Kentucky Corn Growers Association News

Join Us At the Farm Machinery Show for Conversation and CommonGround

2012-02-13T08:00:00.001-05:00

The Kentucky Corn Growers Association hopes you will stop by the NFMS booth this year for some conversation and CommonGround. Join us in the West Hall Pavilion Booth 8015.

Communications Director Jennifer Elwell will be talking with growers about topics important to consumers such as food safety, environmental concerns, and animal welfare. With permission, conversations will be videoed for placement on YouTube, Facebook and her blog, "Food, Mommy!"

Elwell and farmer volunteers will also share the work of the CommonGround program with NFMS visitors in the hopes they too will want to share their stories with consumers.

The Farm Machinery Show is also a great place to renew your membership. Anyone who joins or renews for 3 years or life through June 1 will be entered into a drawing for a $500 Cabela's gift card. A board or staff member will be happy to talk with growers about association goals and membership benefits. See you there!

New Webcast Covers Ag Drainage Management Practices and Results

2012-02-11T08:00:00.000-05:00

Much of the Corn Belt is dependent upon subsurface (tile) drainage to be productive. Even the best corn growing soils are poorly drained and could not be used for crop production before tile drainage was installed.

In the latest presentation in Focus on Corn, "Ag Drainage Management Practices and Results," Harold Reetz, Principal of Reetz Agronomics and Executive Director of the Agricultural Drainage Management Coalition, discusses the mechanics, practices, and benefits of drainage water management systems (DWMs).

DWMs can be a positive management practice for reducing loss of nitrogen and phosphorus from crop fields, increasing nutrient use efficiency and reducing potential for contamination of downstream water resources.

Field studies by the Agricultural Drainage Management Coalition (ADMC) and various university, industry, and farmer cooperators found that DWM reduced nitrate loss by 34%. In addition, it reduced water loss by 35% and increased crop yield by 1.5% over 20 locations in 5 states.

This presentation is open access through March 31, 2012, and can be viewed at http://www.plantmanagementnetwork.org/edcenter/seminars/corn/AgDrainageManagement/.

Other Focus on Corn presentations can be viewed at http://www.plantmanagementnetwork.org/foc.

Focus on Corn is a publication of the Plant Management Network (PMN), a nonprofit online publisher whose mission is to enhance the health, management, and production of agricultural and horticultural crops. It achieves this mission through applied, science-based resources. PMN is jointly managed by the American Society of Agronomy, American Phytopathological Society, and Crop Science Society of America. KyCGA is a Focus on Corn sponsor.

To take advantage of PMN's full line of 12 resources, please sign up for its free online newsletter at http://www.plantmanagementnetwork.org/update/default.cfm.

NCGA Notes Refuge Compliance Report Reflects New Bt Corn Requirements Implemented to Improve Refuge Compliance

2012-02-10T17:30:00.002-05:00

As planting for the 2012 season approaches, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) notes that newly revamped on-farm refuge assessments are part of the enhanced Compliance Assurance Program (CAP) implemented last year, which is designed to improve compliance with Insect Resistance Management (IRM) requirements. Corn growers found to be out of compliance with refuge requirements will be checked more frequently by the Bt corn registrants and have a higher probability of losing access to Bt corn if compliance is not established and maintained.

The Agricultural Biotechnology Stewardship Technical Committee (ABSTC), a consortium of Bt corn registrants, submits an annual CAP report to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) describing industry-coordinated compliance assurance efforts for Bt traits. The year’s report is the first following the implementation of the enhanced CAP.

“To implement the CAP, technology providers made some major changes to their procedures last year as directed by EPA,” said Mike Smith, ABSTC IRM subcommittee co-chairman. “One of the changes was the selection process for on-farm assessments. In past years, we’ve randomly selected those participants, but in 2011 we used a more targeted approach and conducted assessments based on purchase history, and, as anticipated, using this methodology resulted in the identification of more non-compliant growers than in years past. Changes were also made to the grower survey and included more Bt corn products with differing refuge requirements.”

The survey results include compliance with refuge requirements for corn borer traits and rootworm traits, either alone or in stacked Bt corn products, regardless of refuge size differences.

Highlights of the report include:

The CAP for all Bt corn products with structured refuge requirements continues to be effective. In 2011, the majority of growers surveyed planted the required refuge size on their farms and the majority of growers surveyed planted a refuge within the required distance for all of their Bt corn fields. Furthermore, the survey indicates that the vast majority of all Bt corn fields have an associated refuge.

The majority of growers found out of compliance in 2010 were found to be complying with the IRM requirements during the 2011 growing season. This result is consistent with previous years and confirms that the CAP’s phase compliance approach in which non-compliant growers were provided additional educational materials and re-assessed in 2011 is working.

As in previous years, adherence to refuge requirements in the cotton growing region was lower than in the Corn Belt. Factors contributing to lower adherence in the cotton region include larger required refuge size, smaller field sizes, more diverse cropping systems, and greater complexity of operations. The cotton region will receive increased focus for on-farm assessments in 2012. Education programs continue to highlight the specific refuge requirements in the cotton region and, in tandem with the on-farm assessment program, growers have the opportunity to correct individual instances of non-compliance for future growing seasons.

As anticipated, targeted on-farm assessments identified more than three times as many corn growers who were out of compliance than in years past. Each member company independently reviewed available sales data for its Bt corn customers and assessments were conducted with growers who, according to the sales records, may have purchased little or no refuge seed. All non-compliant growers will undergo a second on-farm assessment to help ensure compliance in 2012.

“The objective of the on-farm assessment program is to identify individual non-compliant growers and bring them back into compliance through a phased approach,” said Joanne Carden, ABSTC IRM subcommittee co-chairwoman. “The new approach to conducting IRM on-farm assessments has resulted in more non-compliant growers being identified, demonstrating that the enhanced CAP is working as planned.”

Carden added that the ABSTC is pleased with the outcomes from the phased compliance approach. “The goal of these enhancements is to help growers understand the importance of following refuge requirements, provide clarity on how to meet the minimum refuge requirement for each product and ultimately improve compliance,” she said.

IRM Refuge Calculator Helps Growers Develop Plans for Refuge Compliance

“Since the introduction of biotech traits, the vast majority of corn growers have followed refuge requirements to help protect the efficacy of this important technology,” said Chad Blindauer, Chairman of the National Corn Growers Association Trade Policy and Biotechnology Action Team. “All growers must follow these requirements to help preserve the long-term value of this technology. We encourage growers to work with their seed dealers and trait developers to understand the enhanced requirements under the CAP and improve refuge compliance.”

To assist farmers in developing an IRM plan and a refuge strategy for their farms, Blindauer said NCGA has established a number of resources, including recently launching an updated IRM calculator to clarify refuge system options and show growers how to execute the requirements properly. The IRM calculator was developed in collaboration with ABSTC companies to ensure it reflects all Bt products available in the industry. Farmers can access the IRM calculator via computer or a smart phone by simply logging on to www.irmcalculator.com.

Founded in 1957, the National Corn Growers Association represents 36,000 dues-paying corn farmers nationwide. NCGA and its 48 affiliated state organizations work together to create and increase opportunities for their members and their industry.

2011 Corn Yield Contest Winners Announced

2011-12-22T16:38:00.002-05:00

Advanced production techniques, informed growing practices and improved seed varieties helped corn growers achieve high yields in the National Corn Growers Association 2011 National Corn Yield Contest.

While a Kentucky farmer did not achieve a national title, many were recognized as state winners:

A Non-Irrigated

1 Zoglmann & Sons, Owensboro, Pioneer P1615HR, 254.7146 bu/A

2 Peterson Farms, Loretto, Pioneer 32T16, 249.2417 bu/A

3 Mr Malcolm R Oatts, Hopkinsville, DEKALB DKC63-87, 248.9774 bu/A

No-Till/Strip Till Irrigated

1 Joel Benton Armistead, Adairville, DEKALB DKC64-69, 253.8321 bu/A

2 Peterson Dairy Farms, Loretto, Pioneer 31P41, 245.8849 bu/A

3 Steve Hunt, Herndon, Pioneer P1420HR, 245.0828 bu/A

A No-Till/Strip Till Non-Irrigated

1 PPJ Thompson Farms, Owensboro, Pioneer P1745HR, 257.7846 bu/A

2 Jerry Griffith, Mayfield, DEKALB DKC63-87, 247.3311 bu/A

3 Michael Buckman, Lebanon, DEKALB DKC63-14, 245.4534 bu/A

Irrigated

1 Armistead Farms, Adairville, DEKALB DKC64-69, 264.1188 bu/A

2 Seven Springs Farms, Cadiz, Pioneer P1395HR, 254.1334 bu/A

3 Brandon Hunt, Oak Grove, Pioneer P1745HR, 250.3545 bu/A

Click here for the list of national winners.

Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasures Rule and It's Applicability to Farms

2011-12-16T18:35:00.002-05:00

May 10, 2013 is an important compliance date for farmers. On that date farms which meet SPCC rule criteria are required to have developed and implemented an oil spill prevention plan, called a Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasures (SPCC) Plan. These plans are intended to help farms prevent oil spills and control a spill should one occur.

The SPCC rule applies to a farm which:

Stores, transfers, uses, or consumes oil or oil products, such as diesel fuel, gasoline, lube oil, hydraulic oil, adjuvant oil, crop oil, vegetable oil, or animal fat; and

Stores more than 1,320 US gallons in aboveground containers or more than 42,000 US gallons in completely buried containers; and

Could reasonably be expected to discharge oil to waters of the US or adjoining shorelines, such as interstate waters, intrastate lakes, rivers, and streams.

EPA has published many resources in order to help farmers understand and comply with the rule. The EPA Website link for agricultural SPCC plans is: http://www.epa.gov/emergencies/content/spcc/spcc_ag.htm.

The SPCC Farms Fact sheet summarizes the rule and requirements. Additionally, a sample plan for a Qualified Tier 1 farming facility is available. An Office Word formatted template of an SPCC plan is available on the EPA website for use. Tools for calculations are available for download.

Many farms will be able to self-prepare and self-certify their plan. Farms with above ground storage capacity of more than 10,000 gallons and farms which have had certain past oil spills will require a SPCC Plan certified by a Professional Engineer. Smith Management Group has extensive experience preparing SPCC plans for various types of facilities. They can assist you in determining your farm's status and in preparing your SPCC plan. You can obtain a list of Professional Engineers from the Kentucky State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors.

For full details and stipulations refer to the EPA Website.

USDA Revises National Nutrient Management Standard to Achieve Maximum Agricultural, Environmental Benefits

2011-12-14T11:44:00.002-05:00

Standard stresses increased use of technology and local information

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today yesterday that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has revised its national conservation practice standard on nutrient management to help producers better manage the application of nutrients on agricultural land. Proper application of nitrogen and phosphorus offers tremendous benefits to producers and the public, including cost savings to the producer and the protection or improvement of ground and surface water, air quality, soil quality and agricultural sustainability.

"Protecting America's supply of clean and abundant water is an important objective for USDA," Vilsack said. "This precious resource is the foundation for healthy ecosystems and sustainable agricultural production. USDA provides voluntary technical and financial assistance to help producers manage their nutrients to ensure a clean and abundant water supply while maintaining viable farm and ranch operations."

The nutrient management conservation practice is an important tool in the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) conservation toolbox. The agency's staff uses this conservation practice to help farmers and ranchers apply their nutrients more efficiently. Proper management of nitrogen and phosphorus, including the use of organic sources of nitrogen such as animal manure, legumes and cover crops, can save producers money. The nutrient management standard provides a roadmap for NRCS's staff and others to help producers apply available nutrient sources in the right amount, from the right source, in the right place, at the right time for maximum agricultural and environmental benefits.

NRCS's nutrient management experts worked with universities, non-government organizations, industry and others to revise the standard to ensure it is scientifically sound. Key changes in the standard include expanding the use of technology to streamline the nutrient management process and allowing states more flexibility in providing site-specific nutrient management planning using local information when working with producers. NRCS staff offices will have until Jan. 1, 2013 to comply with erosion, nitrogen and phosphorus criteria for their state nutrient management standard.

The revised national standard is being released at a time when the agency is working with various partners to address nutrient management concerns identified in three recently released Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP) cropland studies. These CEAP studies assessed the effectiveness of conservation practices in the Upper Mississippi Basin, the Chesapeake Bay Watershed and the Great Lakes Basin. One significant resource concern identified in all three studies is the loss of nitrogen and phosphorus from cropland. Most nitrogen losses are attributed to nitrate leaching through the soil to groundwater. Most phosphorus is lost due to erosion because phosphorus attaches itself to displaced soil particles that are transported by runoff to nearby waterways. Improved nutrient management and effective erosion control work together to reduce the loss of nutrients from agricultural land, resulting in improved water quality in downstream rural and urban communities. The revised standard will provide tools and strategies to help producers address the natural resource concerns relating to excess nutrients on agricultural land.

NRCS offers voluntary technical and financial assistance to producers nationwide for planning and implementing on-farm nutrient management plans. Producers can use this assistance to help meet federal, state, tribal and local environmental regulations.

For more information about how nutrient management fits into NRCS's conservation work, visit http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/landuse/crops/npm.

Kentucky Corn Production Update

2011-11-15T14:08:00.002-05:00

On November 9, the Kentucky Agricultural Statistics Service reported that Kentucky corn for grain production was forecast at 177.9 million bushels, unchanged from the October 1 estimate and 17 percent above the drought reduced 2010 crop. Yield was unchanged from October, at 139 bushels per acre, and was up 15 bushels from a year ago. High summer temperatures caused stress to the crop, but more moderate temperatures and beneficial rain in late August and September improved yield.

Corn harvest is now 98% complete, and if the forecast is correct, this will be the second largest corn crop produced in Kentucky.

U.S. corn production was forecast at 12.3 billion bushels, down 1 percent from the October forecast and down 1 percent from 2010. If realized, this would be the fourth largest production total on record. Based on conditions as of November 1, yields were expected to average 146.7 bushels per acre, down 1.4 bushels from the October forecast and down 6.1 bushels from 2010. If realized, this would be the lowest average yield since 2003.

Scholarships Available for Corn Grower Member Families

2011-11-11T17:58:00.000-05:00

Two scholarship opportunities are available for our Kentucky Corn Growers Association member families:

KyCGA Scholarship
KyCGA is offering is for the second year offering two $1,000 scholarships to high school seniors entering college and one $2,000 to a current college student pursing degrees in an agriculture-related field. Application deadline is February 1, 2012. Rules and application

NCGA/BASF Scholarship
NCGA and BASF Corporation will again award five $1,000 scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students pursuing a degree in an agriculture-related field during the 2012-13 school year. Applicants for the NCGA Academic Excellence in Agriculture Scholarship Program must be entering at least their second undergraduate year or any year of graduate study, and they, or a parent or legal guardian, must be an NCGA member. Application deadline is December 1. Rules and application

Third E85 Fueling Site Available for Northern Kentucky Residents

2011-11-11T17:55:00.002-05:00

Northern Kentucky residents now have a third location to fill their Flex Fuel Vehicles with E85 (85% ethanol and 15% gasoline) - the Kroger at 130 Pavilion Parkway in Newport. E85Prices.com reports that they were selling E85 last week for $2.68, 21% less than gasoline.

View our map of all Kentucky E85 locations.

KyCGA Helps Dispel Myths of Ethanol Effects on Small Engines

2011-11-04T17:18:00.003-04:00

Last week KyCGA combined efforts with the National, Missouri, and Indiana Corn Growers Associations to attend the GIE+EXPO (Green Industry and Equipment), a national meeting of small engine manufacturers, distributors and lawn/landscape professionals. The purpose for participating was to dispel the many myths about ethanol's effect on small engine wear.

The display contained small engines that have been operated on various levels of ethanol blends ranging from E15 to E85. Many mechanics and engineers visited the booth, all of which had major concerns about perceived hazards of ethanol in fuel.

Bradley Schad, director of ethanol policy at Missouri Corn Growers Association, spoke about factors other than ethanol that may be responsible for small engine wear. KyCGA's Adam Andrews assisted.

“It was a great opportunity to respond to their concerns and provide facts about changes in gasoline that are causing the problems that ethanol is getting blamed for,” said Adam Andrews, KyCGA Director of Programs. “We made tremendous strides in clearing up a lot of confusion. The research that we outlined in our display showed them clear evidence that the problem is beyond ethanol. In the end, most appreciated us being there and took away valuable information that will help them and their consumers solve problems that have recently surfaced in small engine operation – whatever the cause.”

Prepare a Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasures Plan

2011-10-19T16:45:00.002-04:00

In 2009, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized amendments to the Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasures (SPCC) rule. However, compliance implementation of the rule was extended through November 10, 2011 at which time farms and businesses meeting the minimum storage requirements must have in place a SPCC plan for their operation. Under this rule, SPCC applies to a farm that stores, transfers, uses or consumes oil or oil products, such as diesel fuel, gasoline, lube oil, hydraulic oil, adjuvant oil, crop oil, vegetable oil or animal fat; and, stores more than 1,320 gallons in aboveground containers, or more than 42,000 gallons in completely buried containers; and, could reasonably be expected to discharge oil to waters of the U.S. such as interstate waters, intrastate lakes, rivers and streams.

Farms with above-ground oil storage capacity of more than 1,320 gallons are required to develop and implement a SPCC plan to be in compliance. Farms with more than 1,320 gallons, but less than 10,000 gallons of oil storage capacity are eligible to self-certify SPCC plans. However, farms with greater than 10,000 gallons of storage capacity are required to have plans prepared and certified by a professional engineer (PE).

To determine if SPCC applies to your farm, count all oil storage containment with the capacity of 55 gallons or more. Containers less than 55 gallons do not need to be counted. However, this applies to potential storage, not just the amount of oil actually stored on the farm. For example, a 1,500 gallon oil/fuel storage tank that may only contain 750 gallons of fuel must still be counted as 1,500 gallons of oil storage under this rule. Portable oil/fuel containers 55 gallons or larger must also be counted. Adjacent or non-adjacent parcels, either leased or owned, may be considered separate facilities for SPCC purposes. Containers on separate parcels (that are identified as separate facilities based on how they are operated) do not need to be added together in determining whether the 1,320 gallon threshold is met.

Plans do not have to be filed with EPA, but must be maintained by the owner or operator of the facility at the location. Plans must be reviewed every five years to make sure the plan includes any changes in oil storage at the farm.

In case of a spill, owner/operators must activate SPCC plan procedures to prevent the oil spill from reaching a creek or river and implement spill cleanup procedures as outlined in the plan. If oil is discharged into waters the National Response Center (NRC) must be notified by calling (800) 424-8802. In the case of an oil spill, EPA and first responders will request a copy of the SPCC plan for that facility.

What information is needed to prepare an SPCC plan?

A list of the oil containers at the farm by parcel. (including the contents and location of• each container)

A brief description of the procedures that you will use to prevent oil spills. (For example, steps you use to transfer fuel from a storage tank to your farm vehicles that reduce the possibility of a fuel spill.)• A brief description of the measures installed to prevent oil from reaching water.

A brief description of the measures that will be used to contain and cleanup an oil spill to water.

A list of emergency contacts and first responders.

What spill prevention measures should be implemented and included in a SPCC plan?• Use containers suitable for the oil stored. (For example, use a container designed for flammable liquids to store gasoline.)• Identify contractors or other local personnel who can help you clean up an oil spill.• Provide overfill prevention for oil storage containers.• Provide effective secondary containment for bulk storage containers such as a dike. The containment must be able to hold the full capacity of the container plus possible rainfall and can be constructed of earth or concrete. A double-walled tank may also suffice.• Periodically inspect and test pipes and containers and keep a written record of your inspections.

Owner/operators of farms eligible to self-certify SPCC plans can utilize an editable template to meet rule requirements. The template, along with other supporting materials is available at http://www.epa.gov/emergencies/content/spcc/index.htm.

Simazat Fall Applications and Atrazine Stewardship

2011-10-19T16:41:00.000-04:00

By Jim Martin, JD Green, and Bill Witt, Kentucky Pest News

On July 14, 2011 the EPA approved a supplemental label for using of Simazat (a premix of atrazine and simazine) for fall applications to control winter-annual broadleaf weeds prior to next year's corn crop. The recently approved label is the only one that allows the use of atrazine in the fall in Kentucky. A lot of resources have been invested over a period of several years defending the registration of atrazine. In order to maintain atrazine as a viable option for weed management in Kentucky, it is important that applicators are not complacent in regards to its potential impact on the environment. Label restrictions concerning Simazat's use near ground and surface waters are particularly important when it is applied in the fall.

Highly erodible fields with little to no vegetation, or residue cover, are especially at risk of movement of atrazine or simazine from the treated area. Certain watersheds, including portions of the Green River and Rough River are being monitored for atrazine and simazine. It is also important to consider the rate of atrazine and simazine. The recommended rate for fall applications is 2.5 pt of Simazat 4L/A. This is equivalent to 0.625 lb ai atrazine/A plus 0.625 lb ai simazine/A for a total amount of 1.25 lb ai/A.

If Simazat is applied in the fall, do not exceed 2.5 pt Simazat 4L/A preemergence the following spring. When tank mixing or sequentially applying products containing atrazine and/or simazine, the cumulative amount of active ingredient of atrazine and/or simazine per calendar year must not exceed 2.5 lb ai/A. If using the Simazat 90DF formulation, consult label for the maximum use rates.

Corn Growers Praise Congress’ Passage of Korea, Colombia and Panama FTAs

2011-10-13T06:27:00.002-04:00

The National Corn Growers Association and its state affiliates last night praised passage of the free trade agreements in the House and Senate. The White House transmitted the FTAs with Korea, Colombia and Panama to Congress last week.

“The three free trade agreements with Korea, Colombia and Panama provide great opportunities for America’s farmers,” NCGA President Garry Niemeyer, a corn farmer from Auburn, Ill., said. “Passage by Congress ensures our industry continues to lead the nation in economic growth and international competitiveness. In addition, this action shows members of Congress understand the importance of the FTAs to rural America.”

Statistics show passage of the three FTAs could create 250,000 American jobs and add an additional $13 billion annually in exports. The United States continues to be the largest producer and exporter of corn in the world, exporting 50.4 million metric tons last year.

Since the EU-Korea trade agreement went into effect July 1, European exports to Korea have increased 36 percent from a year earlier. U.S. farmers have already lost more than $1 billion in sales to Colombia in the two years since that country implemented a trade deal with Argentina and Brazil. The Colombia-Canada Free Trade Agreement that took effect August 15 has also put U.S. workers and farmers at a disadvantage.

“Prior to Congress’ passage of the FTAs, farmers watched as other nations received access to markets over the United States,” Niemeyer said. “We need to keep and create jobs in America. The FTAs will help us achieve that.”

Kentucky Corn Production Update

2011-10-13T06:18:00.002-04:00

According to the Oct. 12 USDA Crop Report, Kentucky is on target to produce the second largest corn crop in state history with 177,920 million bushels. Despite weather challenges, the average yield for Kentucky is predicted to be 139 bu/A.

As of Oct. 9, corn crop condition was rated as 2 percent very poor, 7 percent poor, 36 percent fair, 47 percent good, and 8 percent excellent. Corn harvested was 69 percent, compared to 95 percent last year and 74 percent on average. Ninety-six percent of the corn acreage was considered mature, behind the 100 percent for the previous year and the five year average of 97 percent.

See NCGA's story on the US Corn Crop Report and WASDE Reports.

Kentucky Corn Production Update

2011-10-03T21:36:00.001-04:00

Corn crop condition was rated as 2 percent very poor, 7 percent poor, 36 percent fair, 47 percent good, and 8 percent excellent. Corn harvested was 57 percent, compared to 89 percent last year and 62 percent on average. Ninety-two percent of the corn acreage was considered mature, well behind the 99 percent for the previous year and the five year average of 95 percent. As the corn harvest continues, reported yields remain mixed.

Kentucky Agricultural Statistics Service

2011 Fall Down on the Farm Tour

2011-09-27T11:29:00.003-04:00

On September 24, CommonGround Kentucky volunteers and other central Kentucky farmers talked with local consumers about their farms and food concerns. The 2011 Down on the Farm Tour was coordinated and sponsored by the Kentucky Livestock Coalition, a group of Kentucky agriculture organizations dedicated to seeing the livestock industry flourish in the state. Both CommonGround and the Kentucky Livestock Coalition are supported by Kentucky corn checkoff funds.

View more photos from the event.

Kentucky Corn Production Update

2011-09-27T11:06:00.002-04:00

Corn crop condition was rated as 2 percent very poor, 7 percent poor, 36 percent fair, 46 percent good, and 9 percent excellent. Corn harvested was 44 percent, compared to 78 percent last year and 48 percent on average. Eighty-six percent of the corn acreage was considered mature, well behind the 96 percent for the previous year and the five year average of 89 percent. Ninety-six percent of corn had dented, also behind the 100 percent of a year ago and the average. As corn harvest continues, reported yields remain mixed.

Kentucky Agricultural Statistics Service

Kentucky Corn Production Update

2011-09-19T16:13:00.001-04:00

Corn crop condition was rated as 2 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 33 percent fair, 45 percent good, and 12 percent excellent. Corn harvested was 32 percent, compared to 66 percent last year and 36 percent on average. Seventy-six percent of the corn acreage was considered mature, well behind the 92 percent for the previous year and the five year average of 81 percent. Ninety-two percent of corn had dented, also behind the 99 percent of a year ago and 98 percent for the average. The expectations of the crop in the field remain mixed. It remains to be seen if this return to more seasonable weather has an affect on the amount of grain going into the bins.

Kentucky Ag Statistics Service

Kentucky Corn Production Update

2011-09-12T17:16:00.000-04:00

Corn crop condition was rated as 2 percent very poor, 6 percent poor, 30 percent fair, 49 percent good, and 13 percent excellent. Corn harvested was 19 percent, compared to 51 percent last year and 25 percent on average. Fifty-eight percent of the corn acreage was considered mature, well behind the 85 percent for the previous year and the five year average of 71 percent. Eighty-one percent of corn had dented, also behind the 97 percent of a year ago and 94 percent for the average. Ninety-one percent of the corn has reached the dough stage, behind both 100 percent for the previous year and 99 percent for the average. The expectations of the crop in the field remain mixed. There has been a continued fear that both the size of the ear and the kernel fill will have been severely compromised by the hot summer. It remains to be seen if this return to more seasonable weather has an effect on the amount of grain going into the bins.

Kentucky Agricultural Statistics Service

NCGA Unveils Proposal for 2012 Farm Bill

2011-09-12T15:16:00.002-04:00

The National Corn Growers Association today unveiled the Agriculture Disaster Assistance Program (ADAP), a commodity title proposal for the 2012 farm bill that will modify and replace the existing Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) Program and provide a more effective and responsive safety net for growers.

“Responding to a charge by our voting delegates to investigate transitioning direct payments into programs that allow producers the ability to mitigate risk, our grower-led Public Policy Action Team developed a crop-specific, revenue-based risk management tool that provides a safety net when growers are facing a loss,” NCGA President Bart Schott said. “We are focusing on simplification and faster delivery of assistance when it is needed.”

ADAP builds on the existing structure of ACRE and is designed to address the need for simplification and elimination of overlapping coverage with individual crop insurance. Changes include the use of harvest prices and crop reporting districts to set the crop revenue guarantee and would establish a guarantee based on the five-year Olympic average of revenue.

Payments would be limited to 10 percent of the guarantee, based on planted acres and adjusted to a farm’s yield. Payments would cover lost revenue between 85 to 95 percent of the guarantee. Marketing loan rates would be restored to standard levels, rather than being reduced by 30 percent in ACRE.

“While today’s farm bill provides critical assistance to farmers when they face a significant loss, growers also need a program that can efficiently address gaps in protection that cannot be addressed by federal crop insurance alone,” Schott said. “ADAP will assist in streamlining those goals and ensure farmers are better protected when revenue is lost due to crop disease, volatile commodity markets and adverse weather across multiple years.”

Corn Disease Update

2011-09-08T11:18:00.003-04:00

By Paul Vincelli, Kentucky Pest News

Several corn diseases have been noted in the past several weeks.

Diplodia ear rot. Affected ears have abundant white fungal growth between kernels (Figure 3). Infection usually progresses from the base of the ear upward. More information on this disease is available at http://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/ppa/ppa43/ppa43.pdf.

Trichoderma ear rot. A greenish mold is commonly present between rotted kernels (Figure 4). This ear rot is often associated with bird damage to the husk. More information is available at: http://www.ca.uky.edu/agcollege/plantpathology/extension/KPN%20Site%20Files/pdf/kpn1278.pdf

Ear rot notes. Fortunately, to the best of our knowledge in U.S. corn, there are no known mycotoxins associated with either Diplodia ear rot or Trichoderma ear rot. However, these diseases do affect grain quality and test weight, and they will continue to grow in the field. Thus, fields with significant ear rots should be harvested and the grain dried as soon as is practical. Rotted kernels are damaged kernels, and since the grain integrity is compromised, fungi tolerant of low moisture will have an easier time growing and causing damage in storage. Instead of a 15.5% target for grain moisture, our agricultural engineers recommend drying damaged corn an extra 0.5 to 1.0 point of moisture for better storability and cooling it as quickly as possible. Producers should make sure to keep that grain well-aerated and dry, and market it sooner rather than later.

If you happen to have strip trials with different hybrids, and there are differences in the levels of Diplodia ear rot, be careful about making conclusions about those hybrids. It is easy to be misled by results in such trials. What do I mean by that? Let’s say that Hybrid A has 50% of the ears with rot, and Hybrid B has 10%. All of us would want to plant Hybrid B in any fields where Diplodia infestation had been found. Except here is the wrinkle: these hybrids might actually be equally susceptible.

How is that possible, given the dramatic difference in ear rot? Because in the case of Diplodia, the timing of spore-splash and infection relative to silking is really, really important. Crops that are just beginning to silk are more susceptible than crops at brown-silk. And Hybrid A might have had the bad luck of being exposed to spores and infection at precisely the peak of its susceptibility, Maybe Hybrid B would even be more susceptible than Hybrid A if they happened to be exposed to identical disease pressure on their respective day of silk emergence.

I wouldn’t ignore Diplodia ear rot observations from commercial field trials: such information is better than no information. On the other hand, don’t put much weight in an observation of less Diplodia damage in a particular hybrid in a strip trial, unless the seed company confirms that the hybrid is known to have some resistance verified by their breeder. Of course, a hybrid like Hybrid A that got hit hard by Diplodia in a strip trial probably is pretty susceptible, so one should think twice about using that hybrid in a field known to be infested with Diplodia.

Southern corn rust. This potentially damaging disease was confirmed in corn from Caldwell County several days ago (figure 6). Disease levels overall in the Caldwell County field were low. Furthermore, the prevalence of generally dry weather with cool nights has helped to keep the disease in check. The disease may be present in other locations in Kentucky, but it hasn’t yet been reported in sentinel locations being monitored regularly, so the overall prevalence seems to be low.

I am not concerned about the potential impact of southern rust at this point. Check for the disease in fields that were planted very late, although I doubt that any treatment is worth using even in those, because of the forecast for continued cool conditions, especially at night.

Common Rust
• Pustule color is brick-red to cinnamon-brown
• Pustule shape is circular to elongated
• Pustules erupt through both upper and lower leaf surfaces.
• Pustules are found only on leaves
• Develops in cool to mild weather (favored by temperatures of 59-77°F when leaf surfaces are moist)

Southern Rust
• Pustule color is reddish-orange
• Pustules are small, generally circular
• Pustules are densely crowded on the upper leaf surface.
• Pustules can occur on leaves and husks.
• Develops in very warm, humid weather (favored by temperatures of 73-82°F when leaf surfaces are moist).

Kentucky Corn Production Update

2011-09-06T16:03:00.001-04:00

Corn crop condition was rated as 2 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 33 percent fair, 45 percent good, and 12 percent excellent. Corn harvested was 7 percent, compared to 30 percent last year and 14 percent on average. Thirty-seven percent of the corn acreage was considered mature, well behind the 74 percent for the previous year and the five year average of 58 percent. Seventy-one percent had dented, also behind the 93 percent of a year ago and 88 percent for the average. Eighty-six percent of the corn has reached the dough stage, behind both 100 percent for the previous year and 98 percent for the average. Due to the probable impact of dry and at times hot conditions during pollination, growers remain concerned about adequate kernel fill. Soon it will be too late for the later planted fields to get much benefit from moisture.

Kentucky Agricultural Statistics Service

Advocates push for lock and dam improvement

2011-09-06T15:25:00.002-04:00

Photos and stories from the 2011 Ohio River Barge Tour, September 1

View photos on the KyCGA Flickr Page - http://www.flickr.com/photos/kycorn/sets/72157627485681939/

View the story that appeared in the Kentucky Enquirer - http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20110902/NEWS0103/109030341/Advocates-push-lock-dam-improvement

Corn Reigns Supreme for 2010 Kentucky Cash Crop Receipts

2011-08-30T15:21:00.001-04:00

According to the USDA's Economic Research Service, Kentucky's 2010 corn crop brought in $604 million to the Commonwealth, above soybeans, hay and tobacco. Poultry was the highest receipting commodity overall for the second year, bringing $953 million to the state. Horses second, cattle and calves in third, followed by corn, then soybeans.

Resistance by Corn Rootworm to Bt Corn Reported in Parts of Iowa

2011-08-30T13:16:00.003-04:00

By Ric Bessin and Doug Johnson, Kentucky Pest News

Last month Dr. Aaron Gassmann, Entomologist at Iowa State University, and coworkers reported in the Journal Plos One, that he found evidence of field-evolved resistance in western corn rootworm to one of the Bt toxins in corn (figure 1). In their study, rootworms were collected from fields in northeastern Iowa where growers had identified severe feeding on Bt rootworm corn (containing the Cry3Bb1 trait for rootworm control). Each of the problem fields had a history of raising continuous corn that contained the Cry3Bb1 gene for at least three consecutive years. The authors found a significant, positive correlation between the number of years a field had used Cry3Bb1 corn and the survival of western corn rootworm larvae collected from those fields developing on Cry3Bb1 corn. Rootworms collected from those problem fields did not appear to have resistance to the other commercially registered Bt rootworm trait, Cry34/35Ab1, so there did not appear to be cross resistance for these Bt toxins. Registration of Bt rootworm corn containing the Cry3Bb1 gene occurred in 2003 and use of corn containing this trait has been widespread due to the threat posed by western corn rootworms in the Midwest.

The level of resistance observed in this study was incomplete, in that rootworms from the problems fields had lower survival on Cry3Bb1 corn than on non-Bt corn. But the problem remains; the study noted the survival of rootworms on Cry3Bb1 from problem fields was 3
times higher than with those from the control fields. What this means is that even in the problem fields, there is likely a mixture of resistant and susceptible western corn rootworms. The result for the growers using RIB is that they will not need to plant structured refuges. Otherwise growers using Bt corn need to plant a structured minimum of 5 or 20% refuge as required by the type of Bt corn.

In our opinion, one of the most important benefits of IPM is the prevention and/or management of pest resistance. By using multiple approaches to manage insect populations we reduce the likelihood that a pest will develop resistance to any one tactic. Another way of looking at this is that by using only a single tactic to control a pest population over a long period of time, we increase the risk of developing resistant pest populations.

To learn more about Insect Resistance Management, visit NCGA's Online Learning Center - http://www.ncga.com/online-learning-center/2-insect-resistance-management/

Kentucky Corn Production Update

2011-08-30T06:34:00.001-04:00

Corn crop condition was rated as 2 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 32 percent fair, 46 percent good, and 12 percent excellent. Corn milked was at 89 percent. The corn crop is normally beyond this stage with both last year and the average at 100 percent. Seventy-six percent of the corn has reached the dough stage, behind both 98 percent for the previous year and 93 percent for the average. There is concern about adequate kernel fill due to the lack of rain during the milk and dough stages. Later planted fields could still benefit from a good shower. Fifty-six percent had dented, also behind the 86 percent of a year ago and 79 percent for the average. Sixteen percent of the corn acreage was considered mature, behind the 60 percent for the previous year and the five year average of 42 percent. Corn is being harvested in earlier planted fields that have dried down quickly due to lack of rain.

Kentucky Agricultural Statistics Service

Kentucky Corn Production Update - Record Crop for 2011?

2011-08-16T09:42:00.001-04:00

According August 11 Kentucky Agricultural Statistics Service report, corn production in Kentucky is forecast at 194.3 million bushels, which is higher than the record 2009 crop of 190 million bushels. Yield was estimated at 145 bushels per acre, up 21 bushels from the 2010 level. This assumes favorable weather conditions through the remainder of the growing season.

Corn crop condition was rated as 1 percent very poor, 5 percent poor, 27 percent fair, 48 percent good, and 19 percent excellent. Percent of corn silked was at 92 percent complete as of Sunday August 14. Last year it was 99 percent and the five year average was 99 percent. Corn milked was at 71 percent, well behind 95 percent for 2010 and the average of 87 percent. Percent of corn that has reached the dough stage was 48 percent, compared to 77 percent the previous year and 67 percent for the average. Twenty-eight percent had dented, behind the 63 percent of a year ago and the 44 percent average.

Kentucky Agricultural Statistics Service

KyCGA Applauds USDOT's Commitment to No New Regulations for America’s Agricultural Community

2011-08-11T11:52:00.003-04:00

Guidance Will Ensure States Continue to Use Common Sense in Applying Existing Safety Rules

The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced August 10 that it has no intention to propose new regulations governing the transport of agricultural products. The agency also released guidance designed to make sure states clearly understand the common sense exemptions that allow farmers, their employees, and their families to accomplish their day-to-day work and transport their products to market.

After hearing from concerned farmers earlier this year, FMCSA initiated this review to make sure states don't go overboard in enforcing regulations on agricultural operators, and to ensure consistent access to exemptions for farmers. No regulations will be proposed for any new safety requirements or changes to the rules governing the transport of agricultural products, farm machinery, or farm supplies to or from a farm.

"We have no intention of instituting onerous regulations on the hardworking farmers who feed our country and fuel our economy," said Secretary Ray LaHood. "Farmers deserve to know that reasonable, common sense exemptions will continue to be consistently available to agricultural operations across the country, and that’s why we released this guidance."

This guidance – which does not impose any new rules on farmers – follows the Federal Register public notice which FMCSA issued on May 31, 2011, asking farmers, farm organizations and the public to give input on the agency’s longstanding safety rules.

"We want to make it absolutely clear that farmers will not be subjected to new and impractical safety regulations," said U.S. Transportation Deputy Secretary John Porcari. "The farm community can be confident that states will continue to follow the regulatory exemptions for farmers that have always worked so well."

"FMCSA is pleased with the input we’ve received from the agricultural community and members of Congress. We received about 1700 comments and the vast majority called for us to preserve the guidance that leaves states to carry out the farm exceptions as they have for many years." said FMCSA Administrator Anne Ferro. "We want to make crystal clear that we are not imposing any new regulations."

Earlier this year, farm groups such as the National Corn Growers Association and its state affiliates came to FMCSA with concerns that some states might not allow exemptions to Commercial Drivers License (CDL) requirements for certain farm operations using "crop-share" leasing.

When FMCSA investigated, there appeared to be wide differences among states in how the "for-hire" and related agricultural exceptions were being applied. In order to ensure consistency, FMCSA asked state officials to cease all new entrant safety audits on farmers engaged in "crop-share" leasing and issued the public notice soliciting input that would provide insight on the complex use of farm equipment on public roads. The guidance released today, which is based on that input, clarifies three critical issues:

Interstate vs. intrastate commerce. Since the difference between the two has been determined by the U.S. Supreme Court and other Federal courts, FMCSA has limited flexibility to provide additional guidelines. The Agency has concluded that new regulatory guidance concerning the distinction between interstate and intrastate commerce is not necessary. Generally, the states and the industry have a common understanding on this point. To the extent that fact-specific questions arise, the Agency will work with the States and the industry to provide a clarification for the specific scenario.

Commercial Driver's License. Federal regulations allow states to make exceptions to Commercial Driver's License (CDL) regulations for certain farm vehicle drivers such as farm employees and family members, as long as their vehicles are not used by "for-hire" motor carriers. Some states have questioned whether this exemption applies to drivers who work for "crop share" or similar arrangements. FMCSA’s notice includes guidance to ensure consistent application of the exemption. After considering the public comments, the Agency has determined that farmers who rent their land for a share of the crops and haul their own and the landlord’s crops to market should have access to the agricultural CDL exemptions given by the states.

Implements of Husbandry. In a perfect world, farm vehicles would only operate on farms, while commercial trucks would operate on public roads. The reality is that farm equipment that is not designed or intended for everyday use on public roads is often used for short trips at limited speeds. This creates a gray area for classification. After considering the public comments, FMCSA has determined that most States have already adopted common sense enforcement practices that allow farmers to safely move equipment to and from their fields. In areas where farm implements are common, the enforcement community and the agricultural community have achieved a mutual understanding of which safety regulations should apply to farm equipment on their public roads.

FMCSA is committed to the safety of our highways and the long-term success of America's agricultural industry. To learn more about federal safety regulations that impact the transportation of agricultural products and equipment, please visit the FMCSA website at www.fmcsa.dot.gov.

STUDY: Ethanol Production Does Not Lower Cattle Profits

2011-08-09T16:33:00.002-04:00

Net cash farm incomes for beef-cow and dairy operations is up since provisions of the biofuels mandate went into effect according to a study using Texas A&M University’s Agricultural & Food Policy Center’s premier farm-level modeling system and data from the University of Missouri’s Food & Agricultural Policy Research Institute.

The study was written in response to ongoing allegations that increased ethanol production resulting from the expanded RFS had caused financial insecurity in livestock and dairy operations by spurring an increase in feed prices.

Researchers looked at changes in input and output prices in January 2007 and January 2011 for beef-cow and dairy operations in 12 states, with consideration given to overall market changes.

The final analysis concluded that while higher feed costs do exist, the profitability of all operations examined had increased over the four-year period as a result of increased output prices.

“While it is easy to reiterate artificial arguments against the use of ethanol, we believe this study clearly illustrates the fallacies on which they are often based,” said Bart Schott, President of the National Corn Growers Association. “With advances in both seed and farming technology, we have increased our average yield substantially in the past few decades. This abundance allows us to meet increased demand, providing both feed and fuel that benefit our nation’s economic security.”

“This study again concludes that, in reality, we do not have to choose between using corn for food or fuel."

For a summary of the study model and findings, please click here.

Kentucky Corn Production Update

2011-08-09T16:32:00.000-04:00

Corn crop condition was rated as 1 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 26 percent fair, 49 percent good, and 20 percent excellent. Percent of corn silked was at 82 percent complete as of Sunday August 7. Last year it was 93 percent and the five year average was 95 percent. Corn milked was at 57 percent, well behind 81 percent for 2010 and the average of 74 percent. Percent of corn that has reached the dough stage was 35 percent, compared to 57 percent the previous year and 49 percent for the average. Fifteen percent had dented, behind the 38 percent of a year ago and the 26 percent average. Soybean condition was rated 1 percent very poor, 6 percent poor, 31 percent fair, 51 percent good, and 11 percent excellent.

Kentucky Ag Statitics Service

KyCGA Helps Launch Corn Caucus Project

2011-08-02T12:51:00.001-04:00

KyCGA has partnered with the Iowa Corn Growers Association and the National Corn Growers Association to launch the Corn Caucus Project.

The Corn Caucus Project’s purpose is to keep corn growers informed and engaged in the 2012 presidential campaign. The primary goal of this program is to contact all campaigns to discuss corn (NCGA) policies and form a relationship with all campaigns, so that they consider and incorporate corn policy positions into their respective campaigns.

A secondary goal of the Corn Caucus Project is to evaluate candidate positions on corn policy issues, and publicize these positions to our members, NCGA members, other agricultural groups, and the media prior to the Iowa Caucus in February 2012.

Activities include a policy survey for candidates, media tracking, communication with campaigns on NCGA positions and priorities, and corn grower involvement in campaigns including volunteering and attending candidate events. The Corn Caucus Project does not provide an endorsement of any candidate.

For more information please visit www.iowacorn.org/corncaucusproject.

Kentucky Farm Volunteers Reach Out to Consumers on Hot Summer Day

2011-08-02T10:08:00.003-04:00

Kentucky farm volunteers visited with consumers this past weekend to discuss food and farming at The Comfy Cow, a gourmet ice cream parlor in Louisville, Ky. The event was hosted by CommonGround, an initiative to get farmers and consumers talking about food production. CommonGround is supported by Kentucky corn and soybean checkoff dollars and driven by volunteer farmers.

View photos from the event

Kentucky Corn Production Update

2011-08-01T17:26:00.000-04:00

Corn silked was 74 percent complete as of Sunday July 31, compared to 89 percent for 2010 and the five year average. Percent of corn that have reach the milk stage was 44 percent, compared to 66 percent for the previous year and 58 percent for the average. A quarter of the corn crop has reached the dough stage. It was 41 percent a year ago, with one-third for the average. Six percent was dented, compared to 14 percent last year and the average at 12 percent. Corn condition was rated 1 percent very poor, 3 percent poor, 30 percent fair, 40 percent good, and 26 percent excellent.

Kentucky Ag Statistics Service

Kentucky Corn Production Update

2011-07-12T06:25:00.000-04:00

Corn tasseling was 43 percent complete as of Sunday July 10, compared to 70 percent previous year and five year average of 50 percent. Corn silking was 27 percent complete by the end of the week, compared with 66 percent last year and the five year average of 55 percent. Corn condition was rated 2 percent poor, 18 percent fair, 51 percent good, and 29 percent excellent.

Kentucky Agricultural Statistics Service

Prevented Planting Reporting Deadline Extended to July 15

2011-07-05T12:17:00.000-04:00

Due to Kentucky’s weather creating delays in planting, the Kentucky Farm Service Agency is extending the 2011 date to report prevented planting for all crops except small grains to July 15, to coincide with the crop reporting deadline. Normally, producers are required to file this notification on prevented planting with their FSA office within 15 days of the respective crop's final planting date.

The prevented planting reporting requirement applies to all crops except small grains, whether covered by crop insurance, not covered by crop insurance, or covered by FSA’s Non-insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP). Reporting to FSA could impact future FSA program benefits. In addition, federal crop insurance policy holders are reminded to notify their crop insurance companies of the planting conditions so they are aware of prevented planting.

Prevented planted acreage claims filed (Form CCC-576) by July 15, 2011, will be considered as timely filed, except for small grains. It is important that the CCC-576form be timely filed and approved for a possible 2011 crop disaster Supplemental Revenue Payments Assistance Program (SURE) or for acreage history credit. Approved prevented planted acreage may also be eligible for ACRE Payments. If a request for prevented planting is filed after the July 15, 2011, a late filed fee will be required and will have to have an on-site inspection completed to determine that the natural disaster condition was evident.

Some Corn Showing Signs of Potassium Deficiency

2011-07-05T11:21:00.000-04:00

Source: University of Kentucky Press Release. www.ca.uky.edu

As the corn crop begins to show some height, some plants are showing signs of potassium deficiency, which might be due to sidewall compaction.

The compaction is likely the result of producers planting in less-than-ideal conditions this spring when record rainfall caused significant planting delays across the state. Sidewall compaction makes it difficult for plants to establish root systems to get the nutrients they need from the soil. In a sidewall compaction situation, roots grow in the planting furrow, along the rows.

With a potassium deficiency, lower plant leaves will turn yellow first. The yellowing begins at the tip and travels along the outside plant leaf margin, eventually causing the leaves to turn brown and die.

“The plants are likely lacking in more than just potassium, but the potassium deficiency usually shows up first,” said Lloyd Murdock, extension soil specialist with the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture.

Murdock said there’s little producers can do to alleviate sidewall compaction on their own, as penetrating the compacted soil would likely destroy the plants. But, Mother Nature may be able to provide relief, especially in cases where roots are starting to break through the compacted soil.

“In most cases, the plants’ roots will penetrate the soil with time, especially if we have good moisture,” he said. “Rains moisten the soil, making it easier for plants to penetrate the compacted wall.”

In contrast, dry conditions could exacerbate the problem.

“If it dries off, recovery will be really slow, if at all,” he said.

He noted, in a few cases, the soil compaction may be too severe and the plants may not recover, even with timely rainfall.

Kentucky Farmers Celebrate Use of American Ethanol at Hometown Racetrack

2011-07-01T16:42:00.002-04:00

SPARTA – When the green flag waves at the Kentucky Speedway NASCAR events, July 7-9, a host of farmers will be in the stands to cheer on every driver as they race towards the finish line using Sunoco E15, a fuel blended with 15 percent ethanol.

“More than 75 million NASCAR fans have been shown the performance and environmental benefits of American corn-based ethanol this racing season,” said Ray Allan Mackey, Hardin County farmer and president of the Kentucky Corn Growers Association. “We are proud that NASCAR’s green initiative and American Ethanol will be making an appearance in the Bluegrass state to further remind fans of its contribution to cleaner air, American jobs and energy independence.”

NASCAR announced they would use the 15% American ethanol blend in all vehicles of its top three national series (NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series) last fall.

According to American Ethanol, a partnership between the ethanol group Growth Energy and the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) to promote the fuel, NASCAR has made a seamless transition to E15. Representatives tout NASCAR’s flawless distribution at the track, where many racing teams report an increase in horsepower.

“We knew the introduction of Sunoco Green E15 to NASCAR racing vehicles would get a lot of attention because it’s a good fit for NASCAR’s green initiative, and because of the increased horsepower on the track,” said NCGA Chairman Darrin Ihnen. “Drivers have been impressed with the power the fuel provides them under race conditions. Through our partnership with NASCAR, we are able to show the American public that if E-15 can stand the stress these drivers put it through, it’s good for the family car, too.”

Mackey will have the opportunity to present the American Ethanol Green Re-Start Award during the Quaker State 400 opening ceremonies to the winner of the July 2nd Coke Zero 400 in Daytona. The award is given every racing week to the participating driver who records the fastest average speed on restarts and who finishes the race on the lead lap.

Fans will also be reminded of corn ethanol’s connection to rural America. The Kentucky Corn Growers, farm machinery manufacturer Claas, and farm machinery dealer Whayne Supply are displaying a large corn combine at the track throughout the race weekend.

“There is no fuel more American than domestic, corn-based ethanol,” said Mackey. “Farmers across the nation continue to produce enough corn for the growing ethanol market while keeping steady supply to food, feed and export markets. American ethanol is responsible for supporting nearly 400,000 American jobs and putting $36 billion in the hands of American consumers last year. Ethanol is the only commercially-viable alternative fuel in the United States and strengthens our energy independence.”

About Kentucky Corn Growers Association - The Kentucky Corn Growers Association is a grassroots organization, founded in 1982, dedicated to growing opportunities for Kentucky corn farmers.

Kentucky Crop Acreage Increases

2011-07-01T16:11:00.001-04:00

Farmers in Kentucky increased their acreage planted to corn, soybeans, wheat and fire cured tobacco for 2011. Acres set for dark air cured and burley tobacco was down from the 2010 level according to the Kentucky Field Office of USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Soybeans planted in Kentucky was estimated at 1.52 million acres, up 120,000 acres from 2010, and the largest soybean plantings since 1984. Acres harvested for grain, at 1.50 million acres, was 110,000 above a year ago, and if realized, would be the largest acres harvested since 1982. Planting progress was slow this spring due to wet weather and flood problems. Soybeans in Kentucky are planted both as full season beans and double crop soybeans following winter wheat harvest. The emerged crop was in mostly good to excellent condition. U.S. soybean planted area for 2011 was estimated at 75.2 million acres, down 3 percent from last year. Area for harvest, at 74.3 million acres, was also down 3 percent from 2010.

Acreage planted to corn in Kentucky was estimated at 1.44 million acres, up 100,000 acres from 2010, and the largest corn acreage since 2007. Acres harvested for grain was estimated at 1.34 million acres, up 110,000 from last year. A wet spring delayed planting and flooding caused some reseeding to occur. The emerged crop was in mostly good condition. The U.S. corn planted for all purposes in 2011 was estimated at 92.3 million acres, up 5 percent from last year, and the second highest planted acreage in the U.S. since 1944, behind only the 93.5 million acres planted in 2007. Growers expect to harvest 84.9 million acres for grain, up 4 percent from last year.

Farmers in Kentucky set an estimated 63,000 acres of burley tobacco for harvest. This was 9,000 acres below the 2010 level, and the smallest acreage on record. Dark fire-cured tobacco acreage set was estimated at 9,300 acres, up 500 acres from the previous year. Dark air-cured tobacco acreage was estimated at 4,200 acres, down 200 acres from a year ago. All tobacco set was in mostly good to fair condition. Burley Producing States acreage for harvest was estimated at 90,000 acres, 8 percent below last year. If realized, this would be the lowest burley acreage on record, well below the 97,500 record low acres established in 2008.

Winter wheat seeded acreage in Kentucky was estimated at 530,000 acres, down 10,000 from the March planted estimate but 140,000 acres above the previous year. Acreage harvested for grain was estimated at 410,000 acres, 160,000 acres above 2010. Strong prices encouraged additional wheat seedings last fall. The U.S. winter wheat planted area was estimated at 41.1 million acres, up 10 percent from 2010 but down slightly from the previous estimate. Area harvested for grain was forecast at 32.3 million acres, up 2 percent from last year.

Alfalfa hay acreage in Kentucky was estimated at 250,000 acres, an increase of 20,000 from the 2010 crop. All other hay acreage was estimated at 2.10 million acres, a decrease of 200,000 acres from a year ago. The U.S. all hay acreage was estimated at 57.6 million acres, down 4 percent from 2010.

Corn Growers Applaud Movement on Pending FTAs

2011-06-28T19:28:00.001-04:00

The National Corn Growers Association today applauded the Senate Finance Committee’s announcement of a mock mark-up on the pending free trade agreements with Korea, Colombia and Panama. The committee, chaired by Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), is planning to consider the draft implementing bills on Thursday, June 30.

Mock mark-ups provide committees of jurisdiction the opportunity to offer amendments to the Administration’s proposals. Final versions of implementing bills are submitted to Congress for an up or down vote.

“NCGA is greatly encouraged by the movement on the pending FTAs,” NCGA President Bart Schott said. “The United States is the largest corn producer and exporter in the world and developing new markets for our country’s agricultural products will help our sector lead the nation in economic growth and international competiveness.”

Last year, the United States exported 50.4 million metric tons of corn worldwide. Corn co-products such as distillers grains also represent a growing export market for domestic producers.

“As a producer, it is frustrating to watch other nations achieve preferential access to markets and secure a competitive advantage over U.S. corn and corn products,” Schott said. “NCGA strongly supports the pending FTAs with Korea, Colombia and Panama and we look forward to working with Congress to ensure swift passage.”

Watch for Corn Earworm

2011-06-28T14:27:00.006-04:00

The following appeared in the lastest edition of Kentucky Pest News published by the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture:

Far Western Kentucky Producers Need to Check for Corn Earworm!

By Doug Johnson – Extension Entomologist, Cam Kenimer – Fulton Co ANR Agent, and Patty Lucas – IPM Specialist

Cam Kenimer is capturing very large numbers of corn earworms in his Fulton Co. KY trap. (See: http://ces.ca.uky.edu/fulton/InsectTraps)

Although these large numbers have not been seen in the Princeton or Lexington traps, the pest is being reported in states to our south and west. This can be a very destructive pest and producers should be on the lookout for its’ presence.

This insect, Helicoverpa zea, variously called the corn earworm, cotton bollworm, and tomato fruitworm, and in KY, the soybean podworm, attacks a wide range of field and garden plants including corn, cotton, soybeans, tomatoes, and tobacco. It may also be occasionally found on
alfalfa and garden beans. Do not confuse the corn earworm with the tobacco budworm, Heliothis virescens. They are related pests but often respond very differently to insecticides. Additionally, the budworm is a much more destructive pest in tobacco.

Corn earworm adults are buff to light green moths with a wingspan at rest of about ½”. Eggs are white to pink about 1/30” wide and laid singly. Larvae (worms) are small to 1 ½” in length when full grown. They are usually tan to pale green with several dark stripes down the back. However, color may be quite variable, with some individuals almost black.

Watch for Fall Armyworm in Late Corn

By Ric Bessin

With the late corn planting, growers need to be watching their corn for fall armyworm feeding. With this insect it is important to catch infestations early as later stages of the insect are more difficult to control. While many fields have been planted to corn hybrids expressing Bt genes that provide partial to high levels of fall armyworm control, non-Bt corn planted in refuge fields should be monitored regularly.

Corn is most attractive to fall armyworm while it is in the vegetative stages. Late planted fields that remain vegetative later into the season will be most likely to experience some level of fall armyworm infestation. As the larvae increase in size while feeding they begin to form a frass ‘plug’ in the whorl and feed underneath its protection. The plug can limit the penetration of insecticides into the whorl. For this reason, it is always much easier to control younger fall armyworm larvae rather than older larvae.

Begin checking corn at the mid whorl stage for fall armyworm activity. Survey 20 consecutive plants (selecting the first randomly) from at least 5 locations in the field. Small larvae cause "window pane" damage to leaves similar to European corn borer. A few days before tasseling, look for large larvae in the whorls which will be pushed out when the tassels emerge. These larvae may attack young ears. Continue to check for this insect until silks begin to dry. Control needs to be considered when egg masses are present on 5% of the plants or when 25% of the plants show damage symptoms and live larvae are still present. Controlling larger larvae, typically after they are hidden under the frass plug, will be much more difficult.

Corn Earworm Photos - courtesy of Marlin Rice, Iowa State University

Kentucky Corn Production Update

2011-06-28T12:00:00.000-04:00

Corn tasseling was 9 percent complete as of Sunday June 26, compared to 40 percent previous year and five year average of 21 percent. Corn silking was 2 percent complete by the end of the week, compared with 15 percent last year and the five year average of 11 percent. Corn tasseling and silking are about two weeks behind last year due to weather conditions. Corn condition was rated 1 percent very poor, 1 percent poor, 19 percent fair, 59 percent good, and 20 percent excellent.

Kentucky Agricultural Statistics Service

NRCS Hosts Healthy Soils Workshops in Kentucky

2011-06-16T14:33:00.001-04:00

FARMING FOR THE 21ST CENTURY WORKSHOPS: HEALTHY SOILS REDUCE COSTLY INPUTS

Soil Health is the capacity of a Specific Soil to Function. Increase your understanding on how soils function and reduce your dependency on chemical fertilizers, pesticides and fuel!

Monday June 20th, 2011 (1:00-2:30PM)
USDA-NRCS State Office
771 Corporate Drive
Lexington, Ky. 40503

Tuesday June 21st, 2011 (10:00AM-3:00PM)
UK Madison Co. Cooperative Extension Service
230 Duncannon Lane
Richmond, KY 40476-0270

Wednesday June 22nd, 2011 (10:00AM-3:00PM)
Lincoln Trail District Health Department
108 New Glendale Rd.
Elizabethtown, KY 42701

Thursday June 23rd, 2011 (10:00AM-3:00PM)
UK Research and Education Center
1205 Hopkinsville Street
Princeton, KY 42445

For more information call:
John E. Graham (NRCS Soil Quality Specialist)
Phone: 859-224-7438

View the flyer

Yet Again, U.S. Corn Farmers Increase Efficiency, Sustainability

2011-06-16T14:04:00.001-04:00

U.S. corn farmers yet again proved that they are growing more with less year after year. According to USDA and Fertilizer Institute data, farmers decreased usage of key fertilizers by roughly one-third per bushel in the last 30 years.

"Farmers truly were the first environmentalists," said NCGA Production and Stewardship Action Team Chair Steve Ebke. "The multigenerational nature of our operations constantly reminds us of why we want to improve both farming practices and our land. By reducing fertilizer usage per bushel, we save valuable resources, decrease our environmental impact and produce our crop more affordably. It is a true win-win situation for farmers and consumers."

Between 1978 and 2010, phosphorus use decreased by 43.3 percent per bushel with potash and nitrogen use decreasing by 38.6 and 31.5 percent per bushel respectively. The data, based on three-year averages collected by the USDA, highlights the efficiency gains farmers have had during that period. While overall usage declined less sharply, simultaneous dramatic increases in average yields meant significant gains in the efficiency of the product used.

Over the same period, the overall amount of fertilizer use did decline despite consistently increased production. During the 32 year period, phosphorus use per acre decreased by 11.8 percent with 6.9 and 2.6 percent reductions in the use of nitrogen and potash respectively. Over the same span, average yields increased from roughly 95 to 155 bushels per acre.

"U.S. corn is a sustainable, reliable, affordable source of food, feed, fuel and fiber," said Ebke. "Every year, we are improving our production techniques, increasing efficiencies and decreasing outputs while growing a crop that meets constantly increasing demand."

Full report from the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.

NCGA Appreciates Senators Standing Up for Rural America in Coburn Vote

2011-06-14T15:24:00.000-04:00

The National Corn Growers Association today thanked the many senators who stood up against Sen.Tom Coburn’s amendment to immediately repeal the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit. The amendment, which needed 60 votes to pass, failed on the Senate floor with 59 votes against and only 40 votes in favor.

“We greatly appreciate the strong message senators sent Sen. Coburn today by showing him they understand the importance of the ethanol industry to rural America,” NCGA President Bart Schott, a grower from Kulm, N.D., said. “This demonstrates the Senate’s lack of desire to engage in destructive policy making, especially to an industry that supports hundreds of thousands of jobs in America during a time of economic uncertainty. We also thank our many growers and supporters who called and emailed their senators about this important vote.”

If Senator Coburn’s efforts had been successful, the ethanol industry could have seen production reduced by as much as 38 percent. This would have significantly impacted an industry that provides and supports more than 400,000 U.S. jobs, many in rural America, during a time of economic uncertainty. The loss in ethanol production could have resulted in the shedding of approximately 112,000 of these jobs, in all sectors of the economy.

“The ethanol industry has been proactive in our efforts to reform, unlike the oil and gas industry,” Schott said. “NCGA supports alternative reform options that will provide a safety net to the industry while reducing the overall cost to the federal government. We hope Congress will focus on policy initiatives such as the Ethanol Reform and Deficit Reduction Act that was introduced yesterday by Sens. John Thune and Amy Klobuchar. NCGA and its partners in the ethanol industry look forward to working constructively with Congress towards reform.”

Fungicide Application Timing on Corn

2011-06-14T14:01:00.002-04:00

By Paul Vincelli, Kentucky Pest News

Certain articles in the farm press seem to be suggesting that there is value in applying fungicides twice: Once to early-stage corn (V4 to V8), and again at VT/R1. Some Kentucky farmers considering using this practice may be asking their local County Extension Agents for advice on this issue. For inquiries relating to crop production, it is best for Agents to rely on science-based information.

In research at land-grant universities, if there is a benefit of fungicide application, it typically is more pronounced when applied at VT/R1 than when applied early. Applying fungicide early generally hasn’t showed the same level of disease control as when applied at early reproductive phases. (For more information, see http://www.ca.uky.edu/agcollege/plantpathology/extension/KPN%20Site%20Files/pdf/kpn1257.pdf. )

As far as applying fungicide twice, I haven’t seen any research that supports routine use of fungicides twice in field corn under our conditions. Yes, it may make sense in certain fields in the Deep South with early outbreaks of southern rust. It generally doesn’t make sense here in Kentucky.

Corn Growers Support Thune, Klobuchar Legislation to Reform Ethanol Industry

2011-06-14T13:55:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, the National Corn Growers Association thanked Sens. John Thune (R-SD) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) for introducing the Ethanol Reform and Deficit Reduction Act. The legislation, which is co-sponsored by a bipartisan group of 13 senators, would transition the ethanol industry into a variable tax incentive and create additional market access for ethanol by removing existing barriers of consumer choice. Other co-sponsors include Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Mike Johanns (R-NE), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Richard Lugar (R-IN), John Hoeven (R-ND) Tim Johnson (D-SD), Jerry Moran(R-KS), Ben Nelson (D-NE), Al Franken (D-MN), Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL).

Specifically, this legislation would implement a variable tax credit beginning July 1, with the rate to be based on the price of oil, to expire at the end of 2014. The bill would extend the alternative fuel station tax credit, which would allow for more consumer freedom to purchase higher concentration of ethanol, and would extend the small producer ethanol credit through 2014. Of the $2.5 billion in revenues this would make available to the Federal Treasury, $1 billion would be earmarked for deficit reduction.

"The Ethanol Reform and Deficit Reduction Act comes at a time when we are proactively trying to reform the ethanol industry, unlike the oil and gas industry," NCGA President Bart Schott said. "NCGA supports this legislation and will continue to look for ways to reform. We look forward to working with our Allies in the Senate to ensure passage."

NASCAR & American Ethanol Speeds into Kentucky Next Month

2011-06-13T21:56:00.001-04:00

Kentucky will be flooded with more than 100,00 NASCAR fans in just a few weeks as Kentucky Speedway in Sparta hosts the NASCAR series races July 7-9. Kentucky corn grower members will be in attendance to celebrate NASCAR's move to use 15% ethanol in all its race cars and share this effort with the attending fans. A Lexion combine will be on display - thanks to help from Claas and Whayne Supply - to reinforce that American ethanol is a farm-grown fuel.

For more information - visit http://www.kentuckyspeedway.com/ or http://www.americanethanolracing.com/.

Early Entry Deadline Extended for National Corn Yield Contest

2011-06-13T21:54:00.000-04:00

Due to delays in the planting season for many corn growers, the early entry deadline for the 2011 National Corn Yield Contest has been extended 10 days, to June 25, the National Corn Growers Association announced last week. Until that date, the fee is $80 per entry; entries submitted online or postmarked after that date will be subject to the standard entry fee of $110 per entry.

“We recognize a lot of our growers have had challenges in the field this spring, and we want to give them more time to save money on the contest,” said Steve Ebke, chairman of the Production and Stewardship Action Team. “The contest has remained one of the most popular membership and educational programs for the organization, and it’s great to see so much growing interest year after year. We salute our growers’ hard work in the field and their loyal interest in the yield contest.”

For nearly a half century, NCGA’s National Corn Yield Contest has provided corn growers the opportunity to compete with their colleagues to grow the most corn per acre, helping feed and fuel the world. This has given participants not only the recognition they deserved, but the opportunity to learn from their peers.

Winners receive national recognition in publications such as the NCYC Corn Yield Guide, as well as cash trips or other awards from participating sponsoring seed, chemical and crop protection companies. In Nashville, Tenn., during the 2012 Commodity Classic, state winners will be presented awards at the NCYC Breakfast and national winners will receive awards at the Awards Banquet.

View CYC entry forms and rules.

Kentucky Corn Production Update

2011-06-13T21:26:00.001-04:00

Corn planting was 97 percent complete as of Sunday June 12. Eighty-seven percent of corn planted had emerged, compared with 99 percent a year ago and 97 percent for the five year average. Emerged corn condition was rated 1 percent very poor, 3 percent poor, 32 percent fair, 50 percent good, and 14 percent excellent. Some fields were beginning to show stress from high temperatures and lack of rain. (KASS)

Kentucky Corn Production Update

2011-06-06T15:56:00.001-04:00

Corn planting made excellent progress and was 90 percent complete at the end of last week. Usually more than 95 percent of the crop has been planted at this time. Seventy-five percent of corn planted had emerged, compared with 97 percent a year ago and 92 percent for the five year average. The average corn height was 11 inches, with the most advanced height at 21 inches. Emerged corn condition was rated 1 percent very poor, 3 percent poor, 34 percent fair, 46 percent good, and 16 percent excellent. Courtesy of the Kentucky Agricultural Statistics Service.

The Prevented Planting Decision is Really Complicated

2011-06-02T16:06:00.003-04:00

Dr. Art Barnable of Kansas State University is an authority on federal crop insurance and its importance to producers' risk management planning and marketing decisions. He has developed a timely paper for producers who are deciding on filing prevented planting claims and/or planting an alternative crop. Many have requested for the the RMA to intervene and approve extension of prevented planting dates, but the agency has indicated that no extensions to current crop insurance contracts will be approved.

View The Prevented Planting Decision is Really Complicated from Dr. Barnaby.

Corn Farmers Coalition Returns to Nation’s Capital with Educational Program

2011-06-02T10:46:00.002-04:00

For the third year in a row, our nation’s capital will learn about the U.S. family farmers who produce corn, our nation’s top crop, as part of the Corn Farmers Coalition program that debuts today at Union Station, an important venue for reaching policymakers inside “The Beltway.”

“Even today, corn farming remains a family operation,” said Kentucky Corn Promotion Council chairman Jim Barton. “Like my farm and many others across the nation, farming goes back multiple generations. We continue to not only feed a hungry world, but play a critical role in contributing to our nation's economy. It's important that policymakers and influencers realize this.”

Corn farmers from 14 states - including Kentucky - and the National Corn Growers Association are supporting the Corn Farmers Coalition program to introduce a foundation of facts seen as essential to decision making, rather than directly influencing legislation and regulation.

"Once again, the Coalition is putting a face on today's family farmers to showcase the productivity and environmental advances being made in the industry and to provide factual information on how innovative and high-tech corn farmers have become," said Barton.

The Corn Farmers Coalition is launched its major advertising campaign yesterday with “station saturation” at Union Station that will put prominent facts about family farmers in Capital Hill publications, radio, frequently used websites, the Metro and Reagan National Airport. The program will continue until Congress recesses in August.

“Last year, we saw a good response to our positive and proactive efforts, and this year we have many new people inside the Beltway to educate,” said NCGA President Bart Schott, a grower in North Dakota. “As urban and suburban America gets further removed from the agricultural roots that made our nation strong, we’re saying it’s time again for everyone to come home to the farm.”

It’s not just about advertising, Schott noted. The coalition will meet with media, members of Congress, environmental groups and others to talk about farming’s bright future: how U.S. farmers, using the latest technologies, will continue to expand yields and how this productivity can be a bright spot in an otherwise struggling economy.

For more information or to view the CFC ads go: http://www.cornfarmerscoalition.org/.

Kentucky Corn Production Update

2011-06-01T17:53:00.002-04:00

Corn planting made significant progress last week, but remains about two weeks behind average. Planting progressed to 75 percent complete. Usually more than 90 percent of the crop is planted at this time. Corn emergence was reported at 56 percent, compared with 93 percent a year ago and 85 percent for the five year average. The average corn height was 6 inches, with the most advanced height at 13 inches. Emerged corn condition was rated 2 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 29 percent fair, 47 percent good, and 18 percent excellent. Unless fields dry soon, some producers will consider switching to soybeans or accepting prevented planting payments.

Kentucky Agricultural Statistics Service

2011 ACRE Program: Enrollment Deadline is June 1

2011-05-26T12:23:00.001-04:00

The deadline to enroll in the ACRE program for the 2011/2012 marketing year is June 1.

UK ag economists Cory Walters and Greg Halich provide a look at expected price guarantees, where prices need to drop to trigger a payment, relationship between ACRE and the Counter-Cyclical program and probability of payments given current prices and unknown yields for the 2011/2012 marketing year.

Read more at http://graincrops.blogspot.com/2011/05/average-crop-revenue-election-acre.html

Kentucky Corn Crop Update

2011-05-23T17:01:00.000-04:00

From the Kentucky Agricultural Statistics Service

Corn planting made significant progress last week, but some locations were once again inhibited by the wet weather. Reported progress was 62 percent, down 34 percent from last year, and down 25 percent from the five year average. Corn emergence was reported at 38 percent, down 50 percent from last year and down 36 percent for the five year average. The average corn height was 3 inches, with the most advanced height at 7 inches. Emerged corn condition was rated 2 percent very poor, 5 percent poor, 37 percent fair, 40 percent good, and 16 percent excellent. In some fields water damage will force replanting or possible switch from corn to soybeans.

UK agricultural economists to discuss ACRE

2011-05-18T21:13:00.001-04:00

With farmers facing a June 1 deadline to enroll in the Average Crop Revenue Election program, Cory Walters and Greg Halich, agricultural economists in the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, will host meetings across the state to explain ACRE and help producers determine whether it fits their operations.

ACRE is an optional risk-protection program created by the 2008 Farm Bill and offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Eligible producers include those who grow corn, soybeans, wheat, sorghum, barley, rice, upland cotton, oats, peanuts, pulse crops and other oilseeds.

Unlike the traditional farm support programs that offer direct payments, counter-cyclical payments and marketing assistance loans if a price of a particular crop falls below a certain level, ACRE pays if crop revenue falls below a revenue guarantee. Revenue includes price and yield. In 2010, wheat farmers who were enrolled in the program received average payments of around $90 per acre after a disastrous 2009 marketing year crop.

Those who enroll in ACRE forgo any counter-cyclical program payments, forfeit 20 percent of direct payments and have loan rates reduced by 30 percent. The agricultural economists calculated the approximate cost of a 20 percent loss in direct payments as $5 per base acre for corn, $2 per base acre for soybeans and $4 per base acre for wheat.

Walters and Halich will discuss how the program works, the probability of payments and the program’s relationship to crop insurance. In addition, they will discuss poor planting conditions this spring, preventive planting and the economics of producing corn compared to soybeans. All meetings are at the county’s UK Cooperative Extension office unless otherwise noted.

• 8:30 a.m. EDT, May 19, Hardin County
• 3 p.m. CDT, May 19, Marshall County
• 8:30 a.m. CDT May 20, Christian County
• 12 p.m. CDT, May 20, Henderson County Extension, Education and Exposition Center

For more details on a specific meeting, contact the hosting county's UK extension agent for agriculture and natural resources.

Contact information can be found at http://www.ca.uky.edu/county/

Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Project Grants Available for Kentucky Farmers and Rural Small Businesses

2011-05-09T14:15:00.003-04:00

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has invited agricultural producers and rural small businesses to apply for loans and grants under the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Project (REAP) to implement renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements.

Examples of projects are the installation of more energy efficient grain dryers, renewable energy feasibility studies and audits or blender pumps for dispensing E85 (E85 is a fuel blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline).

Danny Ebelhar, a Daviess County farmer, was awarded funding earlier this year to help replace a 35-year old grain drier with a new, more energy-efficient model.

He received 25 percent of the drier’s cost from the REAP program as well as an additional $10,000 from the 2011 ARRA On-farm Energy Efficiency & Production Incentives Program offered through the Governor’s Office of Agricultural Policy earlier this year.

“We did have to hire a grant writer,” said Ebelhar, “but the process was painless.”

State Director Tom Fern said Kentucky’s Rural Development program has already funded several energy-efficiency projects using REAP funds, and his staff is able to process applications from agriculture producers and small rural businesses from a number of locations across the state.

While small business asking for REAP assistance must be in a rural area, agricultural producers in non-rural areas are eligible. This clarification made in April makes requirements consistent with those of other USDA energy programs.

Since Rural Development's renewable energy and energy efficiency programs were launched in 2003, they have played a key role in helping more than 6,000 local businesses create jobs and make energy efficiency improvements. Under REAP, local businesses receive assistance to deploy wind, solar and other forms of renewable energy.

The deadlines for submitting completed REAP applications are June 15 and June 30, depending on the type of project to be funded. For information on applying for assistance, contact your local USDA Rural Development office. A list of USDA offices in Kentucky is available at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/StateOfficeAddresses.html.

Kentucky Farm and Energy Delegation Takes Tour to Explore Biofuel Opportunities

2011-05-06T12:33:00.001-04:00

This week, a group of Kentucky agriculture leaders visited Missouri to explore opportunities in the biofuels industry. The tour was organized by the Governor's Office of Agricultural Policy and Kentucky Department of Energy Development and Independence. The tour group, composed of farmers, academics, ethanol plant officials and state employees, had a busy three-day agenda; they attended the International Biomass Expo, visited the Show Me Energy Cooperative and explored the Monsanto Research Village located in Chesterfield, Mo. They were also able to hear from NCGA CEO Rick Tolman, who corrected common misconceptions about ethanol with hard facts and outlined current opportunities for investment in the ethanol industry. They also talked with Geoff Cooper of the Renewable Fuels Association and Mark Erker of the United Soybean Board.

Farmers Encourage Moving Forward on Colombian Trade Agreement

2011-05-05T16:14:00.001-04:00

Eastwood, KY – Ratifying the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement will significantly improve market access for U.S. farmers in Colombia, the third-largest economy in the region, according to Kentucky Corn Growers Association (KyCGA).

“U.S. agriculture exports to Colombia have fallen 50 percent since 2008 due in part to a disadvantage in the marketplace. Finalizing the free trade agreement will level the playing field immediately for many ag products, including feed grains like corn, but also provide increased opportunities for other valuable ag products like beef, pork and poultry,” said Laura Knoth, KyCGA executive director.

“We’re encouraged by recent movement in the Colombian agreement, as well as the trade agreement with South Korea,” Knoth said. “We need to keep that momentum going and encourage the President and Congress to complete both agreements by July so they can be enacted as soon as possible. We also encourage them to act on the existing agreement with Panama.”

Global trade is important to Kentucky farmers. According to the Foreign Agricultural Service, Kentucky feed grain exports to all countries totaled $159 million in 2009, while all agricultural product exports reached $1.5 billion.

As for Colombia, it is a regionally strategic market with exceptional growth potential for grains and other agricultural products like beef and pork. Its economy is projected to grow 4 percent annually over the next three years, and per capita income has grown steadily over the last decade. This has helped grow the country’s middle class and its buying power for pork, poultry and other higher value products.

This is leading to increased demand for feed grains to support the domestic livestock industry, yet the United States has been left behind as Colombia completed trade agreements with other global suppliers.

Sales of all U.S. agriculture goods to Colombia were $1.7 billion in 2008 but fell to $832 million in 2010. The U.S. Grains Council estimates, however, that Colombia could be a $1 billion market for the U.S. feed grains industry alone should U.S. grains have access to level playing field provided by the free trade agreement.

U.S. corn, for example, currently faces a system of variable levies that result in tariffs as high as 194 percent on some corn products. After the trade agreement is ratified, the variable system is eliminated and up to 82.7 million bushels of yellow corn can enter duty-free, and that figure increases 5 percent each year. Duties on U.S. corn exports over that amount are eliminated over a 12-years period.

Sorghum and barley also face a system of variable levies that can reach as high as 132 and 248 percent, respectively. Variable sorghum levies would be eliminated and duty-free access of 826,000 bushels of sorghum granted immediately once enacted a figure that would grow 5 percent annually. Duties on bushels over that amount would be phased out over 12 years. For barley, all tariffs would be eliminated immediately.

“While the Colombian free trade agreement is certainly positive for corn and other feed grains, it would also eliminate or significantly reduce levies and tariffs on dairy products, pork, beef, poultry, cotton and even fruits and vegetables,” Knoth said.

“We support the Colombian and other trade agreements because they help ensure all U.S. agricultural sectors have access to global markets,” Knoth said. “More open and reliable trade also allows food and agricultural products to move more freely around the world, which lowers costs to consumers.”

Impact of the Columbia TPA on Kentucky agriculture - http://www.kycorn.org/documents/columbiaTPA-KY.pdf

Corn, Ethanol Groups Welcome Bill Transforming Current Ethanol Tax Policy

2011-05-04T17:10:00.002-04:00

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), Growth Energy and the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) today praised the legislation offered by a bipartisan group of senators, led by Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley, to responsibly transition and transform current ethanol tax policy. This legislation would reduce the current blender’s credit, also known as VEETC, for a two-year period before transitioning to a tax credit that would adjust based on the price of oil. Importantly, this legislation would also improve upon current tax credits for the installation of blender pumps and ethanol fueling infrastructure. Additionally, the bill would extend tax credits for small ethanol producers as well as for advanced and cellulosic ethanol.

Original cosponsors of the Domestic Energy Promotion Act of 2011 include: Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND), Senator Mike Johanns (R-NE), Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Senator Al Franken (D-MN), Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD), Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), and Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE).

The groups issued the following statement:

“The leadership of Senator Grassley and this distinguished bipartisan group of cosponsors has been and remains instrumental in allowing America’s ethanol industry to grow and evolve. At a time of near-record gas prices and continued volatility in world oil markets, America’s growing production and reliance of domestic ethanol sources is creating jobs, keeping gasoline prices down, and reducing this nation’s appetite for imported oil. Domestic Energy Promotion Act of 2011 would ensure we don’t abandon this increasingly vital American industry, but rather smartly and responsibly foster its continued growth and evolution.”

“This legislation rightfully recognizes budget constraints by reforming the ethanol tax credit and significantly reducing its cost. Additionally, this bill would improve current tax credits for the installation of blender pumps offering higher level ethanol blends and provide Americans more choice when they fill up. Critically, this legislation would also ensure progress made to commercialize advanced ethanol technologies utilizing new feedstocks such as grasses and municipal solid waste is accelerated. We thank these senators for their leadership in introducing this bill and look forward to working with them through the legislative process that ultimately ends with the President’s signature.”

According to a recent report from Iowa State University, the University of Wisconsin, and the Center for Agriculture and Rural Development, the growth in production and use of ethanol kept American gas prices $0.89 lower than it otherwise would have been in 2010. Such downward pressure on the gasoline market saved the average American family more than $800 last year alone. From 2000-2010, ethanol kept gasoline prices $0.25 cents lower on average than they otherwise would have been, resulting in nearly $35 billion in avoided cost at the pump for consumers.

About the National Corn Growers Association
Founded in 1957, the National Corn Growers Association represents 35,000 dues-paying corn farmers nationwide and the interests of more than 300,000 growers who contribute through corn checkoff programs in their states. NCGA and its 48 affiliated state associations and checkoff organizations work together to create and increase opportunities for their members and their industry. For more information, visit www.ncga.com.

About Growth Energy
Growth Energy is a group committed to the promise of agriculture and growing America's economy through cleaner, greener energy. Growth Energy members recognize America needs a new ethanol approach. Through smart policy reform and a proactive grassroots campaign, Growth Energy promotes reducing greenhouse gas emissions, expanding the use of ethanol in gasoline, decreasing our dependence on foreign oil, and creating American jobs at home. More information can be found at GrowthEnergy.org.

About the American Coalition for Ethanol
The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) is the grassroots voice of the U.S. ethanol industry, a national advocacy association for the ethanol industry with nearly 1,500 members nationwide, including farmers, ethanol producers, commodity organizations, businesses supplying goods and services to the ethanol industry, rural electric cooperatives, and individuals supportive of increased production and use of ethanol. For more information about ethanol or ACE, visit www.ethanol.org or call (605) 334-3381.

About the Renewable Fuels Association
The RFA is the national trade association for the U.S. ethanol industry.
Since 1981, the RFA serves as the voice of the ethanol industry, providing advocacy, authoritative analysis, and important industry data to its members, Congress, federal and state government agencies, strategic partners, the media and other opinion-leader audiences.

Kentucky Corn Production Update

2011-05-03T10:08:00.002-04:00

From the Kentucky Agricultural Statistics Service

As of May 1, planting of corn has continued to lag behind due to the seemingly nonstop rain and resulting saturated fields. Progress is significantly behind where it is traditionally by this point in the season. Planting progress matched last week’s report of 17 percent, compared to 82 percent last year and 59 percent for the five year average. Corn emergence was reported at 7 percent, well behind 56 percent last year and 31 percent for the five year average.

Kentucky Corn Growers Association Scholarship Recipients Announced

2011-05-01T14:42:00.001-04:00

The Kentucky Corn Growers Association (KyCGA) has awarded three scholarships for students pursuing a degree or certificate in an agriculture-related field. Two scholarships for $1,000 were given to entering freshmen, and one $2,000 scholarship was given to a current college student.
"We are proud to support passionate agriculture students so that they may achieve their career goals," said KyCGA president Ray Allan Mackey, a farmer from Hardin Co. "These students will likely be our future agricultural leaders, and KyCGA is committed to help cultivate their success."

Recipients of the KyCGA scholarship include:

Chelsea Daugherty of Morgantown, KY - Chelsea will graduate from Butler County High School this May and will enroll at Murray State University to study Agricultural Communications and Public Relations.

Lydia Richardson of Brandenburg, KY - Lydia will graduate from LaRue County High School this May and will enroll at Western Kentucky University to study Agriculture. She has a strong interest in biotechnology.

Corey Hupman of Loretto, KY - Corey will enter his sophomore year at the University of Kentucky. He is majoring in Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering and plans to earn his MBA upon graduation.

This is the first year the KyCGA has offered a formal scholarship program, which was open to KyCGA member families. Board and Kentucky Corn Promotion Council members have been donating to a scholarship fund for several years. Distributing the money was approved at their winter business meeting since the fund had grown large enough to support the program.

KyCGA Concerned About EPA’s Newly Announced Clean Water Act Guidelines

2011-04-29T15:44:00.002-04:00

The possibility of federal government regulation of ditches and farm ponds has led the Kentucky Corn Growers Association to be concerned about the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer’s recently announced guidelines for determining federal waters that are jurisdictional under the Clean Water Act.

“Our concern is that this is a decision made by EPA officials with no input from agriculture or other impacted industries,” said Laura Knoth, KyCGA executive director. “It skirts the regulatory rulemaking process and leaves an even broader and more ambiguous regulatory web for our farmers to try to follow.”

According to the agencies, the draft guidance was developed to clarify the scope of protections under the law following two complex Supreme Court decisions over the past decade. While the guidance maintains existing exemptions for normal farming and ranching activities, KyCGA remains concerned that the new proposal could expand EPA’s authority over isolated waters including ditches and farm ponds. Although the proposed guidelines do not have the full force and effect of law, regulatory decisions could still have an impact.

“Case-by-case basis decisions are just not feasible,” continued Knoth. “No agency, state or federal, has the manpower - or should have for that matter - to look at every situation. Farmers need clear direction and a dependable standard of regulatory control: one that they and the technical experts within the world of agricultural regulators, consultants and technicians can apply on a consistent basis.

“This year is an excellent example of how important timing will be for farmers. Waiting until after the spring flooding for a decision on a case-by-case basis would mean the difference between a crop making it into the ground or not. The livelihood of our family farmers is at stake.”

Concern has also been expressed by the National Corn Growers Association. Along with several other agriculture and environmental groups, NCGA has requested the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers initiate a formal rulemaking process on this matter to ensure transparency and public participation.

“Corn growers are dependent on clean water for our livelihood and for our homes, and we are committed to conservation practices that protect our nation’s streams and rivers,” said NCGA President Bart Schott, a farmer from Kulm, N.D. “Since the guidelines are still in draft form, we hope to have the opportunity to provide feedback to the Agency and the Corps about our concerns and find common solutions.”

$2 Million Awarded for Meade County Riverport Authority

2011-04-29T15:13:00.001-04:00

The Kentucky Agricultural Development Board, chaired by Gov. Steve Beshear, approved the Meade County Riverport Authority for $2 million in Kentucky Agricultural Development Funds for the construction of a regional port facility for area producers to market their grain, including specialty grain crops.

“I am committed to creating opportunities that will make Kentucky’s agricultural community stronger and provide our farmers with increased access to markets,” said Gov. Beshear. “Projects such as this one funded by the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board play an integral role in achieving this goal.”

The project will establish a regional port facility in Brandenburg. The completed terminal will provide the agriculture community with a more economical way of processing and storing multiple commodities, separating specialty grains for export and loading commodities onto barges. The project will include grain handling facilities and related equipment, including scale and sampling capabilities. The facility will be designed so that future upgrades and expansion will be economical.

Consolidated Grain & Barge will be the stevedore for the port and estimates that initially five to six million bushels of grain will be hauled and shipped from the facility. It is estimated that more than 8,500 farm families will benefit from this project.

“These funds will help build a grain terminal right here in our community, which will help our farmers immensely in terms of time and transportation costs,” said Sen. Carroll Gibson, of Leitchfield.

“This money is further validation that Meade County is poised to play an even bigger role in river commerce in the years ahead,” said Rep. Jeff Greer, of Brandenburg. “This is definitely great news for our county and for grain farmers across the region.”

This project was one of the 11 proposals approved at the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board’s April business meeting.

For more information about this project, contact Joe Wright, chairman of the Meade County Riverport Authority, at (270) 756-5678.

American Ethanol Hits the Track with NASCAR Again this Weekend

2011-04-29T13:49:00.002-04:00

This weekend, fans across the country watching Friday’s NASCAR Nationwide Cup Series race will see Kenny Wallace’s #09 car promoting American Ethanol yet again, with a full-body American Ethanol branding for the second time this season. Tune into the SPEED Channel at 6:30 p.m. CDT to watch the drivers compete at Richmond International Raceway for the ninth race of the 2011 series.

Viewers will learn more about ethanol throughout the race, with Wallace’s car hosting one of the in-car cameras that give spectators a driver’s level view of the race so they can enjoy the thrills, high speed, and inevitable trading of paint that is NASCAR. The race will offer pulse-quickening thrills mixed with valuable information on an ethanol, an exciting renewable energy option.

At 47, Wallace has competed in 57 total events at Richmond International Raceway throughout his career in NASCAR’s top-three racing divisions. Wallace will make his 33rd career-start Friday night when he tightens his belts and focuses on earning his fourth Nationwide Series victory at the Virginia short-track. Wallace scored his three Richmond victories in four events during the 1994-1996 seasons. During his career, Wallace has completed every Nationwide race he has started on the three-quarter-mile track, accumulating three wins, nine top-five and 17 top-10 finishes.

Following Friday’s night’s festivities, NASCAR’s premier Sprint Cup series will race Saturday evening in Richmond. Be watching there, as American Ethanol-sponsored driver Clint Bowyer takes aim at a first-place finish following last week’s close second.

Both races will feature American Ethanol green flags and fuel port labels and ads promoting the benefits of ethanol. American Ethanol is on the green flag that starts all the races, and in the car that makes it to the winners’ lap. Tune in to see how, working together, NASCAR and American Ethanol are spreading the word that American ethanol provides a renewable, affordable, domestically produced energy option.

For more information on the American Ethanol partnership, go to http://www.americanethanolracing.com/.

Corn Grower Members Given Access to NASCAR® Web Portal

2011-04-28T16:16:00.004-04:00

Who says market development needs to be boring? Corn farmers have ventured into an exciting new partnership with NASCAR® that showcases the high–performance benefits of domestic, American Ethanol. More than 75 million fans will hear this positive message thanks to your membership support.

As part of American Ethanol’s partnership with NASCAR, the National Corn Growers Association benefits from all the race circuit has to offer and NCGA’s 35,000 members are invited to join the fun. (Remember - If you are a Kentucky Corn Grower member, you are also a member of the NCGA.) NCGA has launched an online portal to all things NASCAR, an online connection is customized for NCGA by NASCAR.

In the “Deals” section of the Website, members have access to exclusive offers on the latest gear and unadvertised offers from Official NASCAR Partners and Licensees such as:

• Bank of America
• DirectTV
• Office Depot
• Hotels like the Gaylord Texan and Hard Rock Las Vegas
• Sprint Wireless
• U Coat It floor coatings
• UPS

Plus, a whole host of great benefits for NASCAR fans. Want to see the action in person? The “Race Tickets” section will hook you up with best deals on the circuit. NASCAR RacePoints is the official rewards program of NASCAR, where you can enroll and earn points when purchasing NASCAR apparel, merchandise, collectibles and experiences. On the “Fan Center” page, you can view weekly race videos, become part of NASCAR’s social network and find the NASCAR Fan Guide, wallpaper and screen saver downloads. Test your NASCAR knowledge every week for a chance to win amazing prizes in the “Play to Win” section.

Log on to www.ncga.com/racing for more information. NCGA’s page also includes the freshest news on the American Ethanol partnership.

Wet Spring Resources for Kentucky Growers

2011-04-27T12:20:00.002-04:00

Delayed planting, nitrogen loss, disease and soil compaction are just some of issues that corn producers face with the extraordinary rain fall that has occurred this spring across most of western and central Kentucky.

To help our growers keep track of all the information being provided, KyCGA has compiled a list of news stories, web sites and helpful extension information that can be found at www.kycorn.org/informationbin/production-wetspring.htm.

188-year-old Farm is Model of Sustainability

2011-04-27T11:27:00.005-04:00

The National Corn Growers Association is following a handful of farmers across the nation from planting through harvest, and Sam Hancock of Hancock Farms in Fulton was selected to represent the Bluegrass State. The "Field Notes" series hopes to take readers behind the farm gate to follow the year in the life of modern American farm families.

In his first interview, Sam explains that he and his father Curtis are still farming the same 100 acres that were farmed in 1823, the year the farm began.

"There is more wildlife and the environment is better around that plot now than it was 60 years ago, yet it is more productive in that we can feed more people per acre on that field now than we could then," Sam said in an interview. "If that's not sustainability, than I don't know what is."

Additionally, Hancock is concerned about the ramifications of regulatory issues that are based in emotion rather than sound science.

"It sometimes keeps me up at night thinking about how, over the past couple of years, the EPA has not been especially friendly toward agriculture," said Hancock. "While I am a farmer who is not opposed to regulation, I put an emphasis on the data and practices that come from land grant universities as it is scientific and peer reviewed. The regulations that could be made law in the near future are based in non-scientific, emotionally-based models, and they could be potentially damaging to agriculture."

To hear Sam's full "Field Notes" interview, visit http://www.kycorn.org/. You can also view more photos of the Hancock Farm on our Kentucky Farmers Facebook fan page: www.facebook.com/KentuckyFarmers.

Kentucky Women Ready to Fight for American Agriculture

2011-04-27T11:15:00.004-04:00

Through an effort called CommonGround, farm women are trying to reach out to consumers (especially moms) with the truth about modern agriculture: that thanks to modern American farmers, U.S. families enjoy the safest, healthiest and most affordable food choices in the world.

The program, a joint effort of the National Corn Growers Association and the United Soybean Board, was recently launched in five states, including Kentucky. Additional states will come on board this year, and work has begun to utilize the talents of the spokeswomen through national educational and media opportunities.

Kentucky CommonGround spokeswomen volunteers have already participated in a grocery store event in Louisville, provided media interviews, and are distributing good information through social media. More talented spokeswomen were added to the roster following a special conference held in early April.

For more information about CommonGround in Kentucky, visit http://www.kycorn.org/aboutkycga/commonground.htm.

NASCAR, Food vs. Fuel and a United Industry

2011-04-26T17:35:00.003-04:00

Message from Ray Allan Mackey, KyCGA President

Since February, NASCAR has helped corn growers show its 75-million-strong fan base the benefits of using American corn-based ethanol at every race during the 2011 season. All NASCAR race vehicles are being fueled with Sunoco Green E15, a 15% ethanol fuel blend, and are getting excellent performance.

The partnership between NASCAR, Growth Energy and National Corn Growers—American Ethanol—is undoubtedly the largest effort to educate consumers about our renewable, domestic fuel to date and was made possible thanks to our corn growers and their checkoff contributions.

If you have not yet enjoyed a race, I encourage you to become a fan. In July, NASCAR will be making its first appearance at the Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Ky. We are working on some exciting race promotions during the July 7-9 weekend. Check our web site at http://www.kycorn.org/ regularly for updates on the NASCAR American Ethanol partnership and the Kentucky Speedway races.

Unfortunately, our new marketing efforts are not all fun and games; the “food versus fuel” debate is back.

The corn industry is once again being scrutinized by ethanol opponents who keep repeating the same complaints without any thought to whether they have been disproved. We and our allies in American agriculture and the ethanol industry have spilled a lot of digital ink trying to set the record straight. There are three reasons why we needn’t be concerned about ethanol’s impact on the corn supply and food prices.

First, we are growing more corn on each acre, thanks to seed technology and practices on the farm. And we will do so for years to come. With the recent trends and estimates, we could see a corn crop of more than 16 billion bushels in 2020.

Second, we are still providing enough corn for feed and food markets, while ethanol production is providing beneficial co-products back into the market such as corn oil and distillers grains for livestock feed. In fact, the ProExporter Network estimates that distillers grains will provide the equivalent of 1.2 billion bushels of corn livestock feed this year.

Third, the Renewable Fuels Association points out, U.S. ethanol production represents only 3 percent of the increasing global grain supply. As such, it can have little impact, if any, on global food prices.

I am very appreciative of the recent editorials and radio interviews from our state’s agricultural leaders in which they defended our grain farmers in the newest food versus fuel debate. There are countless supporters who have made sure our commodity groups are not singled out when misinformed media start point fingers.

It will take us standing together to dispel the myths of food prices, and re-elevate the farmer image, and I am thankful for the efforts of our state’s agricultural leaders for supporting one another. I truly believe that the success of one agricultural industry is dependent upon the success of all others.

Heat and Drought Reduce Corn Production in Kentucky, but US Still on Track for Near Record Harvest

2010-11-15T10:02:00.000-05:00

Many farmers across the Commonwealth are well aware of the weather's affect on this year's corn crop, but the official report from the Kentucky Ag Statistics Service released November 9 is that corn prospects indicate lower corn production compared to last year.

Kentucky corn for grain production was forecast at 157.4 million bushels, unchanged from the October 1 estimate and 17 percent below the record high 2009 crop. Yield was unchanged from October, at 128 bushels per acre, and was 37 bushels below the 2009 record high yield. Lack of summer moisture matured the crop quickly and limited yield potential. Corn harvest was virtually complete as of November 1.

U.S. corn production was forecast at 12.5 billion bushels, down 1 percent from the October forecast and down 4 percent from last year’s record production of 13.1 billion bushels. As of November 1, yields were expected to average 154.3 bushels per acre, down 1.5 bushels from the previous month and 10.4 bushels below last year’s record of 164.7 bushels.

The National Corn Growers Association says the 2010 U.S. corn crop is still on track to compete with previous years with both yield and production forecast to be the third-highest on record. With a projected surplus of 827 million bushels, this crop demonstrates that U.S. corn farmers will continue to meet all demands for food, feed, fuel and fiber.

The average farm price increased 20 cents per bushel over the October estimate, to $5.20 per bushel. A USDA announcement released on Sept. 30 reporting the U.S. carried an additional 322 million bushels of corn carried into this year tempers what could have been more severe increases.

One of the Driest Years Ever

2010-11-15T06:25:00.002-05:00

Tom Priddy, from the University of Kentucky Ag Weather Center, says since August 1st through November 9, the state has only received 6.10 inches of rain, which is over 5 inches below normal. Some west and west-central locations are 9 to 10 inches below normal for that time period.

Read more on UK's Grain Crops Blog - http://graincrops.blogspot.com/2010/11/one-of-driest-years-ever-in-kentucky.html

The Bt Maze

2010-11-15T06:22:00.001-05:00

From Chad Lee, UK Grain Crops Update

Refuge-in-a-bag, refuge in 2 bags, reduced refuge are all terms being used this fall about different Bt corn hybrids. If you are confused by all of the information, like me, there is an excellent resource that breaks down the latest information, and refuge requirements for the various Bt events.

Dr. Ric Bessin, Extension Entomologist, has updated Bt-corn for Corn Borer Control (ENTFACT 118), which is available online in the html version and in the pdf version.

He includes a table that breaks down all of the Bt events, the companies, the trade names (i.e. YieldGard, Herculex, Viptera, etc.), the pests controlled and the refuge required. This table will be a tremendous help as you try to sort through the Bt "maze".

2010 Kentucky Corn Hybrid Trial Available

2010-11-05T15:23:00.002-04:00

The 2010 Kentucky Corn Hybrid Trial is now available at: http://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/pr/pr606/pr606.pdf. Print copies will be out in about two weeks.

According to UK grain crops extension specialist Chad Lee, the 2010 season began with heavy rains in the spring followed by little to no rain during pollination and seed fill. The corn hybrid test normally has six locations across the states. Yields were so low and so variable at one location that only five locations are reported in this test.

The goal of the test is to identify hybrids with very good performance relative to other hybrids and to predict which hybrids will perform well next year. The best predictor of hybrid performance for next year is the cross-location average, where all environments examined are evaluated together.Hybrids that ranked very well on the cross-location average have the best chance of performing well next season. Hybrids that have performance very well for two years have an even better chance of performing well next season. Only hybrids in the same maturity test (Early, Medium or Late) should be compared with other hybrids in the same maturity test. Hybrids should not be compared with each other across tests.

For more on the hybrid corn test, contact you local county extension agent.

Bt Corn Benefits to Farmers, Including non-Bt corn Farmers

2010-11-01T06:37:00.001-04:00

From Chad Lee, UK Ag Extension

http://graincrops.blogspot.com/2010/10/bt-corn-benefits-to-farmers-including.html

Sampling Corn Field for Nematodes

2010-11-01T06:34:00.001-04:00

From UK Ag Extension

http://graincrops.blogspot.com/2010/10/sampling-corn-fields-in-autumn-for.html

UK’s Early Bird Series helps growers plan for 2011

2010-11-01T06:32:00.000-04:00

With the 2010 harvest coming to a close, many producers are beginning to think about the 2011 growing season. During a series of early bird meetings, University of Kentucky College of Agriculture specialists will offer their nonbiased advice to help growers wade through the decision-making process and get the most from their pre-pay dollars.

UK specialists will speak on the following topics: refuge in a bag, western corn rootworm, stinkbugs, glyphosate-resistant weeds, narrow corn, kitchen sink soybeans, early soybean planting, disease risks associated with early soybean planting, corn nematodes, seed treatments, fertilizer strategies, 2011 crop profitability outlook, ACRE options and marketing strategies.

Lunch or dinner will be served at each meeting. The meals are sponsored by the Kentucky Corn Growers Association, Kentucky Soybean Board and the Kentucky Small Grain Growers Association.

The program has been accepted for the following continuing education units for pesticide applicators: 1 general and 1 specific in categories 1A, 10 and 12. Meeting organizers have applied for the following continuing education credits for Certified Crop Advisors: 0.5 in crop management, 1.5 in pest management and 0.5 in nutrition management.

For more information, visit the Early Bird Series page on the UK Grain Crops Extension website at http://www.uky.edu/Ag/GrainCrops/Briefs/EarlyBird2010.htm or contact the following UK agriculture and natural resources extension agents: Mike Smith in Henderson County at 270-826-8387, Kenny Perry in Graves County at 270-247-2334 and Jay Stone in Christian County at 270-886-6328.

Early Bird Meeting Dates

Henderson County Expo Center
Nov. 9 - 9 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. CST

Sedalia Restaurant, Graves County
Nov. 11 - 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. CST

Christian County Extension Office
Nov. 11 - 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. CST

AFLATOXINS got you down? UK Ag Extension Provides Some Help

2010-11-01T06:15:00.003-04:00

By Paul Vincelli, Extension Plant Pathologist & Sam McNeill, Extension Agricultural Engineer

Aflatoxins are showing up in occasional lots of harvested corn from this season’s crop. Aflatoxins metabolites of the fungus Aspergillus flavus, are potent toxins and carcinogens in animals, and may also be human carcinogens. Aflatoxins are probably the most well-known mycotoxins, because they have long been regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration.

During grain fill, many Kentucky corn fields experienced high temperatures (highs above 90°F, with warm nights) and drought conditions, which favor Aspergillus infection and aflatoxin contamination of the kernels. Kernel injury caused by insects, mechanical damage during harvest or handling, or other causes can lead to an increase in aflatoxin levels (Figure 1), though infection and contamination can occur even in undamaged kernels if conditions are highly favorable for the fungus.

Grain Storage

Mycotoxins such as aflatoxin can accumulate in corn in storage. Table 1 below provides recommended conditions that will suppress mold growth in storage. Corn with evidence of mold or mechanical damage or excess trash should be held at 0.5 to 1% lower moisture content than recommended here. Monitor stored corn regularly for mustiness and grain heating.

Permissible levels

Aflatoxins are regulated at the parts-per-billion level, an extremely low level. To put this in perspective, one part-per-billion is equivalent to one second in 32 years, or one kernel in a 10,000 bushel bin.

For many uses, grain must have less than 20 parts-per-billion (ppb) of aflatoxin. However, there are some permissible uses for corn with higher levels. For example, mature cattle can be fed corn with up to 300 ppb aflatoxin. Details on the permissible levels of aflatoxins in livestock feeds and human foods are available in the UK Extension publication, Aflatoxins in Corn, ID-59, http://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/id/id59/id59.pdf.

Blacklight testing

Examining the kernels for yellow-green fluorescence under a blacklight is commonly used as a quick preliminary test. The entire sample should be cracked or coarse-ground for blacklight testing. However, yellow-green fluorescence under a blacklight does not indicate the presence of aflatoxins. Fluorescence simply indicates that aflatoxins may be present in the kernel. A blacklight test can often give a “false positive”; that is, a positive result from a clean load of corn.

A similar glow under blacklight may be produced by tips of corn kernels, corn beeswings (glumes), soybean hulls, certain weed seeds, and strains of A. flavus that do not produce aflatoxins. Plus, it is also possible to get a negative blacklight result from a contaminated sample. Thus, blacklight testing is not considered to be a reliable method for detecting aflatoxin.

Sampling Corn for Testing

Aflatoxin testing is notoriously variable. Sampling for any contaminant in grains at the parts-per-billion level is highly variable. See Table 2 below for an illustration of this variability.
One can’t prevent this sort of variability when testing for aflatoxin, but one can make it worse by not sampling correctly. The recommended sampling procedure for corn is as follows: Take at least ten probefuls and collect at least 10 lb of corn. The corn must be below 16% moisture unless the test is being performed immediately. Test results from high-moisture corn may not be accurate if the test is delayed, as the fungus can continue to grow and produce aflatoxins. The 10-lb sample must be ground and mixed well before drawing a small subsample for testing. The AOAC International (formerly the Association of Official Analytical Chemists) requires that the entire 10-lb sample be coarsely ground to pass through a No. 14 sieve and mixed, and that a 2- to 4-lb subsample be ground to pass through a No. 20 sieve (about the consistency of fine instant coffee), before aflatoxin testing.

Test kits are available from several manufacturers. Some of these test only for the presence or absence of aflatoxins. Other, more sophisticated kits estimate the concentration of aflatoxin. If using one of these, grain should be ground and mixed as described above, and operators should be well-trained in the use of the particular test kit being employed.
Analytical laboratories provide the best estimates of aflatoxin concentration. Drawbacks of laboratory testing include expense and time delays while waiting for results.

Management for 2011

Stored corn should be managed as described above, so as not to allow aflatoxin accumulation in storage. As far as planning for the 2011 crop, any fields with aflatoxin this year have only a very, very modest increase in aflatoxin risk next year. Of course, most of those will be rotated as normal, and aflatoxin is only a concern in corn. Even for those that are sown to corn in 2011, aflatoxin contamination is driven much more by environmental conditions than by cropping history and agronomic practices. Of course, since aflatoxin contamination is commonly associated with drought and grain damage, it is advisable to use good agronomic practices such as: sowing adapted hybrids, avoiding excessive plant populations, reducing soil compaction (if present), and managing kernel-feeding insects.

Additional Resources Details on many aspects of aflatoxins are available in the UK Extension publication, Aflatoxins in Corn, ID-59, http://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/id/id59/id59.pdf.

Grain storage recommendations are available in the UK Extension publication, A Comprehensive Guide to Corn Management in Kentucky, ID-139, http://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/id/id139/id139.pdf.

A multi-state Extension publication entitled Moldy Grains, Mycotoxins, and Feeding Problems is available at http://www.oardc.ohiostate.edu/ohiofieldcropdisease/Mycotoxins/mycopagedefault.htm.

More Strange Things in Corn

2010-09-13T15:06:00.001-04:00

Chad Lee, University of Kentucky Extension Agronomist, Plant and Soil Sciences
Reposted from http://graincrops.blogspot.com

More strange things are being reported in the corn crop this year. Last week, a producer called to say he was checking ears and the kernels were falling off of the cob. Even stranger, the kernels looked deep, the cob appeared to be of decent quality, but when he pulled back the husks, many of the kernels simply fell off the cob. When these ears hit the snout of the corn head, the kernels simply shattered off of the cob and onto the ground. In a year when high heat and low rains late reduced yield, loosing kernels to the soil is adding insult to injury. We suspect this to be a late-season stress occurring at or close to blacklayer (physiological maturity). The shattering kernels may be a result of both environment and genetics. So, if you have seen shattering kernels this year, please send me an email letting me know the name of the hybrid, the field location (nearest town), soil type and as much management information as you know. My email address is cdlee2@uky.edu. Thanks.

Concern with corn crop causing more producers to harvest early

2010-09-03T14:44:00.001-04:00

By Katie Pratt, University of Kentucky

The 2010 corn harvest has begun in far western parts of the state, and producers are finding several issues in their fields as a result of extreme heat and dry weather. Producers who haven't started harvesting in this area, and those farther east, need to scout for problems, so they'll know which fields to harvest first, said Chad Lee, grain crops specialist with the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture.

While far western Kentucky counties have experienced the most extreme heat and driest conditions this summer, the whole state has had above normal temperatures. Western Kentucky also has been abnormally dry, and other areas of the state have sections that are dry.

One of the biggest concerns with these conditions is weakened cornstalks. Dry weather caused crops to stop taking in nutrients during seed development. With no other source of nutrients, the seeds might have pulled nutrients from the stalks in order to complete their development.

To check for stalk deterioration, farmers need to grab a plant at chest height, pull it toward them until it is at an angle and let go. If the stalk snaps back and stands up, it is strong. It's weak if it falls over. If farmers find weak stalks in their fields, they may want to go ahead and harvest those fields first. If the state were to get heavy rain or strong winds before these fields are harvested, lodging could occur. This would make harvest difficult and possibly cause crop loss.

The earlier start may require producers to harvest at a higher moisture content and dry the crop. In areas where harvest is already under way, some producers are reporting grain with 25 percent moisture content or higher. Growers can determine whether the costs of drying grain would be offset by the costs of anticipated harvest losses on the UK grain storage systems extension website http://www.bae.uky.edu/ext/Grain_Storage/calculators.htm.

Another concern is ears falling off the plant, which could complicate harvest and create yield losses. In most cases, these are heavier ears. In areas that have been abnormally dry, like Graves County, kernels are falling off the ears in corn with low moisture levels, said Kenny Perry the county's agriculture and natural resources extension agent. These issues are both due to the hot, dry weather that caused the corn to rapidly mature and dry down.

"Corn normally goes through seed set and seed fill for about 60 days in Kentucky," Lee said. "This year, much of that corn reached maturity two or even three weeks early, dramatically reducing the time needed for seed set and seed fill."

UK agriculture and natural resources extension agents in far western Kentucky are reporting significant yield losses in the portion of the crop that has already been harvested. Tom Miller, Ballard County's agent, said his county's yields are ranging from 100 to 140 bushels per acre with average yields around 130. The National Agricultural Statistics Service estimated the county's 2009 average yield at 167 bushels per acre.

Perry said yields vary widely across fields in his county depending on an area's soil type and moisture holding capacity. He reported yields between 30 and 180 bushels per acre and 90 and 210 bushels per acre in the same fields. He estimated the county's 2010 average yield will be around 120 bushels per acre. The county's 2009 average yield estimate was 154 bushels per acre.

Yields also vary across fields in Fulton County, said Cam Kenimer, county agriculture and natural resources extension agent. With about 35 percent of the county's corn harvested, average yields are around 125 bushels per acre. This is below the county's 2009 estimated average yield of 174 bushels per acre, but he added that 2009 was the county's best yielding year on record.

Corn stands looking weak from stress

2010-09-03T14:38:00.000-04:00

Chad Lee, University of Kentucky, Grain Crops Blog

In the the Aug 17, 2010 edition of Kentucky Pest News, Dr. Vincelli warns of aflatoxins and diplodia in corn. Another concern is final stand of the corn crop. Much of the corn crop was under stress from heat and a lack of water. Those conditions usually cause the each plant to pull photosynthate from the stalks and put them in the ear in an attempt to produce seed. While this helps each overcome some yield losses, it also causes stalks to become weak.

As you prepare for this early harvest, check fields for stalk strength and, if possible, harvest weak stands first. The easiest way to check for stand strength is to grab the stalk at about your shoulder height and pull the stalk toward you. Release the stalk and if it returns to its normal upright position, the stalk strength is still good. If the stalk does not return to the upright position, the stalks are weak.

In addition to weak stalks, I have had reports and I have visited some fields where ear attachment to the plant is very weak. In the worst situations, ears have been found on the ground. . . typically, heavier ears. There may be an interaction between environment and hybrid. So, if you have a field like this, please email me at cdlee2@uky.edu and let me know the hybrid and field conditions. Obviously, such fields need to be harvested sooner rather than later.

Those of you who have farmed for a while know that a summer of stress often brings challenges at harvest. This year appears to be no different.

Why are there So Many/Fewer - (Fill in the Blank) - This Year?

2010-09-03T14:35:00.002-04:00

By Lee Townsend, University of Kentucky, Kentucky Pest News

Almost every year it seems that one or more species of insects are more/less abundant than “normal”. Sometimes increases are appreciated, as with lightningbugs or fireflies this summer. Just a few years ago, we were wondering why they were so scarce. On the other hand, increases in pests of crops, landscape plants, or humans can pose serious problems.

Weather, particularly temperature and rainfall, have major impacts on insect survival which can lead to significant increases (or decreases) in insect numbers from one year to the next. And, the effects are not consistent across species; conditions that allow some to thrive may be detrimental to others.

As a cold-blooded animal, insect development is accelerated or slowed depending upon temperature. A very warm spring can shorten the number of days required to grow from egg to adult. In turn, rapid development can reduce the length of exposure of vulnerable stages to predators so that a smaller percentage is eaten by natural enemies. It also can result in an extra generation of the insect. Longer warm periods also can mean species normally restricted to southern regions can move further north.

Rainfall amount and timing also plays a big role in insect population dynamics. Heavy spring rains leave areas wet for prolonged periods of time that favor some species. Increased nectar and sap flow is a boon to nectar gathers and sap feeders, including bees, butterflies, scale insects, and aphids. And, fungus-feeding insects benefit from an increased food supply. On the other hand, these same rains can wash small caterpillars and sap feeders off of plants to perish before they can find another host plant.

Weather also affects food abundance and quality from the insect’s perspective. The higher nutritional value of healthy, vigorous plants may result in more rapid insect development and more offspring per female. In some cases, plant development may be better synchronized with that of the insects that pollinate them or use them as some other resource. The impact of weather on some species can even be delayed. The apparent increased incidence in attacks of borers may be traced to the damage from past ice storms or droughts that stress, weaken, or kill trees and shrubs.

While temperature and rainfall have been identified as driving the population dynamics of many insect species, a myriad of factors other can be involved. In fact, the key factors governing survival and success are somewhat understood for only a few species. It is clear that only small increases or decreases in the relatively high mortality rate of most insects can lead to very big fluctuations in their numbers.

Fall armyworm moth captures soar; corn earworms also rise

2010-09-03T14:24:00.006-04:00

By Katie Pratt, University of Kentucky

The largest-ever recorded capture of fall armyworm moths occurred during the week ending on Aug. 27 in the Integrated Pest Management traps at the University of Kentucky Research and Education Center in Princeton. Grain crops and alfalfa/grass forage producers should be on alert for the first appearance of caterpillars, which should occur in the next week or two, said Doug Johnson, extension entomologist with the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture.

Trap counts on Aug. 27 were 1,038 moths. This is a phenomenal increase from 52 moth captures the week before. In the 15 years the IPM traps have been collected in Princeton, the second-highest number of moth counts came in at 326 for the week of Oct. 5, 2007, which was an outbreak year.

"It is always possible that nothing unusual will happen, but fall armyworm damage to forage fields has already occurred in at least four Western Kentucky counties this season," he said.

While Western Kentucky trap count numbers are extremely high, the moth captures in Lexington have remained low.

The fall armyworm is a pest that migrates to Kentucky from the South each summer, usually arriving in late June or early July. While fall armyworms are typically not a major pest, they cause the greatest damage in late-planted corn, grain sorghum, alfalfa and double-crop soybeans. Due to the timing of this large capture, grasses and alfalfa-especially newly seeded stands, late-maturing beans and wheat seedlings will be at the greatest risk of infestation.

While it is a pest of cattle and horse pastures, the fall armyworm should not affect horses. It should not be confused with the eastern tent caterpillar that causes mare reproductive loss syndrome. Fall armyworms appear in Kentucky only in late summer and fall. Eastern tent caterpillars appear in the spring. A third caterpillar species, the fall webworm, might cause additional confusion. It produces silken webs in trees that some people might mistake for those of the eastern tent caterpillar. Again fall webworms appear in the late summer and fall, not in the spring, Johnson said.

Forage and soybean producers should closely monitor their fields for this pest. Wheat producers may likely avoid any significant damage by planting after the Hessian fly free date. It is likely too late in the growing season for fall armyworms to cause damage to corn or grain sorghum.

Early detection is the key to fighting this pest. The pest varies in color from light tan to black with three yellow stripes down its back. The middle stripe is usually darker and the ones on each side are wavy and yellow-red blotched. Fall armyworm has a dark head with a light-colored, inverted "Y" mark on front.

If producers find significant populations of the fall armyworm in their fields, they can apply an insecticide. A list of insecticides for various crops is located in the 2010 Insect Management Recommendations for Field Crops and Livestock, which is accessible online at http://pest.ca.uky.edu/EXT/Recs/welcomerecs.html. Johnson cautioned against making any preventative insecticide applications, as these could harm beneficial insects that naturally control the fall armyworm.

Captures of adult corn earworm moths, also known as the soybean podworm, also rose dramatically in Princeton, but their increase wasn't as phenomenal as the fall armyworm. The corn earworm moth trap count for the week ending Aug. 27 was 484, which is up from 82 during the Aug. 20 trap week.

"In the nearly 18 years of monitoring this pest, this is the second-largest capture with the largest being 525 in August 2001," Johnson said.

While it is too late in the season for corn earworm to do any significant damage to corn or grain sorghum, the pest will also feed on soybean pods and seeds. Like the fall armyworm, the moths should turn into caterpillars in a week or two. Soybean producers, especially those with late-maturing varieties, should scout their fields for this pest.

"Corn earworm is difficult to scout, as it does not feed to any great extent on soybean leaves," Johnson said. "One has to get into the plants and look directly at the pods to find this pest."

Corn earworms are tan to pale green with several dark stripes down the back. But some vary in color and may look almost black. Adults are usually about 1 to 1.5 inches long.

Should corn earworm populations infest soybeans, producers and consultants are advised to check their fields at least once a week. The economic threshold for corn earworm in soybeans is two worms per row foot of beans in 30-foot rows. Since most Kentucky grown soybeans are in 15-foot rows, this number would need to be somewhat higher because of the increased plant population. Alternatively, one might use a 15-inch sweep net when rows are 15 inches or narrower. The research is not yet solid on this threshold, but a capture of three to four worms per 10 sweeps would warrant consideration of control.

Weekly trap counts and graphs of both insects are available on the UK IPM website at http://www.uky.edu/Ag/IPM/ipm.htm.

Keep an Eye Out for Diplodia Ear Rot

2010-08-18T11:06:00.002-04:00

By Paul Vincelli, University of Kentucky, Kentucky Pest News

No cases of Diplodia ear rot have been diagnosed yet through the University of Kentucky Plant Diagnostic Laboratories. However, neighboring states are reporting damage.

Diplodia ear rot is distinctive because the fungal growth is generally most developed between kernels (Figure 2). Also, infections commonly (though not always) progress from the base of the ear upwards. This pattern of mold development occurs because infections first occur in the ear shank, and progress upwards into the cob and then outward into the kernels.

Diplodia ear rot is favored by continuous corn, conservation tillage, and the use of highly susceptible varieties. Fields should be scouted for the disease. Fields with more than 1-2% of the ears with the disease should be considered for rotation or the use of hybrids specifically bred to have significant resistance in the next planting of corn. In field studies, practical levels of disease control have not been achieved with fungicides.

More information is available at the UK Extension publication, Ear Rot of Corn Caused by Stenocarpella maydis (=Diplodia maydis), available at http://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/ppa/ppa43/ppa43.pdf.

Aflatoxins and Harvest

2010-08-18T11:03:00.002-04:00

By Paul Vincelli, University of Kentucky, Kentucky Pest News

Aflatoxins, metabolites of the fungus Aspergillus flavus, are potent toxins and carcinogens in animals, and may also be human carcinogens. Although aflatoxin contamination in corn isn’t common in Kentucky, I have received reports of some pre-harvest aflatoxin contamination in stressed corn crops.

High temperatures (highs above 90°F, with warm nights) and drought conditions during silking and grain fill favor aflatoxin contamination by A. flavus. Kernel injury caused by insects or other causes can lead to an increase in aflatoxin levels (Figure 1), though infection and contamination can occur even in undamaged kernels if conditions are highly favorable for the fungus.

Kernel infection by A. flavus doesn’t occur until moisture content drops below 32%. There are various reports as to how low moisture content has to drop before growth of A. flavus is arrested, but contamination may continue to develop down to as low as 16% moisture.

Therefore, this may be a good growing season to harvest at 25% moisture and dry promptly. Leaving drought-stressed crops to dry in the field may allow aflatoxin contamination to continue to increase in fields where it has a “toe-hold”.

More information on aflatoxins and their control is in the UK Extension Publication, Aflatoxins in Corn, available at http://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/id/id59/id59.pdf.

Weather Affects KENTUCKY Yields, but US on Target for Another Record Corn Crop

2010-08-12T17:01:00.000-04:00

According to the August 12 Kentucky Ag Statistics Service, yields are projected to be below 2009 levels. The heat has pushed corn progress ahead of average and many fields may be harvested early.

Corn production in Kentucky was forecast at 167 million bushels, down 12 percent from the record high 2009 crop. Yield was estimated at 138 bushels per acre, down 27 bushels from last year’s record high yield of 165 bushels. Acres for harvest as grain were estimated at 1.21 million acres, up 60,000 acres from 2009. The wet spring delayed corn planting but the crop is maturing fairly well. Expected yields showed wide variances within geographic localities. Condition of the corn crop statewide was mostly good to fair.

The U.S. corn production was forecast at a record high 13.4 billion bushels, up 2 percent from the previous record set in 2009. Based on conditions as of August 1, yields were expected to average a record high 165.0 bushels per acre, up 0.3 bushel from last year’s record of 164.7.

Hot, dry weather a blow to some of the state's row crops

2010-08-10T15:32:00.001-04:00

Story provided by University of Kentucky College of Agriculture

This summer has been hot and dry for portions of Western Kentucky, especially areas west of the Land Between the Lakes. As the area begins another week of 100-degree heat indices, many area farmers are beginning to harvest their corn and early-season soybeans.

"Temperatures this high keep corn from reaching its maximum yield potential," said Chad Lee, grain crops specialist with the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture. "In major grain-producing areas of the state, the weather's been hot and dry, causing corn to reach its full maturity a couple weeks ahead of schedule. In areas where we had moisture and heat, we still have some pollination and seed fill problems."

UK Cooperative Extension agents for agriculture and natural resources in the counties with the hottest and driest weather expect a large amount of the corn crop to be harvested in the next few weeks.

Kenny Perry, Graves County extension agriculture and natural resources agent, said early estimates indicate that his county's average yields could be reduced by 20 to 25 percent in yellow corn and by 35 to 40 percent in white corn compared to 2009 yields.

In Hickman County, producers have been dealt a one-two punch with the drought and late planting due to flooding this spring, which could substantially reduce yields, said Darian Irvan, the county's agriculture and natural resources agent.

"Early indications are we'll have average yields around 110 to 120 bushels per acre which is down from 165 in 2009," he said. "But we won't know for sure until we start harvesting this week."

He added many fields have large areas of low pollination. Many times these areas are not easy for producers to identify because they are often located in the middle of the field, while the rows around the edge of the field received adequate pollination.

"I've seen yields from 140 to 150 bushels per acre and yields of 50 to 60 bushels per acre in the same field," he said.

But the picture is not entirely grim. Small pockets across the area have received some rainfall from localized thunderstorms, and have better crop conditions as a result, said Todd Powell, Calloway County extension agriculture and natural resources agent.

Hickman County's full-season soybeans are in decent condition, according to Irvan. They were planted right after the spring flooding and benefited from adequate rainfall this spring.
In Calloway and Graves counties though, even full-season soybeans are showing signs of drought stress.

"I've seen several pods with no beans, pods with deformed beans and pods with one bean instead of the normal three," Perry said.

While it is still too early to tell what will happen with double-crop and late-planted soybeans, the situation could be devastating if the area does not get some much needed rain soon. Many of these soybeans are flowering and beginning to reach pod-filling stages where rainfall is crucial to development.

The agents said they have noticed these soybeans showing signs of drought stress. The plants are turning pale and in some cases, dropping flowers and aborting pods.

Brown Spot of Corn

2010-08-10T15:27:00.001-04:00

By Paul Vincelli, University of Kentucky, Kentucky Pest News

Last week I visited a corn field with brown spot disease, caused by the fungus Physoderma maydis. This disease does not occur widely in Kentucky, though it is not unusual to see it pop up here and there.

Infection by this fungus produces chocolate-brown spots on leaf midribs and leaf sheaths. Infections of the leaf blade tend to be small and yellowish to yellowish-brown in color (Figures 3-4). Often, brown spot symptoms appear as diffuse bands of disease. This is because infections often occur in the whorl, where moisture accumulates. Since environmental conditions in the whorl fluctuate, so does the occurrence of infections as the corn tissue grows through the whorl.

Brown spot rarely causes yield loss. However, the brown spots on the sheath can raise concern about stalk heath. Keep in mind, however, that these are infections of the leaf sheath, not the stalk. The underlying stalk is healthy. Prove this to yourself by removing a brown-spotted sheath, and you’ll see healthy stalk beneath.

Producing Late-Season Sweet Corn

2010-08-10T15:25:00.002-04:00

By Ric Bessin, University of Kentucky, Kentucky Pest News

Producing sweet corn late in the season can be one of the more challenging crops to produce without insect damage. Insect management techniques used to produce sweet corn for sale in July are often insufficient for crops maturing in mid August and later. The problem is corn earworm. During this time period, it is not unusual to find 80% of the ear tips damaged by this insect even when the plants were regularly sprayed.

There are a couple of reasons for this. First, by midsummer, much larger populations of corn earworm are present and egg laying increases proportionally. There are several generations per year so by midsummer populations have had a chance to buildup. By midsummer migrating populations are also arriving from southern states.

Heat is the other reason why corn earworm is more difficult to manage in midsummer. Heat makes the corn silks grow faster and the corn earworm eggs develop quicker. As new silk emerges from the ear more rapidly, insecticides may need to be reapplied more often to protect the ears. Higher temperatures may reduce spray intervals from 5 to 3 days with some insecticides. Heat also has a negative influence on pyrethroid insecticides, the most common insecticide class used on sweet corn. The higher the temperature, the less effective they are.

When examining sweet corn ears, keep in mind that there can be a few different kinds of insect larvae that can be found. Corn borers, both European and southwestern will attack the ears. Unlike corn earworm that attacks only the tip, corn borers can damage the base and side of the ear as well as the tip. Both of these larvae are smooth and without the microspines found on the corn earworm. Corn borers also have very dark head capsules rather than the lighter colored head capsule of the corn earworm. Fall armyworm will also attack the ear. The brown fall armyworm has a dark head capsule with a light colored inverted ‘Y’ on the front of the head.

Management of corn earworm in the midsummer is not easy, but it is possible. First, producers should think about how they are applying their sprays. The only part of the plant needing protection is the ear. So sprays should be directed to the middle third of the plant. Drop nozzles on ground equipment should be angled toward the ear. Leaves can interfere with penetration to the ear, so a nozzle angled downward above the ear and one angled upward below the ear on each side of the row can improve coverage. Spray volume needs to be sufficient to allow for through coverage.

Corn earworm management is preventive. We must prevent it from entering the ear as once inside we can’t do anything to kill it. Generally the first insecticide spray is applied when 50 to 70% of the ears first silk. Sprays are reapplied at two to six day intervals based on pheromone trap captures and temperature. With higher the temperature and moth populations, producers should shorten the spray intervals. Once the silks dry, they are no longer attractive for egg laying and insecticide sprays can be discontinued.

Insecticides for corn earworm control include Asana XL, Baythroid XL, Belt, Brigade, Lannate, Larvin, Mustang Max, Pounce, Proaxis, Radiant, and Warrior. Most of these are pyrethroid insecticides (IRAC Group 3) and some corn earworms in the Midwest appear to be less sensitive than in the past. Belt, Lannate, Larvin, and Radiant are from other non-pyrethroid insecticide classes.

It helps to select the proper variety. Ears with good tip coverage, tight husks, and long silk channels help to limit kernel damage. Another tool available to growers is the use of Bt sweet corn. These varieties produce a protein that kills the larvae and can provide up to 90% control, but 90% control may not be enough when each ear has a dozen or more corn earworm eggs. Early-planted sweet corn may not need any supplemental corn earworm controls, but by mid August supplemental sprays are recommended.

Larvae that do develop on Bt sweet corn are small and damage is often restricted to just a few kernels.

Southern Rust Prognosis

2010-08-10T15:09:00.000-04:00

By Paul Vincelli, University of Kentucky, Kentucky Pest News

Last week I toured a number of corn fields in Mclean County (and enjoyed excellent interactions with a group of Extension agents and fellow industry representative; thanks folks!). Southern rust was found but only in localized “hotspots”. In other areas of the state, Extension agents continue to scout for the disease and have not yet seen it (although it has been found also in Caldwell Co. and Graves Co). Thus, southern corn rust appears to still be at a relatively low prevalence in Kentucky.

Many corn crops in Western Kentucky are well into the dent stage, because of the combination of early to timely planting, rapid accumulation of heat units), and very dry weather during grain fill. Between the low prevalence of southern rust and the rapid maturation and drydown of the crop, it appears that many crops have escaped the threat of significant damage from southern rust.

Of course, late-planted fields should still be scouted for the disease. And all fields should be checked for stalk strength as they dry down.

Floods threaten Kentucky's corn crop

2010-05-07T07:04:00.000-04:00

As many of the state's rivers continue to rise, the state's corn and wheat producers are playing a waiting game with Mother Nature before they can assess the damage, said Jim Herbek, grain crops specialist with the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture.

According to the National Weather Service, the Green River at Paradise was expected to crest May 6 at 396.9 feet. This is well above the major flood stage of 390. Moderate flooding is expected on the Ohio River at Cairo when it crested on May 6 at 49 feet, 9 feet above flood stage. The Mississippi River at New Madrid is expected to crest at 37 feet May 7, which is 3 feet above the flood stage. The Ohio River at Owensboro is expected to crest near the flood stage of 40 feet May 8.

According to the latest crop progress report by the U. S. Department of Agriculture, 83 percent of the state's crop was planted and 59 percent has emerged. The crop was well ahead of the state's 5-year average of 59 percent planted and 30 percent emerged because of the dry weather during the last week of March and first two weeks of April.

Much of the state's corn is still relatively small and could easily be completely submerged by 3 to 4 inches of flood water. Most of the wheat is tall enough that it may not be affected as much by flood waters.

Herbek said crops can survive up to 72 hours underwater without sufficient damage if temperatures are less than 70 degrees. Warmer temperatures will decrease the amount of time that young corn plants can survive underwater.

"Temperatures warmer than 75 to 80 degrees are probably the worst-case scenario," he said.
Depending on a producer's location to a flooded river or tributary and the amount of rain the area received, anywhere from 35 to nearly 70 percent of crops in Western Kentucky are currently underwater according to agents with the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service. On average, agents are expecting losses of around 10 to 20 percent to the corn crop. However, in some areas, like Ohio County which has the majority of its corn underwater, it's estimated that as much as 60 to 70 percent of the crop could be lost and need replanting.

Producers will not be able to assess any damage to their fields until a few days after the flood waters have subsided. The plants will likely be yellow, but if the growing point is white and turgid, the plant is alive.

For those needing to replant, the optimum planting date is quickly approaching for much of the state. In far western Kentucky, the date is between May 5 and 10, and for those farther east, it's May 10 to 15. However, there's still hope for good yields in crops planted after these dates. Much of the crops success will depend on the weather throughout the growing season.
"Last year, much of our crop was planted late, but with the cool summer we had, yields turned out better than anticipated," said Herbek.

More information on flood damage to crops and replanting is available in the UK publication AGR-193: Evaluating Flood Damage in Corn and AGR-195: Replanting Options for Corn. Both are available online at http://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/agr/agr193/agr193.pdf and http://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/agr/agr195/agr195.pdf.

Farmers Speak Out at the EPA: Atrazine is Safe, Effective, and Critical to Our Bottom Line

2010-04-29T14:49:00.000-04:00

Farm groups traveled to Washington, D.C., on Tuesday to voice support for atrazine before the third in a series of hearings being held by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to re-review the critically-effective herbicide. Among those testifying were Jere White, Chairman of the Triazine Network and director of the Kansas Corn Growers Association and Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association; Laura Knoth, the executive director of the Kentucky Corn Growers Association; and Richard Fawcett, of Fawcett Consulting, who shared his expertise in weed science and critical yield gains atrazine provides farmers.

Noting that atrazine has been more extensively studied than any other crop protection product and has continually been awarded a clean bill of health, Jere White commented that growers often ask him, “When is enough enough?”

It was only in 2006, after all, after an extensive 12-year review, that EPA concluded that the triazine herbicides, including atrazine, pose “no harm” to the general population, including women and infants. It wasn’t until “the New York Times and Huffington Post supplied their version of ‘peer review’ of an NRDC report to certain political appointees at EPA,” said White, that EPA hastily convened this un-necessary re-review.

White questioned whether this extraordinary break with standard EPA procedures violates FIFRA standards, and highlighted the enormous burden of material the independent scientists have been asked to digest in a relatively short period of time due to the compressed schedule. As White noted, “…though the average number of studies submitted for SAP review per session number around 15, EPA has generously provided you with 123.”

Given that scientific bodies around the world have determined that atrazine is safe to use, and extensive monitoring shows that levels in raw and finished water are steadily declining, White questioned the need for this EPA’s “politically driven second guessing.” He ended by expressing the hope that the high standards of scientific objectivity that enabled the EPA to register atrazine as safe in the past would continue to prevail at the agency.

Laura Knoth outlined the profoundly beneficial effects of atrazine to the environment, especially as a result of no-till and low-till agriculture. By 2008, Knoth noted, “atrazine was applied to 60 percent of conservation tillage and no-till corn acres.” Without such effective weed control, the result would be a massive increase in erosion, “estimated to be more than 300 billion pounds annually.” Sediment has been identified by both the USDA and by individual states as the leading source of water pollution in our nation today. Atrazine-enabled no-till agriculture also reduces the use (and expense) of fossil fuels to power tractors for field cultivation and keeps crucial nutrients in the soil.

On top of the extraordinary environmental benefits, Richard Fawcett emphasized the critical importance of atrazine to farmers’ bottom line. Analysis of data from two different decades starting in the 80s and in the 90s, showed a very similar – and impressive – boost in yields in both eras. Average yield gains with atrazine from 1986 to 2005 in university field trials were 5.7 bushels per acre compared to alternative herbicides.

EPA itself has estimated that farming without atrazine would cost corn growers $28 an acre in reduced yields and higher costs for less effective substitutes.

The voice of the farm community was clear: atrazine is safe, it’s effective, it’s essential to the environment, and it’s critical to our bottom line. Sound science, sound economics, and sound environmental stewardship would all tell the EPA one thing – leave atrazine alone, so American farmers can get on with the business of feeding the world.

The Kentucky Corn Growers Association represents their grower members in regulatory and legislative issues on the state and national level. Visit www.kycorn.org for more information.