Weather conditions have created the prime time for Aspergillus ear rot to develop in corn – according to Purdue Extension Plant Pathologist Kiersten Wise. There is no field without some potential for the disease – which is why Wise says growers need to scout their fields before harvest to determine the level of incidence of the disease and inspect their grain. The disease is an olive green mold that develops on corn ears. Fields at risk most are those where corn was planted between late March and early April. If corn was planted later in April – Wise says it is still at risk if it was under extreme drought stress during pollination, planted in sandy soils or had insect and hail damage. While there are no management strategies to reduce the disease in fields at this point – Wise says there are ways to lessen the aflatoxin issue. Those include harvesting the corn as early as possible, drying the grain to less than 15-percent moisture, removing fine material and thoroughly cleaning equipment before and after use.

This weeks State Crop Progress report from the USDA.

Agricultural Summary

Cool temperatures and scattered rains helped improve pasture conditions.  There were 5.6 days suitable for fieldwork although due to extended rainfall, the southwest district had less than 4 days suitable.  Topsoil moisture supply slightly improved from last week to 30 percent very short, 33 percent short, 35 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus.  Subsoil moisture supply was 65 percent very short, 24 percent short, and 11 percent adequate.  Ground worked fall tillage was 10 percent, 9 days ahead of last year, and 17 days ahead of normal.

Field Crops Report

Corn harvested was 66 percent, 16 days ahead of last year, and 29 days ahead of normal (5-year average).  Corn moisture at harvestwas 15.6 percent, ranging from 13 percent in the west-central district to 16.7 percent in the north-central district.  Soybeans turning color and beyond were 59 percent, 4 days ahead of last year, and 6 days ahead of normal.  Soybeans dropping leaves and beyond were 26 percent, 4 days ahead of last year and normal.  Soybeans mature were 6 percent, with the north-central district 13 percent and the south-central district 10 percent.  Soybeans harvest was reported in 8 districts.  Soybean condition improved slightly to 37 percent very poor, 34 percent poor, 21 percent fair, 7 percent good, and 1 percent excellent.  Cotton opening bolls was 76 percent, 11 days ahead of last year, and 9 days ahead of normal.  Cotton harvested was 5 percent, 11 days ahead of last year, but 1 day behind normal.  Cotton condition was 10 percent very poor, 28 percent poor, 40 percent fair, 20 percent good, and 2 percent excellent.  Rice harvested was 63 percent, 20 days ahead of last year, and 16 days ahead of normal.  Rice condition was 2 percent very poor, 5 percent poor, 27 percent fair, 43 percent good, and 23 percent excellent.  Sorghum turning color and beyond was 82 percent, 1 day ahead of last year, and 4 days ahead of normal.  Sorghum mature was 50 percent, 11 days ahead of last year, and 9 days ahead of normal.  Sorghum harvested, at 12 percent, 10 days ahead of last year, and 4 days ahead of normal.  Sorghum condition was 25 percent very poor, 34 percent poor, 30 percent fair, and 11 percent good.  Winter wheat planted was 2 percent, 2 days ahead of last year, and 3 days ahead of normal. Alfalfa hay 3^rd cutting was 81 percent, 26 days behind last year, and 18 days behind normal.

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture condition improved from last week to 57 percent very poor, 27 percent poor, and 16 percent fair.  Supply of hay and other roughages was 57 percent very short, 33 percent short, and 10 percent adequate.  Stock water supplies were 54 percent very short, 30 percent short, and 16 percent adequate.

Weather Summary

Temperatures were 2 to 5 degrees below average.  Precipitation averaged 0.81 of an inch statewide.  The southwest district received 2.90 inches followed by the south-central district at 1.20 inches.

The House passed a continuing resolution for government funding Friday – meaning the appropriations bills – including one for agriculture and related agencies – will be discarded along with riders some groups had objected. Most ag programs – such as food stamps – will remain at the same levels through March 27th of next year. The CR will prevent new enrollments in various conservation programs – such as the Conservation Stewardship Program – in Fiscal year 2013 – according to the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition. NSAC Lobbyist Ferd Hoefner says the CR is a huge setback to conservation and to the farm bill baseline – which also decreases the chances for getting a farm bill done. The Senate is expected to take up the CR by Thursday and President Obama is expected to sign it – as the White House was part of the CR negotiations.

The Environmental Protection Agency increased the biodiesel volume requirement for next year under the Renewable Fuel Standard on Friday to 1.28-billion gallons. National Biodiesel Board CEO Joe Jobe says this will allow biodiesel plants across the U.S. to invest and expand – creating thousands of jobs. Jobe says NBB applauds President Obama and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson for supporting an all of the above energy approach. He says this decision will continue to diversify the nation’s fuel supplies so the U.S. isn’t as vulnerable to global petroleum markets and continuous price spikes. The RFS is working to do that – according to Jobe – who says the benefits of doing so are clear. More than half of all biodiesel produced in the U.S. comes from soybean oil – and American Soybean Association President Steve Wellman says U.S. soybean growers look forward to helping the biodiesel industry hit the 1.28-billion gallon mark in 2013.