The forecast for the week of June 10, 2013 looks like we’ll have some great growing days and the corn should be just about ready to explode.  Currently, the corn needs 85 heat units per leaf, about three really nice days, but at V8 (knee high); this drops to 50 heat units per leaf, (2 nice days).  So stand back and stay out of the way as the corn jumps up!

Hintzsche has four corn on corn seed plots this year, where I have been tracking nitrates and other variables.  Nitrates have been running slightly lower than the historical trend lines for corn on corn.  [Click here for chart.]  Our Kirkland CoC plot has fall AMS, spring 32% and will be sidedressed, likely this week.  PRJ is my starter plot, with 32% down and sidedress scheduled.  DKCG got fall NH3, 32% down and was sidedressed this past weekend.  Shab is flat and black, one of my most productive fields, with AMS, 32% and sidedress just done last weekend.  Three of the four fields have now come off the highs associated with a nitrate spike with spring 32%.

The base of tissue tests is growing slowly.  So far, micro nutrients are running high, and the plant has used less than a pound of N, P and K at V5 per acre.  Boron has run consistently low on all tests, and Zinc is trending down from sufficient.  Mn remains deficient in many tests.  One set, with Zn applied to the seed, didn’t show any difference in Zinc, but much improved Manganese with the Zinc seed treatment.  My recommendation for my most progressive farmers is to add Boron to sidedress, and consider a ZMB for Roundup.

Fields that were mudded in really showed their true colors last week.  Root restriction in clay soils from planting too wet finally showed up as the seed ran out of starches and nodal roots started taking over for the seminal roots.  Starter fields really kept their color last week.  One of my customers who applied Triple 7 said it was a life saver.  He never had to clean his screens.  (Last year with 10-34-0 he had to clean them on every fill up.)

Rick Griesbach
Hintzsche Agronomist & Agronomy Sales Representative
815-378-0083

As we wait for a break in the weather, here are a few things to consider when planting conditions are not quite fit.  The planting date is not the most important factor in yields, but planting in wet, compacted soils will almost always limit yield potential.

Hopefully, we will soon be in a scenario where most of the field is fit, but pockets are unfit.  Waiting another day until the entire field is ready is the best option.  When you push planting conditions, sidewall compaction is very likely.  This prevents the first nodal roots which are the plant’s feeder roots, from growing normally, which will affect yields later on.  Keep in mind that soil types with high clay content are very unforgiving when it comes to planting before they are fit.

In addition to focusing on soil conditions and field readiness, there are other things that could lessen the impact of having to plant later in the spring.  Here are a few pointers to keep in mind:

• Instead of changing maturity, consider using Ascend in a starter.  Ascend, a plant growth regulator, has been proven to help the plant reach pollination several days earlier, effectively lowering the number of heat units the plant needs.
• Plant corn a bit shallower, but do not exceed the minimum depth which is 1.5 inches.
• Take the down pressure off of the planter to alleviate potential sidewall compaction.
• Keep an eye on the forecast and try to avoid planting the day before a cold rain is supposed to move in.  The temperature of the first drink of water that the corn seed absorbs can affect its vigor and emergence.

Remember, we only have one chance to plant the crop correctly.  With any luck, we will have favorable weather the first week of May, and will be able to get this crop in.

Rick Griesbach
Hintzsche Agronomist & Agronomy Sales Representative
815-378-0083

PrecisionAg.com posted an article on March 27, 2013 entitled “Hintzsche Yield Master’s Learning Blocks Approach Catching On.”  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  

To view the full article, please click on link below.

http://www.precisionag.com/article/33584/hintzsche-yield-master-s-learning-blocks-approach-catching-on

Every year I see growers push the field conditions and plant a day or two early, and that choice sets in stone a 10 to 30 bu/a yield loss.  And there is nothing I can recommend later that can undo this mistake.

Hintzsche agronomists are making VRT planting populations this month, and I am really excited about the maps we are producing.  2012 yield maps clearly identify the heavy soils, which is where the yields were.  The past three years have been generally defined by wetter conditions.  By combining these yield maps from wet and dry years, we can identify the areas in the field that produce well under either condition–these are areas you will want to push the population.  The other thing that becomes obvious is how much yields do not follow the soil type lines.  How do we know that our VRT planting recommendations are correct?  Learning blocks are very effective to answer this question.  Learning blocks are .7 acre checks where the populations are raised or lowered.  After we get the yield file, the Hintzsche Yield Master Program produces a report showing how each block performed, compared to the surrounding couple of acres.  Feel free to give me a call for more information.

Rick Griesbach

Hintzsche Agronomist & Agronomy Sales Representative

815-378-0083

The Hintzsche Companies are proud to announce the addition of Walter Seed and Fertilizer. Located in Grand Ridge, Illinois, this single plant operation was acquired in February 2013. This well established agriculture retailer has been in business for almost forty years, serving growers in LaSalle and surrounding counties.  This organization was founded by Walter siblings, John, Roger, Larry and Joanne.  John and Roger will continue to manage and oversee the operations.

“We are excited about this opportunity and look forward to the expansion of our business and the synergies it will provide,” commented David Hintzsche, CEO and president of Hintzsche Fertilizer, Inc.  “Our ultimate goal is to gain the trust and respect of the Walter growers, and provide them with excellent products and services now and in the future.”

There was a strong correlation between planting date, average temperature and yields. Fields planted in the first planting window from April 11 to 14, pollinated at the end of the first week of July with temperatures averaging 102 degrees…not a good combination! The next planting window, April 20 through 26, pollinated at the end of the 2nd week of July and averaged 91 degrees. Rains on the 12th and 13th of July helped the fields planted late on the 25th and 26th of May, even though these seedbeds faced stiff challenges with cold rains on April 27th. The best window was May 11 through 15, which hit the only substantial rain in July, and averaged temps in the low 90′s.

The most amazing thing to me is how good yields were when we actually received rain at pollination. Those areas recorded best ever yields because of an extra two inches of rain in late June and early July. The tremendous heat during July was shrugged off, and the corn produced!

Earlier this fall we warned that soil testing after a drought would likely affect lime and Potash levels.  Now that the soil sampling for this fall is about done and the results are coming in, I took a look at them to see what the final results indicate.

Comparing seven sets of results, I found that the pH was 2% lower, which is exactly where the results should be.  Phosphate tests moved according to fertilization.  Organic matter was down slightly as well, CEC was up a little, and the big mover was Potash, which was down 20%.  After taking a closer look, I discovered that three of the seven fields that tested very high were fields that we cut back on fertilizer applications over the last four years.  So the end result indicates Potash running 10-15% lower than expected.

So what will this mean for next spring’s soil tests?  I expect the soil tests will still run 5-10% low on Potash, and that we will see the pH down slightly also.  We just have not had enough moisture yet to straighten out the clay and potash tied up in the structure.

Rick Griesbach

In addition to the drought, the 2012 growing season had a number of obstacles to overcome.  I recently had the opportunity to visit with several growers about some of the difficulties they experienced this year—many of which could be overcome with high management practices.

Most of northern Illinois received between 11 and 13 inches of rain this past growing season.  It is easy to say that rain was the only thing affecting yields, but there were a lot more factors than the lack of moisture.  Soil type made a large difference in yields as well.  Rich, black soil has the ability to hold moisture better and that was literally the difference between 100 and 200 bushel yield.

Silk clipping by rootworm was heavier than it has been since 2005, and definitely affected yields.  Yield losses from silk clipping were the worst on earlier pollinating fields.  Refuge corn is often yielding significantly less than Rootworm protected corn.  With heavier pressure, rootworm chewed off most of the roots at 6 inches of depth on refuge corn, where traited corn exhibited feeding, but kept some roots connected to ground water.

One field had a section that yielded 80 bushel more per acre than the rest of the field.  We had applied Ascend with the Roundup trip, and the plant growth regulator decreased the time from planting to pollination.  So instead of an extremely hot day for pollination, this section hit a more moderate day to pollinate.  Corn yields are also responding to soil fertility.  The more fertile the soil is, the better the yield.  In general, doing everything right (high management) is definitely paying off.

Soybean yields have been better than anticipated.  The most interesting thing I have observed this year was how much the soybean yields followed soil types.  Far more than normal, the black soils yielded very well, and the lighter soils fell off quickly.

As harvest winds down, I am concerned about the upcoming anhydrous season.  The conversion of NH4 to NH3 takes water.  If there is no water in the soil, the anhydrous will remain in a gaseous state and volatilize into the air and be lost.  Coming off of a drought year, where the water was literally stripped out of the top 7 feet of soil in many corn fields, we are going to need significant rain to recharge the soil before the 2013 crop.

My next update will air on November 14, 2012 at 12:45 p.m. on WLBK AM and FM.  This is Rick Griesbach, agronomist for Hintzsche Fertilizer.

Look at the chart to see the 2012 Hintzsche Nitrate Monitoring.

Scenario 1 (Light-Green Line)

• 2012 Corn-on-Soybeans
• very high fertility
• AMS last fall
• 32% spring
• sidedress 32% with Potash

Results:

• yield environment= 150 bu/a
• leftover soil nitrate are very, very high

Scenario 2 (Bright Green Line)

• 2012 Corn on Corn
• high fertility
• full starter
• AMS last fall
• 32% spring
• sidedress 32% with Potash

Results:

• Yield Environment 200+bu/a
• soil nitrates being used for production
• little potential carryover

Scenario 3 (Red Line)

• 2012 Corn on Corn
• medium fertility
• planted early
• spring NH3
• sidedress 32%

Results:

• Yield Environment
• 140 bu/a
• soil nitrates left over and are climbing

LEGEND:

Light Green Line = Scenario 1

Bright Green Line = Scenario 2

Red Line = Scenario 3

Purple Dashed Line = 2011 Trend Line

Conclusions:

• Soil nitrates are tracking with the formula
• Applied Nitrates subtract corn yield equals potential carryover nitrogen, with a ISN’T factor thrown in to confuse the issue (Scenario 1).
• At the beginning of October, all leftover nitrates are remaining in the soil profile today.

Here’s yet another case where my favorite microbes, Quick Roots, demonstrated value and ability – a whopping 23 bushel gain! Here is the evidence.

The first photo was June 15, 2012 in Minooka. The corn rows on the left is the control. The corn rows on the right are with inoculated with Quick Roots. The Quick Roots demonstrated less drought stress due to more root proliferation. The right is noticeably healthier, brighter color, taller, and has more open leaves. It is clearly a more robust plant. The control is darker, smaller, and more stressed.

The second photo was taken a month later. Despite the worst drought since 1988, Quick Roots truly allowed roots to explore a greater volume of soil, resulting in higher yield.

The left is the control. The right is inoculated with Quick Roots. Taken on June 15, 2012 in Minooka, IL. Both are the same hybrid, DeKalb 57-50VT3.

This is the same field taken a month later on July 12, 2012. Clearly the Quick Roots side (right) is taking the brutal heat and drought.