It’s hard to believe its still September, considering the amount of corn harvest done already.

More corn has been harvested than beans in this area, with some yet to harvest any beans and some bean fields just starting to turn. The hot weather in late August and September sped up the maturing and dry down of the corn, and this appears to have lowered the test weight of the corn in some cases. Corn yields in general have been good especially on bean ground (around 180-200+ bu/A), with yields poorer and more variable on the corn ground. Rootworms and diseases have reduced corn yields in some fields. I’ve been seeing severe gray leaf spot infestations, especially in the southern part of the area. Timely fungicide applications did reduce the gray leaf spot in some of the fields I’ve looked at.

Those that have harvested some beans are finding that sudden death has reduced yields in many fields. Where sudden death was not widespread, yields may be 50-60+ bu/A, with yields less than 40 bu/A in fields where sudden death is widespread. Soybean aphids will also take a toll on yields where heavy infestations weren’t sprayed.

Based on the number of questions I’m getting on wheat, wheat prices must be pretty good. I’ve found that growers who are successful in raising wheat do a good job in marketing the straw. Maybe with today’s high grain prices that isn’t as critical. Dr. Lance Gibson has some nice points to consider if you are thinking about seeding wheat this fall.

Some are interested in trying double cropping soybeans after a winter wheat crop, but in the past that has usually meant not getting the soybeans planted until mid-July, which means it’s difficult to recoup the costs of planting and harvesting the beans. We did have some success in 2004 with relay intercropping of soybeans into winter wheat at the SE Iowa Research & Demonstration farm near Crawfordsville. Ohio State University has a fact sheet on this practice.

SOURCE: ISU’s Jim Fawcett

Leave a Comment

Name (required)

Email (will not be published) (required)

Website