Editors' Notebook

OMAHA (DTN) -- With USDA's June acreage report due next Tuesday, there has been a lot of talk in the newsroom about prevented planting, drowned-out acres, fertilizer deficiencies and what the report will or won't show us June 30.

The numbers in the acreage report are derived from survey information gathered mostly in the first two weeks of June. That data is massaged by government analysts, or as USDA puts it on the NASS website "National, regional, state, and grower reported data were reviewed for reasonableness and consistency with historical estimates. Each regional office submits their analysis of the current situation to the Agricultural Statistics Board (ASB). Survey data are compiled to the national level and are reviewed at this level independently of each state's review. Acreage estimates were based on survey data and the historical relationship of official estimates to survey data."

With the surveying taking place the first part of June, this year's numbers were gathered before the brunt of Tropical Storm/Depression Bill's precipitation hit the Corn Belt and Southeast U.S. Any acreage loss due to Bill's weeping won't be acknowledged in this June report. If any of the estimators were a little optimistic, figuring they were going to knock out x-number of acres soon, Bill may have altered their plans.

In northern Illinois, reader Keith Landis said his area could use some dry weather. "Storm came through around 7 p.m. (Monday) dumping 2 inches of rain in a short period of time, along with 1/2 inch in the morning, flooding roads and fields," he wrote DTN. "We had just finished the milking when it hit.

"High winds left the corn (some is waist high) whipped and bent. Small grain fields looked good. Beans are short enough to not be affected by rain or hail at this point but could use some dry weather.

"Roof and outer wall ripped off a mall store in town, power out around town and trees down. Glad we made hay, cut and wrapped it right before this rain.

Keith had this advice for producers: "Check your ravine fences in the pastures after a heavy rain! This is the second heavy rain (3 inches) in a week's time, which resulted in field and road flooding. One of the neighbors had 30 some head of yearling heifers running around the countryside after flood waters took out a fence in the ravine. They were rounded up and put in with our heifers until morning at which time they were sorted and hauled back to their pasture."

In western Ohio, Jan Layman said it's "not very pretty right now," and he thinks the market needs to realize a wide area is suffering under the deluge. "Where we are (Kenton) over 8 inches from June 12 to June 19. North a few miles, up to 12 inches; extreme flooding, ponding, and de-nitrification. Some of the best crops in several years now destroyed or going backwards very badly. Know of one farmer in the area in real flat ground who thinks he lost 1,000 acres. Worked one day since June 1. Still have nitrogen to apply and nearly all of our post spraying yet to do. We lost a 100,000 bin to a freak wind gust on the afternoon of June 12. Insurance company declared it a total loss; being completely replaced. Sorry to be so negative."

Jan had no need to apologize. It's hard to not be negative when your feet are wet. In southwest Indiana, Scott Wallis said conditions went from near perfect to perfectly soaked.

"Bill has struck southwest Indiana with vengeance," he wrote. "This area has received from 5 to 10 inches in the last four to five days. Our near perfect crop has taken a big hit. Was talking to a seed rep who covers five counties; he thinks 30,000 acres will be lost to flooding in his area alone. His area consists of 500,000 acres. All the crops need a break from the wet weather, especially the wheat as it is ready for harvest."

Too much moisture is also a common element in the Finger Lake area of New York, reports Crawford McFetridge. "After 7 inches of rain in the last two weeks, things had dried up enough to hold up a tractor so they were going for it. ... Today is Tuesday morning and we are getting rain.

"Sorry to say the boys can take their toys back to the shop. It looks like a two- or three-day delay if we get the afternoon rain that the weather nuts are calling for. It may be game over for this year.

"As for the crops, it all looks bad. There are a few fields that look good, but they have sad spots too. You know things are bad when corn, soybeans and cabbage show you the working tile lines. I should also say that alfalfa in some fields is showing where the tile lines are.

"The gravitational water is gone. It may be back today but got to wait and see. There isn't a corn field around here that doesn't need a big shot of N. ... I hope you guys out there got planted hedgerow to hedgerow, because around here there are a lot of fields just growing weeds."

West of Crawford but still in the northern tier of the U.S., Barry Mumby reports that crops are a mixed bag in Michigan, "but all are too wet. Early planted corn looks the best, but all the soys are very ragged with weeds unable to be sprayed and yellow plants very common in all fields.

"My son traveled to Pennsylvania along I-80 Friday and said no beans look good or later planted corn either, for that matter. I don't see trendline yields from Michigan, Indiana or Ohio."

Still, it all depends upon where you are. Jason Willemarck of Baraboo, Wisconsin, said things look pretty good where he is, but big rains went south and north of his town.

"We just missed on Monday a large storm system. It went south and north of the Wisconsin Dells and Baraboo areas. Just 20 miles one way or the other many people suffered damage from high winds to hail of about 1 to 1.5 inches. Heavy rains also were part of the systems so field are flooded and washed out.

"Well the corn and soybeans in our area are doing well, those that don't have too much water that is. Most of the first crop hay has been taken already and some are starting second crop already. Good moisture and cool nights have helped the hay crops around here. The corn in some areas is short but that is due to planting times. Some fields had been planted weeks apart and you can really see the difference. Now, as fall comes, we will see if Mother Nature can bring that into unison. Growing degree days really matter at harvest time. Knee high before the Fourth of July? Some areas will be shoulder high and others just about knee high. Again depends upon when a person was able to get into the fields.

"So far this year the bug issues have been light but need to be watched. As the humid weather continues, cutworm, aphids and ear worms are going to begin to flourish."

Around Watertown, Wisconsin, Justin Premo said the crops look pretty good. "We have been in a rainy pattern, not huge rains unless you get under one of the streaks around here that have seen four to six inches in the last couple weeks, but mostly two to three in the last couple weeks. But just enough that making dry hay is a challenge when you only have a two- or three-day dry window. In between, though, we have managed to make some mostly un-rained-on dry first crop and grass big squares, as well as finally finished planting soybeans in the fields that are borderline dry enough to plant (and replant some beans that the custom spray operator couldn't tell the difference between corn and beans). With any luck the severe storms that rolled through and flattened some buildings, grain bins and fields in southern Wisconsin this morning will miss out on round two they were talking about for later today."

Maybe Minnesota is the garden spot this year. Well, the drier garden spot. Mark Nowak who farms near Wells in the south-central part of the state said corn in the area is doing well, but soybeans need some sun.

"We have had 1.25 inches on Saturday morning and the same amount again this morning (Monday) with a monster thunderstorm from 4:30 to 7:30. The old adage of rain before seven, quit by 11 has worked both days. It is now 84, sunny and humid. Same last Saturday.

"This brings June rain total to 4.30 inches; only slightly above normal. This morning's rain left some small shallow ponding. The first of the season.

"Ninety percent of the corn around here I would rate good to excellent. Hip high and a nice, dark green color. The soybeans could use some drier and sunny days as there is more yellowing in fields than we would like to see at this stage. Based upon corn leaf count and looking at the 15-day weather outlook, I am projecting first tassel around July 7 and full blossom by July 15, which would put us right on schedule."

If you would like to join our email group of reader/reporters, send me a note at cheri.zagurski@dtn.com.

(CZ/BAS)

(BAS)

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