1. Field Observations and Weather Outlook

The inconsistent rain has caused havoc in most of our region. Late hay harvest, and late corn and soybean planting which has led to crops being relatively behind compared to where we should expect to be in the first week of summer. Often our corn is so far advanced that the typical mid-late season pests and diseases pose little threat. But given this year's situation, keep your eyes peeled for things like tar spot of corn and some of the other leaf diseases.

We're expecting temperatures and precip to remain above normal for the rest of the growing season, so it's likely that crops will catch back up. But in the short-term, we will be stuck in this pattern of on-again-off-again rain and sun. Early next week might be a window of opportunity for hay harvest, but the rain should return by this time next week.

2 Growing Degree Days (See: Climate Smart Farming Growing Degree Day Calculator)

Growing degree days (GDD) are calculated by taking the average daily temperature and subtracting the base temperature for development of a given organism ((High + Low)/2 - base temp = GDD). For corn silage, we are using base 50/86, as corn development starts at 50 degrees F and ceases above 86. Check your location and planting date:

3. Pest Monitoring

Corn crops are still at risk of black cutworm until around the 5th true leaf has emerged, so most crops should be developing beyond that window of risk by this point. Soon we'll start monitoring Western Bean Cutworm (WBCW) and Fall Armyworm (FAW). These pest hardly ever cause us issues, but late plantings (which is quite a few this year) could be at risk. 

Tar spot is in the Midwest, so please be on the lookout for that as well - and let me know if you suspect any in your crops.

Many alfalfa crops I've seen are either just cut or are about to be cut. Leafhopper numbers have dipped, but there should be a flush of nymphs (new hatchlings) soon.