I’m sure everybody is just as excited that the 2016 planting season is under way! Hopefully by now, most of your corn is planted and you’ve already started planting soybeans. Choosing the correct herbicide program is paramount in protecting yield, and these programs can change drastically based on the weeds you’re targeting. Be sure to have a plan before you have a problem!

In some areas, the window of opportunity for planting corn, and environmental conditions that followed, were not ideal for rapid germination and emergence. The cold soils and excessive rainfall we experienced shortly after planting has led to uneven emergence, delayed emergence, and an onset of seedling blights. We have also seen the use of rotary hoes in some areas with crusted soils. 

The cool temperatures we have experienced over the last several nights have led to questions regarding frost damage. We are seeing some signs of frost damage here at our Ohio Practical Farm Research (PFR)® location, however we won’t know the severity of this damage until three to five days following the frost event. With the low temperatures leading up to this recent frost event, the hardening off process had started making our crops more tolerant of cool temperatures. Wet soils and dew present helps to maintain soil temperatures, thereby decreasing the risk of injury.

The cool, wet weather we have been experiencing has lead to increased concern for various threats to our wheat crops. This article includes my updates on what I have been seeing in wheat fields across Ohio over the past few days.

My name is Greg Shepherd and I am your new field agronomist in eastern Iowa. I am an Iowa boy, born and raised on a farm in west central Iowa. Nearly 12 years ago, we made our way to southeast Iowa and have put down roots on a family farm near Mt. Pleasant. My wife, Aimee and I have been richly blessed with our wonderful boys; Caleb (6), Silas (4), and Ethan (2). 

Over the past week, much of Ohio has received excess rainfall that has slowed fieldwork and planting almost to a halt. As of May 1, 2016, the USDA reported that 27 percent of Ohio’s corn was planted, but only 1 percent had emerged. With the cool, wet weather we have had, emergence is taking longer than usual. It’s tempting to look at the calendar and start to get concerned if your corn isn’t coming up in 7 to10 days like you might have expected. If you are looking at your planted fields and wondering when you will start to see rows of corn, the following information should help you understand when you might expect to see those small green spikes

Most of the wheat in our area was planted between October 1-10, with the majority planted by October 7. Along with timely planting, the warm fall promoted excellent fall growth and tillering for overwintering. I noticed a few challenges this spring where seeding depth was too shallow or significant residue created poor seed-to-soil contact. I continue to see that the best stands are the ones where residue has been evenly-distributed and lightly incorporated with a vertical tillage tool or disk prior to seeding. No-till also continues to work well where the seed is placed deep enough for good seed-to-soil contact.

The first drink of water corn or soybean seed takes is important. A rain event within 24 hours of planting can cause lower yields and possibly a thin stand. A small, light rain (such as 0.1 in.) doesn’t seem to have an adverse effect, but larger rain events often do.

So the million-dollar question is, “do I plant today or do I stop because a rain is coming?” If you are looking for some data to help you make that decision, we have a tool for you...

While April field activities commence, there are several key things to remember when you head out to the field. Make sure to avoid soil compaction and plant your corn and soybeans so rapid germination and even emergence take place. The weather last fall was very conducive to correcting the previous seasons’ compaction pains. Now we’re essentially starting with a clean-slate in regards to our soil’s physical condition. It’s said that 75 percent or more of a total season’s compaction is created by the first spring tillage operation. Be mindful of soil moisture conditions at the depth of tillage/planting and what your tractor and equipment axle loads are. Wait to plant until soil temperatures hold a constant 55°F at the 4 in. depth. Both crops will germinate at lower temperatures, though emergence may be less than desired.

Finally, that time of year has arrived... planting season! With many farmers preparing to plant and others already rolling through the field, there are a few things to keep in mind this spring. The first is to get your planter set. It’s always wise to inspect your planter and service it before you have half your crop planted.