Weather: Despite some cooler weather and nighttime temperatures, frost is not in the forecast for Monroe County or southeast Michigan. Even with some rain earlier this past week, conditions remain dry. Aaron Wilson of Ohio State says that temperatures will moderate to above average and near to below average precipitation. Eric Snodgrass of Nutrien Ag Solutions is calling for generally dry weather for the next two weeks for an area that includes Monroe County and southeast Michigan. Beth Hall of Purdue also thinks the weather will be changing back to warm and dry for the next several weeks. The Midwest Regional Climate Center has developed a new tool that allows users to peruse the historical data regarding spring and fall frost dates. This tool will be launched later this fall. This project has a focus on agricultural impacts and awareness regarding climate trends and extremes.    

Corn and ear molds: Field corn harvest is waiting for soybeans in light of favorable weather. The dry summer weather means that some fields are showing incomplete pollination and smaller ear and kernel size and may be subject to ear or stalk rots. Fields with moldy ears may need to be harvested earlier than normal and combine settings may need to be adjusted to blow or screen out lighter weight kernels. Fungi that cause ear molds will continue to grow and may produce mycotoxins in the field. Grain with high levels of mycotoxins may be docked at the elevator, or worse still, rejected. The Crop Protection Network has a terrific twelve-page article on ear rots; simply google Overview of Ear Rots. Plan now for 2023 corn varieties that are less susceptible and have insect resistance traits, which can help reduce the occurrence of ear rots. Fungicides currently available are not generally recommended to manage ear rots and mycotoxins. Farmers should not plan to store or co-mingle grain with ear rots from a field that has not been affected.  Farmers should note that corn smut is not one of the mycotoxins, though it grows on the kernels into a gray, tumor-like fungal mass noted by black clouds of spores released by the action of the combine. 

Soybeans: If soybean fields are not yielding as expected and not necessarily due to the dry weather, perhaps a “hidden yield robber,” Soybean cyst nematodes (SCN) are the problem. The Michigan Soybean Committee (MSC) is again paying for up to 20 soil samples, sent to the MSU Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic to determine if SCN is present and at what level of infestation. The MSC website has a form and instructions for pulling and submitting samples to MSU.

Wheat: As wheat planting moves into October, farmers should not be too quick to increase seeding rates. At 15,000 seeds per pound and 50 pounds per bag of seed, three bags of seed, totaling 150,000 seeds per acre is sufficient through the first ten to 14 days of October.

Fall lawn care is important to keep grass healthy until dormancy. Soil testing now is helpful rather than simply throwing some lime or generic fertilizer on the lawn. Homeowners need to take advantage of the MSU Soil and Plant Nutrient Testing lab as the last samples will be accepted on November 18. Unless something happens, the lab is slated to be closed at the end of the year. Concerned citizens may wish to contact their elected officials to prevent this valuable service from discontinuing.

MCCC Student Ag Farm: The ornamental sunflowers are rapidly declining and the ornamental (Indian) corn is ready for harvest, but the green bean crop has been very prolific. Fall planted crops will begin to be harvested in the next week or so.  The goal is to plant as many cover crops into the ten blocks of crops this fall as the weather allows. 

Ned Birkey is MSU Extension Educator Emeritus and a regular contributor to The Monroe News.