2022iagcroptour

[2022iagcroptour]

August 25, 2022. Another 563.9 miles today at an average speed of 43.6 mph. We made another 6 crop stops as we started the morning off in southern Wisconsin, crossed northeastern Illinois, northern Indiana, and into southern Michigan. The two maps above depict our actual GPS tracked route on the left and on the right is our route overlayed onto a vegetation index map from the USDA and NASA.

Our findings today generally mimicked what we saw on Wednesday except for one or two fields near the Illinois/Indiana borders. We saw more instances where the ears flexed to compensate for weaker populations but our corn field outside Kankakee, IL was disappointing. Meanwhile, the neighboring soybean field seemed just fine. Our next stop near Winamac, IN was the opposite with impressive corn yields on sandy ground but one of the only weak bean fields we saw all trip (To be fair, it was obviously sandy soil on a non-irrigated field in a region that is heavily irrigated.)

Otherwise, most of northern Illinois, northeastern Indiana, and southwestern Michigan could be considered a ‘garden’! As for soybeans, fill continues to be ahead of last year and soil moisture levels are generally in good condition to help finish it. Pod counts seemed strong as we did not see any widespread problems. On the other hand, it is difficult to know if the good corn yields we saw in northern Illinois will be enough to offset the harder hit areas across central Illinois we saw on Monday, similar to if northeastern Iowa can offset the loss of potential in western Iowa. My first instinct is yes to the first and no to the ladder but only the harvest will tell the true story.

Until then, we will have to contend with the results of crunching the data we collected over the course of the trip which we will tackle tomorrow. Look for that and our final wrap up Friday afternoon.

That’s it for tonight. This is the IAG Crop Tour, signing off.

[2022iagcroptour]

Our Fulton, MI soybean field was in 15" rows standing 48" tall with an estimated population of 170k per acre. Plant health was excellent with not a single insect bite on the foliage in sight. Pods were about 1/3rd full which is below the average of what we have seen on this trip but normal considering the location in southern Michigan. Pod counts were 45 and 43 on 18 and 23 nodes respectivly. Our yield guess is something in the 55 bpa range which is marginally above APH for the region.

[2022iagcroptour]

Our final stop of the 2022 crop tour was in Fulton, MI. The 30" row field had 29, 29 and 30K population per row. Plant health was excellent standing soil that measured 8.5 on the moisture meter. Ears size anywhere from 12x46 to 18x36. Ears are just starting to show some dent. Not much tip back but that is likely due to the lower populations and the favorable growing conditon. Again, the ears showed signs of flexing to compensate for the low population. Yield guess of 205 bpa.

[2022iagcroptour]

Our final stop of the 2022 crop tour was in Fulton, MI. The 30" row field had 29, 29 and 30K population per row. Plant health was excellent standing soil that measured 8.5 on the moisture meter. Ears size anywhere from 12x46 to 18x36. Ears are just starting to show some dent. Not much tip back but that is likely due to the lower populations and the favorable growing conditon. Again, the ears showed signs of flexing to compensate for the low population. Yield guess of 205 bpa.

[2022iagcroptour]

In Gravelton, IN our bean field was in 15" rows and stood 40" tall. Heavily poded plants with 75 and 61 pods on 30 and 29 nodes respectively. Half the pods were half filled and the other half was just beginning to fill. Possibly a late rain encouraged the plants to put on more pods. With plenty of moisture to fill out these pods the yield will increase accordingly. Strong populations of an evenly spaced 140K, high pod counts and plenty of moisture have set this field up for a great finish. Estimated yield - 70 BPA.

[2022iagcroptour]

As we enter the home stretch of this year's crop tour, in Gravelton, IN our 30" row corn field was weed and insect free with entirely green stalks. Populations were 27, 28 and 28K per row and ears that are just on the verge of denting. Ear sizes were consistent with almost 18 around average and 35 to 49 long. Ears were heavy to the touch and have enough moisture to finish the season strong. Estimated yield - 220 BPA.

[2022iagcroptour]

Our bean field in Winamac, IN was in 15" rows standing 38-39" tall. Field had no signs of disease or insect pressure but was standing in very dry (1.25 on the meter), sandy soil. Pod counts were 35 and 29 on 22 and 19 nodes respectively. Pods were mostly flat and just starting to fill. This field needs a rain to finish what it has started. 210K population and an average pod count needing rain lead to an average yield. Estimated yield - 45 BPA.

[2022iagcroptour]

In Winamac, IN our corn field was standing in sandy soil that measured 1.25 on the moisture meter. Considering this is a sandy dry land field we expected lower populations and this was the case. 29, 29 and 27K were the number of viable ears in each row and every ear was counted. All ears were at least 16 around and 27 to 40 long. Solid, heavy feeling ears that were almost fully dented. Soil moisture was the lowest measured yet at 1.25 on the scale. Stalks beginning to fire either from the dryness or the maturity of the plant. Either way this corn field is nearly finished. Estimated yield - 185 BPA.

[2022iagcroptour]

Our bean field in Kankakee, IL was in 15" rows with an evenly spaced 120K estimated population. This spacing led to 51 and 50 pods on 16 and 18 nodes respectively. The 46" tall plants stood in soil measuring 9 on the moisture meter at a 12" depth. Pods were over half fillled and set for a strong finish. Estimated yield - 70 BPA.

[2022iagcroptour]

In Kankakee, IL our 30"row corn field was weed and disease free. Again populations were on the light side at 30, 29 and 31K viable ears estimated. Ear sizes were also smaller than normal with 7 ears at 16 around and all ears between 24 and 33 long. Between the population and the ear sizes this field was less than impressive. Estimated yield - 175 BPA.

[2022iagcroptour]

Our bean field in Lostant,I IL was in 30", stood 40" tall and was in excellent health. With a moisture reading of 8.5, this field should have no problem finishing even having pods that are not half filled. Evenly spaced 140K population and pod counts of 22 and 50 on 14 and 26 nodes respectively. An area of hail damage was observed from the aerial pics but not enough to hinder yield . Estimated yield - 72 BPA.

[2022iagcroptour]

In Lostant, IL we found our next corn field. It was in 30" rows and starting to yellow at the bottom half of the plant. Ears were mostly dented and felt heavy to the touch having very little tipback. Sizes ranged from 14x40 to 18x37 with most in the 18x35 range. Populations of 35, 32 and 32 in the rows sampled with the two 32K pop rows having two blank stalks each perfectly spaced within the row. If not for the blank stalks this field would be superb. Estimated yield - 240 BPA.

[2022iagcroptour]

In Rochele, IL our bean field was in 30" rows and had an evenly spaced stand down the row. 41 and 62 pods on 18 and 27 nodes respectively with pods being more than half filled. Decent pod counts and nodes on the plants with clusters of 5-6 pods were noted. At only 120K popultion the plants are compensating when growing conditions warrant. Excellent plant health and weed control lend to this fields potential. Estimated yield - 75 BPA.

[2022iagcroptour]

The first stop on day 4 of this year's crop tour was in Rochele, IL. It was in 30" rows and in excellent health. Measuring 9 on the soil moisture meter this crop was in great shape for the rest of the growing season. Ears ranged from 16x27 to 20x27 with the longest ear being 16x37. All ears seemed to be on the short side but were close to an average of 18 around. With slightly longer tipback on each ear we wonder if there was heat stress at the end of pollination. This would explain the shorter than normal ears. Whatever the reason the potential of this field has been effected. Estimated yield. - 205 BPA.

[2022iagcroptour]

August 24, 2022. Day 3 of the IAG Crop Tour. We traveled 528.8 miles at an average speed of 41.8mph over the course of 13 hours. Starting in Worthington, MN we made 7 crop stops as we drove across southern Minnesota into northeastern Iowa, crossed the Mighty Mississippi at Dubuque, IA, and moved along the Illinois/Wisconsin border to end in Janesville, WI. The two maps above depict our route. The one on the left shows our actual GPS tracking while the one on the right overlays our actual route on a map of 90-day percent of normal precipitation.

Our initial thoughts on the day center around two primary concepts. First, the soybeans continue to look good with no real problems. And second, as our day progressed, we noticed an increase in consistency in our sample rows.

Let’s break these down one by one. The most consistent observation this year in every bean field we have been in is the lower half of the plant is laden with pods and pods are further into fill than we saw last year (and many years past.) Today’s sample ground had plenty of moisture to almost finish the crop although another rain wouldn’t be turned down by farmers. With the current forecast, I would suspect most are not disappointed in that regard. The soybean crop continues to be impressive. We all know soybean yields are notoriously difficult to judge but what we have seen so far we suspect is above average in yield.

As for corn, we measure three rows per field to estimate ear counts per acre. We often see variations in populations with dud or missed stalks. Sometimes this is caused by the equipment, planting conditions, growing conditions, or any other factor. What we saw today was the ear size flex to compensate. That compensation increased as we moved east. So a lower population row was offset by better ear sizes. This leads to more consistent samples which we suspect leads to a more consistent field. This logically suggests that yields are closer to maximum potential, at least in the areas that have seen the better growing season. Is it enough to offset what we saw in western Iowa and what we suspect is even worse south and west of there? Mathematically, probably not.

Tomorrow we will finish up the trip by covering northern Illinois and northern Indiana. We should have a final wrap up out Friday.

This is the IAG Crop Tour signing off.

[2022iagcroptour]

The Edgerton, WI bean field was adjacent to the corn field we sampled and also experienced the same hail storm. Tattered leaves was the only evidence from the golf ball size hail stones. Standing 41" tall at 140K population the sample plants had 25 and 59 pods on 12 and 22 nodes. Pods were over half full and a few four bean pods were noticed at the top. These plants were happy the last few weeks even after the hail damage. Estimated yield - 70 BPA.

[2022iagcroptour]

Edgerton, WI was our final stop for day three and the corn field that we choose had evidence of hail damage. After speaking with the farmer of this field he told us that this occurred three weeks ago just after pollination. He incouraged us to run a yield check so we obliged. Populations were 33, 29 and 31K. Number of rows around were mostly 18 with a few 16 and a 12 for good measure. Length of the ears stood out. None under 33 long with most 39 to 45 long. Even after the hail damage this is a solid field. Soil moisture at 10" depth measured a 9/10 and ears are just beginning to dent, this is close to finished. Estimated yield - 233 BPA.