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Property Tax Caps – Top Issue At The Statehouse
The Indiana General Assembly will not go back into session until next year, but there is already plenty of activity at the Statehouse on some key issues that impact Indiana farmers. This week both the House and Senate will hold hearings on the property tax caps and if they should become part of the state constitution. Bob Kraft, with Indiana Farm Bureau, says holding these hearing before the session even starts is highly unusual, “They are holding these sessions in anticipation of the short session and trying to give everyone a chance to express an opinion on the property tax cap issue.” Kraft says there is no shortage of people wanting to express an opinion.
Database Redesign Makes Hybrid Selection Easier for Farmers
The Purdue Crop Performance Program now has an improved variety trial Web site to make the selection of hybrids easier for farmers. “Our goal is to provide quality, independent data for producers and companies,” said Phil DeVillez, director of the Purdue Crop Performance Program (PCPP). “These test results provide farmers with a tool they can use in making their hybrid or variety selections.” The site’s database is a brand new feature that allows growers to sort by any data column.
Soil Compaction Higher in Indiana This Year
Many Indiana corn and soybean growers are harvesting record crops, but they may face compaction issues because of saturated soils at harvest. “Many farmers will be unable to get back in the fields after harvest, because many fields have ruts and severe compaction issues,” said Randall Reeder, an Ohio State University Extension agricultural engineer. Farmers have limited options to break up soil and smooth out rough fields, Reeder said. “Farmers may face two types of compacted fields,” he said. “One type is an isolated compacted area, in which case, I suggest farmers do whatever is necessary to get that area ready for planting and leave the rest of the field alone. “The other type is compaction across the entire field, where whatever tillage operations are completed are applied to 100 percent of the field.”
Dow AgroSciences, Agrisoma Biosciences Reach Agreement on Crop Licenses
Dow AgroSciences LLC, Indianapolis, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company, and Agrisoma Biosciences, Inc., North Vancouver, Bristish Columbia, announced the signing of a research and commercial license option agreement. The agreement provides Dow AgroSciences with access to Agrisoma’s proprietary Engineered Trait Loci (ETL) technology on an exclusive basis in major food crops, and on a non-exclusive basis, in other crop species. Dow AgroSciences and Agrisoma have collaborated since 2004 in the area of high value protein production in plants and plant cell cultures. The initial collaboration formed the foundation of a successful relationship. This new agreement builds on that relationship and expands use of the ETL technology into field crops.
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Farmland Values Continue Slump
According to the latest AgLetter released by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, farmland values for the third quarter of 2009 were 4 percent lower than a year ago in the Seventh District. However, there was an increase of 2 percent in the value of “good” agricultural land compared with the second quarter of 2009. These numbers are based on 225 replies by agricultural bankers to the October 1 survey. According to the Federal Reserve report, there will be no turn-around in the downward trend for district land values. More of the responding bankers expected farmland values to slide rather than gain during the fourth quarter of 2009, through 69 percent expected stable values. 27 percent anticipated decreases and only 4 percent expect increased values.
Irrigation Information Floods December Workshop
The Winter Irrigation Workshop to be held Dec. 11 in Shipshewana will cover water use legislation, Great Lakes requirements for irrigation, water availability and more. “Both Michigan and Indiana are dealing with meeting the requirements of the Great Lakes Compact and will have to make changes,” said Lyndon Kelley, Purdue Extension and Michigan State University Extension irrigation specialist. The Great Lakes Compact is a joint agreement between the states and provinces surrounding the Great Lakes, and it’s designed to keep water use management at the local level.
Hoosier Horsepower Biofuels High School Curriculum Ready for Download
Two weeks ago on Hoosier Horsepower HAT reported that the biofuels high school curriculum would be available soon for Indiana teachers. This week it is ready for download at the Hoosier Horsepower section of colts.com. Dallas Clark pass receptions this season are generating $100 each for scholarships that students can earn while learning about biodiesel and ethanol. The biofuels manager at Indiana Corn and Soybean, Mark Walters, says the curriculum will cover three major biofuels topics, “how biofuels work and benefit in the environment, how they benefit the economy, particularly Indiana’s economy, and how biofuels help improve our energy independence and energy security. The lessons are taught by the teachers and there are several different assignments the kids are given. There is a debate, for instance. And the final project is a little video that we’re having the students develop. It’s a 3-minute video that teams of one to three kids can develop based on what they learned in the lesson plans.”
New Herbicide Update for Corn, Soybeans, Wheat
A number of new products for corn, soybeans, and wheat have been made available to Ohio growers over the past year. Some of these were used on a limited basis in 2009, but 2010 will be the first year of widespread use for most. As in previous years, some new products are simply new premix formulations of existing products (Flexstar GT, for example), but two brand new active ingredients were also registered. These include saflufenacil, the basis for the Kixor family of products, and thiencarbazone-methyl, which is a component of Corvus and Capreno.
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Opportunities Exist for Beef, Dairy Producers to Use Damaged Corn
The moldy corn that is coming out of some Indiana fields presents challenges to growers and livestock producers, but cattlemen may be able to take advantage of this unfortunate opportunity, said Purdue University beef and dairy specialists. The rumen is an organ that allows beef and dairy cattle to detoxify anything they might eat, said Ron Lemenager, Purdue Extension beef management specialist. However, he said growers should be cautious because the rumen does have its limitations.
Farm Bureau Tackles Tough Issues at State Meeting
The Indiana Farm Bureau state convention was held over the weekend in Ft. Wayne; and, despite the fact that much of this year’s corn crop is still in the field, attendance was well above average. IFB president Don Villwock said this is because Farm Bureau members are worried about some of the critical issues facing agriculture, “A lot of them feel like their backs are against the wall on some of these issues.” This concern motivated members to come to the meeting to get information on issues including animal rights, property taxes, and cap and trade. Villwock said the focus of the convention was to provide background and education on a wide variety of issues that are threatening Indiana farmers.
2009 Thanksgiving Dinner is More Affordable for Hoosiers
For the third year in a row, the cost of a traditional Thanksgiving dinner has decreased for Hoosiers, according to an informal statewide survey of grocery store prices coordinated by Indiana Farm Bureau. Indiana Farm Bureau’s annual survey of local prices for basic food items found on the Thanksgiving Day dinner table showed that the average cost of this year’s dinner for 10 is $43.93, down $1.64 from last year’s average of $45.57 and $3.27 from 2007’s average of $47.63. A nationwide survey conducted by the American Farm Bureau Federation (Indiana’s data is factored into the national survey) showed an average total cost of $42.92, a $1.70 decrease from last year.
ISA Encouraging Farmer Nominations for Soybean Varieties
For the third year ISA is partnering with Purdue University in the Farmer Nominated Soybean Varieties program. Indiana soybean checkoff dollars will fund up to 100 varieties in 2010. Communications Director Megan Kuhn says the idea is to, “try to get more of the varieties that Indiana farmers are really interested in, into the annual Purdue soybean performance trial. So we encourage farmers to choose a variety. Just give us the name of the company, the variety, what county they’re from, and why they want it nominated.” Kuhn says the reasons farmers may want a variety tested will vary from a grower considering using it, to a variety in use for years that they would like to see stacked up next to other varieties. “It’s basically so farmers have an objective source of information about plant health and yield characteristics of those varieties they’re interested in,” she said.
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Lessons from the 2009 Crop
As Indiana farmers slowly harvest 2009 corn crop, they are evaluating the performance of their hybrids and production decisions this growing season. With weather extremes, this year’s crop will provide valuable information that will be used for next year’s crop. Greg Luce, research agronomist with Pioneer, told HAT this is the kind of year that provides information on hybrid performance that will determinate future performance, “By stressing our genetics in extreme conditions, we can determine which ones will be kept for future research and which ones will be discarded.” Luce believes corn hybrids will be better in the future as a result of this year’s weather extremes.
Crop Production Seminar Looks Ahead to 2010
Farmers and crop consultants can get a jump on the 2010 growing season by attending the Kentuckiana Crop Production Seminar on Dec. 1 and 2 in Evansville, Ind. The seminar is divided into four workshops, each targeting a different part of crop production and offering continuing education units and continuing credit hours. “The seminar is designed to provide new research, address issues that participants have identified and help applicators maintain a knowledge base of industry issues,” said Kenneth Eck, Purdue Extension educator in Dubois County.
Indiana Native Named Director of Communications for ASTA
The American Seed Trade Association recently named Julie Douglas, of Lafayette, Ind., as the director of communications. “We are very excited to have Julie join our team,” said Andrew LaVigne, president and CEO of ASTA. “She brings great practical experience with the innovations and technology driving today’s production agriculture. Julie will be a great asset to our organization.” In her new role, Douglas will be responsible for developing, coordinating and implementing ASTA’s communications strategies to promote the policies and activities of the seed industry. Douglas will assume full responsibilities Jan. 4.
Dow AgroSciences, DuPont Agree to Cross License Next-Generation Soybean Herbicide Tolerant Traits
Dow AgroSciences, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company, and DuPont announced they have entered into a commercial cross-licensing agreement that will enable the two companies to deliver expanded herbicide-tolerant soybean options to farmers in the next decade. Under the agreement, Dow AgroSciences is licensing non-exclusively its proprietary herbicide tolerant trait technology for soybeans to DuPont business Pioneer Hi-Bred. In addition, Pioneer is licensing non-exclusively its proprietary Optimum GAT trait for soybeans to Dow AgroSciences. Both companies have given the other rights to stack additional traits with their respective technology. Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.
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3,000 Indiana Pigs Confirmed with H1N1 Cases
The U.S. Department of Agriculture said last week that pigs in a commercial herd in Indiana have tested positive for swine flu, making it the first time the virus has been found in such hogs. The OIE has confirmed that there were 3000 susceptible cases of H1N1 in pigs in an Indiana swine herd. The USDA, Animal and Plant Inspection Service (APHIS), and the Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH) are conducting a comprehensive epidemiological investigation of the event. On Oct. 22, samples from sows experiencing influenza-like illness at the facility were submitted to the University of Minnesota Laboratory for evaluation by the farm’s attending veterinarians.
Livestock Forage and Grain Forum Brings all Indiana Ag Groups Together
In this week’s Hoosier Horsepower Leah Beyer explains the upcoming Indiana Livestock, Forage and Grain Forum. She is the Livestock Director for the Indiana Soybean Alliance. The event will be Friday, January 15, 2010 at the Indiana Convention Center and will combine two forums into one. “Last year if you came to the Indiana Livestock forum that was held at Lucas Oil Stadium in December, this is that event this year. If you came to the Dairy Beef and Forage Symposium in February, that’s now this event. We’ve brought those different venues together so people don’t have to pick and choose which activity. We want to make sure they can get all that information in one forum.” The combined forum brings together all of the state’s ag groups, including corn, soybean, pork, beef, dairy, sheep, goat, horse, and forage, along with the Indiana Farm Bureau.
17 State Parks to Close for Deer Reductions
Select Indiana state parks will be closed temporarily for controlled deer reductions in the coming weeks. Two reduction efforts will take place. The first are Nov. 16 and 17. The second round is Nov. 30 and Dec.1. The participating parks will close to the general public the evening before each of the two efforts and will re-open the morning after each two-day reduction ends. Indiana DNR biologists evaluate which parks require a reduction each year based on vegetative recovery and previous hunter success at each park.
Beck Says Don’t Wait to Harvest Corn
High moisture in corn continues to slow progress this fall, but one of Indiana‘s most experienced seedsmen urges growers to not put off harvest. Sonny Beck, of Beck‘s Hybrids, admits harvesting high moisture corn is hard, but he urges producers to not let the crop stand any longer in the field, “We have been encouraging farmers to get out there and get the corn harvested.” He told HAT some growers want to wait for the crops to dry down, but Beck says very little drying will over the next few weeks. He recommends, “Bite the bullet, and get it done.” This year has been a challenging season for soybeans as well as corn, but Beck admits the bean yields are surprising everyone, “The first field we harvested averaged 73 bpa and that was a new variety.” He said they had some fields yield as much as 77.8 bpa.
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Farm Bureau Starts Push to Block Property Tax Caps
With the Indiana General Assembly set to begin work, efforts are underway to address the issue of property taxes on farmland. This is the last chance the legislature has to lock property tax caps into the State Constitution. Last session, the State Senate passed the measure, but House Speaker Pat Bauer defied the Governor and refused to hold a hearing on the measure in the House. Bob Kraft, with Indiana Farm Bureau, says it is unlikely that tactic will work this year, “The speaker will be under pressure to take a vote on the issue because of the 2010 census.” Kraft means that in 2010 the census will be taken and legislative districts will be redrawn. The party that controls the House will control that redistricting process. Thus, Kraft believes speaker Bauer will allow the property tax measure to come up for a vote to help Democratic house candidates.
Indiana Harvest Cools with Rain, Low Temperatures
Harvest progress was hindered once again by rain showers and cool temperatures, according to the Indiana Field Office of USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Moisture content in the corn and soybeans has been slow to come down requiring a great deal of the harvested crops to be dried. Many areas of the state encountered heavy frost over the weekend which will end the growing season for any crops that were not yet mature. Some intended winter wheat acreage may not be planted as farmers are being forced to wait until other crops are first harvested from these fields. There were 2.5 days suitable for field work during the week. Corn condition is rated 63 percent good to excellent compared with 56 percent last year at this time. Seventy-seven percent of the corn crop is mature compared to 92 percent last year and 96 percent for the 5-year average. Fifteen percent of the corn crop has been harvested compared to 39 percent last year and 49 percent for the 5-year average. Moisture content of harvested corn is averaging about 25 percent.
Moldy Corn Means Problems when Not Stored Properly
Many corn growers in Indiana and surrounding states are facing one of their most challenging harvests this year, and their problems are being compounded by grain drying and storage issues. Richard Stroshine, a professor in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering at Purdue says farmers will need to take extra steps this year because of high moisture content corn. “The thing to realize is you can’t do things the way you normally do this year. You’re going to have to take extra caution in watching your stored grain and getting your grain dried. Maybe dry it down to lower moisture than you’re used to. That gives you a little extra insurance because it’s not going to store as well as it has in previous years.”
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Long Thompson Nominated to Farm Credit
Last year’s Democratic candidate for Indiana governor has been nominated by President Obama to the board that oversees the Federal Farm Credit Administration. The nomination announced by the White House would return Jill Long Thompson to Washington, where she served in Congress from 1989 to 1995 and then was a top official in the Agriculture Department under former President Bill Clinton. Thompson, who ran rural development programs as an undersecretary of agriculture during the Clinton administration, is also the former chief executive officer of the Washington-based National Center for Food and Agricultural Policy.
Fueled UP and Ready
FFA members from all over the nation will be arriving in Indiana this week for the 82nd National FFA convention, and Indiana agribusinesses have come together to put some drive in this year’s meeting. For the past 4 years, Toyota has been providing courtesy cars for use during the national FFA convention. This year, Countrymark will again put fuel in those vehicles. John Lance, with Countrymark, says the farmer-owned co-op is proud to be a sponsor of FFA, “All of our branded dealers work with local FFA chapters all year long, so we are proud to make this donation to help make the national convention a success here in Indiana.” The Fuel is an American made E-10 that Lantz says will make the Toyota vehicles perform extremely well.
USAgNet / IN Ag Connection Launches TractorSearch.com
Farm producers across North America now have a new online tool at their disposal when looking for new and used farm equipment to purchase. USAgNet LLC has launched TractorSearch.com, a Web-based listing service for farm equipment dealers to post their products for prospective consumers to browse. USAgNet President Pat Sternitzky says the site fills a void for both buyers and sellers of quality farm machinery. “This project came about after some of our dealer-customers requested a more cost-effective way to advertise their equipment listings online,” Sternitzky said. “Many stores are paying expensive fees to farm equipment magazines, which often have their own Websites. But the dealers felt they can get more bang for their buck by using an ‘Internet company,’ rather than a magazine publisher to handle their online marketing needs.”
Purdue Plant Breeder, Geneticist Receives World Food Prize
Gebisa Ejeta didn’t set out to receive worldwide acclaim for his agricultural research. The Purdue University Distinguished Professor of Agronomy’s sole focus was on helping fellow Africans, especially those in his native Ethiopia, grow enough food to feed themselves. “When people tell you that your work has saved lives and that people begin to refer to it as a symbol of goodness for the cause of science or the cause of the poor, that’s a lot more than I had a perception of out there,” Ejeta said. “That’s overwhelming and humbling.” Thursday the plant breeder and geneticist received the World Food Prize for his work in developing sorghum varieties resistant to drought and Striga, a parasitic weed common on the African continent. Because of Ejeta’s efforts, sorghum yields are significantly higher in many African nations. The World Food Prize, considered the Nobel Prize of agriculture, was presented to Ejeta during a ceremony in the Iowa State Capitol Building in Des Moines.
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Gray & Pink Molds Being Found in Indiana Cornfields
Wet, cool conditions not only keep farmers out of the fields but also favor moldy corn. One Purdue University specialist is getting calls from around the state about Diplodia and Gibberella ear rots in corn. There’s a lot of Diplodia ear rot located throughout Indiana, especially in the northeast and southeast, said Charles Woloshuk, Purdue Extension pathologist who specializes in corn mycotoxins. The level ranges anywhere from a few percent up to 30 percent of the ears are infected, he said. Diplodia ear rot is characterized by a grayish or grayish-brown mold on and between the kernels on part of the ear. Gibberella ear rot, also known as Gib, is characterized by a pink to reddish mold, which begins at the tip of the ear and develops toward the base. Gib is easy to identify in the field on intact ears, but is more difficult to identify once the grain has been shelled.
Lawmakers Seek 100 Million in Pork Aid
Members of congress, including an Indiana democrat, have weighed in strongly with the USDA Secretary for a major new infusion of pork aid. The more than 5-dozen farm state lawmakers informed Tom Vilsack that without significant new help for the pork industry, thousands of rural jobs and businesses are at risk of going belly up. The house members are asking that Vilsack spend 100-million from so-called “section-32” customs receipts to buy pork for federal feeding programs, especially from sows to reduce breeding stock and hog oversupply. Indiana democrat Joe Donnelly knows first-hand the trouble the hog industry is in. “I have two of the three largest pork producers in the state, in our Congressional district, and you know, I’ve gone to ag meeting after ag meeting, and everybody is looking and saying, ‘we’ll work to get through this.’ But you can see it has caused tremendous damage.”
Study: Corn Plants Can Break Yield Barrier with Right Resources
A Purdue University researcher’s motto “No plant left behind,” sums up his research on achieving increased grain yield for corn at higher plant densities. “The only way to pursue and achieve higher grain yields on a per-acre basis at high plant densities is to make sure that every single plant has the opportunity to compete with its neighbor in the row,” said Tony Vyn, professor of agronomy. “The only way to achieve this competition ability is to have the genetic resources, in terms of a hybrid’s ability to compete and gain access to nutrients and water.” The results of this three-year study, which looked at approximately 4,000 individual plants each of the three years, are published in the early online version of Agronomy Journal.
Indiana 4H Congress Trains Tomorrow’s Ag Leaders
The Indiana 4H Congress was held over the weekend in Hendricks County. The 4H Congress is a daylong event providing leadership training for both adults and youth. Chuck Hibbard, Director of Extension, told HAT that leadership is a key element for those involved in agriculture today, as well as for those who will be the leaders of tomorrow, “We have brought together 150 students from all over the state to listen to strong ag leaders like Purdue Ag Dean Jay Akridge, and to participate in training sessions that will develop their leadership skills.” Other sessions were led by young people involved in the State 4H Jr. Leader program. In addition to training sessions for youth, several sessions were held for adults and 4H leaders. This year’s Congress, sponsored by Countrymark and Ice Miller LLP, also focused on science and technology. Hibbard said the future of agricultural innovation will be driven by those with passion and skill in the area of science and technology.
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Indiana Corn Acres Decrease as Ethanol Production Increases
For the last five years, Madison County farmer Mike Shuter has maintained the same crop rotation on his farm of two-thirds of his fields in corn and one-third in soybeans. He hasn’t seen the need to increase his corn acres even with the evolution of the biofuels industry and its need for corn. This seems to be the trend across the state. Indiana farmers planted 5.7 million acres of corn in both 2008 and 2009, down from 6.5 million acres in 2007. The majority of Indiana farmers plant corn and soybeans in a two-year rotation, unlike farmers in the Western Corn Belt where you see a more continuous corn environment.
Skillman Speaks Out on Farm Safety
Herbert Off, a farmer in Tipton County, was using a wrench to repair the combine when the tool dislodged and struck him in the head; he died from his injuries. According to Tipton County Coroner Brad Nichols, he was using a wrench to dislodge a clog in the combine’s throat when the tool dislodged from the machine. This is the second year in a row that Indiana farm fatalities have been on the rise. Indiana farm fatalities totaled 24 in 2007 and 28 in 2008. Alarmed with this trend, Lt. Governor and Secretary of Agriculture Becky Skillman is speaking out for farm safety, “If there is anything I can do to raise awareness about farm safety as we enter this harvest season, I want to spread that message.” She is spreading that message with an announcement being aired by radio stations across the state. The message reinforces things that farmers know all too well but often forget when things get busy. Skillman urges producers not to work when they are tired. She said, with harvest running several weeks late, there is added pressure to get the crop in quickly. She said the harvest is important but not at the cost of a human life.
Specialist Offers Tips for Weed Control Before Planting Wheat
Farmers looking to plant winter wheat after the harvest of corn and soybean fields should place weed control near the top of priority list, said a Purdue University specialist. Weed management is important because it helps with stand establishment, explained Bill Johnson, Purdue Extension weed specialist. “In areas of the state, we’ve had a relatively dry fall and these weeds can continue to deplete soil moisture and result in poor wheat stands,” he said. Weeds to be on the look out for include: chickweed, henbit, purple deadnettle, dandelion, and winter annual grasses such as Carolina foxtail, annual bluegrass and little barley. There are only two broad spectrum herbicides labeled for use before planting wheat — glyphosate and gramoxone, Johnson said.
Farm Bureau Speaks Out on RFS2 Proposal
American Farm Bureau President Bob Stallman warns, the Renewable Fuel Standard proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency could allow the EPA to dictate how a farmer manages his or her land. The main concern is the EPA’s proposal regarding indirect land use provisions, which claim that ethanol production in the United States indirectly leads to deforestation in tropical countries. This increased authority for EPA greatly worries Farm Bureau members.
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Meetings Planned to Discuss Bovine TB
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources and the Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH) issued a reminder of three public meetings scheduled next week at which they will address the current status of bovine tuberculosis in Indiana and outline proposed actions the two agencies have planned for the upcoming deer hunting seasons. The meetings will be from 7 to 9 p.m. local time. Dates and locations are:
Indiana Signs Ag Trade Agreement with Taiwan
On Friday, Indiana signed a major agricultural trade agreement with the nation of Taiwan. This multi-million dollar agreement is part of a larger purchase by Taiwan from the Midwest over the next year. “We are thrilled to welcome the Taiwan Agricultural Trade Goodwill Mission to Indiana,” said Lt. Governor Becky Skillman. “Taiwan is an important trade partner for Indiana agriculture, and we are delighted to have this opportunity to showcase the quality of corn and soybeans produced by Indiana farmers.” Every 2 years a grain buying team from Taiwan visits Indiana to sign a letter of intent that will guarantee large corn and soybean export sales.
Finalists Named in Indiana Young Farmer Awards
Finalists have been selected for the two statewide awards given to young farmers by Indiana Farm Bureau. Young Farmer Achievement Award finalists are Paul Rumple, Adams County; Orville and Jessica Haney, Kosciusko County; and Joe and Angela Mann, Putnam County. Finalists for the Excellence in Agriculture Award are Mark and Denise Scarborough, LaPorte County; Jason and Erin Tower, Dubois County; and Steve and Kimmie Gauck, Decatur County. The Young Farmer Achievement Award recognizes young farmers whose farm management techniques and commitment to their communities set a positive example for those involved in production agriculture, while the Young Farmer Excellence in Agriculture Award recognizes young farmers who are involved in agriculture in ways other than as farm owners.
SW Indiana Corn Yields Disappointing
While the soybean harvest is underway in the northern part of the state, corn is the focus of southern Indiana growers. Crops in Southwest Indiana are ready, but heavy rains this week have kept harvest activity to a minimum. Jon Neufelder is the Extension Educator in Posey County, ”Nobody is getting too serious about harvest yet; I would say only about 10% of the corn has been cut.” Early yield reports on the corn have been a bit disappointing, “There has been a lot of 180 bpa corn; and, on some of the hills, we have seen some 160 bpa yields.” Neufelder attributes the lower yield numbers to thin stands and washed out spots. Most of the early corn was planted in April when heavy rains hit this part of the state.
