The National Weather Service predicts temperatures will lean above normal and precipitation will lean likely below normal from June 2 to 8. It forecasts near normal temperatures and precipitation through June 20. July, August and September are predicted to lean slightly below normal temperatures with equal chances for normal seasonal precipitation. The drought monitor issued on May 21 shows no drought in any parts of Michigan and all clear for all of Ohio and Indiana, except for the very southern portions of each state.
Wheat is at the critical Feekes growth stage 10 when the head is fully developed but remains inside the flag leaf sheath. Stage 10 quickly gives way to head emergence and pollination, designated by decimal points on the Feekes scale. For example, flowering is Feekes 10.5.1 to 10.5.3. At this point the flag leaf contributes the vast majority of the energy and sugars needed for grain filling, making it vital to protect it from disease or insect damage. One key scouting tool for scab risk is wheatscab.psu.edu.
Soybean stand assessment needs to be done after soybeans emerge, more critical this year because of the planting delay and crop insurance deadlines. Soybean stand is not as critically linked to yield as with corn. However, early season stand counts are important to evaluate the germination and emergence of the planted crops. Due to recent heavy rains, many soybean fields have had challenging conditions, including crusting, resulting in uneven emergence. Soybeans have a remarkable ability to compensate for reduced plant populations.
Corn stands are easy to see now with just a few leaves out, so it is important to make notes about planter performance or soil conditions. You can already tell that some fields are not going to win corn yield contests due to gaps, skips and double seeds. As former corn world record holder Francis Childs said, he wants corn plants standing “like soldiers in a row, so that even a rabbit has to run to the end of the row to get to the next row.”
Phlox is a wonderful and colorful plant that is relatively easy to grow now that the danger of frost has passed. Phlox makes a great ground cover, with one type being a low-growing creeping plant. Ankle-high woodland phlox is perfect for dappled and shady beds. Medium-height phlox is often the backbone of a perennial garden, proving a layer of color midway through the garden and filling in gaps.
This article originally appeared on Farmers Advance: Navigating crop emergence: Saving your soybeans and spicing up your perennials
Reporting by Ned Birkey, Farmers’ Advance / Farmers Advance
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