IP Crop Report, June Report

This monthly feature from SSGA’s Agronomy Action Team highlights growing conditions for Identity Preserved crops from different regions around the country. Thanks to the states/regions that contributed this month. If you would like to contribute, please get in touch with David Kee or Shane Frederick. You can also follow David Kee on Twitter for some of the latest, most-interesting information on agronomy and research that affect IP and other farmers.

Illinois

The Illinois soybean crop is all over the board. There was some early planting but not near the acres as in 2021. Some of the wettest areas of the state just finished planting in the last few days … so quite the spread from late April to mid-late June. The condition of the crop is almost as variable as the planting dates – some good stands but a lot of average stands and a fair amount of acres south of Springfield that had to be replanted. With the beans in the vegetative stages across most of the state, they should survive the current heat wave ok. Let’s just hope it breaks sooner rather than later.

Wheat harvest is just beginning this week with good yields being reported. The double crop beans will be planted right behind the combine, but in many cases, in the heart of the wheat belt, there is probably not enough moisture to get them up. It is not unheard of to grow 50-60 bu DC beans, but laying in dry dirt waiting for a rain to emerge is not a good start.

Michigan

The Michigan soybean crop was planted a couple of weeks later than planned, but planting progress caught up to average by early June. The USDA reported that the crop was 90% planted as of June 12 with 74% emerged. Planting conditions were mostly good with soil moisture and temperatures allowing consistent and timely emergence. Some challenges included soil crusting of fields that were planted while they were a little wet and a few areas that received heavy rains after planting. But, in many cases, timely rainfall softened soil crusting and allowed emergence of adequate stands.

Soybean stands and crop health are good in most cases. USDA rated the crop as 78% good to excellent and 22% poor to fair. Across the state, fields can be found that have not yet emerged up to those with several trifoliate leaves. Weed control from preemergent herbicides is mostly good due to rainfall following applications. Herbicide shortages or timing of availability was noticed in some areas, but substitutions were made and acres were treated. While herbicide and fertilizer prices are high, supplies have been mostly adequate. Some industry personnel have credited the later-than-normal planting dates to get product in place before it was needed.

Many growers have credited early planting dates with high yields in the recent past. Since early planting was not possible in most places this year, high yields will depend more on the weather conditions between now and crop maturity. Most growers remain optimistic with the soybean crop mostly planted, good stand establishment and strong commodity prices.

Minnesota

Planting season has been difficult this year, but it is largely completed in Minnesota. Small grains have been extremely delayed. Some farmers have chosen to plant soybeans and other crops due to the extremely limited small grain planting window. There is considerable conversation on filing for prevent plant, however, strong commodity prices are driving farmers toward late plantings. Time will tell each farmer what the best decision was.

According to the latest USDA-NASS Minnesota Crop Progress Report, much of Minnesota is wet. In that report, topsoil moisture supplies were rated 4% very short-short, 71% adequate and 25% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 3% very short-short, 73% adequate and 24% surplus. Drought-impacted acreage (D0-D4) have shrunk from 54% in mid-March to 1.7% on June 6. Dry soil is not currently a problem in most of Minnesota.

Soil temperature, at 4 inches, has been greater than 55^o F since May 15 at Lamberton and Waseca in south Minnesota. Rainfall/ wet soils have limited the planting window. Frost damage occurred in May but, due to late planting, variable crop emergence, and growth stage, was quite scattered. Replanting is occurring on some acreage, largely due to drown out. The predicted June heat wave has caused some concern, especially with small grains, but should not be a severe problem if it is short-lived.

Pre-emerge herbicide application has been difficult. In some cases, farmers had to choose between planting or applying herbicide. Efficacy is always a concern but, in most fields, appears to be largely effective. Over-the-top herbicide applications (like planting) are later than normal but in full swing. Excessive wind speeds have limited some application efforts. Seedling disease and insect reports appears to be mainly impacting corn and wheat currently.

Overall, crops appear to be in decent shape overall, and growers are still cautiously optimistic of attaining an average yield. Timely summer rainfall will still be critical for crop success.

Missouri

Corn is now nearly all planted (96%) in Missouri with some poor stands and replant in saturated soils. An estimated 89% of the crop has emerged. Overall corn crop condition is mostly good (67%) to fair (19%) currently.

Soybean first crop planting will finish up in the next week with very hot and dry conditions across the state in mid-June. An estimated 71% of the crop is planted with 56% of it emerged. An estimated 57% of crop is in good condition.

Most soft red winter wheat acres across Missouri are in good condition, and with hot, dry weather projections, wheat should be maturing rapidly (estimated 99% of the crop is headed). About 2% of the winter wheat crop is harvested, so the opportunity for double-crop soybean should be good with a timely wheat harvest.

An estimated 95% of the Missouri rice crop has emerged with 56% of it being in good condition.

The cotton crop is progressing nicely. About 97% of the crop is planted with 4% of it squaring. Overall, the crop is in good shape with 70% of it reported as good condition.

Despite the weather being a challenge to planting this spring, the overall planted percentage is about on track with the 5-year average. It is a testament to the ability of farmers to plant a high number of acres in very narrow windows of opportunity.

North Dakota

Planting continues in North Dakota in mid-June. According to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, soybean planting was 75% for the week ending June 12, which is well behind 97% last year and 94% for the five-year average. Planting for other crops was also delayed. Planting progress for other crops: spring wheat 91%, durum wheat 83%, corn 90%, canola 86%, sugar beets 98%, oats 95%, barley 90%, sunflowers 70%. Crop % emergence was generally low relative to average due to challenging seeding conditions such as soil saturation and cresting issues.

Farmers are still planting crops after the final planting date despite the reduced crop insurance coverage. Across much of the Northern Plains, the final planting date for soybeans and dry beans is June 10. It’s past the final planting date for soybeans, but farmers are pushing past those final dates due to higher commodity prices this year.

Some growers switched to earlier maturity soybean varieties because s shorter season soybean variety might be a better fit with the delayed planting this season. Availability of seed and trait packages with early maturity ratings might be an issue this year. A few farmers are planting soybean varieties a little long because shorter day seed wasn’t available.

According to the North Dakota State University Crop and Pest Report, grasshopper nymphs are being observed in field edges of spring wheat and the fields soybeans in southeast and southwest, and north-central areas of North Dakota. Other pests such as bean leaf beetle and cutworms are slowly increasing in North Dakota fields. Dr. Janet Knodel, NDSU extension entomologist, advises farmers to do routine scouting (once a week) for pests such as cutworms, grasshoppers and bean leaf beetle as newly planted crops start to emerge.