The publication was developed in cooperation with the Nebraska Corn Board, Nebraska Corn Growers Assocation and the Nebraska Department of Agriculture.

Notes from the Contract Checklist . . .

Following are some of the questions from the Grain Production Contract Checklist.

Legal relationships

What legal relationship does the contract create between you and the contractor? The legal relationship involved will determine your rights and duties under the contract and will have important tax consequences.

Is it a landlord/tenant relationship, employer/employee relationship, independent contractor, partnership, joint venture, agency?

Does the contract refer to a "bailment"? A bailment requires the producer to exercise due care toward the goods held.

Do other parties have to approve the contract, such as your landlord, lender, or spouse?

Can the contract be assigned or transferred by you or by the contractor to other parties? This may have important tax consequences.

If the contractor is from another state, does the contract specify the state law that governs? Is this choice of law fair? Does the contract permit re-negotiation or nullification of the contract if the laws governing production contracts are changed.

Farm programs

How will the contract affect your eligibility for farm program payments?

To be eligible for USDA programs, you must have a "beneficial interest" in the commodity. This is determined by looking at the contractual terms regarding title, risk of loss, and payment.

Is the crop considered a program crop for purposes of payment or base retention?

How will this affect your established farm program yield?

Insurance

Are you required to buy multi-peril, hail, or other crop insurance? What about liability insurance for risks such as herbicide drift?

Can you get federal crop insurance for the crops involved? If so, can you use your actual production history or will other yield determinations be used?

Production

Do you have to find substitute supplies to fulfill the contract if you have a shortfall?

Are you responsible if the shortfall is due to an "Act of God"?

Are you responsible if the shortfall is due to production decisions you did not make such as fertility or pest programs?

Under the Uniform Commercial Code, it is easier to be excused for a breach of contract because of impracticability (such as bad weather) if the contract involves the output of particular tracts of land. Does this contract list the fields on which the crops are to be grown?

How much crop residue is left from this crop and how does that impact your conservation compliance plan?

Ownership

Who owns the crop?

Usually the party with title of ownership bears the risk of loss. Does the contract modify this rule?

Who bears the risk of loss of the crop in the field, in storage, or in transport?

Credentials

Is the contractor bonded for this type of obligation?

If you have concerns about getting paid under the contract, will the contractor provide you with a financial statement? A list of producers the contractor has contracted with in the past?

If the contractor is a subsidiary company, does the contract make the parent company responsible for payment if the contractor defaults?

HELP! If you haven't completed the readership survey in the Sept. 29 Crop Watch, please take a few minutes to do so. This information is very helpful in planning for next year.

Market Journal targets carbon sequestration, family issues

Each month Doug Jose, NU Extension ag economist, hosts Market Journal, bringing together experts from across the state to address pertinent topics of risk management and ag marketing. Guest speakers on the Oct. 16 broadcast will address two topics: "Carbon sequestration — the issues, the market, and a farmer's perspective"; and "How to make family issues into family opportunities." Returning speakers will address the climate and ag markets.

The videoconference will be downlinked live to 18 Cooperative Extension offices and also will be available live on ruralroutes.unl.edu from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. CDT Monday, Oct. 16. For more information about the nearest meeting site, contact your local Cooperative Extension Office.

Returning speakers include:

Al Dutcher, state climatologist, with a climate update

Roy Smith, Nebraska farmer, with an analysis of the corn and soybean markets

Lynn Lutgen, NU Extension agricultural economist, with an analysis of the wheat market.

Guest speakers include:

Don Hutchens of the Nebraska Corn Board on this year's Nebraska Corn Harvest Tour.

Don Walters, NU soils professor, on "Carbon Sequestration — the Issues for Farmers."

David Dukes, farmer, Bedford, Iowa, "Carbon Management — a Farmer's Viewpoint"

Jerry Skees, a professor of agricultural economics at the University of Kentucky, on "Establishing a Market for Carbon.

Sue Schlichtemeier-Nutzman, private training consultant, and Jane McClure of the UNL Employee Assistance Program on "Making Family Issues, Family Opportunities."

Market Journal is directed to the state's farmers and includes information on reducing grain risk management and increasing profits as well as practical farm management information. It is produced by the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources. It receives support from the Nebraska Feed and Grain Association; Nebraska Soybean Board; Nebraska Corn Board; and USDA Risk Management Agency.

No-till yields well in a drought year

In side-by-side field trials no-till grain sorghum (left) produced larger heads and taller plants and outyielded sorghum grown with more traditional tillage methods.

No-till and other conservation tillage systems have long been promoted for soil and water conservation. While profitability increases because of reduced fuel, labor, and machinery expenses, producers have not always seen an immediate increase in productivity. It takes time for the soil structure to heal itself after years of tillage. Given adequate and timely rains, almost any well managed tillage system will produce a reasonable crop. In dry years, however, producers cannot afford to give up the soil moisture lost with tillage. (See the September 29, 2000 issue of Crop Watch for a story on the negative aspects of tillage.)

The 2000 yields from a tillage system study on the University of Nebraska Rogers Memorial Farm (10 miles east of Lincoln) are shown in the table. With the drought conditions this year, no-till was the hands down winner. The drought began in southeast Nebraska in late July of 1999, affecting grain fill some last year. This farm received about 18.7 inches of rain since last harvest — 4.9 inches before planting and 13.8 inches during the growing season. In August, there were about 10 days over 95° F and less than 1.5 inches of rain during grain fill, a time when daily evaportranspiration rates can be over .33 inch per day.

These research plots were established in 1981 to evaluate six tillage systems in a soybean/grain sorghum rotation using the same tillage system year after year. The data from these plots and the experiences gained in the management required to make no-till and reduced tillage systems successful have provided valuable information. These dryland production plots have been maintained ever since, showing with proper management, no-till is the most profitable tillage system over time.

Paul Jasa
Extension Engineer

Adjusting for late-seeded winter wheat

Effect of seeding date on performance of seed and dual placement methods of phosphorus application.

Management practices need to be modified when winter wheat is planted after the optimum seeding date for your area. (See Aug. 18 and Sept. 15 newsletters.) Late seeded winter wheat does not produce as many tillers, therefore narrow rows and higher seeding rates are suggested.

With dryland fields use 7 ½ inch rows. With irrigated fields, 6-inch rows usually produce the top yields in late seeded winter wheat.

Recommended seeding rates are 1.35 million seed per acre (90 lbs for a seed size of 15,000 seeds per pound) for dryland and 1.8 million seed per acre (120 lbs) for the same seed size for irrigated fields. Adjust the pounds of seed for the seed size being used. Increasing the irrigated seeding rate to 2.5 million seeds will probably help reduce soil erosion, but usually does not increase winter wheat grain yield. For the maximum benefit in reducing soil erosion, seeding should be perpendicular to the prevailing wind.

For those who use a hoe drill and only have a wide row spacing such as 14 inch, the question comes up about cross seeding. The effect of this on both yield and soil erosion has not been researched because of the difficulty of studying such practices in small plot research. If one cross seeds, the final pass should be perpendicular to the prevailing wind. The disadvantage of cross seeding is that two passes are required and this also tends to pulverize the soil and could increase soil erosion. Disc drills in fields which have been tilled also will have some of the same problem. A disc drill used in no-till will not have any of these negatives, except for having to make two trips. Narrow-row seeders are preferred if available.

Fertility

Nitrogen. Nitrogen needs to be available at seeding in an ample amount near the seedling roots. Remember that nitrogen will not be available soon enough from recently harvested soybeans to benefit the winter wheat. Do not take this year's soybeans into account when calculating nitrogen fertilizer needs.

Phosphorus. On late-seeded wheat it is recommended that row or seed-applied phosphorus fertilizer be used. This will give a much better result for late-planted wheat than either broadcast or dual-injected fertilizer. Because late planted wheat has limited rooting development, it's necessary to place the phosphorus close to the seed. (See figure.)

Bob Klein
Extension Cropping Systems Specialist
Dave Baltensperger
Extension Crop Breeding Specialist

Crop modeling workshop December 4-8

More farmers than ever before are using computers and the Web to access crop models for site-specific farm management. Industry professionals, researchers and students are invited to learn more about this growing technology at the third annual Crop Modeling for Environment-Specific Management Conference, Dec. 4-8 at the Clifford Hardin Nebraska Center for Continuing Education, 33rd and Holdrege streets in Lincoln.

This five-day, hands-on workshop features university and industry experts, including Mohamed Fayad, J.D. Edwards Professor of Software Engineering in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Fayad has gained international recognition for his recent series of books on software development, including "Domain-Specific Application Frameworks." Also speaking are: Laj Ahuja, Liwang Ma and Kenneth Rojas, USDA/ARS scientists at Great Plains System Research Unit, Fort Collins, CO; Bill Batchelor, co-developer of PCYield software; and Joe Ritchie, author of the CERES family of crop models.

New for 2000 are sessions on the irrigation and seed industry, exercises redesigned for needs of Certified Crop Advisers and Soil and Water Management CEUs, and graduate credit options.

Participants will receive state-of-the-art software that includes crop simulation models and weather data for their hometowns. Certified crop advisers will receive Continuing Education Units (CEUs). Graduate students will earn course credit. No prior experience in crop modeling is required. Participants are encouraged to bring laptop computers.

For more information contact Academic Conferences and Professional Programs at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, (402) 472-2844 or visit the conference web site.

Cool, aerate grain for successful storage

Nebraska Ag Statistics estimated this week that the state's corn harvest was 70% completed, well ahead of the average of 20%. (IANR Photo)

Corn and other grains matured and dried down early in 2000 allowing producers to save drying costs; however, a grain storage management program may be especially important this year to maintain grain quality.

A comprehensive management program to maintain grain quality includes:

1. making sure that the grain going into storage is dry, clean, cool, and in good condition;
2. regularly inspecting the grain to locate temperature, moisture, or insect problems; and
3. aerating the grain to maintain uniform temperature and moisture conditions, prevent localized hot spot development, and to cool existing or developing hot spots.

The storage life of grain depends on moisture and temperature. Grain dried well in the field this year and may have been harvested at what is normally considered a safe storage moisture. Chances are, however, grain that was harvested in September and early October did not leave the combine at safe temperatures for long-term storage.

To understand the importance of both grain moisture content and temperature on safe storage times, consider the results of experiments conducted with corn held at a constant temperature and moisture level in the laboratory. At 15% moisture, the shelf life (time grain can be held before losing 1/2% of the dry matter) decreased from 414 days at 55 degrees, to 206 days at 65 degrees to 115 days at 75 degrees. Storage times at higher moisture contents are greatly reduced from those at 15%. For example: the shelf life of corn at 55 degrees is reduced from 414 days at 15% to133 days at 17%.

A rule of thumb is that for each 10 degree increase in temperature, storage time is cut in half when held at a given moisture content. Another rule of thumb would be safe storage times are one-third as long at a given temperature when moisture content increases from 15% to 17%.

Aeration systems designed for temperature management of stored grain should not be confused with grain drying systems. Low airflow rates, typically between 0.10 and 0.20 cubic feet of air per minute per bushel (cfm/bu), are adequate for aeration but airflow rates of 1.5 cfm/bu or higher are required for drying. Therefore, grain placed into storage equipped with an aeration fan intended only for controlling the temperature must already be at the proper moisture content for storage (15.5% for corn if marketed by June, 14% if held up to one year, and 13% if held over one year; about 2 points lower for soybeans).

The primary objectives of aeration are to keep the grain at a seasonally cool temperature and to maintain uniform grain mass temperatures, preferably with no more than a 10° F difference in temperature from one part of the bin to another. These objectives can generally be achieved by keeping grain temperatures within 10° F to 20° F of the average outside air temperature.

It is important to understand how cooling occurs in a bin (the same principles apply for warming grain). A cooling zone is established and moved through the grain in the same direction as the airflow. The rate at which the cooling zone moves is directly related to the total volume of air moved through the grain or a function of both the airflow rate (cfm/bu) and the number of hours the fan is operated.

When changing grain temperatures during the fall and spring, run the fan continuously until the cooling or warming zone has been moved completely through the grain. The amount of time actually required to change the temperature of a specific bin of grain can only be determined by monitoring cooling or warming zone progress. Monitoring is especially important in facilities where airflow distribution is nonuniform due to such factors as duct placement or fines concentrations. Move at least one (preferably two) cooling zone(s) through the grain to remove field or dryer heat. Thereafter, move one cooling zone per month through the grain until it is cooled to between 30° F and 40° F. Not only will this help prevent moisture migration due to uneven temperatures within the grain mass but will effectively prevent insect activity in the grain. Most insect activity stops at temperatures below about 55° F.

Check the grain temperature and condition every two weeks and as needed to monitor cooling zone progress. The initial cooling is important. Do not skimp on fan operation. Turn the fans on as soon as grain covers the perforated floor or aeration ducts, and operate them continuously until all the grain has been cooled to the prevailing outside temperature. Since cooling is the primary concern, especially if the grain has come from a dryer, do not turn the fans off during rainy or humid weather. Failing to get the grain properly cooled can cause more problems than the small amount of re-wetting that occurs from running the fan on a humid day.

For more information, ask your Cooperative Extension Office for Aeration of Stored Grain, NebGuide 692A, and Holding Wet Corn with Aeration, G87-862A.

Ralph Anderson
Extension Educator, Buffalo County
Tom Dorn
Extension Educator Lancaster County

Understanding convection currents in grain bins

Moisture migration pattern for late fall to early spring when the temperature outside the bin is cooler than the temperature inside.

We all learned in grade school that heat rises and cold moves downward. When the heat rises, it carries moisture with it and that moisture condenses went it encounters a cooler condition. That's what we see when a thunderhead cloud forms.

Though not visible or as dramatic, the same thing can happen in grain bins when the outside air temperature cools down, especially if the grain is not properly cooled (see figure). Warm air in the center of the bin within the warm grain rises, carrying moisture with it. Cool air along the sides of the bin sinks and a convection current is formed. When the warm, moist air in the center of the bin encounters the cool grain on top of the bin, condensation occurs. With this heat and moisture, biological and insect activity can begin below the surface of the grain in the middle of the bin causing spoilage.

In spring when the air temperature outside the bin is higher than the grain temperature, a reverse convection current will occur. The cool air moves down the center of the grain mass and the warm air rises along the sides with the condensation forming near the bin walls. Producers who often note "some spoiled grain" on top of their bins need to improve their grain temperature management. Cool the grain in the fall to reduce condensation and spoilage in the center, and warm the grain in the spring to reduce condensation and spoilage near the bin walls.

By properly aerating the grain to keep it within about 10 ° F of the average outside air temperature, these thermal convention currents and moisture migration will be minimized because there won't be much temperature differential in the grain mass. Aeration is required for this temperature management, regardless of the moisture content of the grain. These convection currents can occur even with grain moistures below 10% or even in flat storage. Moving a temperature front through the grain with aeration about once a month should minimize these currents. Closing the roof vents and covering the fan when not in use will also reduce air movement through the grain.

Paul Jasa
Extension Engineer

Assessing forage quality after the frost

Last weekend's frosts will affect forage crops to varying degrees. Following is information on what to expect and how grazing may be affected.

Alfalfa

First, look at the plants instead of the thermometer. Plants turning black or plants wilting and starting to dry are basically done for the year. If there is enough to economically mechanically harvest, do it as soon as possible to salvage leaves which will fall off as soon as they dry. For grazing, wait four to five days after the killing freeze to reduce bloat hazard. The higher the proportion of alfalfa that starts to dry from the freeze, the safer the grazing. If plants show few if any signs of wilting and drying, follow your management plan as if there hadn't been a freeze. Don't expect much more growth but active, green plants can continue to accumulate nutrient reserves in the roots and crowns for winterizing.

Millets

No prussic acid hazard. Nitrates may accumulate slightly, depending on how much of the plant was killed. Grazing is likely to remain safe as long as livestock are not forced to consume the lower stem base. To cut for hay, wait a couple days for nitrate spike to diminish. Leaving a taller stubble (about 8 inches) will reduce nitrate potential. Test hay for nitrates before feeding.

Sudans and sorghums

Nitrate situation identical to millets above. Prussic acid danger (grazing only) increases for about 5 days after freeze that kills previously green plant tissue. After frozen tissue wilts and drys, danger is lower than before the freeze (but not completely absent). If freeze plus subsequent weather encourages new shoots and sucker plants to develop, these can be very hazardous if animals consume them as a high proportion of their diet.

Bruce Anderson
Extension Forage Specialist

Ag at the Crossroads 2000

Ag structure: power, prices and people

"The Future Structure of Agriculture: Power, Prices, People," will be the focus of this year's Agriculture at the Crossroads Conference. The forum will be 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Nov. 2 at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's East Union.

Morning speakers will center on responses to structural changes in agriculture, particularly the livestock sector. James MacDonald of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service will identify current and predicted structural changes.

Speaking on pricing and marketing options, production options and community options will be Brian Buhr, University of Minnesota economist; Larry Bitney, UNL agricultural economist; and John Allen, UNL rural sociologist, respectively.

The luncheon speaker will be George P. Slover of the U.S. Justice Department. The afternoon session will lead off with a panel discussion on "Government Responses to the Changing Structure of Agriculture." Breakout sessions will give conference attendees a choice of discussing "Producer Options" or "Policy Options." Breakout session resource people will include Eugene Glock and Jamie Nygren, representing Senators Bob Kerrey and Chuck Hagel, respectively.

Conference co-sponsors are the UNL Department of Agricultural Economics and the Nebraska AgRelations Council (NAC). NAC is a non-profit, non-partisan volunteer organization dedicated to "telling Nebraska agriculture's story," particularly to urban residents.

Ray Supalla, UNL ag economist, is conference coordinator and moderator of the morning session; Steve Cady, NAC president and executive director of the Nebraska Pork Producers Association, will moderate the afternoon session.

Registration is $25 per person for NAC members and $30 per person for non-members. Fees include lunch. The reservation deadline is 5 p.m. Oct. 31. Make checks payable to Nebraska AgRelations Council and mail to: Nebraska AgRelations Council, 104 Ag. Communications Building, P.O. Box 830918, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Neb. 68583-0918. For more information, call Sandy McKinnon at (402) 472-2821.

Molly Klocksin
IANR News Writer

Crop updates

Keith Glewen, Extension educator in Saunders County:

Harvest of corn and soybeans is nearing completion here. Based on the growing conditions many growers are pleased with the crop yields. Most of the dryland corn yields have been in the 120-140 bushel per acre range. Most soybean yields are in the 35-45 bushel range. Of course you can find dryland yields lower than these and some yields above this range.

Many growers, however, are miffed about their irrigated soybean yields not being much better in some fields than their dryland yields. We have been growing soybeans for many years in this county and I'm convinced that we still don't have a good understanding of the relationship between soil moisture and yield.

A few corn fields have been disked, however, I think many producers are waiting for soil moisture conditions to improve before they go at their annual ritual.

Gary Hall, Extension Educator in Phelps and Gosper counties:

Harvest is on the downhill side with yields better than expected but still low overall. Wheat that was planted has had rain and emergence is good. For the crop to survive the winter more rain will be needed since the plants are only emerged and moisture was gone quickly.

Jennifer Chaky, coordinator of the NU Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic:

The following diseases were diagnosed in the Diagnostic Clinic Sept 27 — Oct 10: corn — gray leaf spot (Keith County), MCMV (Kearney County), and Stewart's wilt (Keith County).

Paul Hay, Extension Educator in Gage County:

Producers here are planting wheat, with the vast majority planting no-till into bean, milo or corn stubble. We are planting as many acres as last year, if not more. Surprisingly, some of the earlier planted wheat is already up. We'll need additional moisture to establish the seedlings and ensure they'll make it through winter without dehydrating.

Corn and sorghum yields are actually quite good, considering the the situation this year. Dryland corn and milo are near normal to slightly below normal for most planting dates. Anything planted toward the end of the planting season is suffering more.

Soybean yields, however, are well below average to near disaster levels. Southern Gage County from 5-20 bushels per acre while yields in the northern half are ranging from 10 to 25 bushels per acre.

The difference in comparable yields between soybean, sorghum and corn this year really illustrates how important it is for these crops to get moisture at their critical time. Corn and sorghum benefitted from two good rains in June, one an inch and the other two inches. Together they made a profound difference.

Soybeans, however, did not receive rain during the critical pod fill stage in August. You can put your crop in the best environment, but if you don't get a rain in August, you won't get a bean yield.

Drew Lyon, Dryland Cropping Systems Specialist at the Panhandle REC:

The Panhandle received widespread precipitation the last week of September. This really evened up wheat stands that had been planted earlier. Many growers, especially in the eastern counties of the Panhandle, waited to plant their wheat until after precipitation. This meant planting the wheat about two weeks late; however, it is emerging nicely at this time. Unless our fall is cut short, it should do just fine. Now that we were able to get our wheat crop up, the next big issue is that soil water is very scarce below the top foot due to the dry summer. Wheat following summer fallow is probably okay; however, wheat following any summer crop will need a lot of water this winter and next spring if it is to produce grain. I have never seen soil conditions so dry below the top foot.

Nebraska Agricultural Statistics Service:

Corn harvest was about 66% complete Monday, compared to 28% last year and 20% on average. Some standing grain in North Central counties was still at 20% moisture, causing producers to focus on soybeans.

Soybean harvest jumped to 66% complete, compared with 53% last year and 40% average. Moisture levels were often well below standard.

Copyright 2000 by the University of Nebraska

Published by University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension in the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources Cooperating with the counties and the U.S. Department of Agriculture

University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension educational programs abide with the non-discrimination policies of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the United States Department of Agriculture.