in-crop-weather

State
Indiana Crop Weather

Week Ending Date  
October 2, 2005

Issue
IN-CW4005

                       Agricultural Summary

Once again, rain showers during the week have slowed harvest progress
in several areas of the state, according to the Indiana Field Office
of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. However, combines 
have been running in fields where the soil is dry enough to support 
them. Fall pastures have rebounded with the recent precipitation. 
Other activities included spreading fertilizer, sowing winter wheat, 
finishing the last cutting of hay, and tending to livestock.

                        Field Crops Report

There were 4.6 days suitable for fieldwork. Corn condition is rated 
47 percent good to excellent compared with 83 percent last year at 
this time. Eighty-nine percent of the corn is mature compared with 90 
percent last year and 85 percent for the average. Twenty percent of 
the corn has been harvested compared with 27 percent for last year 
and 21 percent for the average. Moisture content of harvested corn
is averaging about 21 percent. 

Soybean condition is rated 55 percent good to excellent compared with 
78 percent last year. Ninety-five percent of the soybean acreage is
shedding leaves compared with 94 percent last year and 90 percent for
the average. Twenty-two percent of the soybean acreage has been
harvested compared with 52 percent last year and 27 percent for the
average. Moisture content of harvested soybeans is averaging about 13
percent. 

Eleven percent of the winter wheat acreage has been planted compared
with 22 percent last year and 15 percent for the average. Tobacco
harvest is 85 percent complete compared with 92 percent for both last
year and the average.

                Livestock, Pasture and Range Report

Pasture condition is rated 3 percent excellent, 31 percent good, 44
percent fair, 16 percent poor and 6 percent very poor. Livestock are
in mostly good condition. 

                    Crop Progress Table
-----------------------------------------------------
                     : This : Last : Last : 5-Year
     Crop            : Week : Week : Year :  Avg
-----------------------------------------------------
                             Percent
Corn Mature             89     74     90     85
Corn Harvested          20     13     27     21
Soybeans Shedding Lvs   95     86     94     90
Soybeans Mature         78     56     82     71
Soybeans Harvested      22     13     52     27
Tobacco Harvested       85     69     92     92
Winter Wheat Planted    11      6     22     15
Winter Wheat Emerged     1     NA      2      2

               Crop Condition Table
----------------------------------------------------------
                  : Very :      :      :      : Excel-
     Crop         : Poor : Poor : Fair : Good :  lent
---------------------------------------------------------- 
                             Percent
Corn                  5     13     35     39      8
Soybeans              4     10     31     47      8
Pasture               6     16     44     31      3

   Soil Moisture & Days Suitable
        for Fieldwork Table
--------------------------------------
              : This  : Last  : Last :
              : Week  : Week  : Year :
--------------------------------------
                      Percent
Topsoil
  Very Short       2       3      24
  Short           10      16      43
  Adequate        79      67      33
  Surplus          9      14       0
Subsoil
  Very Short      10      12      15
  Short           23      31      34
  Adequate        63      52      51
  Surplus          4       5       0
Days Suitable    4.6     4.7     6.8

Contact information
--Greg Preston, Director
--Andy Higgins, Agricultural Statistician
  E-Mail Address: nass-in@nass.usda.gov
  http://www.nass.usda.gov/in/index.htm            
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Other Agricultural Comments And News

            FALL APPLIED HERBICIDES FOR SOYBEAN, CORN AND WHEAT

*  When to apply fall herbicide treatments for soybean or corn.
*  Treatments that can be used in front of either corn or soybean.
*  Treatments that can be used in front of corn only.
*  Treatments that can be used in front of soybean only.
*  Wheat.

Now is the time to be thinking about fall treatments to control
winter weeds. Although recent dry conditions across much of the state
has limited winter weed emergence, we have observed cresleaf 
groundsel (butterweed), chickweed, and dandelion emergence in several 
fields. It would be advisable to scout fields that won't be tilled 
this fall to determine the level of winter weed infestations and 
determine if fall applied herbicide treatments are needed. 

WHEN TO APPLY FALL HERBICIDE TREATMENTS FOR SOYBEAN OR CORN: 

For control of winter annual weeds and dandelion, apply herbicide
anytime between now and mid-November for best results. The best time
to control winter annuals, biennials and herbaceous perennials such 
as pokeweed is going to be a bit earlier than the optimal timing for
dandelion control. So you may need to make a judgment call on the 
fields that have dense infestations of annuals, biennials, pokeweed 
and dandelion. Dandelions can be effectively controlled with 
applications before a frost, but you will need to increase the rate
of glyphosate to 1.1 to 1.5 lb acid equivalent per acre for optimum 
activity. 

For any fall applied herbicide treatment the herbicide labels are 
very specific about not apply herbicides once the ground has frozen 
or is snow covered to minimize offsite movement. To prolong residual 
activity you should apply residual herbicides when soil temperatures
have declined to 50 degrees F or below at a 2-inch depth. Residual 
activity provided by herbicides applied in the fall can be influenced 
by the weather during the winter months. Warm wet winter months can 
promote microbial activity and increase the breakdown of the 
herbicides in the soil, decreasing residual activity. 

There are several products that are labeled for fall applications.
For a larger list of fall applied herbicides see the 2005 Weed Control 
Guide for Ohio and Indiana <www.btny.purdue.edu/Pubs/WS/WS-16/>. An 
important consideration when choosing a fall applied program is to
understand the strengths and weakness of the herbicide and inquire 
about the "clean field guarantee" offered by selected manufacturers. 
Some manufacturers may offer to respray fields in the spring if weed 
control is less than satisfactory. Unfortunately, we generally do not
have access to this information making it difficult for us to sort 
through the benefits of specific programs. The information below 
highlights the herbicide treatments that have worked effectively 
across a broad range of weed species and environmental conditions 
in Indiana. 

TREATMENTS THAT CAN BE USED IN FRONT OF EITHER CORN OR SOYBEAN: 

Glyphosate + 2,4-D controls most winter annuals, biennials, and also
dandelion. A glyphosate rate of 0.38 to 0.5 lb of glyphosate acid 
should be adequate for most winter annuals, but rate should be 
increased to at least 0.75 lbs acid where dandelion and other 
perennials and biennials are present. Apply with ammonium sulfate. 
2,4-D should be added if you think you have glyphosate-resistant
marestail. A fall applied treatment of glyposate + 2,4-D won't be
effective in suppressing spring emergence of winter annual weeds. 

Valor + 2,4-D and Sencor + 2,4-D will control many winter annual
broadleaf weeds, but not biennial or perennial weeds. Sencor rate of
at least 8 oz/A or a Valor rate of 2-3 oz/A should be used to provide
meaningful residual activity, especially on spring emerging marestail.
If chickweed is present, glyphosate or Express should be added to 
either Sencor or Valor. 

2,4-D alone at 1 to 2 lbs ai/A will control many winter annual weeds,
but not chickweed or grassy species. Add Express at 0.125 oz/A to
control chickweed and provide some additional activity on dandelion
seedlings. Add glyphosate to control grassy species and improve 
control of large dandelion. 

TREATMENTS THAT CAN BE USED IN FRONT OF CORN ONLY: 

Simazine (1 lb ai/A) + 2,4-D controls most winter annual weeds, but
is less effective on dandelion and grassy weeds than Basis + 2,4-D or
glyphosate + 2,4-D. Simazine does not provide much residual control 
of summer annual weeds the following spring, so expect to use a 
typical herbicide program in next year's corn. 

Basis + 2,4-D will control most winter annual weeds and dandelion,
and has more activity on grassy species than simazine + 2,4-D. Basis
does not provide much residual control of summer annual weeds, so 
expect to use a typical herbicide program in next year's corn. 

TREATMENTS THAT CAN BE USED IN FRONT OF SOYBEAN ONLY: 

Canopy EX + 2,4-D and CanopyXL + Express + 2,4-D will control most
winter annual weeds and dandelion and provide residual activity into 
the spring. The minimum rate of Canopy EX should be 1.1 oz/A. Canopy 
EX is formulated with Express, but you should add 2,4-D for improved 
foliar activity on broadleaf weeds or add glyphosate if you have 
winter annual grasses or volunteer wheat. Rates of CanopyXL range 
from 2.5 to 4.5 oz/A based on soil type. The 2.5 oz rate is adequate 
for control of emerged weeds in the fall, but higher rates can 
extend the length of weed control the following spring. Do not use
more than 2.5 oz where soil pH is greater than 6.8. 

Other products that we have evaluated in our research program and are
labeled for fall applications to fields going into soybean include
Gangster, Python, Scepter, and Synchrony XP. Gangster is a premix of 
Valor and FirstRate and would be a good choice for fields that have 
dense marestail infestations that emerge both in the fall and in the
spring. Python and Synchrony XP would also provide some actitivity on
marestail. Scepter would provide some residual activity on spring 
emerging summer annual weeds. Use of 2,4-D or glyphosate with all of
these products is recommended to maximize foliar activity. If 
chickweed is present, glyphosate or Express will be needed to provide
effective control of this weed. 

WHEAT. 

Wheat planting will commence soon and many growers are utilizing 
no-till practices for wheat production. Although winter weed pressure
at this time appears to be relatively light, it would be prudent to
consider a fall treatment to control the seedlings that are present 
and reduce dandelion infestations. Dandelion control in wheat is 
becoming a more important issue and if it is not managed before wheat
is planted we are left with fewer options after it is planted. Most 
2,4-D product labels DO NOT support fall applications either before 
or after wheat is planted because of crop injury and yield loss 
concerns. Fall applied glyphosate, before wheat is planted, should be
just as effective at controlling winter annuals and dandelion and 
would be the recommended tactic for control of weeds prior to 
planting. Other fall treatments that can be used in emerged wheat 
will be discussed in a subsequent article. This article contains a 
photo, which can be viewed at: http://128.210.99.160/entomology/ext/
targets/p&c/p&c2005/p&c25_2005.pdf, page 4. 

Bill Johnson and Glenn Nice, Department of Botany and Plant 
Pathology, Purdue University. 

The INDIANA CROP & WEATHER REPORT (USPS 675-770), (ISSN 0442-817X) is
issued weekly April through November by the USDA, NASS, Indiana Field
Office, 1435 Win Hentschel Blvd,  Suite B105, West Lafayette IN 
47906-4145. Second Class postage paid at Lafayette IN. For 
information on subscribing, send request to above address. POSTMASTER:
Send address change to the USDA, NASS, Indiana Field Office, 1435 Win
Hentschel Blvd, Suite B105, West Lafayette IN 47906-4145. 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

             Weather Information Table

       Week ending Sunday October 2, 2005
-----------------------------------------------------
                | Past Week Weather Summary Data   
                |---------------------------------
 Station        |      Air      |            | Avg  
                |  Temperature  |  Precip.   |4 in.  
                |---------------|------------|Soil 
                |Hi |Lo |Avg|DFN| Total|Days |Temp 
----------------------------------------------------- 
Northwest (1)                                    
Chalmers_5W      82  37   61  +0   2.20    2     
Valparaiso_AP_I  79  39   61  +1   0.99    2     
Wanatah          81  36   60  +2   1.06    3   66
Wheatfield       79  40   61  +2   1.72    3     
Winamac          79  40   60  +2   2.33    2   62
North Central(2)                                 
Plymouth         79  39   60  +0   2.07    2     
South_Bend       77  39   61  +3   1.22    3     
Young_America    81  39   62  +2   2.50    2     
Northeast (3)                                    
Columbia_City    78  36   60  +3   1.83    2   61
Fort_Wayne       79  37   62  +2   2.16    2     
West Central(4)                                  
Greencastle      77  37   60  -3   2.61    2     
Perrysville      82  38   63  +3   1.58    3   64
Spencer_Ag       80  40   63  +3   2.34    2     
Terre_Haute_AFB  78  38   63  +1   2.22    2     
W_Lafayette_6NW  81  37   62  +2   2.34    2   68
Central (5)                                      
Eagle_Creek_AP   76  41   62  +1   2.63    3     
Greenfield       78  40   62  +1   1.94    2     
Indianapolis_AP  77  46   64  +3   2.19    2     
Indianapolis_SE  77  41   61  -1   2.23    3     
Tipton_Ag        78  39   60  +1   2.76    2   67
East Central(6)                                  
Farmland         80  38   61  +2   1.95    2   61
New_Castle       81  39   62  +3   1.78    3     
Southwest (7)                                    
Evansville       83  43   67  +3   1.16    2     
Freelandville    80  45   63  +2   2.11    2     
Shoals           81  42   64  +2   1.50    2     
Stendal          82  45   65  +3   1.10    2     
Vincennes_5NE    85  43   64  +3   1.54    2   69
South Central(8)                                 
Leavenworth      82  42   64  +2   1.32    2     
Oolitic          79  40   63  +2   1.68    2   68
Tell_City        85  46   66  +3   1.34    2     
Southeast (9)                                    
Brookville       82  41   64  +5   1.42    2     
Milan_5NE        80  41   63  +3   1.31    3     
Scottsburg       82  39   64  +2   1.04    2     
----------------------------------------------------

      Weather Information Table (Continued)

      Week ending Sunday October 2, 2005
------------------------------------------------
                        Accumulation           
                --------------------------------
                      April 1, 2005 thru       
 Station               October 2, 2005       
                 --------------------------------
                  Precipitation   |GDD Base 50oF
                 --------------------------------
                       |     |    |     |
                 Total | DFN |Days|Total| DFN   
-------------------------------------------------
Northwest (1)   |
Chalmers_5W     |20.22  -2.08  57  3377  +326
Valparaiso_AP_I |15.63  -8.66  51  3186  +400
Wanatah         |16.76  -6.69  64  3057  +399
Wheatfield      |23.38  +0.66 106  3226  +510
Winamac         |20.88  -1.70  64  3247  +449
North Central(2)|
Plymouth        |17.77  -5.36  61  3142  +198
South_Bend      |12.95  -9.53  60  3280  +521
Young_America   |23.18  +1.29  57  3250  +355
Northeast (3)   |
Columbia_City   |18.48  -3.48  62  3066  +433
Fort_Wayne      |17.20  -2.86  61  3241  +347
West Central(4) | 
Greencastle     |29.60  +4.25  55  3239   -28
Perrysville     |20.89  -2.86  60  3510  +472
Spencer_Ag      |29.48  +4.07  63  3334  +271
Terre_Haute_AFB |21.81  -2.14  57  3568  +326
W_Lafayette_6NW |16.83  -5.46  61  3327  +446
Central (5)     |
Eagle_Creek_AP  |22.35  +0.00  62  3594  +381
Greenfield      |31.62  +7.21  73  3334  +242
Indianapolis_AP |22.64  +0.29  60  3649  +436
Indianapolis_SE |24.70  +1.92  62  3351  +143
Tipton_Ag       |24.53  +1.82  63  3094  +302
East Central(6) |
Farmland        |23.58  +1.51  60  3116  +390
New_Castle      |26.00  +2.65  56  3008  +214
Southwest (7)   |
Evansville      |22.34  -0.22  55  3971  +246
Freelandville   |25.36  +1.85  59  3704  +354
Shoals          |25.76  +0.41  70  3704  +455
Stendal         |24.97  -0.26  55  3944  +434
Vincennes_5NE   |28.77  +5.26  62  3861  +511
South Central(8)| 
Leavenworth     |24.92  -0.65  59  3761  +535
Oolitic         |24.83  +0.58  62  3439  +338
Tell_City       |24.54  -1.29  47  4112  +510
Southeast (9)   |
Brookville      |23.15  -0.35  58  3522  +577
Milan_5NE       |26.09  +2.59  89  3439  +494
Scottsburg      |25.00  +0.81  67  3624  +287 
------------------------------------------------------------------
DFN = Departure From Normal (Using 1961-90 Normals Period).
GDD = Growing Degree Days.
Precipitation (Rainfall or melted snow/ice) in inches.
Precipitation Days = Days with precip of .01 inch or more.
Air Temperatures in Degrees Fahrenheit.

Copyright 2005:  Agricultural Weather Information Service, Inc.
                 All rights reserved.

       The above weather information is provided by AWIS, Inc.
For detailed ag weather forecasts and data visit the AWIS home page
                        at: www.awis.com