Delayed Planting Webinar

Last Friday, May 28 Purdue held a Webinar on Delayed Planting Issues. That program has been archived. You can view it at this link.

If you don't have a fast internet internet connection, give us a call and we can set you up with a computer to watch it from here.

Late Planting Issues Post 2

With the rain last night some issues you may have thought about, such as switching from corn to soybeans, are starting to become a reality. Over the last week numerous articles have been written, coming from various sources which I'll link to below.

Assessing Available Nitrogen from Fall- and Spring-Applied Nitrogen Applications - Article posted May 26, 2011. By Purdue Agronomists Jim Camberato, R.L. (Bob) Nielsen, and Brad Joern. We haven't had as many of the gulley-washers Southern Indiana has had but we've still had a fair amount of rain. This article provides information on how to determine if the Nitrogen you've already applied is still available.

Do as I Say, Not as I do - Article posted May 24, 2011. Chad Lee, Grain Crops Extension Agronomist from the University of Kentucky relates his own struggles with the late planting season.

What do We do About the Yellow Fields? - Article posted May 23, 2011. Over the past few years those pretty yellow flowers have come to cover fields in the spring. Bill Johnson and Glenn Nice discuss how to control Cressleaf Groundsel, more commonly known as butterweed. The above link is to a PDF document. For the same information, but not as pretty, this article is also available in the current issue of the Purdue Pest and Crop Newsletter.

Switching to Soybeans? Some Points to Consider - Article posted May 23, 2011. Anne Dorrance and Robert Mullen of The Ohio State University offer some issues to consider if you're thinking of switching crops.

Can Soil-Residual Corn Herbicides Be Applied After Corn Emergence? - Article posted May 20, 2011. In a spring like this one, sometimes things get a little out of order. This is particularly true when so many producers are using commercial pesticide applications. Aaron Hager from the University of Illinois provides some excellent information on which residual herbicides may still be applied postermergence. As always, since this article is written for Illinois, always check to make sure the product(s) are registered for use in Indiana.

Late corn planting won't necessarily mean lower yields Article posted May 20, 2011. Peter Thomison from The Ohio State University discusses how planting date is only one part of the yield equation and summarizes his research into planting date and corn yields.

Prevented and Late Planting Provisions in Crop Insurance - Article Posted May 19, 2011. Gary Schnitkey from the University of Illinois Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics provides some prevented planting crop insurance information. Keep in mind that the specific information provided here is for Illinois. Always check with your own crop insurance representative about your policy provisions.

Planting Delays and Switching to Soybeans: A New FAST Spreadsheet - Article originally posted April 27, 2011. This is a new Fast Tool from the University of Illinois. As I've previously mentioned, these are downloadable spreadsheets which you input your own information into and use to make decisions. As a caution, the default values you can enter are only for Illinois locations so I'd echo Bob Nielsen's recommendation to completely input your own values and not rely on those already in the spreadsheet.

ACRE Deadline Approaching

Most of you have probably had other things on your mind than whether to sign up for the Average Crop Revenue Election or ACRE program this year but if you've held off the past couple of years and are considering it this year, the deadline to sign up is June 1. If you're not familiar with them, I want to encourage you to look at the FAST Tools available through the University of Illinois. These are downloadable spreadsheets covering a wide range of topics where you load the Excel template to your computer and enter your data. They have a couple of ACRE Tools on the site. Texas A&M also has information and a calculator at their site. You can find additional information at the National FSA ACRE/DCP site.

Cory Walters and Greg Halich, University of Kentucky Ag Economists, have posted an ACRE article. This is for Kentucky so some of the specifics will be different but it makes a nice review of the program.

Lots of Late Planting Information

If you get the chance I'd encourage you to take a look at Purdue Extension Corn Specialist Bob Nielsen's Chat 'n Chew Cafe. Yesterday (May 23) included a bunch of articles from several states related to this planting season.

First Soybean Aphid Update of the Season

The Purdue Pest and Crop Newsletter includes the first Soybean Aphid update of the season. Based on this article, the chance of high early-season aphid levels is low with the usual pattern of problems more likely to show up in August. The article also cautions not to rely on seed treatments to suppress aphids as by the time they become an issue, insecticide levels in the plants are low.

CIPC Presentations Available

I've finally loaded the presentations from this year's Central Indiana Pork Conference. I haven't received an updated program from Brian Richert and I didn't even bother asking the person from Boehringer-Ingelheim for hers. There had to be a ton of proprietary information on it. Just click on the presentation link at the bottom of the page to access them.

Category 14 Fertilizer Applicator Training and Exam Dates

This is a followup to my post on the new Ag Fertilizer Applicator Certification.

I know some of you may not have Adobe so I'm copying the free Category 14 training and exam dates below. I'd encourage you to go to and print the online document if you can. It's a lot prettier.

Training and Exam For Category 14 Agricultural Fertilizer Applicator
Certification

Hosted by Purdue Cooperative Extension and Indiana Farm Bureau
• Free on-line training manual available at http://www.ppp.purdue.edu/
• Anyone needing Category 14 private and commercial certification
• Registration required
• No walk-ins accepted for training and exam
• Training and testing for Category 14 only
• Testing and training limited to 100 registered individuals
• Will need a single function calculator for the test, cell phones not allowed
• Will need a government issued photo identification to take the test

July 26, 2011
Location— Beck Center, West Lafayette
Host: Jeff Phillips, Tippecanoe CES
Registration: 765-474-0793
Cost: free
Training Time: 9-12 (eastern)
Exam Time: 12-1:30 (eastern)
Trainers: Jim Camberato, Jeff Phillips, Fred Whitford
Test Administration: Leo Reed, Office of Indiana State Chemist
Space Limitations: Limited to 60 registered individuals

July 26, 2011
Location—Jasper County Fairgrounds, 2671 West Clark Street (State Road 114),
Rensselaer
Host: Bryan Overstreet, Jasper CES
Registration: 219-866-5741
Cost: free
Training Time: 1-4 (central)
Exam Time: 4-5:30 (central)
Trainers: Jim Camberato, Bryan Overstreet, Fred Whitford
Test Administration: Leo Reed, Office of Indiana State Chemist
Space Limitations: Limited to 100 registered individuals

August 5, 2011
Location—Wabash County REMC Building, 350 Wedcor Wabash
Host: Curt Campbell, Wabash CES
Registration: 260-563-0061, extension 246
Cost: free
Training Time: 9-12 (eastern)
Exam Time: 12-1:30 (eastern)
Trainers: Jim Camberato, Curtis Campbell, Fred Whitford
Test Administration: Kevin Gibson, Office of Indiana State Chemist
Space Limitations: Limited to 100 registered individuals

August 5, 2011
Location—Randolph County Fairgrounds, 1885 South US Highway 27,
Winchester
Host: Dan Kirtley, Randolph CES
Registration: 765-584-2271
Cost: free
Training Time: 2-5 (eastern)
Exam Time: 5-6:30 (eastern)
Trainers: Jim Camberato, Dan Kirtley, Fred Whitford
Test Administration: Beth Carter and Jay Kelley, Office of Indiana State Chemist
Space Limitations: Limited to 100 registered individuals

August 15, 2011
Location— Decatur County Fairgrounds, 1645 North Park Road,
Greensburg
Host: Dan Wilson, Dave Osborne, Purdue Extension
Registration: 812-663-8388
Cost: free
Training Time: 9-12 (eastern)
Exam Time: 12-1:30 (eastern)
Trainers: Jim Camberato, Dan Wilson or Dave Osborne, Fred Whitford
Test Administration: Leo Reed, Office of Indiana State Chemist
Space Limitations: Limited to 100 registered individuals

August 18, 2011
Location—Washington County Cornerstone Hall, 170 N. Jim Day Road, Salem
Host Brad Shelton, Washington CES
Registration: 812-883-4601
Cost: free
Training Time: 9-12 (eastern)
Exam Time: 12-1:30 (eastern)
Trainers: Jim Camberato, Brad Shelton, Fred Whitford
Test Administration: Leo Reed, Office of Indiana State Chemist
Space Limitations: Limited to 100 registered individuals

August 18, 2011
Location—Dubois County Fairground, 4157 South State Road 162, Huntingburg
Host: Kenneth Eck, Dubois CES
Registration: 812-482-1782
Cost: free
Training Time: 3-6 (eastern)
Exam Time: 6-7:30 (eastern)
Trainers: Jim Camberato, Kenneth Eck, Fred Whitford
Test Administration: Leo Reed, Office of Indiana State Chemist
Space Limitations: Limited to 100 registered individuals

September 9, 2011
Location—Olive Township Public Library, 408 S. Bray Street, New Carlisle
Host: Phil Sutton, St. Joseph CES
Registration: 574-235-9604
Cost: free
Training Time: 9-12 (eastern)
Exam Time: 12-1:30 (eastern)
Trainers: Jim Camberato, Phil Sutton, Fred Whitford
Test Administration: Leo Reed, Office of Indiana State Chemist
Space Limitations: Limited to 40 registered individuals

September 9, 2011
Location—Elkhart County Fairgrounds, Ag Hall Building, 17746 County Road
34, Goshen
Host: Jeff Burbrink, Elkhart CES
Registration: 574-533-0554
Cost: free
Training Time: 2-5 (eastern)
Exam Time: 5-6:30 (eastern)
Trainers: Jim Camberato, Jeff Burbrink, Fred Whitford
Test Administration: Leo Reed, Office of Indiana State Chemist
Space Limitations: Limited to 100 registered individuals

Category 14 Ag Fertilizer Program

Producers who apply significant quantities of manure as fertilizer and those who apply fertilizer for hire on someone else's property will be required to get a Category 14 Pesticide License, also known as an Agricultural Fertilizer Applicator Certification.

Category 14 will be administered as part of the Private Pesticide Applicator System. If you already have a license, Cat 14 will be added to your license. The rules for the Category 14 are very similar to those for the current Private Applicator Recertification Program (PARP). Basically, you need to take an initial exam to receive your license, which is good for five years. If you attend three approved training sessions within the next 5 years you will be eligible for renewal. The Cat 14 training sessions will be rolled into the current PARP sessions so you can be recertified for Cat 14 by attending three pesticide trainings, even if none of those have any fertilizer subject matter. Conversely, someone with a Private pesticide license can attend sessions on fertilizer application (as long as these are approved programs) and receive their renewal credit.

The question is; Who needs a Category 14 License? There are two distinct categories.

1) Those transporting or applying manure from a CFO unless they apply less than 10 cubic yards or 4,000 gallons of manure in a year.

2) Those transporting or applying commercial fertilizer for hire.

You do not need a Category 14 license if you apply commercial fertilizer to your own acres.

This link has the Category 14 training manual. This is a very large file so if you have a slow internet connection, it may take a while. If you bring a flash drive to the Extension Office I can load it for you. Please call before you come - I can't load it if I'm not here. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view it. The Adobe Reader is a free download (can't give that one to you though).

This link has the schedule of the free Category 14 training and exam sessions.

Also, you will be able to take a test-only exam with no training at Purdue.

You must register for all of the above trainings and exams.

The Category 14 requirements go into effect on January 1, 2012. There's still some time but we all know how quickly it goes and I expect that the free trainings will fill up fairly quickly.

If you are a Commercial Applicator, your rules are different. See the Indiana State Chemist Fertilizer Page for additional information.

Late Planting Issues Post 1

Since this blog is just starting I want to include links to a variety of articles and resources related to late planting. Following this initial post, I'll add a new post whenever I receive new information. These posts will be summarized on my current issues page.

Update: "Safe" Hybrid Maturities for Delayed Corn Planting in Indiana - Article posted May 17, 2011. This is an updated article by Purdue Extension Corn Specialist Bob Nielsen discussing corn hybrid maturities appropriate for later planted corn.

Black Cutworm Development May Coincide With Emerging Corn - Article from the May 13, 2011 issue of the Purdue Pest & Crop Newsletter. Purdue Extension Entomologists Christian Krupke and John Obermeyer talk about issues related to Black Cutworm in corn.

Late Planting's Impact on Corn and Soybean Insects - Article posted May 13, 2011. Mike Gray from the University of Illinois talks about how the late planting this spring may impact the development of, and risks from, insect pests in corn.

Replanting Corn: How to Control Plants from the Initial Planting - Article posted May 6, 2011. If you do find yourself needing to replant a field, this article from Aaron Hage of the University of Illinois discusses how to control corn plants from the initial planting. NOTE: This article is for Illinois. Make sure any products mentioned are labeled for use in Indiana.

Profitability Analysis of Late Planted Corn Compared to Soybeans - Article posted May 2, 2011. In this article Greg Halich from the University of Kentucky Department of Agricultural Economics discusses some ways you can check to evaluate whether it makes financial sense to switch from corn to soybeans - obviously, issues such as residual herbicides, conservation crop program, etc., will also play into it.

Farmers should adjust soybean seeding rates in cool, wet spring" - Article posted April 28, 2011. Purdue Extension Soybean Specialist Shaun Casteel discusses issues related to the wet spring and Soybean seeding rates in this Ag Answers article.

Wet Conditions Create Weed Management Challenges in Corn" - Article posted April 27, 2011. This article from University of Kentucky Weed Specialists Jim Martin and JD Green talks about weed management issues resulting from late planting and wet fields.

Estimating Nitrogen Losses from Wet Soils, 2011 - Article posted April 26, 2011. Lloyd Murdock, University of Kentucky Extension Soils Specialist, discusses Nitrogen loss issues.

Early Corn Growth May be Slow, but Don't Throw in the Towel Just Yet - Article posted April 26, 2011. This article from Greg Kruger and Mark Reed Hinze of the University of Nebraska Extension Service discusses the status of corn that's been planted but hasn't emerged yet. You'll need to be careful of applying some specifics to Indiana but it has some good information on why you should be cautious when deciding that a field just isn't going to come up.

Cold Wet Weather and Postemergence, Spike Stage Herbicide Applications in Corn - Article posted April 25, 2011. This article by Bill Johnson and Glenn Nice of Purdue University's Department of Botany and Plant Pathology and Mark Loux from The Ohio State University discusses some issues with early post herbicide applications in corn.

Corn Planting Date is Important, But.... - Article posted, April 21, 2010. This article by Purdue Extension Corn Specialist Bob Nielsen discusses how, while planting date often has an impact on final yield, late planting must be taken in context while considering many other factors.

2011 Purdue Farm Management Tour

The 2011 Indiana Farm Management Tour will be held on June 28 and 29 in Southern Indiana, in Daviess, Knox and Sullivan Counties.

You can find additional program information including a link to registration at: http://www.agecon.purdue.edu/commercialag/progevents/tour.html

The complete program is listed below:

Purdue Farm Management Tour

The public is invited. All times are (EDT). Pre-registration is required to participate in either or both sponsored lunches at the Unger and Villwock Farms. There is no fee for the tour. Pre-register at: http://www.agecon.purdue.edu/extension/programs/farm_tour.asp, or call 765-482-0750 or 1-888-EXT-INFO by Tuesday June 14. Separate registration is required for the Indiana Prairie Farmer Master Farmer Banquet described in item 3 below. A fee of $20 will apply to the banquet

1) Del Unger Farms – Sponsored Lunch at Noon – Family Interview at 1:00 p.m. – Mini-tours at 1:30 p.m. on maximizing planter performance, fine-tuning nutrients with plant tissue testing and foliar fertilization, and enhancing land owner/tenant relationships through leasing options.

Del Unger Farms grows corn, wheat, double-crop corn, double-crop soybeans, seed soybeans, sweet corn, and green beans with a high-output production approach that includes site-specific management with variable rate applications, foliar nutrient and fungicide applications, and irrigation scheduling. By maximizing output, they aim to minimize costs on a unit-of-production basis. They also operate a cow-calf operation on some of their rolling land. Del and Tammi began farming together not long after they met at Purdue. As the operation has expanded in size and complexity, they have organized into several functional units that involve various combinations of owners, equipment, and land to manage risk and pave the way for the farm’s passage to their two children.

2) Melon Acres – Interview at 3:00 p.m. – Mini-tours at 3:30 p.m. on packing shed management and management of a large seasonal workforce.

Southwest Indiana is home to many melon growers, but few have achieved the scale of production that Melon Acres has. In their highly diversified operation, the Horralls grow hand-picked produce on 1,000 acres and cash grains and green beans for processing on 1,500 acres. A first-mover in technological investments such as forced air cooling and their asparagus, cantaloupe, and watermelon packing lines, Melon Acres has invested heavily in produce-packing technologies. Moreover, because all of the produce is hand-picked, they need 250 seasonal workers for whom Melon Acres provides housing and meals. The Horrall family’s long-term succession planning efforts have made it possible to welcome back third generation family members.

3) Indiana Prairie Farmer Master Farmer Banquet –

The reception starts at 5:00 p.m. in Vincennes University’s John Deere Building at the Southwest Purdue Ag Center followed by dinner program. E-mail debby@purdue.edu at the Purdue Ag Alumni Association, or call 765-494-8593 to register.

Wednesday June 29, 2011

4) T. S. Boyd Grain – Interview at 8:00 a.m. – Mini-tours at 8:30 a.m. on high yield continuous corn technologies and machinery trading strategies.

T. S. Boyd Grain is a 7,500 acre farm operated by Tom and Marsha Boyd, their son Trent and his wife Kim. The farm produces continuous corn, popcorn, wheat, double-crop soybeans, single-crop soybeans, and earlage. They have 4,700 acres in continuous corn with yields of 200+ bushels per acre. They have over 20 years of experience with continuous corn. You will learn about the high-yield technology they use. Popcorn and earlage are two specialized crops. Their relationships with employees, lenders, landlords, and technical advisors are a key to their success. You will learn how they have successfully grown the farm while also building a 100+ truck freight and warehousing business and operating two grain elevators. Finally, you will see how they manage such a large and diverse set of businesses.

5) Carnahan & Sons – Interview at 10:00 a.m. – Mini-tours on the farm’s quarter horse venture and prescription farming practices at 10:30 a.m.

Change is a key management feature of Carnahan & Sons, Inc. Some of the changes can be easily spotted. Other changes (probably the more important changes) are less visible. Our visit to this farm offers a chance to learn about changes they have made, changes they are planning, and reasons behind the changes. This stop provides a study in shared management, a management organization focused on helping members of the management team succeed and empowering them to make decisions while enjoying their work. For horse lovers, this will be an opportunity to learn more about breeding and training.

6) Villwock Farms – Sponsored Lunch at Noon –Agricultural Outlook Update by Dr. Chris Hurt at 12:45 p.m. – Villwock Farms interview at 1:30 p.m. –Mini-tours of Villwock Farms at 2:15 p.m.

The opportunity to start over to design your farmstead from scratch doesn’t come along very often. Having lost their Hoosier Homestead (1907-2007) farm to the threat of eminent domain in 2007-2008, the Villwocks have experienced the ups and downs of designing a new farmstead. Learn about their strategies for navigating the process and designing a facility from scratch and their efforts to ensure that key management practices prevail regardless of geography. In addition, the long-term viability of Villwock Farms appears tied to a future succession plan involving their current farm manager, a process they are already working to address. You will have the opportunity to tour the antique tractor barn, shop, and other features of the new farmstead. Or you may choose to participate in an optional mini-tour of the grain handling and chemical storage facilities, which are located on a nearby farm. You will also learn about grain drying energy audits on this optional mini-tour.

Welcome!

Welcome to the Purdue University Agriculture and Natural Resources Blog. This blog is currently under construction but I will start posting to it soon.