Thus far in 2014, moderate amounts of field activity have taken place compared to normal. In the state of Illinois, according to the USDA weekly crop progress estimates for the week ending April 13, one percent of the corn crop is planted compared to the recent five year average of 10 percent at this point.

For most parts of southern Illinois, spring pre-plant nitrogen applications began around the end of March and were completed in some areas before storms put a halt on progress in the first week of April. A small amount of corn was also planted in that timeframe. From I-70 to the south, wheat fields have moved right along in light of recent warm weather and are looking much better than initially expected coming out of the harsh winter we experienced. To the north of I-70, most wheat is looking better, although advancing slower.

Looking ahead, please keep agronomics in mind with all field activities. Even though the calendar says it is time, the right soil conditions and environment play a huge role in the success of your 2014 crops!

Plants lacking optimum levels of macronutrients and/or micronutrients usually fail to produce high yields. Micronutrients are just as important to plant nutrition as macronutrients, however micros are needed in lesser amounts.

Tissue sampling is the most reliable method to assess the current nutrition status in a growing crop. A tissue sample report can identify which nutrients are currently deficient, including nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, boron, manganese, zinc, sulfur and iron, among others. You may not have thought about it much, but nutrient deficiencies can go unnoticed even in a "healthy looking" field. Often times, it’s only those fields that look “poor” that are sampled. Once a nutrient deficiency has been identified, you must then make a decision whether or not to address the deficiency with one of the many foliar products on the market. I will be conducting tissue sampling for our customers this year to help maximize yields and profitability. Please let me know if you are interested.

Soybean Emergence Issues
A large amount of soybeans were planted throughout the area May 7-12. Unfortunately, on May 14 the weather turned unseasonably cool and wet, with daily high temperatures only reaching the 50s for four consecutive days.

Sulfur Deficiency in Corn
Sulfur is an essential nutrient for crop production. Historically, however, sulfur has not been a common component of crop fertility programs. Sulfur has naturally been supplied through atmospheric deposition, manure application, and mineralization of organic matter.

Nitrification Inhibitors for Sidedressing Nitrogen (N)
Many growers are or will be sidedressing corn shortly. One question we often get this time of year is, “Do I use a nitrification inhibitor?” As is often the case, it is not an easy answer.

Do I use a nitrification inhibitor while sidedressing corn?
Many growers are or will be sidedressing corn shortly. One question we often get this time of year is, “Do I use a nitrification inhibitor?”

What is the optimum nitrogen rate in corn?
Beck’s Practical Farm Research (PFR)® has been conducting nitrogen (N) rate studies for the past five years. Over this period they have found that the Economic Optimum Nitrogen Rate is about 178 lbs./A. for corn after soybeans and 212 lbs./A. for corn after corn.

Corn Stand Establishment
This past week drenched our region with 4 to 6 inches of rain, followed by cool if not cold temperatures. Corn that has germinated and/or emerged (young plants) should be okay.

Soybean Stand Establishment
Some of the same corn comments hold true for soybeans. About 30% of our area got their soybeans planted last week. Very few fields have emerged.

Stand Evaluations
By all means, when conditions and fields become fit and suitable for planting, plant the “unplanted” acres first! This will give any “challenged", earlier planted fields time to hopefully recover so a proper assessment can be made.

Corn Insects
--- Black Cutworm, Slugs, and Armyworm
--- Purple Corn

Protecting the Flag “Leaf”
In the next few weeks we will be approaching the time for fungicide applications on wheat. Applying fungicides at or immediately after flag leaf appearance provides the best protection against foliar diseases.

Do I Adjust Planting Depth?
Some farmers are thinking about shallowing up their planting depth to get the corn out of the ground quicker since it is getting a little later. Is this a good idea?

My Corn Has Emerged But is Yellow in Color
More than likely the corn planted so far is going to be colorful. Unfortunately, the color it is turning is not the healthy dark green we were expecting

How much nitrogen are you losing?
Every year there are questions regarding nitrogen (N) loss from spring storms. This will cause some N loss, but exactly how much is not known. We can take an educated guess by understanding how N reacts in the soil.

Wheat Update
According to NASS, approximately 24% of Ohio and 43% of Indiana’s wheat is jointing. The further north you go, the more behind it is and therefore not jointing yet.

ADD ZINC TO YOUR STARTER FERTILIZER PROGRAM
One of the common questions I have been getting lately is definitely not a new one. “Should I be using liquid starter fertilizer at planting for corn?” While some farmers in the Midwest have been using starter for many years, others are just getting started.

TISSUE SAMPLING FOR HIGHER YIELDS
Have you mastered the “Seven Wonders of the Corn Yield World” and “The Six Secrets of Soybean Success?” Most likely, your answer is “No, but I give it my best shot to control what I can!” Although Dr. Fred Below’s recipes do not include foliar nutrition, plants lacking optimum levels of macro and/or micronutrients usually fail to produce high yields.

WHEAT CROP STATUS UPDATE
The wheat crop in our area has gone through one of the coldest winters on record. Growth stage currently ranges from Feekes 2- Feekes 4. Using October 12 as a planting date, we are 321 wheat growing degree days (GDDs) behind the previous year through April 12. If we have average temperatures in the last half of April, this will correlate to a two week delay. Given that some fields didn’t get planted until the last week of October, we are closer to a delay of 3-4 weeks.