Plant 2023 Observations
Some planting has gone well where the corn has already spiked up out of the ground. In other areas, I’ve seen pivots running just to wet the ground before planting because the ground was too dry and hard.
Strategies for Raising Dryland Sunflowers
There are several strategies that can help you achieve the best yields in dryland commercial farm fields of sunflowers. By implementing these strategies, you can improve the yield potential of sunflowers in dryland commercial farm fields.
Is your planter ready to go?
The following steps for planter preparation are just one piece of achieving your harvest goals, but as in any race, how you start is reflective of how you will finish.
Managing Tar Spot
Tar spot is caused by a fungus called Phyllachora maydis that can spread throughout corn fields in the Midwest. This disease was first found in 2015, but has quickly spread throughout Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ohio, Michigan, and Missouri.
Addressing Hail Damaged Corn
Certain areas around the Midwest have received significant hail damage to crops in recent days and weeks. After damage has occurred it is important to wait at least 5 days before assessing. This gives the crop the appropriate time to regrow and allows you to more accurately evaluate stand loss.