Corn south march 2018

Nutrient Management

CornSouth ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC

Southern Production & Marketing Strategies

A Supplement to Cotton Farming and The Peanut Grower Magazines

March 2018

CornSouth Positive Signs Although corn prices are increasing ever so slightly, ag economists forecast that the U.S. corn acreage is likely to decrease again in 2018. With Congress passing the supplemental disaster bill that restores cotton’s eligibility for Title I ARC/PLC programs from the Farm Bill, coupled with the improvement in cotton prices, the decrease in corn and increase in cotton seems all the more likely.

Amanda Huber As a recap, accordEditor ing to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, corn and grain production in 2017 was estimated at 14.6 billion bushels, down 4 percent from the 2016 estimate. The average yield in the United States was estimated at a record high 176.6 bushels per acre, 2.0 bushels above the 2016 average yield of 174.6 bushels per acre.

Area harvested for grain was estimated at 82.7 million acres, down 5 percent from the 2016 estimate.

Globally, grain production for 2017/18 is projected lower by 2.3 million tons to 1,321.9 million. Decreased production estimates, particularly in key areas such as Argentina where persistent heat and dryness have reduced yield prospects, but greater consumption worldwide are positive signs for now.

As I look at the possible competition for acreage in the Southeast and Mid-South, and in light of the possible stabilization of cotton policy, I can’t help but think of an old stool.

It doesn’t matter how many legs your stool has, when one is missing, the stool doesn’t work and sit as well as it should. When you have planting options among corn, cotton, soybeans, peanuts and possibly other crops, and all are basically the same or similar, at least you can continue crop rotations within your farm, which is a foundational practice and improves the entire farming system. CS

Send comments to Corn South, 6515 Goodman Rd., Box 360, Olive Branch, MS, 38654. You may also call 901-767-4020 or contact Lia Guthrie at lguthrie@onegrower.com or Amanda Huber at ahuber@onegrower.com.

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CORN SOUTH | MARCH 2018

What’s Moving The Market?

G

lobal carryover has reached the lowest estimated daysof-use on hand at 69.4 since 2013’s carryover of a 67.2-day supply, says Mark Welch, Texas A&M agricultural Extension economist, in his most recent Market Grain Outlook. His report on corn and other grain markets continues as follows: ■ Revised export numbers drove the changes to the U.S. corn supply and demand balance sheet in today’s “World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates.”

With no supply changes and a 125 million bushel increase in exports, ending stocks dropped to 2.352 billion bushels from 2.477 billion in January. The projected season average farm price for 2017/18 increased five cents to $3.30, which reset the PLC payment to $0.40.

■ Globally, corn supplies are lower as a production decrease in Argentina (-3.0 mmt or 118 mil bu) offset a small increase in beginning stocks (1.0 mmt). Despite a small increase in use (1.7 mmt), the decrease combined to lower world ending stocks by 3.5 mmt.

Grain Use

As reflected in the revised WASDE numbers, corn exports have been relatively strong over the last several weeks. Sales for the week of Feb. 1 were 73 million bushels bringing the total for the marketing year to 1.270 billion. This is 65 percent of the revised marketing year target.

A normal sales pace puts exports sales at the end of February at 71 percent of the projected total.

Grain sorghum exports have been strong the last several months. The export sales number released today, 3 million bushels, was right on pace to reach the marketing year target. The total so far this year, 207 million bushels, is 80 percent of the current marketing year target.

China currently accounts for 78 percent of U.S. sorghum export sales. On Monday, China announced that it has initiated an anti-dumping and countervailing duty investigation on sorghum exports from the

Market Factors: ■ Five-year low for days-of-use onhand supply ■ 2017/18 average farm price increased five cents ■ Corn exports relatively strong for several weeks U.S. This action is taken when imports are suspected of being sold at less than fair value (dumped) or if a foreign government provides subsidy program benefits to an exportable product. This raises the concern that sorghum exports may face tariffs or other import restrictions in the future.

Outside Markets

The February jobs report showed the U.S. economy added 200,000 to non-farm payrolls in January. This is above the average job gain of the previous six months of 159,000. Much of the turmoil in the stock market following the release of the employment situation is attributed to the wage growth numbers in the report, raising the specter of inflation.

Marketing Strategies

The seasonal price pattern for the December corn contract shows that prices tend to have some upward momentum early in the year as we watch crop conditions in South America and gauge planting prospects in the United States.

2018 Feed Grain Marketing Plan

My preliminary budgets show a breakeven price for corn in 2018 of $3.75 (includes fixed costs for equipment, depreciation, and a land charge). With a positive basis, current futures prices are at a profitable level. On the price strength of the market last week, I initiated my first sales of the 2018 crop. The first sale in the marketing plan can be hardest to make, and I hope it is the worst sale I make all year. CS CORNSOUTH.COM

Insect Management

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ne of the most prolific and well known insect pests is the stink bug. There is a good reason for this says Kathy Flanders, Extension Specialist and professor for Auburn University and the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service. “Stink bugs have a wide range of hosts, including wheat, corn, cotton and soybeans. They can also have multiple, overlapping generations.”

Stink bugs overwinter as adults in sheltered areas, such as field borders, under tree bark or under structures such as culverts.

“In the early spring, hosts include wheat and weeds. They can also be found in greater populations on field edges, in fields that are double-cropped or in conservation tillage.”

Symptoms of stink bugs are suckering and buggy whip damage in young corn, curving or deformation of ears and scattered brown kernels.

In corn, the types of stink bugs found include the green stink bug, Southern green

BRIAN LITTLE, THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA, BUGWOOD.ORG

Stink Bugs stink bug and the brown stink bug, which Flanders says is the hardest to kill and most cold hardy. The brown marmorated is a new pest found in Northern to mid-Alabama.

Spraying Too Late

Seed treatments, especially at higher rates, help protect early corn plants from feeding. “Products with clothianidin are better than those with thiomethoxam, which are better than imidacloprid products,” she says.

Scouting for stink bugs is difficult because they hide or will drop off the plant.

“Start scouting around V9 approximately two weeks before silking. Stalk the stink bugs by looking on plants one or two rows over instead of in the row next to you. Check several areas of the field.”

Flanders says most producers wait too late to spray to prevent stink bug damage to ears.

“Be sure to get that first spray on before tasseling. Apply an insecticide if 5 percent of plants are infested when tiny ear shoots

are present. At kernel fill, treat if 10 percent of plants are infested.”

Flanders says producers should use a high boy sprayer, if needed, or an aerial application. Corn should not be sprayed during pollen shed or green silk.

“The worst damage is done before silking.

For example, at the stage where ears are less than one inch long, if you find two stink bugs per plant, you can expect a 40-percent yield loss,” she says. CS

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MARCH 2018 | CORN SOUTH 10/19/17 8:42 AM

Nutrient Management

Fertilization Q and A University of Georgia Extension soil scientist, Glen Harris, answers some common questions about corn fertility.

Q. How much fertilizer does it take to get 300 bushels?

A. This is a question I get often. And the simple answer is “a lot!”

Also, quite a few people think, “If I fertilize for 300 bushels, I’ll make 300 bushels,” but there are many things that can go wrong. In other words, there can be many other limiting factors.

For the University of Georgia recommendation, we use a base yield for irrigated corn of 150 bushels. After that, for every 10 bushels yield goal above 150, you add 12 pounds of nitrogen, 6 pounds of phosphate and 10 pounds of potash per acre.

In my research trials, in a five-year study, when we shot for 150 bushels, we usually made it or a little more, but when we shot for 200, we made above that two out of five years and below it one year.

When we shot for 250, we make it two out of five years. Finally, when we tried for 300, we topped out around 280 two years, bottomed out below 200 two years and one year we were the middle.

If your land has the potential to make 250 bushels, but you fertilize for 150, then that’s all you’ll get and you’re leaving money on the table. If you have a field that’s never made more than 100 bushels, it doesn’t make sense to try for 300. If you have a field that’s made 200, then, yes, it makes sense to try for 250.

Fertilizer recommendations depend on the soil fertility level as determined by soil tests and a realistic yield goal.

Q. Is a liquid fertilizer more available to the plant than solid product?

A. Some people think this is the case — that a liquid is more readily taken up and available to the plant because it is already in a liquid form, but that is not always the case. Most solids fertilizers dissolve quickly and get into the corn plant just as well as a liquid product.

There can be some differences in availability between forms of nitrogen, like urea versus ammonium versus nitrate, but usually these are not enough to make a big difference.

Q. Where should starter fertilizer be placed?

A. Placement is one of the 4Rs of nutrient management, along with the right rate, the right source and the right timing. I think about all of these factors because I can look at rate or I can look at rate and timing or rate and placement. All of these interact. And it makes a difference if you are talking about starter fertilizer, banding P and K or sidedressing nitrogen.

As for placement of a starter fertilizer, I don’t like anything in the furrow. I prefer that it is placed two by two: two inches to the side and two inches below the seed. Banding a starter fertilizer two inches to the side and two inches below the seed increases the chances of roots penetrating the fertilizer band and taking up needed nitrogen and phosphorus.

There are products you can put in the furrow, but if you really look at those products, you either have to lower the nutrient content so it

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CORN SOUTH | MARCH 2018

This photo taken from a drone at a height of 150 feet by UGA graduate student David Daughtry shows a one-acre irrigated high-yield corn trial. The center, where the pivot sits, and the ends were not fertilized and show nitrogen, and possibly sulfur, deficiency. Four other blocks above the mid-line show deficiency because those trials received only starter fertilizer or an insufficient amount of fertilizer.

won’t burn the seedling and then you lose your starter effect, or it’s a special formulation that won’t burn, but is more expensive.

When using starter fertilizer, deduct the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus used from the total nitrogen and phosphorus needed for the season. Sometimes, if your soil test P levels are high enough, the total phosphate requirements of the corn crop can be supplied in the starter fertilizer.

Q. If I apply fertilizer by banding it next to the row, can I use less fertilizer?

A. I do know that some farmers have been told that if you band your P and K next to the row, you don’t need as much. But that’s not really true. Crops need a certain amount of fertilizer. They need what they need to make a realistic desired yield, and it doesn’t matter if it is banded or broadcast. If your soil test shows phosphorus and potassium to be medium or high, there’s really no advantage to banding your P and K fertilizer next to the row.

Fertilization programs not based on soil tests may result in excessive and/or not enough nutrients being applied. Take soil samples each fall to monitor the current fertility level. Use the yield goal to determine the quantity of nitrogen, phosphate and potash to be used.

At high yield levels, the balance of nutrients in relation to one another also is important.

Soil test information and fertilizer recommendations based on yield goals can be found at http://aesl.ces.uga.edu/. CS

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