Tuesday October 10 Harvest Progress & Ag News

NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

For the week ending October 8, 2023, there were 5.6 days suitable for fieldwork, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 23% very short, 33% short, 43% adequate, and 1% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 30% very short, 39% short, 30% adequate, and 1% surplus.

Field Crops Report:
Corn condition rated 12% very poor, 17% poor, 24% fair, 37% good, and 10% excellent. Corn mature was 94%, near 90% last year, and ahead of 89% for the five-year average. Harvested was 32%, near 33% last year, but ahead of 25% average.

Soybean condition rated 14% very poor, 18% poor, 26% fair, 34% good, and 8% excellent. Soybeans harvested was 52%, near 50% last year, and ahead of 46% average.

Winter wheat planted was 91%, ahead of 83% last year and 86% average. Emerged was 65%, ahead of 48% last year and 52% average.

Sorghum condition rated 4% very poor, 7% poor, 29% fair, 30% good, and 30% excellent. Sorghum mature was 83%, ahead of 73% last year, but near 84% average. Harvested was 18%, near 15% last year and 21% average.

Dry edible beans dropping leaves was 95%, equal to last year. Harvested was 65%, behind 71% last year.

Pasture and Range Report:
Pasture and range conditions rated 7% very poor, 12% poor, 27% fair, 46% good, and 8% excellent.



IOWA CROP PROGRESS REPORT

Western Iowa was the recipient of above average precipitation this week, however the State still had 5.9 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending October 8, 2023, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Corn and soybean harvest continued to be the primary field activities for the week.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 32 percent very short, 44 percent short, 23 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 37 percent very short, 43 percent short, 19 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus.

Corn maturity reached 96 percent this week, 8 days ahead of last year and 11 days ahead of the 5-year average. Corn harvested for grain reached 30 percent statewide, 5 days ahead of last year and 6 days ahead of the average. Moisture content of field corn being harvested for grain was at 19 percent. Corn condition declined slightly to 48 percent good to excellent.

Soybeans dropping leaves was 94 percent this week, 3 days ahead of last year and 5 days ahead of the average. Soybeans harvested reached 52 percent, 1 day ahead of last year and 1 week ahead ofthe average as Iowa farmers were able to harvest 28 percent of the State’s soybeans during the week ending October 8, 2023. Soybean condition rated 48 percent good to excellent.

Pasture condition rated 16 percent good to excellent. Livestock conditions were reported as generally good, but some producers continued to haul hay and water to their livestock on pasture.



USDA Crop Progress Report: Corn Harvest 34% Complete, Soybean Harvest 43% Done as of Oct. 8

Despite being slightly behind average in some Eastern Corn Belt states such as Indiana and Ohio, this year's corn and soybean harvests continued to outpace the five-year averages nationally last week, according to USDA NASS' weekly Crop Progress report on Tuesday. The report, which is normally released on Mondays, was delayed this week due to the holiday.

CORN
-- Crop progress: NASS estimated that 89% of corn was mature as of Sunday, Oct. 8, 4 percentage points ahead of both last year and the five-year average of 85%.
-- Harvest progress: Corn harvest moved ahead 11 percentage points last week to reach 34% complete as of Sunday. That is 5 percentage points ahead of 29% last year and 3 percentage points ahead of 31% for the five-year average.
-- Crop condition: NASS said 53% of corn was rated good to excellent, unchanged for the second week in a row. The current rating is slightly below last year's rating of 54% and is the lowest good-to-excellent rating for the crop for this time of year since 2012.

SOYBEANS
-- Crop progress: 93% of the crop was dropping leaves, 3 percentage points ahead of last year's 90% and 6 points ahead of the five-year average of 87%.
-- Harvest progress: Soybean harvest jumped 20 percentage points last week to reach 43% complete as of Sunday. That is 2 points ahead of last year's 41% and 6 points ahead of the five-year average of 37%.
-- Crop condition: USDA said 51% of the soybean crop was rated good to excellent, down 1 point from 52% the previous week and below 57% a year ago. It is the lowest good-to-excellent rating since 2012.

WINTER WHEAT
-- Planting progress: Winter wheat planting advanced 17 percentage points last week to reach 57% complete as of Sunday. That is 4 points ahead of last year's 53% but is now equal to the five-year average.
-- Crop progress: 29% of the crop had emerged as of Sunday, 5 points ahead of last year's 24% but 1 point behind the five-year average of 30%.



Celebrating Sustainability on National Farmer Day 2023

Producing more and doing it with less is sustainability in Nebraska. As farmers are working long hours to bring their crops in this harvest, Nebraska Corn celebrates the vital work each of them does this National Farmer’s Day on October 12.

In 2021, Nebraska had 44,800 farms and ranches across the state, emphasizing on corn, soybeans, beef and hogs. Leading the country with no-till acres, Nebraska is well-known for the farms and farmers who care for the land. With less than 2% of the population directly involved in agriculture, it’s vital to understand where food is grown, developed and processed to feed consumers.

As over 97% of farms in Nebraska are family-owned, it’s an opportunity to see many generations work together to continue the legacy of those before them. Farmers today are focused on sustainability and ensuring the land today is the same land to pass down for years to come. Below are ways farmers have made a sustainable impact on the land they grow corn on.

Since 1980:
    Corn farmers have decreased the amount of land required to produce a bushel of corn by 44%.
    Corn farmers have decreased water use by 56% with every irrigated bushel grown.
    Corn farmers have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 48% with every bushel grown.
    Corn farmers have increased efficiency by 55% with every bushel grown.

Nebraska farmers aren’t finished. There are goals established to continue this growth and expand on the next goals.

“For Nebraskans, agriculture is a way of life,” said Kelly Brunkhorst, executive director of Nebraska Corn. “We are thankful for farmers each day, but today is an opportunity to dedicate to their hours in the field and preserving our state with their emphasis on sustainability measures. We are growing more efficiently for both the crop and the farmer and look forward to what is to come.”

Preserving the land ensures the future and the future is in good hands. View Nebraska Corn’s sustainability video at nebraskacorn.gov/corn-101/corn-innovation/sustainability/.



I-29 Moo University Presents “KeepOrBeef” Decision Aid Webinar on Oct. 31

The I-29 Moo University 2023 Dairy Webinar Series continues Tuesday, Oct. 31 from 12 noon to 1 p.m. CDT. The webinar will feature “KeepOrBeef,” a new app from Dairy Records Management Systems (DRMS).

Greg Palas, manager of DRMS support services at Iowa State University, will lead a discussion and demonstration of how the program can be accessed and used by dairy producers.

“Greg has been with the DHI [Dairy Herd Improvement] processing center for over 40 years and works with dairy producers and consultants all over the country,” said Fred Hall, dairy specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. “DRMS is the largest DHI processing center in the country and provides service to over 11,000 herds and over 2 million cows.”

According to Palas, the “KeepOrBeef” Decision Aid is designed to help producers determine if a cow should be retained, bred or replaced. It uses individual cow genetic information and performance data, coupled with milk price, replacement cost, value of a dairy replacement versus a dairy male or the value of a dairy beef cross, to predict each cow’s future performance and economic values for replacement and mating decision.

“KeepOrBeef” assigns an economic value to the cow and a value to each of the three potential mating sire choices; sexed dairy semen, conventional dairy semen, or beef semen.

“You won’t want to miss this opportunity to learn from Greg Palas.” Hall said.

There is no fee to participate in the webinar; however, registration is required at least one hour before the webinar. Register online at https://go.iastate.edu/6WBAHK.

For more information, contact: in Iowa, Fred M. Hall, 712-737-4230; in Minnesota, Jim Salfer, 320-203-6093; or in South Dakota, Patricia Villamediana, 605-688-4116.



Beef cattle genetic selection - the future webinar series

The National Beef Cattle Evaluation Consortium has unveiled a captivating 'Brown Bagger' webinar series. Set to commence on October 11, 2023, at 12:00 pm, this online event promises to spotlight both current and prospective tools tailored to refine genetic selection decisions in beef cattle.

For those interested in topics such as trait development updates, leveraging sequence data, or moving from an abnormal calf scenario to genomic tests, this is an opportunity not to be missed. Each week brings forth a unique theme, ensuring comprehensive coverage of the subject.

Intending to reach a broad audience, the series targets university beef instructors, extension specialists at multiple levels, beef industry professionals, and breed association teams. In essence, anyone engaged with beef production systems stands to benefit immensely from this initiative.

Conveniently hosted via the Kansas State University ZOOM platform, participants can anticipate a seamless experience. Everything, from slides to audio, will be accessible through a standard web browser, although a call-in option exists for those preferring an audio stream.

Post-registration, attendees will be provided with all the essential details for connecting. Plus, with each segment lasting about an hour, it's designed to fit perfectly into your lunchtime routine.

For those who want to be a part of this enriching journey, registration is essential. It's simple; just click Here https://ksu.zoom.us/webinar/register/5716929839710/WN_ICRLMZrdRpKeVGFY4exy2A#/registration. But act fast, as slots are limited for the first 500 registrants.

University of Nebrasla-Lincoln Beef Specialist Matt Spangler urges educators and breed association staff to share this initiative with others to enhance their skills in beef cattle genetic selection. This is a good opportunity for all.




ISRC funds three new soybean research projects, holds Think Tank

The Iowa Soybean Research Center’s (ISRC) Industry Advisory Council (IAC) met in September for its annual meeting to consider proposed soybean research ideas and offer guidance on how to best invest $414,000 in available new funding.

The council is made up of three Iowa soybean farmer and 20 industry partner representatives and is led by IAC Chair, Christie Wiebbecke, senior director of research for the Iowa Soybean Association and ISRC Director Greg Tylka, professor of plant pathology, entomology and microbiology at Iowa State University.

Based on the IAC’s recommendations, the ISRC Management Team funded three new soybean research projects....

Characterization of iron deficiency and Fusarium graminearum interactive responses in soybean
Silvina Arias, adjunct assistant professor of plant pathology, entomology and microbiology, will study characterization of soybean genes that are differentially regulated by the host during F. graminearum infection in an iron deficiency environment to identify new potential resistance mechanisms and candidate genes involved in the defense response. Jamie O’Rourke, research geneticist, agronomy, is a collaborator on this project.

Application of innovative intercropping practices to increase soybean production in Iowa
Silvina Arias will study the application of intercropping practices involving the harvest of Iowa’s main cash crop, soybean, plus the harvest of a second crop in the same field in the same year, reducing negative environmental costs. Additionally, the project will look at the potential to plant soybean with winter crops, such as small grainsand oilseed crops (canola), as a way to take advantage of Iowa’s six-month fallow period. Other investigators include Leonor Leandro, professor of plant pathology, entomology and microbiology, and Mark Licht, associate professor of agronomy.

Soil amendment with biofuel industry co-products for improving soybean disease management and soil health
Leonor Leandro, professor of plant pathology, entomology and microbiology, will determine if soil amended with co-products from the biofuel industry, namely biochar and digestate, can suppress soybean diseases caused by soilborne pathogens. Their research will focus on the pathogens that cause soybean sudden death syndrome and soybean root rot due to their economic importance and their soilborne nature. Co-investigators include Santanu Bakshi, Bioeconomy Institute and Lisa Schulte Moore, Bioeconomy Institute andnatural resource ecology and management.

Think Tank
In addition to the ISRC’s annual advisory council meeting, the group held a Think Tank to discuss the challenges and direction of soybean production research. Nearly 40 individuals participated, representing Iowa soybean farmers, agricultural industry, Iowa State researchers and the Iowa Soybean Association, including most of the ISRC’s advisory council. A myriad of research topics and gaps were identified, including a changing climate, soil health, specific diseases and pests, markets and government regulations, plant health versus profitability, funding issues, scalability of data, emerging technologies, the need for remote sensing and smaller equipment, and the need for academia and industry to work together more effectively. The ISRC plans to share the takeaways from the Think Tank with its stakeholders to help shape the direction of future soybean production research through the center.



HPAI Reappears in US Poultry Flocks

Highly pathogenic avian influenza has made its first appearances in U.S. commercial poultry flocks this season, affecting one turkey farm in South Dakota and one in Utah.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported that HPAI, which is deadly to commercial poultry, was confirmed in a flock of 47,300 turkeys in Jerauld County, South Dakota, on Oct. 4 and at a farm with 141,800 birds in Utah's Sanpete County last Friday.

The outbreaks are the first reported among commercial flocks in the U.S. since the disease struck two turkey farms in the Dakotas in April. Infected flocks are normally destroyed to prevent the flu's spread, and then the farms are decontaminated.

Before last week, the only reports of bird flu in recent months in the U.S. in recent months were sporadic appearances in backyard flocks or among wild birds such as ducks, geese and eagles. While wild birds often show no symptoms of avian influenza, infections in them are a concern to the poultry industry because migrating birds can spread the disease to vulnerable commercial flocks.

This was Utah's first case this year, but 16 turkey farms, one egg farm and several backyard flocks were affected in the state last year. South Dakota producers lost nearly 4 million birds last year. Iowa, the hardest-hit state, with nearly 16 million birds lost, hasn't recorded a case since March.



The Fall Begins to Turn?
Stephen R. Koontz, Dept of Ag and Resource Economics, Colorado State University

Cattle markets showed strength into September but stalled in the last half of the month and weakened into October. October is usually a tough month for cattle and beef markets and we will have to see how the rest of the month plays out but the market fundamental mix and technical picture offer some troubling signals.

Placements of cattle in feedlots were the strongest for the year in May and June and these are the animals to be marketed soon. The inventory of cattle on feed over 120 days and over 150 days is high as revealed by the most recent report. Exports are showing a response to the record high prices in terms of drifting lower. Fed steer and fed heifer weights continue the seasonal increase and are likely for the next month and a half. This weight increase is not being limited by the falling corn price and the beginning of harvest – cash corn prices are surprisingly weak. Packer margins turned a sustained negative in August and did so again at the end of September. Prior to these two moves, margins had not been as negative since before 2019. (Several of my colleagues have stated to me that packers have made so much gross margin since 2019 that this is irrelevant – that they have so much money in the bank. I am doubtful. If gross margins are record high and plants do not increase volumes, then said plants are at capacity or are not able to run. If gross margins are negative, then the incentive is to not run. History is irrelevant. Every animal loses money.) The signal is to reduce bids or not operate. Operation is a must only if beef is forward sold – and a reasonable risk manager will be long in the market for sales promised but not yet purchased. Finally, it is minor but boxed beef composite values have finally broken lower through the $300/cwt value after an excellent summer. This is an important lower price level – a minor penetration – but below $300 nonetheless.

There are a variety of factors that press for the slowing of cattle processing, sales, exports, and in the end – prices. The next several weeks will determine the strength of cattle buying. What is needed to satisfy forward contracts and what volume can be moved through cash market retail and food service channels? We will learn that. The strength of demand in the remainder of the four quarters will be a good signal for the following year’s potential. From a long-term perspective, what happens in the replacement market during the fall will be informative too.



Red Crown Rot Threatens Midwest Soybean Yields

Red crown rot is a fungal disease of soybeans that has been common in the southern U.S. for years. AgriGold agronomist Brett Leahr is concerned about the spread of the disease in his Illinois territory and has seen the disease firsthand scouting fields.

Red crown rot is caused by the soilborne fungus Calonectria ilicicola and can have a severe impact on soybean yields. “It shuts the plant down as fast as possible,” says Leahr. “It can take an 80-bushels-per-acre field to 20 bushels per acre.”

While there’s still a lot to learn about managing red crown rot, Leahr wants farmers to know what to look for. “From afar, red crown rot looks similar to sudden death syndrome (SDS),” he says. “But red crown rot moves very fast and appears to kill the plant much more rapidly than SDS. You see a little spot of it pop up and you come back a couple days later in the field and it’s just exploded.”

Leahr recently conducted a soybean plot study that demonstrated the effect of moisture on red crown rot. During the recent dry period, he marked the rows he watered. “When I went back a few weeks ago, red crown rot was in the exact areas we watered, so it clearly loves moisture,” says Leahr.  

“I think this year it fell with rain patterns – where we had those early rains is where we’re seeing it pop up,” he adds.

To understand the impact of red crown rot and prepare to manage it in the future, Leahr says farmers should do two things: scout and document.

What to look for when scouting
Because red crown rot looks similar to SDS or brown stem rot, it’s important to verify its presence by inspecting the root system. “If you see slightly off-pitted soybeans, the first thing to look for is interveinal chlorosis or yellowing,” says Leahr. “The next step is to pull the plant up, knock the soil off the roots as gently as possible and look for red streaking on the stem around the soil line.”

A distinctive sign of red crown rot is the presence of red pustules on the root system. “If you look at the root system and see tiny, bright red balls – get a magnifying glass if needed – it’s red crown rot,” he says. “SDS will have the exact same leaf orientation and interveinal chlorosis, but with more of a turquoise or teal color on the roots.”

Importance of documentation
A record of which fields have red crown rot helps farmers and agronomists know which fields may be affected in the future. “Some farmers who have red crown rot on their soybean acres right now may not remember if a field had it before,” says Leahr. “That’s why good documentation helps when planning future soybean acres.”

AgriGold is proud to offer Saltro® seed treatment, which is approved in Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri, to suppress red crown rot. Always follow label instructions.

Farmers that detect red crown rot in fields – or think it may be present – should work with a crop advisor, extension specialist or their AgriGold agronomist to confirm the diagnosis and create a management plan for the future.