The agricultural weather forecast by the National Weather Service’ Climate Predication Center is changing back from the cooler to more seasonal temperatures. The eight- to14-day outlook for Aug. 14-20, updated Aug. 6, is leaning to above normal temperatures and a near normal outlook for precipitation. Eric Snodgrass of Nutrien Ag Solutions is thinking we might have cooler than normal fall temperatures. Canadian wildfire smoke was a hot topic mid-summer a year ago, but, so far, the smoke has not been as intense this summer. All eyes and ears will be on the Aug. 12 USDA WASDE (world ag supply and demand estimates) report for indications of crop yields (supply) both domestic and worldwide as well as demand changes.
The MSU and OSU Wheat variety trial results are now available to interested farmers. Brad Kamprath of Ida hosted the trial location for southeast Michigan in 2023. Of the 85 public and private company varieties, 11 had yields over 100 bushels per acre, topped by 104.1 bushels. The location average was 93.6 bushels per acre. The nearest OSU wheat variety trial was at the OARDC at Hoytville in Wood County, and had a top yield of 106.3 bushels, with a 96.1-bushel location average. Both sets of results can be gotten just by Googling the respective university. Farmers intending to plant wheat this fall should consult the report to compare varieties, particularly multi-year results, disease resistance and quality parameters. Sixty percent of the yield potential of wheat is determined once the drill leaves the field at planting time. Therefore, selecting a variety with high-yielding potential and disease-resistance is one of the most important decisions a farmer can make. For the 2023 harvest, the state average wheat yield was 83 bushels per acre, while the average yield in Monroe County was a record 95.8 bushels per acre.
Corn leaf aphids have been reported in Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Ohio and some southern states. Dr. Christine DiFonzo of MSU says populations can climb quickly on the top-third of plants, covering them with sticky honeydew and sheding skins of molting aphids. Infestations differ by hybrid, with those with more upright leaves having higher aphid numbers. Regardless, the only economic issue in field corn is if the honeydew coats the tassel and silk to reduce pollination of the ear. For corn already pollinated (the silks have turned brown), there is no need to do anything. Natural enemies and beneficial insect-killing fungi will begin to wipe out aphids. Corn leaf aphids can also land on carrots, celery, dry beans, green beans, pasture, potato, pumpkins, turnips, sweet corn and other crops. Although the insect is not the problem, that they can vector diseases is the real danger to these crops.
Fall seeding of alfalfa should begin by late August or very early September so that the crop has six to eight weeks of growth to develop a winter hardy plant before a killing frost, cold soil temperatures and late fall and winter weather stop everything. However, first is to take a soil test because many alfalfa varieties need a higher soil pH than most other crops. Also consider the field drainage situation, as many varieties do not like “wet feet” and can succumb to root diseases, such as phytophthora and other root rots. MSU has alfalfa, red clover, perennial grass and annual grass variety trials, with some trials having various combinations of legumes and grass mixes.
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2022 Census of Agriculture reports are available for counties and congressional districts in Michigan and the U.S. For example, the 5th Congressional District (across the southern tier of counties in Michigan) is the second-largest agricultural congressional district in Michigan, with $2,293,446,000 of ag products sold. Monroe County had $206,543,000 of ag products sold in 2022, an 18 percent increase from the 2017 census. USDA NASS (national agricultural statistics service) reported Monroe County had a 2023 county average yield of 192.5 bushels per acre for corn and 52.4 bushels for soybeans and 95.8 bushels per acre for wheat. The average cash rent in 2023 was $154 per acre or $220 per acre for irrigated crop land.
— Ned Birkey is an MSU Extension educator emeritus and a regular contributor to The Monroe News.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Ned Birkey talks about county’s ag product sales, weather forecast
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