IP Crop Network, August 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 should also follow David Kee on Twitter for some of the latest, most-interesting information on agronomy and research that affect IP and other farmers.

Michigan
Michigan soybeans have rolled into the month of August with as much variability as the rest of the growing season. Much of the summer has been abnormally dry in most areas of the state. Some areas have gotten a little relief from this, as scattered thunderstorms have helped with soil moisture while others are still waiting for rainfall. The growth stages of late flowering and pod fill are making the dry conditions a bigger concern for yield loss. Crop health appears better than some expect with limited moisture. As pod development asks for more energy, nutrients and moisture from the plant, crop health may be sacrificed.

The most-recent USDA crop conditions report shows 49% of Michigan soybeans are in the good and excellent categories. This is positive and appreciated by those growers. For others, we may be learning how soybeans are able to produce with small amounts of rainfall.

Growers are hopeful that the remainder of the month of August will bring good weather to improve soybean yields.

Minnesota
After an extremely difficult planting season, soil moisture in Minnesota is variable. According to the drought monitor, about 34% of the state is rated abnormally dry to severe-drought stage. Northern Minnesota is in decent shape as is much of the area bordering Iowa. Other than that border area, the southern third of the state is dry. However, farmers remain cautiously optimistic. Soil moisture is variable, but sufficient for most of the state. USDA-NASS reports topsoil moisture supplies were rated 28% very short to short and 72% percent adequate to surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 24% very short to short and 76% adequate to surplus.

Corn condition was rated 7% very poor to poor and 63% good to excellent. Soybean condition was rated 5% very poor to poor and 66% good to excellent. Spring wheat condition was rated 0% very poor to poor and 82%, good to excellent.

Reports from several wind shield surveys, indicate weed-control programs were largely successful. However, canopy closure was delayed, and most farmers have used a second pass program to insure weed damage was limited, especially for waterhemp. Due to the dry and hot June and July, iron deficiency chlorosis (IDC) flared up in many western Minnesota soybean fields. Other diseases/syndromes were evident but not widespread. It is a bit early for soybean sudden death, brown stem rot or white mold to become evident.

Crop growth is progressing, but slightly behind schedule. Soybeans blooming or beyond reached 81%, five days behind average. Soybeans setting pods reached 36%. Corn silking was at 75%, five days behind the 5- year average. Corn dough reached 13%. Spring wheat was 100% headed and 45% coloring. It appears, due to the delayed planting date, the harvest window will be very compacted.

Actual corn and soybean yield in 2022 will be greatly dependent on rain fall and soil moisture loss as seed/kernels fill over the next six weeks. This past weekend’s storm was very helpful. However, NOAA is predicting much of Minnesota will have a drier and warmer-than-normal August and September. Due to the late planting and variable soil moisture status, yield estimates are highly variable

Missouri
Corn and soybeans look average overall north of I-70. However, in much of Missouri, there’s a fear that, while the corn looks good, hot, dry weather during pollination might cause that look to be deceiving. Likely, we lost a lot of top-end yield potential (50-60 bu.) during that dry weather even though rain has picked up recently. South of I-70 some producers have begun chopping corn for silage to salvage some value as the drought is much more severe in that region. Some producers in southwest and southeast Missouri are weighing the option of chopping soybeans as well to supplement feed, as hay quality is very poor and soybean yields are not promising. Disease pressure overall has been low throughout the state although some of the hot weather has made symptoms of what diseases are present to be more prominent. Rains through August are going to be critical to finish out the soybean crop as soil moisture levels are still low.

Corn across Missouri was 95% silking in the Aug. 8 USDA report with 66% at dough. Corn rated good represented only 44% of the crop. The soybean crop is progressing with 78% of it blooming and 44% of the crop setting pods. Overall, the soybean crop rated good represented 42% of the planted crop. Cotton is progressing, and 91% of crop is squaring, which is behind this time last year (2021 was 100% squared). Only 67% of the cotton crop is setting bolls, which is 21% behind 2021’s crop as of Aug. 8. Overall, the 2022 cotton crop rated good only represents 47% of that planted. The Missouri rice crop is progressing, but only 35% of the crop is rated good with 16% rated excellent. To update our rangeland and pasture crops with the seen drought conditions across the state, the Missouri pasture and range condition rated good is only 20%.

North Dakota
Crop-growing conditions are ranging from good to excellent in the majority of North Dakota’s production areas. Relatively higher-yield potential is anticipated if there are timely rains and decent harvesting conditions in the fall.

Crops are being observed at a wide range of growth stages. Soybeans are heading to pod development stages — the most critical period for having minimal stress to maintain yield potential. Winter wheat is being harvested this week and following weeks. Spring wheat fields planted in early April are expected to be harvested in a couple of weeks.

Few foliar diseases were noted yet in soybeans, except for reports of bacterial spots in some fields. Crop protection efforts continue with high disease potential and insect pressure in certain areas. Grasshoppers remain a concern in certain areas where they are chewing up heads and pods. Soybean aphid and cereal aphid numbers continue to rise, but the majority of fields have aphid numbers that are well below threshold levels. Weed management activities at this stage are primarily focused on scouting for weed escapes and late-emerging weeds and monitoring weed population in the field.

Overall, crops are advancing quickly under good growing conditions in North Dakota. Timely rains in August are welcome as it is one of the critical yield determining factors.