Page 7 Monday, April 7, 2014 FarmWeek Rick Corners, Centralia, Jefferson County: Cancel the drought talk. Here we go again. We had .8 of an inch of rain over the past weekend (March 29-30), and we had .4 of an inch Wednesday. Thursday, shortly after noon, we received 2.5 inches in about 45 minutes. Roads are flooded and creeks are out. So much for the very early planting. Sure hope we don’t have to mud stuff in another year, but that’s a long way off. Don’t know how the corn that was planted two weeks ago is going to fare through this. Kevin Raber, Browns, Wabash County: Our open window for fieldwork has slammed shut! Rain amounts of up to 5 inches left us with flooded creeks and streams. I don’t think any corn was planted before this rain. Wheat has been struggling. Water standing on it isn’t going to help its progress.
Randy Anderson, Galatia, Saline County: Wet, wet, wet! Had anywhere from 3 to 7 inches in some locations and some strong winds, too. Flooding is a problem. A farmer near Harrisburg reported 9 inches in 24 hours (ThursdayFriday). Went up to Madison County early last week and saw a lot of fields on the way up where anhydrous had been applied and fieldwork had been done, too. Wheat has started to turn around, and it is really greening up. Keep checking on grain in the bin. With temps on the rise, it doesn’t take long to go out of condition.
Ken Taake, Ullin, Pulaski County: Not much field activity was accomplished. After rain on March 27 and 28, the fields were too wet for us to even start spraying burndown. In some areas that got a little less rainfall, farmers were trying to get some wheat sprayed. There was a little more anhydrous applied, but I think those areas were widely scattered. At least the temps have been in the 70s, so the grass in yards is starting to green up. Wheat is starting to break dormancy and green up and look good. As I call in this report, it is raining again, so I think it will probably be next week before we get in the field to do anything.
Planting delays could linger this month BY DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek
Farmers’ chances of early corn planting in Illinois eroded last week as more cool temperatures and rain kept planters in the shed. Heavy rain drenched much of the state the midd l e o f l a s t we e k a n d s o i l temperatures remained in the 30s and 40s across much o f t h e s t a t e e xc e p t d e e p southern Illinois, where topsoil temperatures finally neared 50 degrees. Last week’s stor ms also brought severe weather that d a m a g e d t r e e s, b u i l d i n g s and vehicles in par ts of southwest Illinois in Madison and St. Clair counties near St. Louis. “We’ve been on the cold and dry side since Novem-
Reports received Friday morning. Expanded crop and weather information available at FarmWeekNow.com
ber,” said Jim Angel, state climatologist with the Illinois State Water Survey. “It doesn’t look too promising (for planting). Soil temperatures are still pretty cold except in far southern Illinois.” T he statewide temperature last month averaged just 33.8 deg rees, 7 deg rees b e l ow ave r a g e. I t wa s t h e eighth-coldest March on record and fifth-consecutive month of below-averag e temperatures, according to Angel. Precipitation last month averaged 1.49 inches, which wa s j u s t h a l f t h e ave r a g e amount for March. Heavy snowfall last month and the rest of winter didn’t boost soil moisture a lot, as much of the melted snow ran off
fields due to a deep freeze in the ground. “We came out of winter with almost the same soil moisture that we went into it,” Angel said. Subsoil moisture across
the state last week was rated 36 percent shor t or ver y short, 62 percent adequate and just 2 percent surplus, the National Agricultural Statistics Ser vice Illinois field office reported.
seed that somehow was moved into the state,” Hager said. “The myriad of ways in which Palmer amaranth seeds can be transported, however,
Burndown herbicides or thorough tillage are effective tactics to control emerged Palmer amaranth plants before planting. However,
label recommendations for soil texture and organic matter content) of an effective soil residual herbicide no sooner than seven days prior to planting and no more than three days after planting. Begin scouting fields within 14 to 21 days after crop emerg ence. Foliar-applied herbicides must be applied before Palmer amaranth p l a n t s e xc e e d 4 i n ch e s i n height. Consider including a soil residual herbicide during the application of foliar-applied herbicides. The combination can help control additional Palmer amaranth emergence and allow the crop to gain a competitive advantage over later-emerging weeds. Fields should be scouted seven to 14 days after application of the foliar-applied herbicide to determine herbicide effectiveness, if the soil residual herbicide included with the post application is providing effective control and if additional Palmer amaranth plants have emerged.
Eight out of the last nine months featured below-average precipitation. “Since July 1 (2013), we have a statewide (moisture) deficit of about 7 inches,” Angel said. “It doesn’t put us back in drought, but it reflects the general dryness of the last six to nine months.” The rain forecast last week could help the soil moisture deficit. But it’s not good for planting prospects. “The forecast for the eastern half of the U.S. (this month) is for an increased c h a n c e o f b e l o w - a ve r a g e temperatures,” Angel added. “There are some indications we could be on the dry side (this week), but then we rever t b a ck to wet co n d i tions.”
Get ready to fight Palmer amaranth again this year Given the prolific growth l a s t y e a r o f Pa l m e r a m a ranth, Illinois far mers can expect the persistent weed to pose a threat this g rowing season. “If ignored or otherwise n o t e f f e c t i ve l y m a n a g e d , Palmer amaranth can reduce cor n and soybean yield to n e a r l y z e r o,” s a i d A a r o n Hager, University of Illinois weed sciences researcher. Hager noted simply attempting to control Palmer amaranth often leads to ineffective herbicide applications, substantial crop yield loss and increased weed infestations. Fa r m e r s s h o u l d a i m t o reduce potential for the weed to neg atively impact y i e l d s a n d r e d u c e Pa l m e r amaranth seed production. Three general principles of Palmer amaranth management include: • Prevention is preferable to eradication. “Palmer amaranth is not native to Illinois so any population discovered in the state originated from
‘The myriad of ways in which Palmer amaranth seeds can be transported, however, makes preventing seed introduction extremely challenging.’ — Aaron Hager U of I weed sciences researcher
makes preventing seed introduction extremely challenging.” • Annual herbicide costs can double once Palmer amaranth becomes established. There are no soil- or foliar-applied herbicides that will provide sufficient control of Palmer amaranth throughout the entire growing season. • Control of Palmer amaranth should not be less than 100 percent. What methods can best control Palmer amaranth?
glyphosate will not control glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth and growth regulator herbicides (such as 2,4-D or dicamba) are most effect i v e o n Pa l m e r a m a r a n t h plants less than 4 inches tall. If pre-plant scouting (which is especially important prior to planting soybeans) reveals Palmer amaranth plants taller than 4 inches, consider using tillage instead of herbicides to control the plants. Apply a full rate (based on
“If scouting reveals additional Palmer amaranth plants have emerged, make a second application of a foliar-applied herbicide before Palmer amaranth p l a n t s a r e 4 i n c h e s t a l l ,” Hager said. “ P hy s i c a l l y r e m ove a n y remaining Palmer amaranth plants before the plants reach the reproductive growth stage. Plants should be severed at or below the soil surface and carried out of the field. Severed plants can root at the stem if left on the soil surface, and plants can regenerate from stems severed above the soil surface.”
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