As September begins, we officially welcome meteorological fall. While the autumnal equinox isn’t until September 22, the past few mornings have already brought a crisp, fall-like feel to the air.
As September begins, we officially welcome meteorological fall. While the autumnal equinox isn’t until September 22, the past few mornings have already brought a crisp, fall-like feel to the air.
Want to learn more about forage production and utilization? Consider attending “Forage Management Day” that will be held at the Southern Indiana Purdue Agricultural Center.
Summer just had to throw us a going away party in the form of extreme heat!
For those of you with late plantings of sweet corn or field corn that is still in the late stages of silking, do not let your guard down!
Pattern changes, like the one we’ve experienced in the middle of the month, are quite typical for August.
August is in full swing, and schools are back in session, but let’s remember that it’s still summer, meteorologically-speaking!
The vast majority of corn has long ago completed pollination. There are the late-planted fields that have yet to do so.
Southern corn rust has now been confirmed in four counties (Knox, Dubois, Warrick, and Shelby) this week in Indiana (Figure 1). While tar spot continues to be documented across the state (Figure 2). I suggest if you have not gotten out and looked for these diseases now is the time. Even if your corn is approaching black layer it will be important to document tar spot in your fields for the future disease management decisions. There are currently 41 counties with a positive confirmation of tar spot (Figure 2). As we are learning this season when we have had favorable environmental conditions there may be pockets of tar spot even in areas that have not seen the significant yield impacts previously. In the map all gray counties indicate that tar spot was found in the county in previous seasons. I have been getting many questions on if a late season[Read More…]
After a period of hot and humid weather where heat indices reached triple digits in some locations, we welcome cooler than normal temperatures for the next several days. It is still summer, though, so sweaters, mittens, and scarves will not be necessary! There were a few temperature records broken over the August 5-6, 2024, period, but surprisingly none otherwise across Indiana. What a nice reminder that we are usually hot and humid this time of year! In fact, the July 2024 average daily temperature (as well as the average daily maximum and minimum temperatures) were very close to normal. Does this mean global climate change is not real? Absolutely not! The key word there is “global” and while the average temperatures for the month were near normal, the variability and extremes illustrate how much the atmosphere has been agitated. Which brings us to precipitation. July’s precipitation was well above normal[Read More…]
In several weeks, some livestock producers will be chopping whole-plant corn that will be placed in an anaerobic environment so fermentation can occur. During the ensiling process, toxic gasses of nitrogen dioxide (N02) and nitrogen tetroxide (N204) are produced when nitric oxide comes in contact with oxygen. Nitrates that have not been converted to true protein are the source of nitrogen oxides. Nitrates accumulate in plants when drought and/or when excess nitrogen is present in the soil. Nitric oxide is colorless and nitrogen dioxide is reddish brown. These gases have caused permanent lung damage in people; and have killed both livestock and humans. Greatest concern is the first few days after putting the chopped forage in the silo structure or bag. However, care should be taken for ten days after packing occurs. These silo gases float down a tower silo chute and into a barn or confined area. Whenever toxic[Read More…]
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