 Tipton_Ag |24.53 +1.82 63 3094 +302 East Central(6) | Farmland |23.58 +1.51 60 3116 +390 New_Castle |26.00 +2.65 56 3008 +214 Southwest (7) | Evansville |22.34 -0.22 55 3971 +246 Freelandville |25.36 +1.85 59 3704 +354 Shoals |25.76 +0.41 70 3704 +455 Stendal |24.97 -0.26 55 3944 +434 Vincennes_5NE |28.77 +5.26 62 3861 +511 South Central(8)| Leavenworth |24.92 -0.65 59 3761 +535 Oolitic |24.83 +0.58 62 3439 +338 Tell_City |24.54 -1.29 47 4112 +510 Southeast (9) | Brookville |23.15 -0.35 58 3522 +577 Milan_5NE |26.09 +2.59 89 3439 +494 Scottsburg |25.00 +0.81 67 3624 +287 ------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 2005: 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