A week of good weather is welcomed news as farmers finish planting and replanting. The past several weeks have been cold and wet and crop growth has been slow. Warm weather increases plant growth and warms up the microbes to release abundant nutrients. A number of agricultural pests including insects, pathogens, and weeds are now slowing down crop growth. On insects, seed corn maggot and wireworms are two of the worst Midwest seed insects. Cold, wet, soggy fields allow these insects to thrive. Seed corn maggots ( ) are pale larvae that burrow into and hollow out germinating seeds and young seedlings. Infestations cause poor crop stands, stunted growth, and plant death and are a problem in cool, soggy, and manured fields. Wireworm ( Melanotus communis Gyllenhal ) is the most common wireworm attacking corn and soybeans and is the larval form of the click beetle. Wireworms have a slender elongated body and are dark brownish orange. They have a distinct head and projecting mouthparts with...

  Spring is always a fickle thing when it comes to weather. Late March and April weather was more like May and May was more like April even March at times. The difference this year is cold, wet, and windy are common themes. Some farmers have a lot planted, some a fair amount planted, some for the first time. Others are already replanting. Although a week old, USDA's crop progress report is probably fairly accurate but behind for the weekend plantings. Estimates at that time were 34% of corn acres are planted in Ohio (much higher by now), with 20% of corn emerged. For soybeans, 34% of soybean acre were planted and 16% of soybeans emerged. Planted and emerged acres are probably much higher by now and warmer weather is expected. After a drought last year which lasted most of last fall and winter, most areas have recharged but that is highly variable. Along US 30, rain has been steady since March 10th with over 26 inches reported. Some areas North are less than half that amount. On cor...

  Several dairy farmers have been asking the question: Does improving soil health improve dairy cow health and dairy cow performance? Either higher milk yields, higher components, or just overall herd health? It’s a tough and complicated question to prove definitely, but the answer appears to trend in the direction of YES to all of the above. Milk is about 87% water and 13% solids. As it comes from the cow, the solid portion is about 3.7% fat and 9% solids not fat. Milk has fat soluble Vitamins A, D, E, K. The solids not fat portion is protein, carbohydrates (primarily lactose) and minerals including calcium and phosphorus. Milk is a good rich, dense food source especially for young growing children but also for older adults to avoid calcium deficiency. Researchers at Cornell University compared three fields, one unmanured and two that were manured at three different locations. The number of sites is low so our confidence in the data is rather limited. This was research conducted b...

  Seed imbibition is the process by which dry seeds absorb water, swell, and start germinating. A corn seed will absorb 30% of its weight in water while a soybean seed absorbs 50% water by weight to start germinating. Water moves into the seed coat, to the embryo, and the endosperm which greatly expands the seed and softens the seed coat. Soon radical roots start growing which are the first seed roots. For corn and soybeans, the soil temperature needs to be above 500F but 600F to 700F is much better. Seeds can take 18-20 days to germinate at 500F, but only 8-10 days at 600F and 1-5 days at 700F. This measurement is taken 2 inches deep in the soil. Generally, the soil temperature and moisture are a little more uniform when seeds are planted at least 2 inches deep or deeper. Corn can be planted 3 inches deep to get a more uniform emergence or at least down to moisture. Most areas have received adequate moisture this spring, but there are still areas with much less moisture due to thi...

Researchers at the USDA have identified a leading culprit for the massive honey bee die off.: Varroa mites harbor virulent virus that weaken and eventually kill honey bees. Varroa mites have become resistant to amitraz, the only remaining widely used miticide for hives. Amitraz was widely used, but no longer is considered effective at controlling Varroa mites in honey bee hives. The Varroa mite is an external parasitic mite that attacks and feeds on honey bees. The Varroa mite is one of the most damaging honey bee pests in the world. A significant mite infestation leads to the death of a honey bee colony or hive, starting in late autumn through early spring. Often hives become weak over the winter and the honey bee population in a hive is decimated by spring. Without management for Varroa mite, honey bee colonies typically collapse within 2 to 3 years in the USA. The Varroa mite can reproduce only in a honey bee colony. It attaches to the body of the bee and weakens the bee. The Varroa...

  Fast seed germination is critical to achieving high crop yields.  Cold wet weather often causes early crop stress that can be difficult for the plant to overcome and may cause long-term yield loss. Corn seed that germinates 3 days later than its neighbors is like a weed.  Fast seed emergence has many advantages.     First, the seed generally has enough energy to get the roots established and a leaf growing to capture the sun’s energy.  When seed roots emerge quickly though, there is less time for seed damage by insects, especially seed corn maggots, wireworms, and root worm larva.  Fast growing plants can outrun most slug damage or flea beetle which feast on sickly plants that are struggling to grow quickly.  Corn seeds provide nourishment for 7-14 days or until V3 while soybean its 7-10 days. New growing roots supplement seed nutrient reserves to improve plant growth, especially from micro-nutrients needed to speed up plant growth.  When s...

Carbon credits are still around and farmers should pay attention because it can be a profitable revenue stream. A carbon credit is a tradeable certificate for 1 metric ton of carbon dioxide removed from the atmosphere or recycled through sustainable farming practices. Farmers can sell these credits to companies as carbon offsets in voluntary markets. Practices like no-till farming, cover crops, and even using some biologicals increase carbon in the soil. For the farmer, getting paid to increase carbon or soil organic matter (SOM is 54% carbon) is a win-win proposition. Higher SOM increases yields and retains fertilizer nutrients and water for better crops. For farmers, up to 60% higher profit is possible by cutting back on fertilizer and still maintaining or even increasing crop quality and crop yields. Environmental benefits are also better. Less fertilizer used means less nutrient runoff and higher water quality. Improving SOM leads to less soil and wind erosion. For the consumer, t...

Pesticides (Herbicides, Insecticides, Miticides, Fungicides etc.) may affect soil microbes in many ways, often leading to reduced diversity and even lower populations of various soil microbes. Soil microbes are bacteria, fungi, archaea, protists, and viruses and account for an estimated 3%–4% of the total biomass on earth. Pesticides often degrade soil health and can lead to lower agricultural productivity or lower crop yields. Some pesticides change the soil structure so that soils become dense and compacted. Minimizing pesticide use is beneficial for improving soil health and microbial diversity and increasing soil microbial populations. Broad-spectrum herbicides are those that kill or control a wide variety of pests including weeds, fungi, and insects. Since they are so non-selective, they can kill or control beneficial microbes as well as both targeted and non-targeted organisms. Often broad-spectrum pesticides may also harm pollinators and beneficial predators. When this happens, ...

  Fertilizer generally enhance plant growth but it also may change soil microbial communities, leading to positive or negative changes. Chemical fertilizers are higher in salts (positive or negative ion charges). High salt content attracts water, ties it up, leading to both soil and plants becoming desiccated. If a nutrient is lacking, then fertilizer lets both microbes and the plant thrive. However, excess fertilizer generally leads to the opposite result. Also, chemical fertilizers tend to acidify or lower soil pH, generally disturb or change microbe diversity, and may lead to degraded soils. Organic fertilizers add more carbon and are commonly found in nature. They enhance soil microbial communities and soil fertility. They improve soil structure so that plant roots, water, and air move freely in the soil. They provide nutrients in a sustainable but slower time frame which enhances both microbes and plants, leading to more diversity and growth. However, sometimes for higher yiel...

  Jim Wiesemeyer (wiesemeyer@gmail.com), Washington DC agricultural insider, Virginia, spoke recently about US agriculture. Email him for free daily insights. Jim offered insights on E-15, Aviation fuel, and projections for the US Farm Bill. Jim is optimistic that Congress will pass a US ag farm provision for year-round E-15 Ethanol. While some Congress members are opposed, the majority want this legislation passed. The effect on corn markets may be slow though because it takes time to build new facilities for increased ethanol production. The aviation fuel (45Z) seems to be stalled. It is set to expire soon (2029) but no rules have been made. This would be a boon for USA agriculture if 45Z was a reality. It will stay stalled until a new farm bill is enacted. The 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit provides a tax incentive for producing low-emission fuels including Sustainable Aviation fuel made from grain. Jim also reported on the USDA crop estimates. Currently the way USDA collects ...

  Tommy Grisafi, a Chicago Board of Trade stock broker discussed grain markets recently. Grisafi says farmers should watch seven things this year when pricing crops. First, watch China and the trade tariffs. A federal judge ruled that all tariff money collected had to be paid back but that could take years of litigation. Second, is the weather in South America. Watch for an indication or scare of a South American drought which could push crop prices up short term. Drought scares are an opportunity to sell. The same goes for USA drought which are more common and are still lingering throughout the country. Third, watch the corn export demand which has been higher. Grisafi says to market your crops when you can lock in a profit and do not wait too long. Fourth, get crop insurance. With todays high crop inputs for fertilizer (20-25% higher), machinery (25-40% higher), pesticides, and Labor; farmers are in a squeeze between lower crop prices and higher input costs.  Fourth, watch y...

Dave Stark, molecular biologist and CEO with Holganix says microbes boost plant nutrition four ways by making plant available nitrogen (N), by unlocking soil fertility, helping plants create robust roots, and by breaking down nutrients in plant residue. Soil biology is a real asset to farmers which should be enhanced.  Microbes have many soil functions. A healthy diverse microbial system improves soil structure, improves water drainage, stores more soil water, and consumes parasites and pathogens; releasing soil nutrients. Generally, about 50% of applied fertilizer gets into the plant, as it is first recycled through soil microbes. Microbes process nutrients to make them plant available.  Nutrient efficiency on N is only 40-65%, on phosphorus (P) 15-25%, and on potassium (K) around 30-50%. Farmers operating cost for fertilizer is around 36% for growing corn and only about half or less of applied fertilizer is efficiently used. Soil biology and soil microbes improve nutr...

Soil and plant nutrients are vital for optimizing crop yields. Some are free while others require extensive fertilization using the 4R's (Right Rate, Place, Form, and Time). Due to higher fertilizer and application costs, agronomists prioritize the 4R's. For conventional farmers, Nitrogen (N)-Phosphorus (P)-and Potassium (K) seem to be the big three nutrients. These three macronutrients consume most of the fertilizer budget, especially on corn and small grains. Nitrogen (N) is used to make protein, P is used for DNA, RNA, cell walls, and for energy transfer (ATP). Potassium (K) is used like money in the plant, involved in nutrient exchange and balancing electrical charges. Next, secondary nutrients are Calcium (Ca)-Sulfur (S), and Magnesium (Mg). Calcium (Ca) is a major regulator of plant hormones and growth. Calcium carbonate or lime is used to balance pH, just slightly acid. Sulfur (S) is needed with nitrogen to make essential amino acids for protein synthes...

  Farm logic is hard to define and put into use. Before Albert Einstein died, a reporter interviewed him. He decided to ask: Define Logic? Albert Einstein answered with a question: What does Logic mean? Einstein shared this story. “Two men entered a chimney to clean it. One man comes out with a dirty face, the second comes out with a clean face. Using logic, which man will clean his face?” The reporter replied quickly, “The man with the dirty face!” Einstein answered, “NO. You are wrong! The man with the dirty face will look at the man with the clean face and assume his face is clean. He will d o nothing. The man with the clean face will look at the man with the dirty face and assume his face is dirty, and he will clean, wash and scrub his face, even though it is already clean.” The reporter thought for a moment, agreed, and said, “That sounds logical!” Einstein just shook his head and said, “NO! You are wrong again! First, there is nothing logical about two men entering a chimney ...