From The Rows | Aug. 17, 2021 — Mark Bernard (East)
Day two of the 2021 Pro Farmer Crop Tour found Dan Sturgill and I deadheading north once again with the TV crew of Mike & Don to grab a few samples in NW IN. From there it on to IL to sample primarily along US 24 for the duration. We made good time and got our samples done in a timely fashion in the counties of Iroquois, Livingston, Ford and McLean.
Corn yields on today’s route were respectable in IN on the two samples we pulled, averaging 180 in Jasper & Newton Co. Our combined two-day IN average was 186. The samples we pulled today were probably not from what would be considered the prime spots in IN but that’s why we sample it. To get a representative sample of the big picture, not take only the prime cuts or just the hamburger.
On our route, IL went through the counties of Iroquois, Ford, Livingston and McLean. As a good Il friend of mine used to say, they got some good dirt over there. Our route’s average corn yield in IL was 180 bu./acre. The high we found was a 223 bu./acre yield in Livingston Co. and the low we measured was in Iroquois Co. at 111 bu./acre. The soils in Iroquois Co. where we sampled are a bit fickle. Lower organic matter, yet needing drainage but also capable of drying out.
The soybean pod counts in the 3’x 3’ averaged 1305 on our route, with a high of 1589 in Ford Co. and a low of 857 in Iroquois Co. Aside from a couple outliers, the IL soybean crop we sampled solid and consistent. When pulling the three plants, it seemed like I always found Papa bear, Mama bear and Baby bear. One monster, one normal sized and one small one. I was favorably impressed with this soybean crop and if others samples concur as some have, this IL soybean crop could be a real beast.
The diseases were largely no shows again today in both crops. A few times an occasional soybean plant was spotted with SDS although it was very light. Soybean breeding programs have done an outstanding job of breeding for tolerance/resistance and the seed treatments available have made this one-time monster into more of a novelty in most fields. Likewise in the corn. Some gray leaf spot but it was below the ear. One field in Newton CO. had serious issues with northern corn leaf blight and the yield estimate reflected that.
Insect pressure was also light again today. Like last year, we occasionally saw a few token Japanese beetles and bean leaf beetles in soybean fields. There was some evidence of seriously lodged corn in one sample, possibly due to root feeding by corn rootworms. No soybean aphids were noted in any of our samples. Given the number of syrphid flies we’re seeing, it’s not surprising. Those annoying hover flies (they’re not sweat bees) are actually the adult form resulting from a larva (maggot) that eats soybean aphids. Who knew?
We did have an encounter with a farmer this afternoon as were sampling his corn and soybeans in Livingston Co. Dan was busy pulling the corn sample while I was finishing the bean pod counts on the tailgate. A pickup approached, went by, then suddenly turned around, spinning a little gravel in the process. Uh oh, I thought, here comes a butt chewing as made a mental note where the pod count was: #13. Not a good omen.
The farmer rolled down his window as he approached and asked, “Well, how are they?” I didn’t have to lie and told him the beans were fantastic. I introduced myself and told him who I was and what we were up to. Much to my surprise he said, “I know who you guys are and I really appreciate what you’re doing”. Whew… I offered him my hat and he said, “Hey wait, let’s trade!” He collects hats and had a tote full of brand-new hats to choose from. Dan sweetened the pot and gave him a Crop Tour T-shirt. Asked if he was coming to the evening meeting but he had the local fair going on. Expect a butt chewing, make new a friend instead. Can’t beat it.
All in all another good day on the Crop Tour. Temperatures are supposed to heat up with sunny skies as we sample our way across IL to our destination in Iowa City tomorrow night. C’mon rain…
