Editors' Notebook

Is There an "I" in Corn Belt?

Cheri Zagurski
By  Cheri Zagurski , DTN Associate Editor
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OMAHA (DTN) -- They say there is no "I" in team.

Farmers are in an interesting position. They are on the same team, so to speak -- team agriculture. But the team members are not homogeneous, and neither are their crops, livestock, operations or weather.

I guess you could say there is no "I" in Corn Belt, spelling-wise. (And I'm going to say it because thereon hangs the structure of my entire blog entry.)

But the middle of that geographical area is comprised of the three big "I"s -- Iowa, Illinois and Indiana.

We'll start this week's compilation of reader reports from the "I" states, and branch out from there. Do not assume the following order implies any preference. We enjoy all the states and ag producers equally.

THE I-STATES

Scott Wallis, southwestern tip of Indiana

So far, so good here in southern Indiana. We have had 0.3 inch last weekend and about an inch a week ago Monday. The forecast calls for 2-plus this week. Crops are looking real good, especially corn. Wheat will start being harvested by the weekend, weather permitting.

Gerald Gauck, Ripley County, Indiana

We are on the dry side, but have got a few showers every so many days that keep the crops looking very good. We have one field with severe herbicide damage; hope the rain will bring it out and it will recover.

Adam Stonecipher, Danville, Illinois

It sounds like parts of the country are still trying to plant. Except for a few very small pockets, we're all planted and emerged in east-central Illinois and west-central Indiana. I have clients in northern Vermilion and northern Champaign counties that received 7 to 9 inches of rain in a 4-hour span last weekend, so plenty of ponding and drowned-out acres in those areas. South of I-74 has generally gotten the right amount of rain at the right times, looks very good and is on track for an excellent crop. In west-central Indiana, we've been getting plenty of moisture, but the relatively late planting window has set us back 1-2 weeks compared to the last two years. As a whole, I say my area is set for an average to slightly above-average crop -- but nothing close to last year's bin buster. The grain markets are starting to make my job interesting.

John Moore, Manhattan, Illinois

Looking like July again this year for first-cutting hay. Two weeks of rain in the forecast and plenty in the ground already. Areas near me in northeastern Illinois received up to 5 inches of rain on already saturated soil. 25 miles from me the town of Minooka, Illinois, set the record for 4 in hail. Crazy days make for lazy days.

Kenton Thomas, Alexander County, Illinois

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Cut wheat last two days before rain. Test weight was over 60 pounds. Yield was over 60 bushels. Still like a few bean acres to finish planting in our area. All rain up north has got Mississippi above flood stage. That needs to stop!!

Cory Ritter, Blue Mound, Illinois

Rains very spotty here. I got zero rain, north and west of me 15-20 miles got over 4 inches... Water everywhere. Corn is growing amazingly. Over 1.5 feet in 3 days. We are very lucky. Got 1/3 of our beans to spray and that is all till harvest.

THE O-K STATES

Jan Layman, Kenton, Ohio

Got another 2.75 inches here overnight (Monday). Serious flooding now. We were off to one of our best starts in years, not so now. 4-plus inches here since Friday noon. (Sent Monday morning) This one is going to leave a mark. More forecast nearly every day this week. Starting to be a problem.

Stephen Tuttle, Basehor, Kansas

Wet is the word around here in northeast Kansas. Corn is 48 inches tall to 2 inches tall, denitrification of the NH3 is unbelievable. Some areas had 225 pounds N, and now the corn is yellow and it's gone. We don't know if it's worth applying more N with the prospects of $3.00 corn or less? And it's too wet to get into the fields. Planted some soybeans week of 06/08/15. Wet soils. Had to get them in; crop insurance deadline is 06/15/15 here. Wheat will be ready 06/20/15. It died prematurely from many diseases. Much-below yields expected.

Doug Zillinger, Logan, Kansas

Still getting 0.30-inch showers just often enough that we have to be standing at the edge of the field when it gets dry to plant milo before it showers again. Most are done planting milo, some cane hay to go in yet, and wheat harvest is knocking on the door so plenty to do. Got some hay to put up yet, too. Sure is nice to have the green though.

THE M STATES

Phil Carter, New Era, Michigan

It is finally our turn for a roll in the barrel as far as moisture is concerned; we have had 4-6 inches this week. Roads are washed out, lots of duck ponds in fields, thunderstorms but no hail (YET). There have even been reports of some washouts in asparagus fields. The hay growers had a good run prior to these storms. I sprayed apples with a fungicide and calcium just prior to the rains, but 2.5 inches of rain washed it all off so here we go again. (Spraying again; seems like that's all I have done this spring.) Chemical thinning on apples didn't work very well so we'll hand thin the more valuable varieties (Empire, Gala) to get better size and get rid of frost ring damage on Galas. Asparagus harvest has finished here with the processors no longer receiving.

Barry Mumby, Colon, Michigan

Crops are trying to keep their head above water, but it is raining again as I prepare this response (Monday morning). Very wet here in southwest Michigan with ponds, yellow corn and beans etc. The crop condition report tonight, in my opinion, should show a decline in good and excellent, but it may be one week too soon. (Editor's Note: Barry was right -- corn rated good to excellent declined 1 percentage point and soybeans declined 2 percentage points on Monday's USDA Crop Progress and Condition reports.) Interesting that funds covered over 60,000 short corn contracts last week quietly with no real move in prices. They are down to a bit over 90,000 short, so what's next? I would like to know how growers see their crop potential today vs. a year ago and the crop condition in their neck of the woods. Are we headed for a better yield than last year or not?

Kenneth Zahm, Marne, Michigan

We finished planting soybeans a week ago Saturday; half of our corn is sidedressed, but now wet fields are becoming an issue again. Also second herbicide application on corn has been delayed; installing drop nozzles on my sprayer today (Monday). Several fields of cut hay has been washed at least 3 times this week.

Mark Nowak, south-central Minnesota

Here in south-central Minnesota, the crop season got off to a great start with early planting, no heavy rains and good early emergence and good growth. Our long-term May rainfall is 3.79 inches. My DTN weather station recorded 3.69 inches. The first 10 days of June brought only 1/3 inch rain. Then last Monday, most weather forecast models were forecasting heavy and possibly flooding rains for this past Thursday. By Wednesday evening, the NWS had all of south-central Minnesota in a flash flood watch. We thought, "Could this be the end of one of our best starts in years?" Then Thursday morning came and about 6 a.m. it started raining lightly. But the radar to the southwest did not show any heavy thunderstorm or heavy rain activity. HMMM, I thought. It rained slow and gentle all day and when it finally wound down Thursday evening, we ended up with a perfect 1.25 inches of gentle rain. No ponding. Growing Degree units are about 2 days ahead of normal. A lot of 30-inch corn is close to closing row, and that is about a week ahead of schedule. So, most area farmers are pleased with the crop to date. One of my own keys as to what it takes to get a good corn crop, I learned from over 30 years of working in a community bank as an ag lender. It goes like this. "We need about 10 days each summer of the gray-haired seniors (I love gray hair and I have some left) to get out of their air-conditioned houses, get in their air-conditioned cars and come into the air-conditioned bank and complain how hot it is outside." So far we have had one; that was last Tuesday when we got to 97 degrees. So far, so good. Stay tuned.

A WAY DOWN SOUTH

Mark Israel, southern Georgia

It is HOT!! Getting really dry in some areas. There have been a few afternoon showers, but they are spotty. Most everyone is through with wheat, and double-crop beans are going in fast where there is enough moisture or irrigation is available. When commodity prices are lower, we always see more wheat and double-crop soybeans; that seems to be the trend while prices are low this year as well.

OUR NORTHEAST CORRESPONDENT

Crawford McFetridge, Finger Lakes area, New York

Welcome to the swamp bowl. There is sitting water on every little hill top if there is a planter track. From last Monday to today (June 15) we had 5.2 inches of rain. Everything from I can't see horizontal to just plain cloud bursts and everything in between. All up and down Seneca Lake (its 40 miles long) we have had floods. On the south end, they flooded last night. One county closed all its roads. Two schools opened 2 hours late. At my place you do not walk anywhere unless there is driveway stone under your feet. Never mind the endless gravitational water flowing downhill because it can't soak in. I was told that one of the big dairies just above me still had 225 acres of corn to plant. Doesn't look good. If the rain stopped right now it would be 2 weeks before you could work ground around here. Maybe a week to cut hay again. I have seen wet years but nothing like this year. The stupid thing right now is with any 2-inch-an-hour rain storm and you can have a very serious flash flood anywhere around here. A lot of floods this year have been in places that have never flooded before now. What a year!!! Started out as coldest on record and may also end up the wettest on record. Got a good start on it. It's been quite a ride so far.

FINALLY, SOUTH DAKOTA

Carl Eliason, near Crooks, South Dakota

Rains have been coming just right in my neighborhood (central Minnehaha County) 2.61 inches of rain so far in June.


If you have the notion, feel free to send me answers to Barry's question up above ("I would like to know how growers see their crop potential today vs. a year ago and the crop condition in their neck of the woods. Are we headed for a better yield than last year or not?") and I will forward him the info and share it on this blog.

Also, if you are a reader but not a participant in reporting why don't you join us? Send me an email at cheri.zagurski@dtn.com.

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