Rained Out

We got the big rain we didnt want starting on Monday and more since then. We still have 450 acres of corn left and hopefully it will not be too long before we can get to it. Deep tillage has been 50 percent done and may not get completed for the year. Check out the new pictures on the site and the new page coming soon.

Cropwatcher 11/13/09

Todd Easton Coles County November 13 2009: Just concluded another late night out in the field. One of several in the past week which is a good sign that progress is being made. Standing soybeans have been nowhere to be found for the last week as producers are almost completely engaged in harvesting the corn crop. Moistures are running in the 18 to 20 percent range still making the elevator lines long and slow but not as bad as they have been. Tillage tools have been out in large numbers now that soil conditions have improved. Judging from the basketball sized clods rippers are leaving behind them this last year did a lot of damage to the soil structure. After a whole year of weather related complications the last couple of weeks have been a blessing. Hopefully the forecasted rains won’t amount to much and we can get the bulk of this harvest finished before the end of the month.

Crop Watcher 11/06/09

Todd Easton Coles County November 6 2009: Overtime, It comes as no surprise to me that Farmweek has asked us to continue reporting for a few extra weeks its just one of many signs that this harvest has gone well into overtime. The good news that finally at this late point in the fall field operations are in full swing. Looking across the countryside this week it looks like every piece of fall season farm equipment in the county is out working as farmers and fertilizer suppliers are trying to get a long list of work done in a very short time. Soybean harvest appears to be in the last ten percent as many producers have worked down to their ponds and latest plantings. Soybeans seemed to have a very well defined trend of later planting being lower yielding. I couldn’t even venture a guess of what the final county bean average will be but I’m afraid it will be somewhat lower than our five year average. Corn on the other hand is doing surprisingly well as most fields I have been in so far are at or above average with the last two topping the 200 bushel mark even after shrink. As we get farther in it will be interesting to see what the June planted corn does hopefully it won’t show a significant lag like the beans but it might. As harvest moves along stay safe out there.

Crop Watcher 10/30/09

Todd Easton Coles County October 30 2009: The calendar has turned again this time its saying November but looking across the countryside it is hard to believe. I never thought I would ever see so many crops still out after Halloween and I hope it is a once in a lifetime experience. Progress has been stop and go once again this week. Corn harvesters started back up over the weekend stopped again on Tuesday by rain resuming work on Wednesday and Thursday until once again more rain fell in the area that will probably keep us shut down through the weekend. Corn moisture has been showing a small improvement as many fields are being found in the lower 20’s but elevators are still having to limit wet corn deliveries on a regular basis as dryers are pushed to the limit. The remaining Soybean crop remained mostly untouched through the week as precipitation came at the wrong times. Among all the limited delivery notices from elevators there are many pictures in the e-mail of grain dryer fires at both commercial elevators and on farms. Make sure you closely monitor your dryers and clean them out on a regular basis!

Crop Watcher 10/23/09

Todd Easton Coles County October 23 2009: As Baseball legend Yogi Berra used to say “its deja vu all over again” this week as rain showers came into the area Thursday stopping harvest progress until at least this weekend. Producers started harvesting corn fields over the last weekend. Then on Monday most switched to beans and took out a very large part of that crop ahead of the rain. Soybeans were finally coming in at acceptable moisture levels this weekend with yields all over the board. If we could just get a handful of good days farmers could wrap up the bean harvest and hopefully those will come soon. Corn harvest has been on and off again all season yielding to the bean harvest when ever that has been possible. Corn moistures were still in the 20 to 25 percent range this week forcing elevators to curtail wet corn deliveries at times to catch up on drying already. I’m afraid this will be an on going inconvenience throughout corn harvesting as combine capacity has well out grown drying capacity over the last few years.

Crop Watcher 10/16/09

Todd Easton Coles County October 16 2009: A couple more mistimed rain showers came into the area this week slowing harvest progress once again. We received over an inch in most areas on top of already muddy fields making a bad situation worse. Soybean harvesting has progressed to over a third done in most parts of the county with yields still in the 50’s and 60’s for the most part. Corn harvest has been curtailed by most everyone concentrating on soybean harvest but should pick up over the weekend with beans being too wet to cut for a few days. I finally took the end rows off of some of my Memorial Day weekend planted corn Thursday afternoon and the moisture was a little higher than I was hoping at 26% but that may be what we harvest a lot of the corn at the way this year is going. Yield on the end rows was 192 bushels dry which surprised me after seeing so much compaction damage about everywhere the planter turned around. For those of you who have not been out in the corn yet brace yourselves the compaction damage in the end rows is pretty ugly in places.

Todd Easton Coles County October 9 2009: This harvest is starting out exactly how we did not want it to. Rain showers have been making the bean cutting stop and go for producers and raising worries on how this fall will unfold. Yield reports for beans are coming in at around 50 bushels in the southern part of the county to 60 or above toward the northern part. No fresh news on corn yields as almost everyone is still waiting on the crop to dry out enough to harvest and have been concentrating on bean harvest so far. The Thursday rain storms have almost given us 2” so far which will probably stop any progress until next week.

Crop Watcher 10/02/09

Todd Easton Coles County October 2 2009: The waiting game lingers on here in Coles County as corn and soybean crops seem to be approaching harvestability very slowly. Farmers quickly ran out of April planted corn to harvest if they even had any and still found it to be over 20 percent moisture over the last week in September. Abnormally high amounts of damage (10%-20%) from disease made for an ugly surprise for most producers who had the early corn. May planted corn is far from ready for harvest as I could not help but try some of my May 11 corn and found it to be a very wet 34% and the later May early June fields look much worse. As for the soybeans ripe fields seem to be few and far apart so far farmers are cutting them as fast as they become ready. Yields for the beans are so far in the 50’s and 60’s much better than many were thinking they would be but I will be surprised if the later beans can sustain these levels. Until next week all we can do is have patience and clear our November calendars.

Cropwatcher 09-25-09

Todd Easton Coles County September 25 2009: Harvest in Coles County has finally started this week. A handful of combines have been in selected areas harvesting the April planted corn and earliest soybeans. A survey of several producers has pinned the early corn harvested in a range spanning ten bushel above or below the 200 bushel mark and the moisture has been between 20 to 25 percent. The rest of the corn should achieve harvestable maturity this week will need at least another week to reach more desirable harvest moistures. The majority of the soybeans are starting to shed leaves and should be ready in a week or two. As we get this harvest started be careful on the roads as traffic gets reacquainted to combines and implements on the roads.

Cropwatcher 09/18/09

Todd Easton Coles County September 18 2009: Crops here in Coles County are steadily coming to maturity aided by the recent heat and lack of rain fall. Our growing degree days for late may planted corn are approaching 2500 units which puts the majority of the area corn crop at physiological maturity in less than two weeks. Soybeans are turning rapidly because the hot and dry conditions. We have yet to get the late rain I was hoping the beans would get but there is a chance for some this weekend but it may be too late to do very much good. By this time next week I’m sure there will be a scarce combine or two running with many more following the next week. I can hardly wait for the combine monitors and truck scales to tell us how our crops dealt with such a uniquely challenging year and what we can learn from it.

Cropwatcher 09-11-09

First things first TO ALL THE VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES OF SEPTEMBER 11 2001 WE HAVE NOT AND WILL NOT EVER FORGET WHAT HAPPENED THAT FATEFUL DAY GOD BLESS AMERICA !

Here is a picture of the south place from the north place wish the corn was more even compaction really got us this spring.

Todd Easton Coles County September 11 2009: Finally some warmth this week bringing us another 150 growing degree days putting the total 2350 for late May planted corn but we are still 150 units behind normal. The few acres of late April planted corn looks like it could be harvested but I’m sure those growers will let some natural drying occur before they start picking. The rest of our corn is showing quite a bit of visual improvement but is still more than two weeks from physiological maturity. The early third of area soybeans are finally starting to turn yellow which should mean a couple more weeks before cutting begins while the later beans are still very green and really need an extended growing season. All but the earliest beans could use a rain very soon to ensure good pod fill but nothing seems to be in the forecast so we are hoping for a surprise.

Cropwatcher 08-28-09 Bring on the heat

Todd Easton Coles County August 28 2009: Another week past and how many left to go? With the Markets in their usual late August doldrums it seems all the local talk has shifted to when will the corn be dry or at least dry enough to harvest. After a really good reader suggestion to mention our growing degree day situation and a bit of researching I estimate the majority of the late May planted corn in our county has accumulated just under 2100 heat units and if it was an average 110 hybrid it will need an additional 600 units to mature. Based on average weather patterns that should mean about a month to go before it reaches physiological maturity and if you want to take it to the elevator dry it will be even longer. Soybeans on the other hand base themselves on day length and very well could be out of the fields by the time the corn is even ready. While that would be good for our harvest schedule I hope it also does not bring too much of a yield penalty due to the late planting season but we may be already seeing that with some producers saying pod counts are down 15 percent from last year. Until next week keep up the heat but don’t forget the rain.

Cropwatcher 08-21-09

Todd Easton Coles County August 21 2009: Well we got the rain I said we needed last week in most areas with accumulation ranging from just over a tenth to just under an inch and from what I have seen it will do the corn some good and the beans a lot of good. Our Coles County Extension Office hosted a county wide corn yield check and asked me to participate in one of the groups. I’m very grateful that they did as I enjoyed getting to see what was going on through out the area. First of all the final county wide estimate came out to be 154.5 bushel per acre which was disappointing to most all who participated. We all saw quite a bit of tip back that seems to have occurred in the last week and a few pollination issues. Another observation I would make personally is that the producers who pushed their populations to the high side will be rewarded for doing so when the combines roll. As for the soybeans they really appreciated the rain and are doing well for now but have a very long way to go and really need things to go right.

Cropwatcher 08-14-09

Todd Easton Coles County August 14 2009: Another hot week here in Coles County as with the rest of the state. There was also no sign of moisture through the week as well which has caused field surfaces to get hard and cracked. Corn seems to be enjoying the heat and sunlight it is receiving and drawing on moisture reserves as it continues with ear production. The Soybeans are blooming and setting pods but have a long way to go for big yields. Rain as usual will be the crucial factor for both crops and will hopefully come before too long other wise we will see a lot of ears with unfinished tips and beans with less pods than we would like. Until next week cross your fingers for some rain or better yet say a quick prayer.

Cropwatcher 08-07-09 ACRE - Good Luck

Some Impressive ears found on the Martin Farm

Todd Easton Coles County August 7 2009: Summer heat and humidity seems to have finally shown up here in Coles County. I have spent most of the week in and out of several fields in spite of the heat to see how the crop is getting along and have been surprised at how much potential we actually have so far. The majority of the corn is in the R-2 to R-3 stage I have not seen any pollination problems and population and kernel counts are very good. Soybeans so far look good also and range from beginning bloom (R-1) to beginning pod (R-2) stages and are almost canopied in even the 30” rows. So right now we have potential we will need rain and warm temperatures through much of September to hold on to it. Grandpa wanted me to mention our rainfall total here so far has been a whopping 34.2”and we have received 5” of rain since July 1 and hopefully will get close to that in August. With one week to go I am still trying to figure out this ACRE program and I wish luck to anyone else who is trying to do the same.

Cropwatcher 7-31-09 Salesman Season

Todd Easton Coles County July 31 2009: Hard to believe it is the end of July already the really late planting season seems to have thrown me off on where the calendar should be. Salesman season seems to have started I have already had a few come by fortunately their pricing this year seems to be more realistic of course no seed prices yet but I hope those numbers won’t be too shocking. We received light showers the last weekend that brought .5 to a full inch in places. Currently we are getting well timed rains and hopefully that continues through August. Our latest corn fields are getting a good start on pollination while the rest of them are done pollinating in all but the low spots that I’m afraid will be disappointing when the combines roll through. Soybean fields have had some good growth in just this last week most in the R2 stage and hopefully will continue this and come closer to where they should be this time of year. Until next week watch out for the salesmen.

Almost Fair Time ! - Cropwatcher 7-24

Things are really starting to come out and grow on the farm. Fieldwork is almost done just a little more spraying to do. Here is a Pic from Corn College an awesome event once again I learned alot. See you at the Fair !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Todd Easton Coles County July 24 2009: Crops are working hard to catch up with where they would like to be at this time of the year. And, despite the abnormally cool weather, they seem to be making progress. The majority of the corn that was planted in late May is at, or rapidly approaching, the pollination stage. The yellow planes have been flying over us on their way to apply preventative fungicide. Many of us still are not sure how much of that we will do. It will be interesting to see if what does get applied ends up helping the corn yields. Soybeans are in all ranges of maturity with the most mature I have seen approaching the beginning bloom stage. Keeping the weeds out of the beans is a real chore this year. The sprayers will be working hard for awhile longer. This week brings our county fair, which almost always brings rain, and that would be good for both crops. Drought stress is the last thing this crop needs after all it has been through.

Cropwatcher 7-10-09 Scout and Wait

Bill and longtime friend Chester Higganbotham discussing the worlds biggest tractor at penfield

WOW what a machine

Todd Easton Coles County July 10 2009: We are finally in the scout and wait stage here in Coles County with possibly one more sprayer trip over the Beans being the last thing on the list of fieldwork to do. Even most of the latest planted corn made the old knee high by Fourth of July benchmark which I have always said needs to be changed to head high by the fourth if you’re talking high yielding corn nowadays. It also not surprising for this year that it did rain on our parades on the fourth with reports averaging 2” for the week that this shallow rooted crop actually did need with exception to the low spots many of which may just have to be bare dirt for the remainder of the season. Corn is ranging from V8 to pollination for the late April plantings. A very few fungicide applications have already been made and many growers are scratching their heads over weather to apply expensive fungicide in light of the recent negative market action. Soybeans are starting to look better all the time ranging from V2 to R1 stages with spray applicators running hard to shut down the very aggressive weed outbreaks out in those fields. Until next week keep cool and be sure to take time out with the family for the exciting Fairs and Farm Shows going on all around.

CropWatcher 7/3/2009

by this weekend we should have everything except scouting done about time (may need to spray beans again in July)


Todd Easton Coles County July 3 2009: I think I can safely say planting for 2009 is almost wrapped up. After a long wait for the wettest fields to dry out work resumed over the past week as planters, sprayers, and side dress applicators started catching up. The corn crop is looking good in the high ground and poor in the low spots. Maturity is extremely varied with fields ranging form V5 to V 15 and it is an odd sight when these fields are next to each other. Soybeans are ranging from V2 to just been planted in the wet fields and ponds the bean planters finished just in time to start planting double crop beans that will probably be in ahead of the forecasted weekend rain. Wheat harvest is also about wrapped up yields reported so far are in the 60 to 70 bushel range a bit better than I expected. Hope everyone enjoys the holiday weekend and also finally being able to breathe a sigh of relief after this exceptionally stressful planting season.

Cropwatcher 6-19-09 the deluge continues

I think this crop is being waterboarded.

Todd Easton Coles County June 19 2009: It just keeps coming rain rain and more rain. We have accumulated 2” between Tuesday and Thursday Rains here in central Coles County . Herbicide and Fertilizer Applicators have been sitting on the side lines as their window of opportunity gets narrower each day. This last front was pretty fierce and did a good job of laying down a lot of our shallow rooted corn crop. Similar to last year the low spots are looking sick yellow and stressed the main difference is these spots are much bigger this year. Soybeans are still not all planted but what has been is coming out of the ground everywhere but in the drowned out spots and is looking to have a good initial stand. Rain makes grain seems to be stuck in the mindset of the CBOT but nobody is accounting for the fact that like you and I a good drink of water for the corn in the summer is beneficial but drowning is not.

Cropwatcher 6-12-09

Todd Easton Coles County June 12 2009: Water logged is still the theme in our area. Virtually all Corn planting was wrapped up a week ago and since then many producers have nearly finished their soybean planting with the exception of wetter areas in the east and south parts of the county. Unfortunately this deluge from above is causing a lot of damage to this poor crop and so far preventing side dress application where it is needed. Corn that is fortunate enough to be at a higher elevation looks to be green and growing thus far and ranges from V1 to V7. The area soybean crop is around 25% emerged and will likely need spot in replanting that usually leads to obstacle course bean cutting that we all enjoy in the fall of a wet year. Wheat in the area is looking good considering the spring it has faced and is starting to turn color. Until next week keep dry.

Cropwatcher 6-5-09

Things are going pretty good for the farm we completed corn planting Monday and got a start on Soybean planting on Tuesday. The new Spra Coupe is working out well so far and hopefully we can get beans in next week. My new phone has allowed me to make better videos check them out on the You Tube link.

Todd Easton Coles County June 5 2009: Progress continues all over Coles County in between rain outs. Spotty and variable showers have shortly stopped planters and then had them traveling back and forth across townships to find the dry fields. Even the most experienced farmer in the area can’t remember a year as adventurous as this one is shaping up to be. Corn planting has progressed to near complete for most areas and Soybean planting is getting a good start. Planted Corn is emerging rapidly in this warmer time of year and some of the earliest is approaching the V5 stage while some of the early Beans have come up also and are showing good stands outside of the ponds.

Cropwatcher 5-29-09

Heres a picture of the new Spra coupe in its first field. we are 80% done with corn and we drilled a small field of beans I wish the weather would let us finish someday.


Todd Easton Coles County May 28 2009: The farmers in Coles County really gave it a big push last weekend until Monday’s short inch of rain gave us a break on Memorial Day. The hard effort by everybody left the Corn at 50 to 70 percent planted and the beans at around ten percent completed. We were just starting to get back in when another two tenths came Wednesday evening. If the forecast holds true we will probably get some more work done this weekend before the chance of rain at the beginning of the week. The recent warmth has encouraged much of the corn that is in the ground to have some decent growth. Earlier planted corn is looking good and getting to the V3 stage with the exception of difficult spots in the fields and corn planted barely a week ago is already emerged and looking good. I really appreciate the positive comments I have already been receiving from several readers Thank You.

Cropwatcher 5-22-09

Todd Easton Coles County May 22 2009: Back in the fields again this week after almost a week break that we didn’t want to take. So far I would say we are working toward 20% of the Corn in the ground and maybe 2-3% of the Soybeans. Work started back up on Tuesday when a large amount of Rotary Hoe’s that haven’t seen daylight in years came out in full force to try and save what got planted last week. With the heat on our side I think most will succeed in getting that corn up. Wednesday many of the Field Cultivators got started back up and Corn Planters started following them on Thursday. Although many are going ahead almost everybody is admitting that we are pushing the workability of the ground as much as we possibly can but with the time of the year and the weekend forecast not on our side what do you do. As a friend of mine once said sometimes you have to compromise your standards to better your average. Once again stay safe and even though you will probably get this after Monday take time to think of those who sacrificed so much for our freedom

Cropwatcher 5-15-09

Todd Easton Coles County May 15 2009: Finally a small amount of progress to report. Several lucky guys with well drained land in the northern part of the county and on up got a day or two break where mud briefly became tillable soil before Wednesdays 3” rain. Planted Corn acreage in that area is still well below 10 percent and that’s the best of our situation. Anyone who knows our county knows that because of the ancient glacier it is two different worlds of farming between the northern half and the southern half. I was reminded of this when an emergency parts run took me south on route 130 I began to feel like us north siders didn’t have it so bad. Starting from just south of town and for the next 80 miles was nothing but absolutely no progress just growing weeds that haven’t been able to be tilled, sprayed, and no anhydrous applied anywhere defiantly reminded me that sometimes when you get out of your neighborhood you learn that you don’t have it so bad. All I can say especially to our southern readers is keep up the hope and well get this crop in yet.

Cropwatcher 5-8-09

Todd Easton Coles County May 8 2009: Hello everyone wish I had better news than what I do. Because of the .7” we received on the 1st here has been absolutely no planting progress in the area since the beginning of last week. We were looking to start at the first of next week but after receiving .25” Thursday night it will be the middle of next week at best. The small amount of corn that has already been planted is starting to come up mainly in the high spots but a few fields are almost totally emerged and looking decent so far. Until next week keep dry.

Moon lighting as a Farm Bureau CropWatcher

I wish I could say we got to plant something but with exception of Kelly's beans in the garden mother nature hasn't allowed us to let the corn out of the bag yet. I volunteered to take over our neighbor John Hurst's cropwatcher column for the Farm Bureau's Farm Week publication and will post these on here also to keep non subscribers updated on what is going on around the farm. Here's the first one and my mug shot by Ken Kashian. This is what I sent in to them the published verson has some editing from them to introduce me that I doubt is necessary here.

Todd Easton Coles County May 1 2009: Greetings from Coles County I will be the new crop watcher for our area. I hope to maintain the high standard of reporting that John Hurst established before me. Like in many other areas around the state things were looking pretty good in the last part of March. Almost all of the fertilizer that didn’t get applied last fall due to the late season was finally put on the ground and everyone was anxiously waiting for the soil to warm up. Since then we have received a lot of April showers and the only planting window we have had was over the last weekend. Several producers got a small start on corn planting while the rest held off in anticipation of the rains that brought us a short inch. Now it looks like if we get lucky enough to miss the forecasted rains it will still be middle of next week before the planters roll again. Once again I look forward to reporting this year as it unfolds and wish everyone a safe and productive one.

Back in the Fields

Well once again long time no blog but we have actually been pretty busy. Grain hauling is close to wrapped up and we got a great opportunity to finish the Anhydrous and Dry Fertilizer application that we were curtailed on late last fall. We are currently getting the tractors and spring tools ready in anticipation for planting. Also did a test run of the new Spray Coupe and all the neat gadgets worked great thanks to Brian from Effingham Clay who came out to help us shake it down. Here is a pic of the very dirty Terra Gator getting ready to go out and finish VRT applying potash. Until next time Think Spring !!!

TEPAP

Wow just got back from Texas yesterday. I traveled down there to attend The Exeuctive Program For Agricultural Producers (TEPAP) and really found it to be a very unique experience. The best part of it all was the people I had the honor of meeting. The organizers, instructors, and most of all my fellow participants are most definatly among the best people in agriculture. I don't know how but the staff delivered a very large amount of content in the span of a week and made so easy to retain in your head in spite of that. I look foward to completing the program next year and will work diligently through this year to implement what I learned and I hope it benefits everyone I work with. (picture is of the desk chair in my room I named Bessie, must be a Texas thing)