Across the Mid-South, June 3, 2009: Summertime?

Based on the weekend weather and a glance at the US weather map this morning, it appears the cool and wet spring is over. While crops are still being planted in some areas, cotton in South Louisiana is making good progress. And in other areas corn and soybeans are doing well. Weather conditions have created wide differences in crop development that will define the 2009 crop. The challenge is to make the correct management decisions that do not hinder crop development.

In the North Delta area late planting, especially cotton, is somewhat risky considering the potential for an early frost this fall. There are many questions regarding late cotton. How much fertilizer is needed? Do the pest thresholds change to tolerate lower damage levels? Do the maturity evaluations change to get the defoliation treatments out before frost?

One key component to very carefully watch is production expenses.

Arkansas: Arkansas agriculture is behind due to the frequent and heavy rains. The Crop Condition Report rated only 39% of the rice crop as good or excellent. For those prefering to plant soybeans instead of late rice or cotton, gains in soybean market prices were welcomed.
Arkansas Crop Report

Kentucky: Kentucky crops have progressed supported by imporoved weather conditions. As of May 26, 75% of the intended acres were planted, However, some fields were being replanted. Soybeans plantings (13% completed) for 2009 were reported to lag behind the five year average (24% completed). The wet weather has put increased disease pressure on wheat and funcicide treatments are being made.
Kentuck Weekly Crop and Weather Report Kentucky Crop Report

Louisiana: Louisiana's oldest cotton is now at node 10 and the youngest is just emerging. Pest levels remain low, but the insects are there. Warmer and drier conditions will only eggravate the insect infestations and weed pressure. Wheat harvest is nearing completion and farmers are planting double-crop beans with an eye on improving soybean prices. Wheat yields were reported in the range of 70 bushels per acre making some farmers wish they had planted more.
Louisiana Field Notes

Mississippi: Mississippi rice is late and out of sync. Due to the rains some fields did not get levees pulled and planted. The unfortunate aspect here is the overall yield loss from not having levee rice. There is an old adage, "paddy rice pays the bills, levee rice is the profit." Corn has done rather well during the cool and wet conditions. However, with all the rain, the plants may not have good root systems to hold up during potential hot and dry weather conditions in the near future. Irrigation may be needed quickly. Cotton is in a rather difficult situation. Planters were still running last week. But a lot of those intended cotton acres will likely be planted to soybeans. And with this late start, cotton pest problems in late August andSeptember could get expensive.
Mississippi Crop Report

Missouri: While corn planting is finished, the crop is approximately nine days behind normal. Cotton and rice are also lagging in field progress due to the frequent rains. For the week ending
May 24, soybeans plantings were nine days behind normal. A lot of the replanted acres likely went to soybeans.
Missouri Crop Report

Tennessee: Tennessee is experiencing more problems with glyphosate pigweed tolerance in many areas. There are also reports of soybean crop damage from dicamba being washed to low areas in the fields. The contaminated soil is being moved by the recent heavy rains. Cotton is being planted or replanted. In some cases, the replant acres in corn or cotton have been planted to soybeans.
Tennessee Weekly Crop and Weather Report: Tennessee Crop Report

--Tom Crumby