Boy, if you want change, wait a week in Iowa. Last Monday, I blogged about "what a spring" we are experiencing. It is quite a spring. The crop was progressing nicely and then on Tuesday the phone calls started coming in. I had written about uneven emergence and that is still a problem. The areas in fields that historically hold water are holding back crop progress as well. Soil temperatures seem to be the culprit. I have been recording daily soil temperatures since April 1. There have not been any days 60 degrees or higher, 12 days 57 to 59 degrees, 10 days 55 & 56 degrees, 12 days 50 -54 degrees and 3 days of 49 degrees. These are scattered over the whole period. It has been up and down but the last three days(Friday through Sunday) generated 12 GDUs. You may ask if that is good or not. Last Thursday, 11 GDUs were recorded. It has been cold and it is not benefiting the crop. I am not telling nay of you something you don't know, but if you are noticing problems with the crop, this is probably the reason.
We had some frost here in Keota on Sunday morning. It did nip some corn I saw this morning. I flagged the seedlings and took photos. I will go back next Monday and see what happens to those same seedlings. Some opinions say that they will be just fine. Others say that the dead plant tissue will get in the way of the growing point and not allow it to emerge. I guess we will find out in this situation. I would have more confidence if the weather would warm up and allow the plant to get to work.
I check Missouri Extension web page and ISU web page looking for black cutworm progress. NE Missouri had another intense capture on May 7. This projects cutting for May 28. If GDUs don't increase it may be august before cutting begins.
Tomorrow night is Al Kluis' webinar. I will not be available to watch but starting in June I will get them back on the schedule.
If you have any other questions, be sure to contact me.
Perri
319-929-7851
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