Extension Update is a weekly summary of news from Extension, government, and other attributable sources, focused on marketing, farm management, and other issues that are of interest to Midwestern farm owners and operators.

Buckle your seatbelt for USDA’s June 30 acreage report. It will reflect actual adjustments from your “intentions” reported in March, which were surprisingly high for beans and low for corn. It will be released at 7:30 CST.

More corn and fewer soybean acres appeared justified, but market incentives favored soybeans last March, says Extension Specialist Darrel Good. “Demand prospects for corn have continued to improve. The current projection of consumption of US corn during the 2005-06 marketing year is 225 mil. bu. larger than the February projection. Year ending stocks of soybeans are now projected at 570 mil. bu., up from 555 projected in February.”

Private forecasts suggest that producers responded in a big way, with expectations that the USDA Acreage report could show as much as 2.5 mil. more acres of corn and 2 mil. fewer acres of soybeans than reported in March. Dr. Good says the market seems to agree. Read his newsletter.

One of the unknowns in estimating corn and bean acres is how much wheat acreage was abandoned, and replanted to corn or soybeans, if there was sufficient moisture. Darrel Good says, “USDA estimates of harvested acreage indicate large acreage abandonment due to drought conditions. Last year, the difference between planted and harvested acreage of all winter wheat was 6.639 mil. This year it is estimated at 10.227 mil.”

Farm families held the line on the budget in 2005, according to a survey of 1,209 families in Central & Northern IL. Ag economist Dale Lattz says the non-capital living expenses averaged $52,743, about equal to 2004. Another $5,542 was used to buy capital items such as automobiles, furniture, and household equipment. Total living expenses averaged $58,285 for 2005 compared with $58,549 for 2004. Compare your own family’s numbers.

While total living expenses were steady, there were several year to year changes:
1) Income taxes paid in 2005 averaged $10,351 compared to $8,208 in 2004.
2) In 2005, medical expenses averaged $7,433, compared to $7,320 in 2004.
3) Net nonfarm income averaged $27,810 in 2005, up 81% in the last ten years.
4) Expenses averaged $86,540 for the high 1/3 and $41,090 for the low 1/3.

World trade negotiators do battle again next week, approaching a July 1 deadline. On the issue of subsidy cuts, which are proposed at 60% for US farmers, the 60% relates to what the WTO rules permit, not what you are currently receiving. If the threshold is raised to the 70% sought by the EU, then you would feel the cuts in your bank account.

Bugs! You want bugs? We got bugs. In fact we have a bug round-up!

• IL: Corn rootworm adults beginning to emerge. Large numbers of Japanese beetles emerging, especially in So. IL. Low numbers of soybean aphids and corn borers.
• IA: Low numbers of soybean aphids, and numbers are declining. A few reports of sandhill cutworm infestations in corn. Large numbers of potato leafhoppers in alfalfa.
• MI: Although alfalfa weevil problems were significant, reports of problems are declining. A few reports of armyworms in wheat, but the wheat looks very good. A few reports of armyworms and white grubs in corn. Soybean aphid numbers are low, although soybean aphids can be found in virtually every soybean field.
• NE: Problems with miscellaneous corn pests such as earworms feeding in whorls. European corn borer moth flight has passed its peak. First flight of western bean cutworm moths. Some localized severe infestations of corn blotch leafminers.
• WI: Problems with alfalfa weevils are subsiding. A few reports of armyworms in corn. Soybean aphid numbers are low.

Just what you wanted to hear: Japanese beetles are on their way. Extension’s Ron Hines in So. IL says, “At the Pope County trap site the capture has increased to over 3000 beetles per trap this morning (6/20) from 1000 beetles per trap last Friday (6/16). Since most cornfields are not tasseling, silking, and pollinating, the only threat to corn is defoliation, which, if severe, could warrant control, and that applies to soybeans as well. There are control options.

Check your calendar, because corn root worm adults are showing up earlier this year than usual. U of IL entomologist Mike Gray says emergence of adults is 2.5 weeks early, and something other than temperature is responsible for that. The impact on your crops is that egg laying will be earlier than usual, so post your Pherocon traps by mid-July.

“Lightless” lightning bugs are really soldier beetles, and you may have seen quite a few of them this year. Environmental conditions have been perfect for them, but they won’t harm your crop, and in fact are predators of other insects. Some folks may confuse them with the adult version of corn rootworms, but Extension bug gurus say they are friendly.

Soybean aphids are suffering from the heat. Entomologists walked 26 soybean fields in No. IL, finding at least one aphid in 23 fields, but the highest average number was 1.85 aphids per plant. That is similar to those being found in most other Midwestern states. MN specialists say survivorship declines as temperatures increase from 68°F to 95°F.

Central and western IL are the latest areas to receive a yellow splotch on the Drought Monitor map: “Relatively dry conditions led to broad areas of dryness expansion and drought deterioration. The moderate drought region of Iowa expanded northward, and the abnormally dry and moderate drought areas of Illinois expanded eastward.” You can keep up to date with the map changes.

Blame the drought and not glyphosate, if you are having difficulty controlling large lambsquarter, say Iowa State agronomists. Given dry conditions, they think the weed is not absorbing the herbicide, and it not a case of evolving resistance to glyphosate. Ohio State agronomists researching glyphosate application on types and sizes of weeds say the bottom line is this: 1) spray between the hours of about 8 am and 7 pm to ensure herbicide effectiveness, and 2) using drift-reducing nozzles or adjuvants that allow us to spray at these times is a better strategy to deal with wind than applying at night.

Insects not only aggravate you, but can seriously deteriorate the health, growth, and performance of your livestock. U of IL Extension Vet Jim Brendemuehl offers insect control options.

If you farm some of the 55 mil. irrigated acres in the US, energy costs may be a major concern. USDA is offering to assist irrigators with energy management. By providing information about your irrigation system, the website will provide alternatives for efficiencies in energy and water management.

Urban sprawl is consuming an increasing rate of farmland. Extension’s Mike Plummer says, “From 1982-2002, the amount of rural land converted to urban uses increased by 34.5 mil. acres, or about 1.7 mil. acres each year was developed. The rate of land conversion to urban uses has increased about 300%. It would appear that the growth and prosperity in the non-agricultural economy has fueled the need for more land to expand.”

If urban sprawl is a concern, Plummer says some states have passed legislation, “in order to ensure more undeveloped areas, green space and open areas. Illinois has a program to ensure open green spaces. Local governments can buy areas for parks and recreation and can purchase the development rights from farmers to allow them to get the benefits of development land prices, yet still keep the farm in operation and improve open spaces.” He says, “This program has greatly benefited land use in some areas.”

Both farmers and consumers can use a new Extension-based website to locate each other for direct farmer to consumer marketing of fresh produce. The website allows a consumer to find a source for specialty foods direct from the producer. Farmers are also able to list their products and locations.

Mark your calendar for U of I and SIU crop science field days this summer:

• July 13, 9 a.m. – SIUC Belleville Research Center, 618/566-4761
• July 27, 9 a.m. – UIUC Brownstown Agronomy Research Center, 618/692-9434
• Aug. 1, 4 p.m. – UIUC Northern IL Agricultural Research Center, DeKalb, 815/824-2029 Aug. 3, 8 a.m. – UIUC Dixon Springs Agricultural Center, Simpson, 618/695-2790
• Aug. 17, 7 a.m. – UIUC Agronomy Day at South Farms, Urbana, 217/333-4256
• Aug. 21, 4 p.m. – UIUC Orr Agricultural Research Center, Perry, 217/236-4911
• Aug. 22, 8 a.m. – UIUC NW IL Agricultural Research Center, Monmouth, 309/734-7459

A former consultant to Danish pork producers is the new Extension Swine Specialist at the U of IL. Hans Stein fills the vacancy created several years ago with the retirement of Gil Hollis. The Illinois Pork Producers pledged $100,000 in check-off funds to help fill the specialist position and hire Stein, whose specialty is swine nutrition.

Stu Ellis

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