The Official Newspaper for Foster County
The Official Newspaper for Foster County
“Our crops look really good.”
That was the positive report of one Foster County producer at the end of July.
“Our corn has tasseled,” the man continued. “I always say if that happens before Aug. 1, we can be sure that the crop will mature before the first frost.”
“Our soybeans are doing well too,” he added.
He paused and then said, “Now, if we can just avoid a hail storm. In my experience, this is the time of year when hail seems mostly likely to get us.”
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As the cropping season progresses, we continue to keep a close eye on the weather forecast.
The possibility of a hail storm is one concern.
However, a bigger question is this: Will there be enough moisture to produce a good yield?
After a wet start in the spring, conditions have turned drier during the summer months.
Between June 1 and July 31, the Carrington REC received just 4.3 inches of rainfall (59 percent of normal).
The area around McHenry received 6.1 inches (85 percent of normal).
By the end of July, some soybeans were beginning to show evidence of moisture stress, especially when growing on poor quality soil.
It’s often said that August rains produce good bean yields.
Why is that?
The answer is that by August, most soybeans have reached the reproductive stage.
The plants are continuing to add foliage, and their root system is developing rapidly too.
In addition, the soybeans are now blooming, and pods are starting to develop.
All of this takes a lot of water, about a quarter of an inch per day.
Although soybean roots can grow to a depth of three feet or more, most roots (50 percent) remain in the upper eight inches of the soil profile.
Rainfall is needed to replenish water that roots are taking up from the upper soil layer.
Soybeans are fairly resilient, and they can handle a short period of moisture stress early in the reproductive stage.
But if dry conditions persist, there can be a significant reduction in pod number and to some extent, smaller seeds.
What about corn? Is it as dependent on August rain as soybeans are?
I recently asked this question to NDSU Cropping Systems Specialist Greg Endres.
He told me that in terms of moisture stress, the most critical time for corn is the two weeks before and after tasseling. That usually occurs in July.
But Greg added that it is important not to minimize the significance of August rain to corn yield.
Moisture stress during the blister to dent stages can reduce kernel number and size. Extreme dryness during this period can reduce yields by three to four percent per day.
The long-range forecast issued by the National Weather Service indicates that Foster County is likely to experience warmer than normal temperatures during August.
The forecast is inconclusive about what to expect in terms of moisture, with equal chances of receiving above or below normal precipitation.
One thing I’ve learned is that corn and soybeans both have amazing ability to overcome adverse growing conditions.
Let’s hope they won’t be severely tested this August.
