Harvest Started

Todd Easton Coles County August 26 2011: Harvest is here already in Coles County and much earlier than most would have liked in the sense that the corn crop had to prematurely die off to achieve this. A small handful of producers are getting started on their April planted corn and finding it in the low 20’s for moisture and in the 160’s from the yield standpoint. The elevator said that grain quality was surprisingly good but test weights were low as expected. Hand sampling in the May planted corn fields has been finding them in the low 30’s which means they could be harvested next week if the farmers want to burn some propane to dry it out. Most of the corn crop could be out of the fields before soybeans ripen enough for harvesting. Currently bean fields are still dark green and hanging in there as one chance of rain after another misses them. A good shower on the bean crop would probably improve the final yield at this point but that may not be the case much longer. As we start in on the harvest please remember to keep the safety of yourself and everyone else your number one priority!

08/19/11

Todd Easton Coles County August 19 2011: The drought persists this week with only another small shower occurring in some places and having much affect on the moisture situation. Producers are starting to make their advance preparations for harvest. Most are not anticipating the need to use some of their smaller out of the way grain bins this fall after the yield estimate came out Monday. The magic number that teams brought out of the corn fields was 146.15 bushels per acre. It looks like the southern townships will have a shot at being the high yielder for the year because of more precipitation coming through that area. Another couple of weeks and yield monitors will be telling us for sure what is in those fields. Soybeans are hanging in there and could really use the chances for rain in the forecast this weekend to pan out but seeing is believing this year.

08/12/11

Todd Easton Coles County August 12 2011: It has been another dry week in Coles County with only a teaser shower blowing through on Monday. The good news is that temperatures have cooled down which has been a relief to both crops and people. With the cooler temperatures the die off of the corn crop has slowed down but many disappointing ears are being pulled out of the fields. The Coles County Farm Bureau will be doing a yield check next week and I am sure everyone will be very interested in its findings. There is a significant chance for rain this weekend for a change and hopefully it materializes and puts some pods on the soybean plants that have been sitting in the field waiting for a drink. Keep your fingers crossed.

08/05/11

Todd Easton Coles County August 05 2011: More heat more dryness brought fourth another hard week for the crops in the field. We did once again see 2 to 4 tenths last Friday but this size of rainfall seems to do little to help out the situation. Corn plants are beginning to fire up in several fields some worse than others and without significant rainfall soon will die off before any kernel fill occurs hurting yields even more. The beans are also waiting for some water and hopefully will get some before they just give up on making decent pod counts. We are defiantly in the 11th hour with this crop and hopefully the small chances forecasters are giving us for this weekend develop something to avert a total disappointment at harvest time.

Fair Week

Todd Easton Coles County July 29 2011: Another hot and mostly dry week across the area as the stressful conditions keep whittling away at the 2011 crops potential. Precipitation was experienced a week ago Sunday (July 24) but only netted 2 to 4 tenths for most of the county. The weatherman only has a few small chances for rain among the hot temperatures in the forecast but we can only hope that maybe at least one of those will deliver the 1 plus inches of rain this crop could really use. The corn crop is showing many signs of stress especially in the May planted corn which is the vast majority of this crop. The May planted corn is at the R3 milk stage and showing signs of some pollination issues and kernel abortion. The April corn is just one stage ahead at the R4 dough stage but that has helped it weather the stressful conditions better than the later planted corn. Soybean fields are hanging in there as they seem to be sitting at the R4 full pod stage waiting for some moisture. Double crop beans are under a lot of stress and need moisture soon to have any potential at all. This week brings us the 158th Coles County Fair with all of its features, fun, festivities, and hopefully the almost traditional fair week rain shower will come in this year and do some good for the crops. Either way see you at the fair!

07/22/11

Todd Easton Coles County July 22 2011: The most used word of the week has clearly been hot as temperatures seem unrelenting across the area. The corn and soybean fields are showing signs of stress in some places which means the heat is probably having some adverse effects on final yields. The grass in the yards is also beginning to turn brown which is another good sign that we need some moisture and cooler temps sooner than later. Hopefully chances of rain that are forecast over the weekend and beginning of the next week will pan out. Pollination is nearing completion for the entire corn crop and producers are hoping the heat did not have a significantly adverse effect but it is too soon to tell. As fungicide applications in the corn fields near completion applicators are turning their attention to soybean field fungicide application as some of the earlier fields are nearing the full pod stage. I can’t stress enough as the heat wave continues take it slow and easy outside.

07/15/11

Todd Easton Coles County July 15 2011: The summer heat came on in force over the weekend and beginning of the week but seemed to be stressing people much more than the crops. Toward the middle of the week a front came through bringing very little moisture but fortunately cooler temperatures. Corn fields are still making great progress with the earlier April planted fields completing pollination and entering the R2 blister stage and the May planted fields at the R1 silk stage. On the growing degree day chart we are over 100 units above the average accumulation. This should help make up for some of the planting delay last spring and not make our harvest season excessively late this year. The yellow Air Tractor planes are furiously buzzing overhead making Fungicide applications on many of the fields and will probably be busy for a week or two. Soybean fields are still looking good as they generally are entering the R3 beginning pod stage. All the fields that I have walked through are at a good waist height with very good pod potential. Both crops showed their health by shrugging off the intense heat earlier in the week. Now all we can do is hope for a few more good showers and reasonable temperatures through the next month to bring both crops to maturity and not diminish potential yield. As we enter the famous dog days of summer please remember to take the proper hot weather precautions for yourselves along with the people and animals around you.

Crop Watcher July 08 2011 I'm Back

Todd Easton Coles County July 08 2011: This year it is amazing what can happen in ten days while you are away. You may have noticed my absence last week in this column as the Family and I had a nice trip out west. While we were gone most of the beans got their much needed herbicide application, the wheat was harvested, double crop beans were drilled, and the corn and beans grew a lot. The early April planted corn has almost completed the early vegetative stages and is now entering the R-1 stage. May planted corn looks to be a week away from the VT tassel stage and has caught up to the earlier corn in height. All of the corn in the area benefited from the inch of rain we received last weekend and at this point has great potential. The soybean fields are looking much better with the weeds among the beans finally turning yellow and disappearing quickly. The crop is generally even at the R-1 to R-2 blooming stages and making great progress also. The wheat crop is in the bin with mixed results as the crop for the most part showed the stress of the exceptionally dry fall last year. Most of the yields I overheard were in the 50’s and 60’s with the best being around 85 bushel per acre. Double Crop beans went in right behind the combines and after the rain should be off to a good and timely start. As we traveled the I-80 corridor the crop condition got noticeably better the closer to home we got. This state and especially this area is in very good shape especially compared to many of the fields out west.

Crop Watcher 06/24/11

Todd Easton Coles County June 24 2011: Another week of steady progress on mother natures part this week but no progress on the producers side of the equation as a short 2 inches of rainfall kept sprayers parked most of this week. Even the later May planted corn fields are almost chest high by now not quite a foot shorter than the early April plantings and both have big potential that will be determined by the next couple months weather. Crop Protection dealers are out setting up fungicide application plans and with the wet humid weather pattern so far I'm betting we will see the yellow Air Tractors make alot of rounds this summer. Since last weeks report the bean crop growth has accelerated seemingly overnight with many fields quickly closing up their rows. It has been frustrating not being able to get the sprayers out to eradicate the growing weeds. I don't often get specific with what we do on our own operation but one thing I am very glad we did in this difficult bean spraying year was apply a burndown with residual ahead of the bean planter in some of the fields with the idea of combating glyphosate resistance. So far it has had the added bonus of keeping those fields much cleaner despite the delay of our post application and will be done on all of my bean acres next year.

Crop Watcher June 17 2011

Todd Easton Coles County June 17 2011: The fields keep getting greener and taller here in Coles County as this week brought us couple of mostly mild rain showers that have fueled the rapid development of the young crops. Note that I said mostly mild as the Wednesday showers were considerably harsher in the southern part of the area and caused another round of pond filling in the low areas. Corn fields are growing at an astonishing rate again this week with some of the earliest fields almost at V8 development and even many of the May planted fields closing their canopy. Soybean fields are getting greener with good soybean stands and in some fields grass. Not surprising with the ample moisture so with their jobs completed in the corn sprayers are making their rounds in the beans a bit early which may mean a two pass year for weed control. Wheat fields have all transitioned from green to almost golden and look much better than I figured they would earlier. Combines should be able to do their job in the crop around the fourth as normal and will hopefully keep the trucks hauling away pretty busy

Crop Watcher 06/10/11

Todd Easton Coles County June 10 2011: It has been a hot week in Coles County which has kicked crop development into high gear. A small shower Sunday Morning that only delivered just over a tenth of an inch of rain barely slowed down sprayers and side dress applicators which are all getting very close to completing their duties for the year in the corn fields. Corn plants are in rapid growth mode with many of the early April planted fields coming into the V6 stage this week and the first of the May planted corn well into the V3 stage. Soybean fields are also greening up nicely this week with the majority that was planted throughout May around the V2 stage of development. Bailers in the area also had a good week to cut and bale a very healthy first cutting of hay and get it stacked in the barn. Looking back at the year ago report shows that we are considerably behind on our crop development from where we were last June but this year’s corn crop seems to be off to a much healthier start in these early stages and hopefully we will get to take that to the grain bin next fall.

Crop Watcher 06/03/11

Todd Easton Coles County June 3 2011: It has been a good week in the fields as they seem to get noticeably greener every day. Last week after the rain it looked like there were going to be many drowned out areas in practically every field. Astonishingly the water went away relatively quickly and with the help of the cooler temperatures in the days after the rain the water damage was minimal to what it could have been. Sprayers and side dress applicators are running hard in fast growing corn fields with some of the early fields approaching V5 maturity. Soybean fields also had a good week as most of them have emerged with real good stands. There have been some trouble spots though mostly in the southern part of the county and rotary hoes have been in the fields to help the beans break through the crust.

Crop Watcher Week Five

Todd Easton Coles County May 27 2011: We almost got the third week of planting window that I asked for in last weeks report. On and off rain showers set in throughout Wednesday followed by more severe storms that evening. The rain gauges that could still be found on their posts showed just short of three inches the next morning. Many producers did complete their planting while many others got close to being done. Along side the planters sprayers got a good start on spring applications and side dress applicators got a slight start on the acres that everyone has indicated will receive late season N this year. Out in the fields crops are looking good on the high ground with the early corn well into the V3 stage and the rest in V1. There has been some damage in select corn fields from black cutworms and local agronomists are advising that fields be scouted for the problem. Soybean fields are in various stages ranging from barely emerging to approaching V2. The handful of area wheat fields are heading out and for the most part standing pretty good so far. Finally I hope everyone had a good holiday weekend and took time to thank all those who have sacrificed for our freedoms.

Crop Watcher week four - Getting There

Todd Easton Coles County May 19 2011: It has been another week of hard work for producers as planters cultivators and sprayers continue to move at a fast pace. Even though we did have a small break over the weekend due to a half inch of precipitation everyone is getting close wrapping up corn planting with about 85 to 90 percent of the crop in the ground. Bean planters have started in and moved pretty fast getting over a third of that crop in the ground the past few days. As far as crop growth goes the warmth and sunshine earlier in the week helped perk up the early April planted corn and bring some of the May planted corn acres out of the ground. I also saw one field of beans that I didn’t even know was planted emerged and already at the V1 stage. Once again the forecast is promising rain this weekend but if it doesn’t add up to much like last weekend than planting should be getting close to done by next report keep your fingers crossed.

Crop Watcher week three - Finally Progress

Todd Easton Coles County May 13 2011: What a difference a week can make when conditions are finally right and everyone has been waiting too long. Monday morning the ground was dry enough to start working and in the four days since it looks like producers took from 5 percent in the ground to well over 50 percent. Coming into this weekend the forecast is indicating a strong chance of rain which may slow progress but hopefully with the warmer weather not for long. There have also been a handful of soybean fields planted in the last couple days but not a significant amount as everyone has been putting most efforts into corn planting. The corn that planted in early April is still just at the V2 stage and unfortunately by appearance shows that it has had a very tough first month. It will be interesting to see how that corn will compare in yield to what we have planted this week. I can’t ever remember in my short farming career everyone putting in such long and hard hours as we are this spring. Along with that comes a much higher chance for accidents so we must always remember SAFETY FIRST.

Crop Watcher May 6 - Not Quite There

Todd Easton Coles County May 6 2011: It has been another idle week across the area as a little rain here and there has been keeping fields too wet to work in. Producers are crossing their fingers that the forecasted rain over the weekend doesn’t materialize into much and gives us an opportunity to start some work next week. The corn in the fields has had another tough week with the cool and wet weather making for slow growth and slightly pale color as the majority of the corn enters the V2 stage. The plant life that has been growing rapidly in many fields is winter annuals and early season weeds and the muddy conditions have prevented sprayers from doing anything about it. I will keep my fingers crossed that I will have actual progress to report next week.

First Crop Watcher 2011 : Not set in stone yet

Todd Easton Coles County April 29 2011: Well its that time of year again and I am glad to be back to share the progress of this years corn, soybean, and wheat crop as it unfolds across Coles County. While the fields were in the midst of their winter rest our family grew shortly before Christmas as Kelly, Maddison, and I were blessed with the arrival of a healthy baby boy named Case William. We came out of a near perfect fall from the standpoint of field preparation although some producers did hold back on Anhydrous application because of very dry soil. Eventually they found a nice window to apply the nutrient during the very last of March and First of April. Also in the first week of the April some planters started across the fields putting the first five percent of the corn crop in the ground while others hesitated due to the forecast of heavy rains and cooler temperatures. Unfortunately that forecast turned out to be quite correct and hasn’t really changed in the three weeks since. Unrelenting precipitation has saturated fields to the point that planters will be lucky to resume sometime within the next couple weeks. The crop that is in the ground has been slow growing because of the coolness of the weather and also suffered considerable damage from flooding. I hate to admit there are a lot of similarities between this spring and the infamous spring of 2009 so far but that doesn’t mean it has to stay that way. For now we will have to play the waiting game and hopefully we will end up having a safe and productive season after all.