2010 grain harvests looking positive
By
John Grimes-
I always view late August as a time of transition. An obvious transition was the return of students to area schools this past week. Another more subtle transition is the change from growing season to harvest season for many field crops.
While harvest has actually started for tobacco, we are a few weeks away from corn and soybean harvest, but it will be here before you know it. As you will read below, prospects for a positive grain harvest are looking up.
Farmers on track to produce record corn, soybean crops
U.S. farmers are on pace to produce the largest corn and soybean crops in history, according to the Crop Production report released recently by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).
Corn production is forecast at 13.4 billion bushels and soybean production at 3.43 billion bushels, both up 2 percent from the previous records set in 2009. Based on conditions as of Aug. 1, corn yields are expected to average a record-high 165 bushels per acre, up 0.3 bushel from last year’s previous record. Soybean yields are expected to equal last year’s record of 44 bushels per acre.
Cotton production is expected to jump 52 percent from last year, to 18.5 million 480-pound bales. Average yield is forecast at 837 pounds per harvested acre, up 60 pounds from last year.
The August Crop Production report contains USDA’s first survey-based estimates of yield and production for corn, soybeans and other spring-planted row crops.
Between July 25 and Aug. 6, NASS surveyed approximately 27,000 producers and also took objective field measurements in the major crop-producing states. Crop Production is published monthly and is available online at http://www.nass.usda.gov.
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).
Add grass to thinning alfalfa
Interseeding grasses into thinning alfalfa fields is a way to extend the life of stands, says University of Nebraska Extension forage specialist Bruce Anderson.
While orchardgrass is the grass most commonly interseeded with alfalfa, other grasses like endophyte-free tall fescue, meadow brome, festulolium and wheatgrasses also can be used. “In fact, if the field will be used as pasture, a mixture of several grasses may be best since it adds diversity to animals’ diets,” says Anderson.
He notes that interseeding after a mid-August to early September hay harvest can work well if there’s adequate moisture to start the new seedlings.“Alfalfa regrows more slowly this time of year, so it won’t compete with your new grasses as aggressively,” he says.“Still, if your alfalfa is relatively thick, you probably will need to take another cutting in about four weeks, or as soon as the alfalfa starts to form a full canopy. This allows sunlight to continue to reach new seedlings below the alfalfa.
“Next spring you will need to judge how well-established your new grasses have become. If they seem a little weak, cut hay real early to again open the canopy for better light penetration. After that you should be able to hay or rotationally graze as you choose.”
Source: eHay Weekly newsletter
Summer sun, fun, and stings
French essayist Joseph Joubert said “When you go in search of honey, you must expect to be stung by bees.” On a similar note, when you spend time outdoors you should not be surprised when you meet stinging insects like wasps, hornets and bees. Families and residents can comfortably enjoy the outdoors if they are prepared with an understanding about why these insects sting and what to do if a sting occurs.
Wasps, hornets, bumblebees and honeybees attack when the insect feels threatened, however some types of insects are provoked more easily than others.
The honeybee is the most docile, and stings can usually be avoided by slowly backing away from bees or patiently waiting for it to fly away without trying to swat it. At the other extreme, even walking near a wasp nest can elicit an attack. The easiest way to avoid all types of stings is to steer clear of areas where insects are common, especially hives and nests.
These insects are usually on the move because they are searching for food. Many perfumes, colognes and lotions have scents that attract them so it is best to avoid wearing them when outdoors. When eating outdoors it is almost impossible to avoid insects trying to share your meal. Using baits or sacrificial food to draw the insects away from where you are eating can have some success. Always pour drinks from cans into a glass before drinking them so that you do not inadvertently swallow a stinging insect. If one of these insects lands on you or flies nearby avoid sudden movements or the temptation to swat at them. These actions are almost certain to be seen as threatening and can initiate an attack. In this case, discretion is the better part of valor, and you should retreat with your food and drink to an area away from the insects.
If the unfortunate happens and you are stung, there are a variety of possible outcomes and solutions. The first thing to do is to move away from the area where the attack happened. Stinging insects release an alarm scent when stinging that can cause additional attacks. Another difference between the insects is that the honeybee has a barbed stinger that is pulled from the bee’s body after one sting that kills the bee. The other insects can sting multiple times. If the honeybee’s stinger is left in the skin it can continue to release venom for a while, so remove it quickly.
The venom released by these insects is called melittin, which can have different effects on you ranging from mild irritation at the site of the sting to anaphylaxis, a life-threatening situation.
John Grimes is the Ohio State University Extension Educator for Agriculture and Natural Resources in Highland County.[[In-content Ad]]
While harvest has actually started for tobacco, we are a few weeks away from corn and soybean harvest, but it will be here before you know it. As you will read below, prospects for a positive grain harvest are looking up.
Farmers on track to produce record corn, soybean crops
U.S. farmers are on pace to produce the largest corn and soybean crops in history, according to the Crop Production report released recently by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).
Corn production is forecast at 13.4 billion bushels and soybean production at 3.43 billion bushels, both up 2 percent from the previous records set in 2009. Based on conditions as of Aug. 1, corn yields are expected to average a record-high 165 bushels per acre, up 0.3 bushel from last year’s previous record. Soybean yields are expected to equal last year’s record of 44 bushels per acre.
Cotton production is expected to jump 52 percent from last year, to 18.5 million 480-pound bales. Average yield is forecast at 837 pounds per harvested acre, up 60 pounds from last year.
The August Crop Production report contains USDA’s first survey-based estimates of yield and production for corn, soybeans and other spring-planted row crops.
Between July 25 and Aug. 6, NASS surveyed approximately 27,000 producers and also took objective field measurements in the major crop-producing states. Crop Production is published monthly and is available online at http://www.nass.usda.gov.
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).
Add grass to thinning alfalfa
Interseeding grasses into thinning alfalfa fields is a way to extend the life of stands, says University of Nebraska Extension forage specialist Bruce Anderson.
While orchardgrass is the grass most commonly interseeded with alfalfa, other grasses like endophyte-free tall fescue, meadow brome, festulolium and wheatgrasses also can be used. “In fact, if the field will be used as pasture, a mixture of several grasses may be best since it adds diversity to animals’ diets,” says Anderson.
He notes that interseeding after a mid-August to early September hay harvest can work well if there’s adequate moisture to start the new seedlings.“Alfalfa regrows more slowly this time of year, so it won’t compete with your new grasses as aggressively,” he says.“Still, if your alfalfa is relatively thick, you probably will need to take another cutting in about four weeks, or as soon as the alfalfa starts to form a full canopy. This allows sunlight to continue to reach new seedlings below the alfalfa.
“Next spring you will need to judge how well-established your new grasses have become. If they seem a little weak, cut hay real early to again open the canopy for better light penetration. After that you should be able to hay or rotationally graze as you choose.”
Source: eHay Weekly newsletter
Summer sun, fun, and stings
French essayist Joseph Joubert said “When you go in search of honey, you must expect to be stung by bees.” On a similar note, when you spend time outdoors you should not be surprised when you meet stinging insects like wasps, hornets and bees. Families and residents can comfortably enjoy the outdoors if they are prepared with an understanding about why these insects sting and what to do if a sting occurs.
Wasps, hornets, bumblebees and honeybees attack when the insect feels threatened, however some types of insects are provoked more easily than others.
The honeybee is the most docile, and stings can usually be avoided by slowly backing away from bees or patiently waiting for it to fly away without trying to swat it. At the other extreme, even walking near a wasp nest can elicit an attack. The easiest way to avoid all types of stings is to steer clear of areas where insects are common, especially hives and nests.
These insects are usually on the move because they are searching for food. Many perfumes, colognes and lotions have scents that attract them so it is best to avoid wearing them when outdoors. When eating outdoors it is almost impossible to avoid insects trying to share your meal. Using baits or sacrificial food to draw the insects away from where you are eating can have some success. Always pour drinks from cans into a glass before drinking them so that you do not inadvertently swallow a stinging insect. If one of these insects lands on you or flies nearby avoid sudden movements or the temptation to swat at them. These actions are almost certain to be seen as threatening and can initiate an attack. In this case, discretion is the better part of valor, and you should retreat with your food and drink to an area away from the insects.
If the unfortunate happens and you are stung, there are a variety of possible outcomes and solutions. The first thing to do is to move away from the area where the attack happened. Stinging insects release an alarm scent when stinging that can cause additional attacks. Another difference between the insects is that the honeybee has a barbed stinger that is pulled from the bee’s body after one sting that kills the bee. The other insects can sting multiple times. If the honeybee’s stinger is left in the skin it can continue to release venom for a while, so remove it quickly.
The venom released by these insects is called melittin, which can have different effects on you ranging from mild irritation at the site of the sting to anaphylaxis, a life-threatening situation.
John Grimes is the Ohio State University Extension Educator for Agriculture and Natural Resources in Highland County.[[In-content Ad]]