What I am hearing so far this fall are very erratic yield reportsfrom growers. Some growers are pleasantly surprised at better than expected yields while others are very disappointed. Nearly all growers are finding much more variability in yields than ever before. Why is this so common? We had terribly stressful weather conditions while seeds were filling out in both corn and soybeans. A lack of any rainfall and higher than normal temperatures created unusual stress in August and early September. I think growers will see a direct relationship with organic matter levels in their soil and grain yields. Organic matter holds both nutrients and soil water. Sandy loam soils have only 1 to 2 percent organic matter while the high organic matter clay looms may hold 5-6 percent organic matter. Available water for plant growth varies from as little as 2 inches in sandy loam soils to 11 inches in clay loam soils. These are the “black soils” that growers often say have the best years when we have slightly droughty conditions. These soils can be very productive if properly drained. Some of the yield difference this fall is due to plant genetics. Certain varieties have better root systems and for other reasons, just naturally tolerate moisture stress better. Some of our fields had soil compaction problems last fall due to the muddy harvest conditions or were planted this spring in late May when soil conditions were less than ideal. This certainly hurt yields on these fields. Plants with good soil fertility and weed control will naturally handle stressful conditions better so fertilizer and herbicide selection could be part of the equation too. Planting dates may also play a role. It’s easy to jump to the wrong conclusion this fall for reasons as to why yields in certain fields were depressed. The real cause may be any one or combination of the factors listed above. Stalk rot common Corn growers are seeing a fair amount of lodging in some of their fields this fall. The cause is most likely stalk rot rather than corn borer. To determine if stalk rot is the cause, cut stalks open at the point where stalks are bending. If the stalk is rotting at the node, then the problem is stalk rot. As the fall progresses, the tissue inside gradually breaks down reducing stalk strength. Infected stalks are more likely to lodge in windstorms. Stalk rot is a disease that is usually more common when the growing season has included some type of stress such as drought. Growers will find some fields and certain hybrids are hit much harder than others. We recommend to scout fields now and harvest those that are beginning to lodge first. This will reduce harvest losses. Avoid freeze-up of home sewage system What is the number one headache for residents living in rural areas? How about freeze-up of the sewage system in January during the coldest week of the winter? Well problems are a close second, but blocked sewage pipes really alter our lifestyle. Here are a few pointers to make sure this doesn’t happen to your system this winter. Freeze-ups are probably most common where new homes have been built late in the summer and the soil over the drain field lacks a sod cover. Sod serves as insulation and reduces frost depth in the soil. In these areas, add a straw mulch to help insulate the soil. Keep a snow cover on the drainfield and stay off the area with snowmobiles or any other machine that may compact the snow. Snow serves as great insulation when it is fluffy. It loses its insulation value when it becomes compacted. Compacted soils in driveways will tend to freeze deeper. Sewage pipes going through driveways need to be insulated. Irregular use of the sewage system can cause pipes to freeze up. Sewage systems are designed to have a fairly regular flow of sewage. Low usage may not be sufficient to keep the system from freezing. Inspection pipes should be capped to prevent cold air from entering the system. When a septic system freezes, it’s best to call your plumber who can use either a steamer or high pressure jetters to thaw the line. If pipes cannot be thawed, then the septic tank needs to be used as a holding tank until the system thaws out toward spring. Whenever the septic tank is full, it will have to be emptied by a pumper so homeowners will need to limit water usage. The answer to frozen systems is not antifreeze, salt or continuous running of water. Spending a few extra minutes this fall to make sure the system is protected from cold temperatures may save homeowners money and, more importantly, unnecessary stress later this winter. Corn hybrid comparisons
