Ned Birkey: Heifers outnumber steers at market for first time since 1986
Food situation The markets were surprised at the livestock slaughter numbers last week as more heifers than steers were sent to market for the first time since 1986. This reflects the severe drought in the western states that don’t have enough feed, hay or pasture for their herds. If this continues, it could point to a shortage of beef in grocery stores a year from now. Farm level prices remain volatile which could translate into higher food prices.
Weather Just a reminder that the “new” fall frost (32ºF) date is around October 25 and freeze (28ºF) date is about November 4, depending on your exact location. Based on 30 years of records (1980-2010), MSU has calculated the spring frost/ freeze dates are one week earlier and fall frost/ freeze dates are one week later than the previous calculations (1950-1980). Jeff Andresen of MSU says medium range guidance generally calls for seasonable temperatures and near normal precipitation totals. Detroit meteorologists reported on August 18 that summer rainfall totals are 10 inches less than last year. Despite the dramatic difference, this summer’s precipitation in only about 3 inches less than the average. Eric Snodgrass of Nutrien Ag Solutions has a precipitation map of the US which shows our area in a drought status.
Corn What happened to Tar spot in corn this year is a question farmer have been asking? Thanks to the hot and dry weather, conditions have not been as favorable for disease development. This can change with more humidity, dew and hours of leaf wetness and a later maturing corn crop due to later planting. Pierce Paul of Ohio State has found tar spot in only 3 of 15 samples to date. He reminds farmers that there are many factors that can cause this disease to spread rapidly; such as a susceptible variety, corn on corn rotation or wet weather. He says the crop can benefit from spraying at R3 even if the farmer did not spray at the R1 growth stage. An alert is to read the preharvest interval on the fungicide product label!
Soybeans The crop can benefit from August rains almost more than corn to help extend blooms and fill pods. By this time of the growing season, plant problems show up, such as Sudden Death Syndrome, Brown Stem Rot, Phytophthora root rot, Soybean cyst nematodes, Manganese deficiency, Frogeye leafspot, Spider mites, aphids, etc. With field day “season” here, now is a good time to evaluate varieties and plan changes/ improvements for next year. The Michigan Soybean Committee will pay for free SCN diagnosis on up to 20 soybean cyst nematode soil samples that are sent to the MSU Plant and Pest Diagnostic Laboratory. In addition, farmers can get an evaluation of your SCN type if requested.
Wheat Dennis Pennington of MSU will be at the August 25 Farmer Field Day at MCCC on Thursday, August 25 and will talk about the 2022 Michigan Wheat Performance Trials and give planting recommendations for this fall.
Soil Testing Farmers should consistently do soil sampling either in the spring or fall, but not both, nor go back and forth. Now is a good time to review old/ current soil test results to see what needs to be applied this fall or if new samples need to be pulled. MSU recommends new samples every four year for farmers in a two-crop rotation, such as corn/ soybeans, or every three years if in a three-crop rotation, such as corn/ soybeans/ wheat.
Farm Leases For oral or written land rent agreements or contracts that begin on March 1 but do not have an ending date, legal notice should be given six-months in advance, or by the end of August to terminate the lease.
Commercial Vegetables The August 17 Michigan vegetable crop report had crop updates for asparagus, carrots and celery, cole crops, cucurbits and pickles, fruiting vegetables and sweet corn. More details were given about blossom end rot of summer squash, zucchini and other fruiting vegetables such as tomatoes. The MSU TomCast sensor program is in asparagus fields and is used to predict the disease severity index to help take the guesswork out of when and if to spray fungicides. Farmers can get a cabbage maggot fact sheet by going to: bit.ly/cabmaggot.
MCCC Student Ag Farm Tuesday is the last chance to register for the Farmer Field Day that will take place Thursday at the MCCC Student Ag Farm. Four pesticide re-certification credits, a ribeye steak lunch and terrific educational topics will headline the event. This event is free of charge to all area farmers, but registration is requested by calling the Monroe County Farm Bureau at 734-269-3275.
Ned Birkey is MSU Extension Educator Emeritus and a regular contributor to The Monroe News.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Birkey: Heifers outnumber steers at market for first time since 1986
