Day one on the Pro Farmer Crop Tour had our split route heading north out of Columbus, then angling our way northeast through the counties of Marion and Crawford then west through Seneca, Sandusky, Wood, Henry, and Paulding. I was paired with driver and meteorological expert Jason Cali from DRW out of Chicago IL.
On the corn side we sampled a high of 266 bu./acre in Marion Co. with a low in Henry Co. of 133 bu./acre. The average corn yield on our OH route was 185 bu./acre. Starting off with a bang like that made me wonder if this crop might have a shot at being close to as good as last year. Not to be. While still a good Ohio corn crop, it’s not the 190 bu./acre crop forecast earlier by USDA. Signs that the earlier heat and dry weather has taken their toll were evident. Tip back and ears that had a tough time deciding how many kernels around to maintain became more common.
Disease and insect pressure were very light and not impacting yield significantly. Some physoderma brown spot was noted in Wood Co. but nothing serious. More concerning was the tar spot found in Paulding Co. as well as the smattering of gray leaf spot scattered throughout many of the fields we sampled. Insect pressure was almost nonexistent although we frequently noted pressure from four-legged pests. Aside from that, the corn was standing like a soldier. Maturity was so-so. Some of the corn was denting while most was dough stage. It will need the month of September to reach maturity and if it’s like most Ohio crops, you can almost make book that it will get it.
On the soybeans side, our 3’x3’ measurements jumped around a lot, with a high of 1824 pods in Seneca Co. with a zero the previous stop in the same county. The plants in that sample were roughly 18” tall with plenty of flowers but no pods having been set, yet. It was possibly a replant field. Highly unlikely that it was a double crop field as there was volunteer corn in it. It too should have the benefit of Ohio’s typically kind fall weather so that zero is highly unlikely to remain that way. The average pod count on our OH route on the day was 962, well below average. Heavy recent rain should allow pods to be maintained as long as diseases don’t become a factor.
Disease pressure on our soybean samples was extremely low. SDS was noted on some of the first fields we sampled. After that it was a no-show. As far as foliar disease, it’s likely some of these fields had been sprayed with a fungicide. More and more in Ohio and the I-states, it has become standard operating procedure. Insect pressure too was almost nonexistent. Some grasshoppers on a field border were about the extent of the insect pressure. No soybean aphids or Japanese beetles.
One of the most common sights on our route was the numerous rolls of tile to be installed on a large number of fields. There was also a lot that had been plowed in already. The heavy rains had left standing water in many places and the soil surface was shiny almost everywhere today. With crop prices being good, this presented a golden opportunity to correct some of the drainage issues or improve upon some where it was lacking in areas. As one of my favorite late customers always said, “Tile doesn’t cost. Tile pays.”
We sample the western side of Indiana tomorrow and some will get a glimpse of the eastern IL crop. Getting our hour of sleep back on Day Two always something to look forward to.