By WCM Staff on 8/19/2008 2:05 PM

To maximize wheat yields in 2009 it is imperative that growers plant certified or private (professionally prepared) seed that is true to variety, clean, and has a high germination percentage (>85%).

Read More »

By WCM Staff on 8/7/2008 9:58 AM

Wisconsin saw a record number of winter wheat acres planted (350,000) in the 2008 growing season, up from the 290,000 planted the previous year. The estimated yield for the 2008 crop is 68 bu/a, down 1.5% from last year.

Read More »

By WCM Staff on 6/18/2008 12:37 PM

Unprecedented rainfall continues to cause flooding and ponding leading to problems for corn establishment on 5 to 10% of planted acres in southern Wisconsin. Flooded and ponded areas have existed long enough now so that plants have been killed and areas need to be replanted. Most planted acres are still in good shape, but fertilizer and herbicide treatments need to be applied as soon as possible since the majority of the crop is at the V4-V5 stage and lay-by (V-10) will be occurring within the next two weeks.

Read More »

By WCM Staff on 6/13/2008 2:47 PM

Recent rains have caused flooding and ponding in many cornfields. Growers are concerned about corn growth and development and any yield effects that might occur from short periods of flooding. The extent to which flooding injures corn is determined by several factors including: 1) timing of flooding during the life cycle of corn, 2) frequency and duration of flooding, and 3) air-soil temperatures during flooding

Read More »

By WCM Staff on 6/12/2008 6:37 AM

How to Work with Your Agent and Insurance Company: The demand for crop insurance claim adjustment will be significant this month across several states in the Midwest. Time is crucial, as potential crop yields decrease each day for late planted or replanted crops. As a result, farmers will want rapid and accurate loss adjustment and to move on to replanting or converting insured acres to other crop uses as soon as possible.

Read More »

By WCM Staff on 6/11/2008 11:46 AM

Farmers with crop insurance may trigger late or prevented planting coverage or may want to use replant provisions. This article briefly describes replant provisions and late and prevented planting coverage for APH and CRC and the forage seeding and forage production policies. The take home message is, if you have a question, contact your crop insurance agent and find out the rules and your options.

Read More »

By WCM Staff on 6/11/2008 10:40 AM

The recent heavy rainfall and flooding in parts of Wisconsin made national news, just like the flooding last August. Farmers with crop insurance will receive indemnities for their crop losses, but not all farmers have crop insurance and not all losses are to crops. This article is a quick summary of current federal assistance available from the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) for farmers affected by the recent flooding.

Read More »

By WCM Staff on 6/11/2008 10:05 AM

Severe flooding has many low-lying soybean fields underwater. As the water dissipates yield potential and replant questions will arise. Flooding can be divided into either water-logging, where only the roots are flooded, or complete submergence where the entire plants are under water

Read More »

By WCM Staff on 6/4/2008 1:47 PM

Commodity prices for new crop wheat ($5.86; 6/4/08, Southern WI) and new crop soybean ($12.30; 6/4/08, Southern WI) have some growers contemplating double cropping soybean after wheat in Wisconsin. Double crop soybean is a common and profitable practice across southern Missouri, southern Illinois, and Indiana and across much of Arkansas, Kentucky, and Tennessee.

Read More »

By WCM Staff on 5/21/2008 2:34 PM

Many of us, including myself, have planted under less than ideal soil conditions this spring. Often the ground was worked a little on the wet side leading to clods and variable seeding depths for our soybean crop. Early reports of variable and delayed emergence in conventional (more common) and no-till soybean is raising replant and seed viability questions in several areas across the Midwest.

Read More »

By WCM Staff on 5/15/2008 12:24 PM

Sales of standing forage require agreement on price and a method of determining yield whether forage is sold by the bale or ton. This factsheet describes a method to help buyer and seller determine an appropriate price range for short term sales.

Read More »

By WCM Staff on 5/8/2008 2:28 PM

As the 2008 planting season progresses, growers are becoming increasingly concerned about yield loss due to delays. Yield penalties start to become significant after May 10-15, but what growers really need to worry about is the increased drying costs that will likely happen in the harvest season if planting is delayed much longer.

Read More »

By WCM Staff on 5/8/2008 1:03 PM

A variety of conditions have increased the value of feed this year. To demonstrate the economic significance of reducing dry matter loss in forage production, an analysis was conducted assuming good and fair management practices for alfalfa and corn forage for a 100 cow herd.

Read More »

By WCM Staff on 5/1/2008 2:19 PM

Farmers are getting anxious about the delays occurring for corn planting this year. Little field work has taken place so far and planting will be further delayed not only in Wisconsin but throughout the U.S. Corn Belt. Research data indicates that the optimum date for corn planting in southern Wisconsin is May 1 and in the north it is May 5.

Read More »