August 24, 2007

Michael Rethwisch, Extension Educator in Butler County: Recent winds and rain have been both positive and negative. Most growers are done irrigating due to more than adequate rainfall in August (8+ inches). Winds from storms have caused corn in some fields to lean and in some locations, quite extensively.

Ralph Kulm, Extension Educator in Holt and Boyd counties: Continuing rain in this area has resulted in rapidly improving conditions. The amount of rain has varied from area to area but nearly everyone has probably received 2 inches during the past two weeks and some have received 4 inches or more. This moisture was badly needed to restart growth in pastures and alfalfa fields. Dryland crops that were not too badly damaged by drought will gain tremendously. Irrigators will welcome the opportunity to shut irrigation engines off for a few days. Irrigated corn is well into the dent and soybeans are at R6. Some of the edible beans are being cut and some early potatoes are coming out.

Gary Lesoing, Extension Educator in Nemaha County: The area has seen significant rain the past two to three weeks with some areas having heavy rains and wind. Parts of Nemaha, Richardson and Johnson counties have fields with corn down. Reports from eastern Richardson County have several fields that are almost flat. Some corn on hilly fields has signs of nitrogen deficiency and some has been harvested for silage. In general corn yields should be very good if the crop can be harvested. Most soybeans are in the R6 stage and look good. There's little incidence of disease. Soybean aphid populations are low in fields scouted and bean leaf beetle populations are not at high levels yet in fields I have checked. Some fields have high grasshopper populations, especially around the borders. Some fields may need to be treated if grasshoppers start eating pods.