Field Crop Update, July 10, 2025
Erik Smith, Area Field Crop Specialist/Team Leader
Central New York Dairy and Field Crops
1. Field Observations
The weather has been great for making hay, which is what many of you have been up to this week. And while it feels weird to say it, many of us could use some rain. Here's the short-term weather outlook from Jess Spaccio, from Cornell's Northeast Regional Climate Center:
And if you haven't already, be sure to pre-register for our upcoming Corn and Soybean Seed IPM field day at SUNY Cobleskill. It's free, but pre-registering helps us plan ahead for meals and transportation: https://cals.cornell.edu/events/ipm-strategies-protect-corn-and-soybean-seed-new-york-state-cobleskill-meeting In addition to learning more about our neonicotinoid seed treatment trials, we're offering 1.5 DEC credits (Cat. 1A, 4, 10, 21) and 1.5 CCA credits (Cat. TBD). And lunch!
2. Pest Monitoring
The upcoming rainstorms might help us by knocking down any emerging soybean aphid or potato leafhopper issues, but keep an eye on them as I've started to see their populations tick upwards. But I've also seen ladybug and other natural enemy populations spike upwards as well.
Remember to keep an eye out for tar spot of corn and other foliar crop diseases. As we get closer to soybean flowering, be prepared to protect your fields that have a history of white mold.
And for hayfields and pastures, 'tis the season for knapweeds and thistles to begin flowering and announcing themselves in your fields. At this point, mowing is the best medicine. If herbicides are warranted, wait for fall when plants are more susceptible, and when temperatures make volatile herbicides like 2,4-D ester and dicamba less risky to non-target plants.
A. Potato leafhopper in alfalfa
Here are some potato leafhopper populations from around the region. These fields were sampled by Zach O'Donnell, our intern from Colgate Univ., and Heer Patel, our technician. As usual, for alfalfa 15"+, no spray is recommended if harvested within one week.
3. Growing Degree Days (GDD) (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:
See you in the field!
Dairy
Livestock
Forages
Grains
Upcoming Events
IPM Strategies to Protect Corn and Soybean Seed in NYS
July 22, 2025
Cobleskill, NY
Free event. DEC Credits available
Clearing Hurdles to Improve Milk Quality Conference
July 22 - July 24, 2025
Rochester, NY
three day conference with short courses, seminars, and farm tours
Announcements
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We send out a bi-weekly e-newsletter that has announcements, upcoming programs, and opportunities for you! Registration is quick, easy, and free. Click here to sign up today!Document and Share Storm Damage
Mother nature has really been difficult over the last few days. Significant damage has been seen throughout NYS. Please let us know what types of damage your farm may have sustained during this time. This could be in the form of property damage, lost power, milk dump due to lost power, loss of livestock, loss of stored feed or growing crops.Farms are encouraged to DOCUMENT AND SHARE any impacts the weather may have had on their home or business. This could include structure damage, crop loss, inventory loss due to power outages, damage to equipment or fencing, and more.
If your farm experienced any sort of damage, please reach out to any of the folks listed below (or all of them). The more impact information that is collected, the greater the likelihood of a disaster declaration which can bring vital emergency support and awareness. The CNYDLFC Team will continue to collect detail and submit to NYSDAM and the EDEN network.
Reporting Weather Related Impacts (For your home or farm business)
- First, ensure that all the people and animals on your farm are safe, and that there aren't any unsafe working conditions created because of the weather (check your structures!). If there's an emergency, call 911 - don't try to manage it all on your own.
- Second, document all negative weather impacts for your farm and their estimated financial cost. Take photos, make estimates, and put it all in a safe place.
- Reach out to your insurance providers - farm, vehicle, crop, etc. to initiate the claim process as needed.
- Then, share your farm's damage with any (or all) of the ag support agencies listed below. We all work together to collect storm damage information and funnel it up to Ag and Markets which can initiate a natural disaster declaration.
- Chenango: 607-334-5841
- Fulton/Montgomery: 518-853-2135
- Herkimer: 315-866-7920
- Madison: 315-684-3001
- Otsego: 607-547-2536
- Schoharie: 518-234-4303
- Saratoga: 518-885-8995
- Erik Smith: 315-219-7786
- Daniela Gonzalez: 315-749-3486
- Ashley McFarland- 315-604-2156
Your county USDA/FSA service center.
- Chenango: 607-334-3231
- Fulton/Montgomery: 518-853-4015
- Herkimer: 315-866-2520
- Madison:315-824-9076
- Otsego: 607-547-8131
- Schoharie: 518-295-8600
- Saratoga: 518-692-9940
Your county farm bureau manager
- Region 3: Bailey Coon: 518-937-0566
- Region 5: John Wagner: 315-761-9770
- Region 6: Natally Batiston: 518-937-0269
- Region 7: Todd Heyn: 518-431-9338
Please let us know how we can help you.
Cash Rent and Custom Harvest Survey
To date, there is limited information available about rental rates and fees for crop harvesting. Farms can use this valuable information for their farm business planning to help improve decision making and profitability.Farmers Can Join MeatSuite For Free!
MeatSuite.com is a free resource provided by Cornell University where NY meat farmers can create a farm profile and list their bulk (wholes, halves, quarters) and bundled (i.e. Grilling Bundle) meat products.Why should farmers join?
1. It's free and easy!
2. Connect with more local customers. In the past year the MeatSuite.com farm directory had 8,300 visits from New York consumers. Farm profiles get as many as 25 views per month from potential local customers. We also spotlight MeatSuite farms on social media and bring attention and purchases to farms through highlights and giveaways.
How do I join?
Farmers can visit https://www.meatsuite.com/farmers/ to create a free farm profile. You must list at least one product for your farm's profile to go live. You'll also have access to Cornell's free Meat Price Calculator, a helpful tool for pricing your meat to make a profit.
While you're on MeatSuite, check out the "Creating Consumer-Friendly Bulk Meats" publication on the log-in page. It has tips on how to create bulk meat products that are easier for first-time buyers to say "yes" to.
If you have any questions as you create your farm profile or products, we're here to help! Please email Matt LeRoux at mnl28@cornell.edu.