Do as I Say not as I Do ... Challenges with Planting

Chad Lee, Grain Crops Extension Agronomist, University of Kentucky

Often this spring, I have warned farmers not to plant one day too early to avoid "mudding in" the corn or soybeans. When we plant just one day too soon, we increase the chances of getting sidewall compaction and run a higher risk of keeping the roots bound within the furrow. Roots trapped in the furrow can lead to some real problems later in the growing season. However, yesterday, I disregarded all of that caution and mudded in soybeans.

Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) Program for 2011

Cory Walters and Greg Halich, Extension Ag Economists, University of Kentucky

The deadline to enroll in the ACRE program for the 2011/2012 marketing year is June 1. We are about to complete the second year with the ACRE program in Kentucky. ACRE payments were made for the 2009 wheat crop of about $95 per acre. The wheat payment was driven by lower state yields and a lower national average price. No other crops received an ACRE payment in 2009. For 2010 it is unlikely that ACRE payments will be paid for corn, soybeans, and wheat, due to the fact that prices have increased substantially for all three crops. However, with the current volatility in the market, unknown state yields, there exists a chance that ACRE payments could be made in 2011. The purpose of this article is to show expected price guarantees, where prices need to drop to trigger a payment, relationship between ACRE and the Counter-Cyclical program and probability of payments given current prices and unknown yields for the 2011/2012 marketing year.

Check Corn Planting Depth

Chad Lee, Grain Crops Extension, University of Kentucky

As producers rush to get corn planted, please remember to take time and check planter depth from field to field. The variability in soil moisture and soil type can affect the depth that seed is placed. Ideally, most corn seed should be planted around 1.5 inches deep. Corn seed depth should not exceed 2 inches and should not be less than 1 inch. Deeper plantings will delay emergence while shallow plantings may cause lodging problems later.

Everyone is under pressure to get as much corn in the soil as quickly as possible. However, taking just a few minutes to double-check seeding depth could alleviate a lot of problems later. 

Wheat Field Day, Today

The Wheat Science Field Day is today at the University of Kentucky Research and Education Center in Princeton, Kentucky. Scientists will discuss the latest research efforts on wheat management in Kentucky. For more information, go to: http://www.ca.uky.edu/news/?c=n&d=838

Relative Efficacy of Single and Stacked Corn Traits Against Insect Pests in Kentucky

Ric Bessin, Extension Entomology, University of Kentucky
Latest update: May 2011

Corn Types	Insect toxins		Dual modes of Action	ECB	SWCB	BCW	CEW	FAW	WCRW	Min. Refuge Requirement
YieldGard CB	Cry1Ab			++++	++++		++	++		20% block
Herculex 1	Cry1F			++++	++++	++	+	+++		20% block
Agrisure CB	Cry1Ab			++++	++++		++	++		20% block
YieldGard RW	Cry3Bb1								++	20% block
Herculex RW	Cry34Ab1, Cry35Ab1								++	20% block
Agrisure RW	mCry3A								++	20% block
YieldGard Plus	Cry1Ab, Cry3Bb1			++++	++++		++	++	++	20% block
Herculex Xtra	Cry1F, Cry34Ab1, Cry35Ab1			++++	++++	++	+	+++	++	20% block
Agrisure 3000GT	Cry1Ab, mCry3A			++++	++++		++	++	++	20% block
YieldGard VT3	Cry1Ab, Cry3Bb1			++++	++++		++	++	+++	20% block
YieldGard VT2 Pro	Cry1A.105, Cry2Ab2		yes	++++	++++	++	+++	++++		5% block
YieldGard VT3 Pro	Cry1A.105, Cry2Ab2, Cry3Bb1			++++	++++	++	+++	++++	+++	20% block
SmartStax	Cry1A.105, Cry2Ab2, Cry3Bb1, Cry1F, Cry34Ab1, Cry35Ab1		yes	++++	++++	+++	+++	++++	+++	5% block
Optimum Intrasect	Cry1Ab, Cry1F		yes	++++	++++	++				5% block
Agrisure Viptera 3110	Vip3Aa, Cry1Ab			++++	++++	+++	++++	++++		20% block
Agrisure Viptera 3111	Vip3Aa, Cry1Ab, mCry3A			++++	++++	+++	++++	++++	++	20% block
AcreMax 1	90% Cry1F, Cry34Ab1, Cry35Ab1 + 10% Cry1F			++++	++++	++	+	+++	++	RIB + 20% block
AcreMax RW	90% Cry34Ab1, Cry35Ab1								++	RIB
SmartStax Refuge Advanced/Complete	Cry1A.105, Cry2Ab2, Cry3Bb1, Cry1F, Cry34Ab1, Cry35Ab1 + 5% refuge seed		yes	++++	++++	+++	+++	++++	+++	RIB

ECB = European corn borer
SWCB = Southwestern corn borer
BCW = Black cutworm
CEW = Corn earworm
FAW = Fall armyworm
WCRW = Western corn rootworm


‘ + ‘ = Poor to fair control
‘++’ = Good control
‘+++’ = Very good control
‘++++’ = Excellent control
May 2011

Profitability Analysis of Late Planted Corn Compared to Soybeans

Greg Halich, Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Kentucky

May 2, 2011

Background:
Although new-crop corn and soybean prices are near record highs, planting conditions remain terrible throughout Kentucky as of early May 2011.  It is estimated that only around 5% of the corn crop has been planted.  Grain farmers throughout the state are now worrying whether they will get their crops out in a timely manner this year.  An associated question being asked is at what point should they stop planting corn and switch to soybeans?  In order to answer this question, we need to estimate potential yield losses for late planted corn and compare the associated profitability against soybeans.

Wet Conditions Create Weed Management Challenges in Corn

 Jim Martin and J.D. Green, Extension Weed Specialists, University of Kentucky, April 27, 2011

The prolonged wet conditions this spring have created additional challenges in regards to weed control. The following are possible scenarios that corn farmers may encounter and factors to consider as we progress through the next several days.