CaroVail Agronomy Update June 19, 2015

Managing Wet Weather

Rain rain go away…Wait a minute, wasn’t it not long ago when we were studying drought maps? But in the northeast if you don’t like the weather, then just wait a minute.

Recent weather patterns have certainly reduced our worries about drought. Rains have been welcomed in some areas where plants were in great need. For example, those fortunate enough to get first cutting done are seeing a better second and the alfalfa crop is also responding well in some areas. That is the good news.

Unfortunately the rainfall has not been equally distributed across the region. Many areas have now experienced excessive amounts of rainfall and soil saturation is becoming a problem. Moving in and out of such extremes makes crop management difficult, whether that is pest control (insects, weeds, and disease), nutrients, harvest, and treatment. Management and supplementation of soluble nutrients, Nitrogen (N) , Sulfur (S) ,and Boron (B), becomes a challenge both to evaluate crop needs and nutrient delivery (nutrients at the right place at the right moment) .

So, what can we do? Visual observations may help to plan future moisture mitigation (tiling, ditches, and land leveling). Tissue analysis and PSNT’s on row crops may yield additional information to help make decisions on corrective actions. In such a situation, the more information is better. Soil type, crop, yield histories, rotations, soil analysis, and nutrients supplied earlier this crop season need to be considered.

Additionally, supplemental N, S, and B to legume crops should be considered as soil mineralization and nodulation is slowed or stopped in saturated soils.

Finally, please stay in regular communication with your local CaroVail office about your field conditions. As weather compresses the season, timely information about which fields have dried out and which fields are still wet will only help us to better serve you.

Watch out for Slugs

Keep an eye out for slugs in your soybeans or corn. No till/reduced till fields with excessive crop residue- along with moist soil conditions- are the “perfect storm” for slug infestation.