Ag Tips from JJ Archive

By: Jonah T. Johnson, MS, CPAg, CCA - Sales Agronomist, PCT | Sunrise

2020 Season Archive

November 24, 2020: Mixing extra nutrients with your starter fertilizer in 2021? Be cautious!

Choosing high-quality, chelated starter-fertilizers are important from the compatibility perspective. When choosing nutrients, make sure to ask if they are chelated, what they are chelated with and will they be compatible?

Tune in with Jonah T. Johnson, PCT | Sunrise Sales Agronomist, for Mixology 101!
 

November 10, 2020: Are you expecting “Thanksgiving corn?

Ohio has a large amount of corn acres presently awaiting harvest in Ohio. As the season persists, corn stalk rots are becoming more evident in fields and causing lodging issues. Join Jonah T. Johnson, PCT | Sunrise Sales Agronomist, this week as he discusses corn stalk rots and and how to diagnose them.
 

October 23, 2020: Black beans, spotted beans...what’s going on in my field?

Prior to soybean harvest, growers can examine plants and learn a lot about certain soybean diseases that may have infected their fields earlier in the growing season. Soybeans showing different expressions of black lesions, poor root masses, small seed size and perhaps white, chalky, wrinkled seed can all be signs of diseases. Tune in with Jonah T. Johnson, PCT | Sunrise Sales Agronomist, on soybean diseases identification on anthracnose, diaporthe and phomopsis seed decay.
 

October 14, 2020: Still considering planting wheat? Listen in for recommendations to set you up for success!

Some growers are experiencing soybean or corn crops that are slowly maturing and drying down, which is delaying the soft red winter wheat planting. As we get further into October, seeding rates and herbicide programs need adjusted for an optimal planting. Tune in with Jonah T. Johnson, PCT | Sunrise Sales Agronomist, for his recommendations for success!
 

October 7, 2020: Have mold on your ears? Check out our tips for identification and management.

Corn ear molds can be a common occurrence in the fall. Environmental conditions during the early reproductive stages up through late grain fill usually dictate if we have grain quality issues associated with mycotoxins. Tune in with Jonah T. Johnson, PCT | Sunrise Sales Agronomist, for tips on how to spot and manage corn ear molds.
 

September 16, 2020: Have Escaped Weeds? Fall Weed Seeds Equal Spring Problems!

Starting the growing season with weed free fields may need to begin in the previous autumn. Late emerging summer annuals along with winter annual weeds can create issues for the following spring planting season. Listen in for this to a successful fall weed control program!
 

September 2, 2020: Have You Checked for Dents in Your Ears? Corn that is...

Grain quality and test weight are both important grain characteristics for end users, as well as producers. Kernel weight variations can affect test weight and overall yield. Join Jonah T. Johnson, PCT | Sunrise Sales Agronomist for tips on how to visually detect variations in grain quality and density.
 

August 26, 2020: Got Yellow Beans?

Adverse environmental conditions challenged soybeans in many areas of Ohio in 2020. Some growers have experienced fields that did not nodulate effectively and have led to nitrogen deficient soybeans. Join PCT | Sunrise Sales Agronomist Jonah T. Johnson as he covers some ideas to help these yellow soybeans!
 

August 12, 2020:  Have You Checked Your Ears Yet?

Many fields in Ohio are nearing the time to check corn ears for yield estimates for the fall harvest. Join PCT | Sunrise Sales Agronomist Jonah T. Johnson this week as he goes through the “math” to calculate estimated yield for your farm!

 
July 29, 2020: Bare spots in your beans? Late-season Phytophthroa stem rot may be the culprit.

Late-season Phytophthora can be a culprit if you are finding areas of dead soybean plants in wet areas of your fields.
Join Jonah T. Johnson, Sales Agronomist with PCT | Sunrise for tips to diagnose some of the major soybean diseases in Ohio.
 

July 22, 2020: Fungicide or Not to Fungicide! Make sure to ask a few questions!

Foliar disease evaluation and scouting is always important when considering a fungicide application. Varying environmental conditions could impact disease progression this summer. Join Jonah T. Johnson, PCT | Sunrise Sales Agronomist, as he looks at Ohio’s predominant corn diseases and how to set up a fungicide application for success!
 

July 1, 2020: How Deep Did You Go? Discovering Planting Depth And Planter Issues.

Join Jonah T. Johnson, PCT | Sunrise Sales Agronomist, as he looks at planting depth and planter based down pressure issues showing their ugly head!
 

June 26, 2020: In Herbicides We trust! Waterhemp or Palmer Amaranth? Hope you don't have either!

Tune in today with PCT | Sunrise Sales Agronomist Jonah T. Johnson and Research Agronomist Bryan Reeb as they give tips to ID and suppress Palmer Amaranth and Waterhemp!

The pigweed species, specifically common Waterhemp and Palmer Amaranth have become very challenging weeds in soybean production. If not properly identified and addressed, successful weed control programs can fail and lead to yield loss on your farm.
 

June 15, 2020: Are you seeing spots? On your crops that is?

Listen in with PCT | Sunrise Sales Agronomist Jonah T. Johnson as he explains why you may be seeing crop response on corn and soybeans from recent crop protection applications!
 

June 11, 2020: Are your corn and wheat fields under “attack"?

True Armyworm is marching into fields and causing high levels of damage. Tune in with PCT|Sunrise Sales Agronomist Jonah Johnson for more info.

    
June 3, 2020: A guide to your late-planted soybean maturity and seeding rates
Do you have soybean replant? Or your initial plant? Join PCT | Sunrise Sales Agronomist, Jonah T. Johnson guide your late-planted soybean maturity and seeding rates!

    
May 27, 2020: Slow emerging crops this year? “Dig-in” with us to explore why!
“Dig-in” with PCT | Sales Agronomist Jonah T. Johnson as he looks at a slow emerging corn field due to cold temps and wet weather.

   
May 21, 2020: Wheat heads, freeze damage and fungicide application timing
Join PCT | Sunrise Sales Agronomist, Jonah T. Johnson, as he goes through the different feeks stages and looks for freeze damage, as well as timing on head scab fungicide applications.

   
May 14, 2020: Did Your Early Beans Beat the Freeze?
Join Jonah T. Johnson, PCT | Sunrise Sales Agronomist, as he checks to see if early planted soybeans beat the most recent freeze.

  
May 7, 2020: How's Your Wheat Surviving Freeze?
Join Jonah T. Johnson, PCT | Sunrise Sales Agronomist, as he follows up with a freeze damage evaluation on a wheat field following multiple freeze events.  
 
April 28, 2020: Did Your Wheat Survive the Freeze? Check Out our Tips to Tell?
Tune into a JJ in the Field video with Jonah T. Johnson, PCT | Sunrise Sales Agronomist, as he scouts a wheat field looking at killing frost in wheat and giving some tips to tell if your wheat survived the frost.  
April 14, 2020: More cold temperatures are coming our way! Is your wheat and newly emerging soybean seedlings susceptible?
As I quoted in my last report, “April Showers Bring May Flowers…” as well as erratic temperature swings with the rain. This week’s forecast predicts more rainfall and much colder temperatures than last week.  Some areas of Ohio are calling for nightly temperatures in the lower to upper 20’s.  This is the exact reason we cautioned growers last week to be cognizant with current conditions to ensure we provide the initial 2020 crop the best chance for success.
 
April 2, 2020: What’s your  Soil temperature?? don’t plant until conditions are right!
Soil temperature, Cold Injury and Imbibitional Chilling
 
As the saying goes, April showers bring may flowers, but they can also cause unwanted planting delays for corn and soybean production. To bear the fruits of our labor in the fall, we need to give our seed the best chance we can from the day of planting, throughout the entire growing season.
 
So, like the article “catch-phrase,” asks, “what is your soil temperature?”
 
March 16, 2020: Winter wheat is greening up…Nitrogen and herbicide applications are nearing soon! Check out our spring nitrogen management and weed control tips.
Spring Nitrogen Management & Weed Control for Wheat

The warm temperatures in February had many growers contemplating an early N application to their wheat crops. Even with the recent cool down wheat development is still ahead of schedule. Nitrogen applied around the time of green-up can stimulate tillering, which is important if stands are thin. If stand counts look good (24-28 plant/sq. ft) and have good tillering which most wheat fields have then waiting to apply spring N just before jointing is advised. Applying N to good stands too early this year could promote too much growth, earlier jointing and make them more prone to freeze injury. Wheat begins to take N up rapidly after jointing, similar to the way corn begins to take up N rapidly after V7/8; so final applications of N should be complete by jointing. Only consider a split application if more than 120 lbs. of N/ac are being applied.
 
March 2, 2020: Do you have a dense cover crop from last fall still? Recent University suggests to alter your “residual” herbicide application till after terminating the cover crop!
If you incorporated a cover crop onto your farms in 2019 and plan on terminating this crop prior to planting, herbicide application timing could be exceptionally important this year!
 
A common “burn-down” herbicide application typically includes glyphosate, a growth-regulator type herbicide (i.e. 2,4-d) and a “residual” type herbicide to prevent weed initiation, hopefully long enough to allow a crop to canopy bare soil.
 
January 15, 2020: Is your grain in the bin going out of condition?
Happy New Year! I hope you all had a Merry Christmas and are looking forward to a better year in 2020!

As we reflect on the 2019 harvest season, I think we can all attest that harvest was delayed in most areas when coupled with unfavorable weather. In many cases, grain was harvested with higher moisture (and probably lower test weight and grain quality) with urgency to complete a timely harvest.  Higher moisture grain needs to be dried (15% for corn and 13% for soybeans) and cooled (below 35-40 degrees) to prevent grain spoilage.  

2019 season Archive

December 9, 2019: Considering corn after corn in 2020? Check out these guidelines!
Growers have shared with me that they have an increased interest in planting corn after corn in 2020. Typical questions that are asked are:
  • Is there a yield penalty for planting a monoculture crop, hence corn after corn?
  • How do I manage additional residue?
  • Is there an increased fertility demand, especially nitrogen? 
November 12, 2019: Do you know your number? SCN sampling time!
Soybean Cyst Nematodes, SCN for short, have become more and more of an invasive pest among soybean growers in Ohio.  Dr. Anne Dorrance at OSU always says….”Soybean cyst nematode (SCN), Heterodera glycines, was first identified in Ohio in 1981 and has now been found on soybean in 72 of the 88 Ohio counties. SCN damages soybeans by feeding on roots, robbing the plants of nutrients, and providing wound sites for root rotting fungi to enter. The severity of symptoms and yield losses are dependent on several factors including: the number of nematodes present in the field at planting, the soybean variety, tillage practices, soil texture, fertility, pH, and environmental conditions during the growing season. Once SCN is established in a field, it rarely is eradicated. SCN is the leading cause of soybean yield loss in North America and now occurs in all major soybean production areas worldwide.
 
October 30, 2019: Have you checked your fields for post-harvest weed growth? Winter annuals are coming! Check out our fall herbicide application tips!
Agronomic weed control is becoming more and more challenging for a lot of growers across Ohio. Key practices to develop weed-free fields in the spring all begin with controlling weeds in the fall after harvest.  Winter annuals germinate in autumn or winter, live through the winter, then bloom in winter or spring. The plants grow and bloom during the cool season when most other plants are dormant or other annuals are in seed form waiting for warmer weather to germinate. 
   
October 22, 2019: Going to have a “late harvest” in 2019? If you have frost damaged corn and/or soybeans, check out these tips on grain handling!
2019 has brought many challenges throughout the entire growing season, and for some of us, it’s not over yet. Harvest has been in full swing for many operations across Ohio, but for some, the extra ordinarily late planting dates still have some operations with green corn and soybeans. As I hope the next couple weeks will allow for these crops to reach maturity, there is a possibility that some crops will experience a killing frost prior to reaching maturity.
 
October 7, 2019: Are you applying fertilizer and lime this fall? Should you apply lime and phosphorus at the same time? And what about applying fertilizer to your “prevent plant” acres?
Fall harvest is in full swing for most of Ohio, and with drier field conditions, many growers are taking advantage and having lime, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers applied to address the successive year’s crop nutrient needs. Also, growers who were unfortunately not able to plant a crop due to excessive wet soil conditions and initiated a “prevent plant” crop insurance policy to compensate for lost crop production, are also asking questions about crop input management for the 2020 crop.    
 
September 9, 2019: Watch out for late-season insect damage in corn and soybeans!
Corn and soybean growth stages varies across Ohio from seed-fill to some areas are harvesting both crops. A few insects of relevancy currently are stink bug in soybeans and corn earworm.
   
August 26, 2019: Upper-canopy, late-season potassium (K) deficiency showing in soybeans
Every year in August, soybeans are susceptible to nutrient deficiencies, some documented (i.e. soil & tissue test analysis report low K values that did not receive adequate preplant K fertilization) and some are environmentally induced. Nutrients like potassium (K) and manganese (Mn) need water to be “in-solution” for plant root availability. Typically, K deficiency shows up in the lower to middle canopy with yellowing begining at the leaf edges and moves its way towards the middle of the leaf. Severe K deficiency can cause a scorched look with plant dieback.
   
August 15, 2019: Curious what your corn will yield? Time to check your ears!
Okay, so I will back-up a step. Not everyone’s corn in Ohio is through the reproductive stages yet, but for those of you that have pollinated ears of corn, now may be the time to estimate what to expect as far as production.  
 
August 8, 2019: Problematic pigweeds are poking above the canopy! Time to scout now!
What is the first thing you think of when pigweed is mentioned? For any grower that has battled to control this pernicious weed species in agronomic crops production, they will tell you to NOT lose control of this weed family.    
 
July 18, 2019: Applying a fungicide or foliar nutrition product? Make sure to identify your soybean’s proper growth stage for proper application timing!
Ohio crops are beginning to progress, and for those of us who have interest in applying foliar fungicides and /or foliar nutrition products to our soybeans, knowing the proper growth stages is crucial to enable your crop to maximize performance from the intended application.  
 
July 9, 2019: Corn Disease Evaluation: Incidence versus Severity and Palmer Amaranth Identification
2019 has brought us many challenges and we are only halfway through!  Frequent rain events will allow the disease inoculum to keep building.  Foliar fungicide application is in full swing in some parts of Ohio.  If you have a grower who undecided about applying a foliar fungicide and wants to evaluate disease pressure before employing an application, you should always look for two things: Disease “Incidence” and “Severity.”
 
July 5, 2019: Watch out on crop growth stages & herbicide/adjuvant mixes!
Mother Nature “flipped” the switch and we are now experiencing “normal” summer temperatures in Ohio.  This quick transition from 70-degree days and 50-degree nights to 90-degree days and 70-degree nights has made crop and weed growth explode in the last five days, also leaving plants with extremely thin cuticles, similar to the outermost layer of your skin.

 
June 10, 2019: Residual Herbicide “Post-Application” Cutoffs and “Prevent Plant” Resources
Residual Herbicide “Post-Application” Cutoff
With the onset of corn planting and the sense of urgency to initiate #plant19, some growers are in the situation of having no burndown herbicide application completed prior to corn planting.  Others have emerged corn and have not applied an herbicide application.  One class of herbicides we do not want to eliminate are the residual herbicides.

 
June 4, 2019: Should I increase my soybean seeding rates? Be on the lookout for BCW!
Should I increase my soybean seeding rates?
We are all aware that some growers are progressing with #plant19, and some are unfortunately not. Planting date is major factor in setting the yield potential of soybean.

 
May 23, 2019: How does a soybean seedling emerge?  What is the proper timing for “head scab” prevention in wheat?
Soybean Germination and Emergence
With many customers planting more soybeans earlier than we have seen in the past, it is also prime time to share information on how a soybean plant develops.

 
May 15, 2019: Where’s your wheat growth stage at? Some parts of Ohio are heading and will be pollinating soon. Be on the look out for foliar disease and FHB!
F.H.B.
Fusarium head blight (F.H.B.), commonly referred as wheat “head scab,” is a common disease we can face every year, all dependent on the environmental conditions. 
Wheat in the southern part of Ohio is approaching heading or just headed, which means that flowering will start within 4-5 days, depending on temperature (heads produce small yellow anthers).
 
May 8, 2019: Do you have large weed populations in your fields? You are not alone. Looking to introduce biology into soil, reduce biomass and boost your herbicide efficacy? 
The USDA/NASS stats reiterate what we are all currently experiencing! Recent data for Ohio says only 2% of Ohio’s projected corn acreage was planted - compared to 20% last year and 27% for the five-year average. Frequent rain evens, followed by below average air temperatures has kept the planting process to minimal levels, yet the weeds keep growing!

 
April 30, 2019: It’s Wet And We Are Delayed With Planting: How Should We Adapt Our Burndown Herbicide Program?  
The Ohio State University Extension takes a look at questions on how to deal with burndown herbicide treatments in delayed planting situations.   
 
April 26, 2019: Is Your Planter Ready For 2019?  Here Is A Quick Refresher.
1. Level the Planter.
Check your hitch height. Make sure the planter’s tool bar is level (vertically) or running slightly up hill. When planters tip down, coulters run too deep and the closing wheels run too shallow. 

2. Check Tire Pressure.
While it seems basic on a ground planter, this can be the difference between a good solid stand and one that is thin due to drive tire slippage. 

3. Check Brushings and Parallel Linkage.
Worn bushings increase row bounce which increases seed bounce. Stand behind the row unit and wiggle it up and down and back and forth checking to make sure bushings are tight.
 
April 18, 2019: With the on-set of corn planting, the next question you get is “How long does it take corn to emerge?
A Few Items to Keep in Mind
  1. Imbibe 30-35% of kernel weight in water           
    1. Imbibitional chilling-absorbing cold water and causing emergence issues
    2. Important to have good seed to soil contact 

  2. Soil Temps at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit
    1. Radical elongation
    2. Seminal roots- cease growth at V3 and nodal roots (a.k.a. “adult roots” begin to emerge
    3. Energy is coming from endosperm (a.k.a. the seed reserves) 

  3. VE-Mesocotyl pushes Coleoptile through the soil surface
    1. 90-120 growing degree day’s (GDD) to emergence
    2. Crown and Nodal root are at .75 inches below soil surface
April 10, 2019: Still questioning your winter wheat stands? To destroy or not to destroy...that can be a challenging question. 
Numerous inquiries have come on whether or not to proceed with managing thin wheat stands for yield. Over the years, I have seen really thin stands perform very respectfully well. Wheat is surprisingly a very resilient crop.
 
However, if you have large holes within fields that are completely missing stands, then those are easier candidates to terminate and transition to soybeans or corn. Sometimes wheat stands in linear rows can be deceiving, especially when there is brown tissue within the row. Be sure to take adequate stand counts to quantify your yield potential and to determine the best course of action.
April 5, 2019: Curious on StandUp Fertizol family, starter fertilizers and BioBuild BioComplete mix timings
How long prior to use can PCT | Sunrise® StandUp® Fertizol® and Fertizol® Zn be mixed with starter fertilizers? Secondly, how early before applying BioBuild™ BioComplete can it be mixed with water? 
From an operations standpoint, we are aiming for a “just in time” delivery of these products to the farm when they are premixed at the plant. Ideally these products should be kept separate from the starter fertilizer and added “just in time” for planting use at the farm.  

StandUp Fertizol and Fertizol Zn
  • When mixed with starter fertilizer, the product should be applied within 24-48 hours.
  • These products are very strong and have the ability to start pulling impurities out of the starter fertilizer (e.g. 10-34-0), and occasionally can cause solids to form in the tank. This is why we recommended using as soon as possible after mixing.
  • ​When using StandUp premium starters with the Fertizol family of products, application is recommended as close as possible after being mixed. As with most product mixes, agitation/recirculation is recommended prior to application.
BioBuild BioComplete
  • Should be protected from freezing.
  • Ideally when mixing with water, it should be used as soon as possible.
  • If a rainout occurs after mixing, and the solution has to sit in a tank, try to avoid direct sunlight as much as possible when waiting to apply.
  • As a reminder, there are live organisms in this product which will continue to reproduce. Keeping out of direct sunlight slows this process, therefore minimizing solids formation.
March 26, 2019: Have you checked your winter wheat? 
Wheat has broken winter dormancy…so have the weeds.  Click for herbicide recommendations when “top-dressing” your wheat.”