June 6 2008

June 6, 2008

Greetings,

Very welcome rains have fallen, and maybe even a little bit extra. Sure is strange how when you are looking at your soybeans laying in dry soil how much you want a rain, and then after 3 inches of rain you want it to it stop! The corn is needing some heat, but the stand looks good. We are having some problems with pheasant and burrowing animals, but that is typical. Flax stand is the best I have had so far. It is needing some sun as well. I put on valor last fall and Calisto this spring. Weed control is looking good so far. I plan on a buctril and select application shortly. The cool weather is not good for glyphosate and we may need to hit the corn again. With crop prices and other expenses where they are at I don't think it is even a question about adding and extra weed control trip.

We are in the final stages of planning for our 2008 field day which will be held Thursday, July 10. We will be covering our usually current growing season issues to machinery and new this year will be a cover crop discussion. I would like to visit with the attendees about their views on down pressure with the corn planter. It seems every one I talk to has a little bit different view. Since rain was not in the forecast during planting this year, I took some time to do more adjusting. It seemed the least down pressure was the best especially in the strip till when I was able to hit the strips. The RTK works very well on the tractor, but using a 3 point mounted strip till machine can cause the tractor to crab occasionally resulting in slight drift from side to side. The end result is the planter will not always be right on the strip requiring a little more aggressive settings. Anyway, a topic worthy of further pursuit.

Next on the list of things to do will be 2nd trip on corn with herbicide, 1rst on beans, and winter wheat fungicide to protect the flag leaf.

Have a safe week.

Kelly Cooper- farm manager