Lafayette Online » Agriculture

Gray and pink molds turning up in Indiana cornfields

admin — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 20:26:57 +0000

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — 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.

A pink mold that starts at the ear tip is characteristic of Gibberella ear rot. (Photo A. Robertson)

There’s a lot of Diplodia ear rot throughout Indiana, especially in the northeast and southeast, said Charles Woloshuk, a Purdue Extension pathologist who specializes in corn mycotoxins. Anywhere from a few percent to 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 spot once the grain has been shelled.

Woloshuk encouraged producers and elevators to know what’s going on in their area. Producers need to walk their fields, pull 10 ears and determine if they have either Diplodia or Gibberella and the frequency, he said.

“If it’s Gib ear rot, then there’s concern about the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol, or DON, as well as zearalenone. If suspect, the grain should be tested, especially if it’s to be fed to livestock,” Woloshuk said.

Purdue Extension pathologist Charles Woloshuk holds one good corn ear and one infected by Diplodia ear rot. (Purdue Agricultural Communication photo)

Two grain inspectors in the central and north-central regions of Indiana who analyze grain for DON are East Indiana Grain Inspection Inc., located at 7020 N. Walnut St. in Muncie, and Titus Grain Inspection Inc., located at 1111 E. County Road 800 North in West Lafayette.

“If it’s Diplodia, there is no need to be concerned about mycotoxins. However, if you are feeding a high percentage of moldy grain, that’s still not good,” Woloshuk said. “In either case, the grain needs to be harvested as soon as possible and dried for storage. This grain should not be stored through the summer months.”

Farmers also are encouraged to adjust combines to reduce the amount of fine and small, shriveled or broken kernels.

Growers that have problems this year with either Gib or Diplodia can take steps to help prevent a reoccurrence.

Genetics are involved with Diplodia, Woloshuk said.

“If a producer had a problem this year with a specific hybrid, then I would not plant that hybrid again,” he said.

With either of the diseases, the crop residue should be tilled under because that’s where the pathogens can survive, Woloshuk said. He also recommended rotating to soybeans.

For questions and additional information about Diplodia or Gib, contact Woloshuk at 765-494-3450, woloshuk@purdue.edu

Growers should expect budget squeeze in 2010

admin — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 04:51:13 +0000

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Farmers should see some relief on input costs next year, but profit margins are still likely to be squeezed.

While fertilizer prices have already come down, Erickson said overall costs remain relatively high and have not come down as much as commodity prices. Today's grain prices are placing downward pressure on the seed and crop protection companies.

Bruce Erickson, a Purdue University agricultural economist, said growers would likely see the most savings on fertilizer costs in the 2010 planting season.

“Some farmers were spending as much as $200 per acre to fertilize the 2009 corn crop, more than rent in some cases, when you consider nitrogen, P and K replacement, and any liming requirements,” Erickson said. “Next year it will be about one-third less — in our projections about $100 to $130 per acre — depending on soils and crop rotation.”

Erickson and his colleagues’ estimates are available in the “2010 Purdue Crop Cost & Return Guide,” now available online. The guide gives estimates of input costs and expected returns for the coming planting season.

At the time these estimates were prepared, Chicago Mercantile Exchange Group futures indicated that fall 2010 cash prices were near $3.30 per bushel for corn and $8.40 for soybeans. These prices are lower than what was used in the 2009 budget estimates by 70 cents for corn and 30 cents for soybeans.

It’s fairly certain that these costs and returns will change before anything is planted, but the estimates provide a starting point for thinking about 2010, Erickson said.

“The guide provides a general barometer for people who do their own budgets,” he said.

While fertilizer prices have already come down, Erickson said overall costs remain relatively high and have not come down as much as commodity prices. Today’s grain prices are placing downward pressure on the seed and crop protection companies.

“Some technology fees have increased, and we know list prices of some of the newest hybrids have gone up, but we’re also hearing of significant discounting as well,” Erickson said.

Also, some input suppliers have already announced substantially lower glyphosate prices.

“For the second year in a row, farmers’ margins will be less than they were in 2007 and 2008,” Erickson said.

One cost-saving area could be machinery. Erickson said industry reports show sales of new large farm machinery to be down, which could keep a lid on the cost of those purchases. On the other hand, interest in buying used equipment is on the rise.

“There could be some bargains on new equipment out there,” he said.

To download a copy of the 2010 Purdue Crop Cost & Return Guide, go to http://www.agecon.purdue.edu/extension/pubs/index.asp

Indiana farm fatalities up for the second consecutive year

admin — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 14:22:45 +0000

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The 2008 Indiana Farm Fatality Report, compiled by Purdue University’s Agricultural Safety and Health Program, documents 28 agricultural-related fatalities in 2008, up from 24 in 2007.

The most common mistakes resulting in farm-related fatalities include using older tractors without rollover protective structures on hillsides and being in too much of a hurry and not using safety devices or switches on equipment.

“The general trend for the previous 30 years had been that farm fatalities were on the decline,” said Gail Deboy, Purdue agricultural safety engineer and report coordinator. “This has not been the case for the last two years, and that’s extremely disheartening.”

The report, released Friday (Sept. 18) at the Indiana Farm Bureau headquarters in Indianapolis, coincides with the start of National Farm Safety and Health Week, Sept. 20-26. Deboy and Bill Field of Purdue’s Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering collected farm accident data and compiled the report, which is available online at http://cobweb.ecn.purdue.edu/~agsafety/IRSHC/fatalitySummary.html

The average age for farm work-related fatality victims in 2008 was 49.4, while the average age for the past 10 years was 52.6. The report documents two fatalities of males under the age of 18; their ages were 3 and 4. The two incidents involving children accounted for 7.1 percent of the total number of fatalities reported in 2008. Only one or two fatalities of children or adolescents under the age of 18 had been reported annually over the last 10 years, with the exception of 2000 when seven such fatalities were reported.

Victims 60 and older accounted for 39 percent of all documented cases, and that is consistent with a continuing trend of older individuals being involved in a disproportionate number of fatal incidents.

In the past, Howard and Fayette counties documented no fatalities in the previous 30 years, Deboy said. Fayette is now the only county not to have a recorded fatality.

The three Indiana counties with the most recorded fatalities during the last 30 years include Elkhart, LaGrange and Greene counties, which all have a large Amish population, Deboy said. This year LaGrange and Greene counties each reported one fatality.

“One thing not in the report is that in 2008 five of the 28 fatalities were caused by hydraulic failure or operator error in operating hydraulics,” Deboy said.

Eight deaths in 2008 were attributed to tractor rollovers, and five deaths were caused by machinery crushings or pinnings, according to the report.

“Most farmers don’t spend much time thinking about safety, and we hope this report helps create more of an awareness in the farming community, especially right before harvest,” Deboy said.

In the United States, there are 3.5 fatalities per 100,000 workers in all industries, according to statistics from the National Safety Council. There are 31.6 fatalities per 100,000 workers in agricultural production.

“With all the unpredictability of livestock and the sheer size of the equipment, farming is the most dangerous industry a person can be involved in, but farmers can take simple steps that go a long way to help protect themselves,” Deboy said.

Deboy recommends farmers take the following safety measures this fall:

Avoid working when tired. Farmers should take frequent breaks and get enough sleep.
Slow down and pay attention to details.
Keep all equipment shields in place. If a shield is removed to work on something, be sure to put it back on.
Use all safety locks and safety equipment. Don’t override safety locks thinking they will slow down productivity.
Use tractors with rollover protective structures.
Make sure the slow-moving vehicle emblem is visible and in good condition on all tractors and equipment.
Use hazard lights when operating tractors and equipment on roadways.

“The average reaction time for a person is three seconds,” Deboy said. “Tractor operators have less than three seconds to react from the time they realize they’re in a dangerous situation to when the tractor rolls over.”

For questions and more information about the report, contact Deboy at 765-496-2377, deboy@purdue.edu, or Field at 765-494-1191, field@purdue.edu

Surplus U.S. crop means lower prices; need to stimulate use

admin — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 20:09:38 +0000

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — This year could be another record-setting year for U.S. corn production, said Purdue University’s Chris Hurt, who believes those numbers will be reflected in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Sept. 12 Crop Production report.

This year could be another record-setting year for U.S. corn production, said Purdue Extension agriculture economist, Chris Hurt.

USDA’s August estimate for corn was 159.5 bushels per acre for the average yield — 3 bushels per acre above trend — which was bold at that time, according to the Purdue Extension agriculture economist. As the crop progressed in August, Hurt questioned: “Is that number high enough? Is it fairly accurate? Has the crop improved, in terms of yield potential, since early August?”

“I think we’ll see the September estimate for corn at about 161.5 bushels per acre.”

He is aware some might not agree with the estimate, given the less than ideal crop year. Spring was extremely wet, preventing many farmers from getting into their fields on time.

However, Hurt believes the sufficient moisture and moderate weather conditions have given the crop an opportunity to increase the grain count for corn and the pod count for soybeans, as well as grain fill or the weight of the seed.

“We’ll see record yields on corn,” Hurt said. “Could this year end up being that mammoth of a yield like we had in 2004?”

He compares this year’s crop to then.

“A year much like this one, in terms of moderate weather during the growing season, 2004 ended with record yields at 160.4 bushels per acre,” Hurt said. “I think we’ll take that out in the September estimate at about 161.5.

“In looking back, the USDA weekly crop ratings track about like they did in 2004. It’s the best crop we’ve seen, and I think corn may end up slightly better this year, because in 2004 we saw declines in late August and on into September.”

Unless there is a frost, Hurt expects the crop to continue to look good and even improve a little.

Hurt also noted that in 2004, yields were about 10 percent above trend. If that were to happen again, that would put yields in the upper 160-bushel-per-acre range — close to 170 bushels per acre, he said.

“It’s too early to talk about yields that good, but we could certainly begin to think that there’s potential for yields to be in the mid-160s,” Hurt said. “I don’t think the market is thinking a number quite that high at this point. We would make new contract low prices on corn if it would move on up into the mid-160-bushel-per-acre range, and this means vulnerability on the downside of prices.”

For soybeans, the crop rating is the highest rating in recent years, Hurt pointed out.

In early August, USDA had soybean estimates at 41.7 bushels per acre, which was below trend, said Hurt, who believes they were right in their estimate.

“The beans had a long way to go, but they’ve come a long way since early August and from what can be seen on the weather forecast, weather is not going to be a threatening factor in September,” Hurt said. “I think we can be above trend this year. The previous record is 43 bushels per acre, and I’m looking for the USDA’s September number to push us on up — eventually going above that 43-bushel-per-acre record yield range going into October.”

This means there is going to be a lot of corn and soybeans, and prices are going to decrease to get end users to come in and buy more of this crop, Hurt explained.

Soybean carryover may increase from extremely tight supplies of 110 million bushels in early September, according to Hurt, who expects to see that triple and move up to 300 million bushels by the end of the 2009-2010 marketing year.

“Again, there are some price depressing forces on soybeans, but the worst might not come until we see the size of the South American crop as we go into January, February and March of 2010,” he said.

From a strategy standpoint, Hurt said this year has a different look.

“We’re likely to see good returns for corn storage — depressed prices at harvest time and above normal price appreciation going into next spring and summer,” he said. “With soybeans, we have the threat of a return to normal yields in South America and that alone would add about 800 billion bushels more world production.

“The fear then is that our exports really drop off for soybeans in the spring and summer of 2010 and we actually end up seeing lower prices. If soybean prices are around $9 out of the field this fall, we could see soybeans under $9 next spring and summer.”

However, he said a lot will depend on world demand, the value of the dollar and the ultimate size of the U.S. and South American crops.

“We’re really in a different situation now than we’ve been in,” Hurt said. “The last three years, we’ve tended to see shortages in the world market and prices had to be high to get end users to cut back.

“Now we are on the other side. Big crops in the United States could mean that we have to depress prices to get more end users to come into the market and, for now, it looks like we’ve tilted a little bit back to the old days of surplus production and lower prices to stimulate use.

Honeybee health, production focus of new Web site

admin — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:46:49 +0000

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University and other land-grant universities have developed a Web site that focuses on honeybee production and health.

Purdue research is focusing on breeding bees that are more resistant to Varroa mites.

The site was developed for beekeepers and other producers to help them stay current on industry issues and trends. It is located at http://www.extension.org/bee%20health.

“Purdue is one of many land-grant universities helping bee producers better understand the impact of bee health in the industry,” said Greg Hunt, Purdue Extension bee specialist.

One serious issue affecting the industry since 2006 is Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). CCD occurs when large numbers of bees in a colony go missing. The majority of the adult bees die away from the hive, leaving a few younger bees behind.

“We do not know what is causing CCD. What we do know is that parasitic mites may have an impact on the syndrome,” Hunt said.

Purdue research is focusing on breeding bees that are more resistant to Varroa mites, he said.

“Bee decline can be traced back to negative factors, including immunology, nutrition, toxicology, pathology, genetics and bee husbandry,” Hunt said.

However, the greatest decline in numbers of bee colonies for Indiana and the nation as a whole correspond to the period just before and after the discovery of parasitic bee mites in the United States. The bee population has not recovered since that time, and the mites may be making other problems related to bee health even worse.

Farmers, fruit and vegetable producers and home growers who rely on bees to pollinate their crops have been negatively impacted by the decline in bee population.

For more information on bee health, contact Hunt at 765-494-4605, ghunt@purdue.edu

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American Simmental Cattle Conference to be at Purdue

admin — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 05:58:23 +0000

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Beef researchers from several universities and industry experts will come together at Purdue University’s Beck Agricultural Center for the American Simmental Cattle Conference on Aug. 28 and 29. Both purebred and commercial producers from Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin are expected to be in attendance, said Matt Claeys, Purdue Extension livestock specialist and conference coordinator.

During the conference, producers will learn how they can add value to their cattle, how to effectively use the information provided by an ultrasound, and how to save money on feeding cows and effectively lower their cow costs.

“During the conference, we will discuss how producers can add value to their cattle, how to effectively use the information provided by an ultrasound, and how to save money on feeding cows and effectively lower their cow costs,” Claeys said.

The conference is $15 per person for those who preregister and $30 per person for on-site registration. Vocational ag teachers and Extension educators may preregister at no cost but will not be permitted to do so on site. A registration form is available at http://www.simmental.org/

The American Simmental Cattle Conference will begin at 6 p.m. Aug. 28 with a reception and sandwiches, and Claeys will give a brief welcome at 6:45 p.m.

Sessions that evening include: “Single Trait Selection and Recessive Defects, Two Dangerous Situations” by Purdue’s Terry Stewart, animal breeding and genetics specialist; “Internet Access to the Genetic Status of all Animals in ASA’s Database” by Steve McGuire of the American Simmental Association; and a panel discussion on “SimGenetics Role in the Beef Industry.” Panelists include Aaron Arnett, representing Select Sires; Doug Parrett from the University of Illinois; Richard Huntrods from the Feldun-Purdue Agricultural Center; and Curt Rincker, past president of the Illinois Cattlemen’s Association. Marty Ropp of the American Simmental Association will moderate the panel.

The Aug. 29 sessions, held at the Purdue Animal Science Research and Education Center’s Beef Unit, will begin at 8:15 a.m. with a short welcome by Ron Lemenager, Purdue Extension beef management specialist, and Brian DeFreese, manager of the Purdue Beef Unit. At 8:30 a.m. participants will evaluate heifer classes and cow/calf pairs. Following the evaluation, Allen Bridges, Purdue Extension livestock reproduction specialist, will discuss fetal detection and the likelihood of re-absorption at different stages of gestation, while Dan Buskirk, Michigan State University Extension beef cattle nutrition specialist, will talk about hay feeding considerations, including intake, waste and quality. Jon Schoonmaker, Purdue beef cattle nutrition expert, will focus on the use of byproduct feeds.

At 10:45 a.m. Lemenager will speak on the future of the industry. Following Lemenager’s talk, evaluation winners will be announced, and the conference will end around 11:30 a.m.

For participants looking for hotel accommodations, rooms have been blocked at the Econo Lodge, located off Indiana 43 N. at Exit 178, for a rate of $59.99. The hotel’s phone number is 765-567-7100, and the block name is “Simmental.”

Directions to the Purdue Animal Science Research and Education Center are available at http://www.ag.purdue.edu/ansc/Pages/ASRECdirections.aspx. For questions and additional information, visit http://www.simmental.org/ or call 406-556-9636.

Pork handbook offers new resources to swine producers

admin — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 05:43:43 +0000

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The 2009 Pork Industry Handbook will soon be on sale through Purdue Extension — The Education Store.

The 2009 Pork Industry Handbook can be purchased for $100, plus $15 shipping, and the DVD may be purchased for $45, plus $6.50 shipping. The handbook and DVD can be purchased together at a discount rate of $130, plus $15 shipping.

The handbook, in its third edition, is a cooperative effort of the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service, Pork Checkoff and the U.S. Pork Center for Excellence. It has new content, including industry statistics and historical data, and new information on human resources, swine welfare, genetics, environmental stewardship and worker health.

“The Pork Industry Handbook covers all aspects of pork production — from conception to products — and it includes the most current and up-to-date information available,” said Alan Sutton, Purdue Extension swine specialist.

Also new for 2009 is a DVD version of the handbook that includes all of the information contained in the print version and color versions of all photos and graphics contained in the handbook. It also includes more than 30 how-to videos and more than 20 interactive swine management worksheets producers can use on their own farms.

“What makes the Pork Industry Handbook unique is that it gives producers a resource where they can find information on all aspects of production in one place,” Sutton said. “It gives them the information they need to make key decisions about their operations.

“The handbook also serves as a great resource for training on-farm employees or as a textbook for vocational agriculture classes.”

For more information on the handbook, bulk orders and discount rates, contact The Education Store at 888-398-4636, or by e-mail at media.order@purdue.edu. More information is available http://www.extension.purdue.edu/store/2009_PIH_order_form.pdf

Indiana farmland values and cash rents down slightly

admin — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 14:34:00 +0000

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Indiana farmland values dropped slightly but held their own in a tumbling economy, according to the 2009 Indiana Farmland Values and Cash Rents Survey completed by Purdue University.

Statewide, top-quality land averaging 182 bushels per acre for corn was valued at $28.40 per bushel; average-quality land averaging 150 bushels per acre for corn was valued at $27.92 per bushel; and poor-quality land averaging 118 bushels per acre for corn was valued at $27.44 per bushel.

The survey, conducted each June by the agricultural economics department, reports that the value of top-quality farmland in Indiana declined 0.2 percent from 2008 numbers, while average- and poor-quality farmland declined by 1.2 percent and 1.7 percent, respectively.

Indiana farm managers, appraisers, land brokers, agricultural loan officers, Purdue Extension educators, farmers and representatives from the Farm Service Agency county offices, Farm Credit System and insurance companies were asked to complete the survey, which had 328 respondents. Results from the survey and a full report are available online at http://www.agecon.purdue.edu/extension/pubs/paer/2009/august/dobbins.asp

Craig Dobbins, Purdue Extension farmland economics specialist, said he was surprised that farmland values were not down more than they were.

“I expected the drop in grain prices and higher input costs would lead to a fairly significant drop in farmland values,” said Dobbins, who conducted the survey. “But farmland real estate is often seen as a strategy to hedge against inflation, so we may have some of that coming into play here.”

The average value of bare Indiana cropland ranged from $3,351 per acre for poor-quality land to $4,994 per acre for top-quality land.

“The top-quality land tended to hold its value better than poor-quality land,” Dobbins said. “This means people in the market are more picky or selective about the land they purchase.”

For cash rents, Dobbins said “variation” is the buzzword.

“On a statewide basis, we found cash rents moving in just about every direction,” he said. “For top-quality land, cash rents were up about 2 percent. For average-quality land, cash rents were just about constant with 2008 numbers, and for poor-quality land, cash rents were down 1 to 2 percent.”

The average estimated cash rent was $198 for top-quality land, $158 for average-quality land and $121 for poor-quality land. The report showed that statewide, rent per bushel of estimated corn yield was $1.03 to $1.09.

There were significant variations in cash rents by region of the state, Dobbins said.

Some areas did see an increase, such as the west central and southwest regions of Indiana, where cash rents increased from 2.1 to 6.7 percent. The central and southeast regions reported constant or declining cash rents, while the north and northeast reported increases for top-quality land and declines for average- and low-quality land.

The west central region had the strongest cash rents across all land qualities, ranging from $145 per acre to $220 per acre. Cash rents were weakest in the southeast, ranging from $86 per acre to $146 per acre.

In looking to the future and trying to decipher what these numbers will mean for the 2010 crop year, Dobbins believes margins will continue to get tighter.

“We’ve seen some input costs drop. Fertilizer prices seem to be declining and fuel declined but is coming back up,” he said. “At this time, it looks like the net return for crop production is going to be smaller in 2010 than in 2009, and certainly 2007 and 2008. Some cash rents will need to be adjusted downward.”

Dobbins recommends that if there were large upward adjustments in cash rents in previous years, tenants may need to convince landowners to make a downward adjustment.

“It does not appear that the large margins needed to support high cash rents will be there for 2010,” he said.

Now is the time, Dobbins said, for tenants to get out their calculators and budget through what the potential returns are for each rental farm.

“Given the variability to both parts of the profit equation, it’s dangerous to lock in input prices but not revenue, or to lock in revenue but not input costs,” he said. “Growers will have to work to protect both parts of the equation.”

The Purdue report also tracks the value of transitional and recreational land.

“There was a significant decline for both transitional land and recreational land,” Dobbins said.

The value of transitional land – or land moving out of agriculture – was down 7 percent, and the value of recreational land had decreased by 13 percent, according to the survey.

“I think this is a general reflection of the economy,” Dobbins said.

For questions and additional information about the survey, contact Dobbins at 765-494-9041, cdobbins@purdue.edu

Vegetable growers: Late blight confirmed in Indiana

admin — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 16:09:42 +0000

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Purdue University Plant and Pest Diagnostic Laboratory has confirmed late blight infecting tomatoes in several Indiana counties, including Tippecanoe, Vermillion and Bartholomew.

Symptoms of Late Blight are large (at least nickel sized) olive green to brown spots on leaves with a slightly fuzzy, white fungal growth on the underside when conditions have been humid.

“Both home growers and commercial growers of tomatoes should be vigilant and scout,” said Dan Egel, Purdue Extension plant pathologist. “Indiana is second in the nation in growing processing tomatoes, so there is a lot of potential for economic impact.”

Symptoms are large (at least nickel sized) olive green to brown spots on leaves with a slightly fuzzy, white fungal growth on the underside when conditions have been humid, Egel said.

“Sometimes the lesion border is yellow or has a water-soaked appearance,” he said. “Leaf lesions begin as tiny, irregularly shaped brown spots. Also, brown to blackish lesions develop on upper stems, while firm, brown spots develop on the tomato fruit.”

Photos of late blight are available at http://www.ppdl.purdue.edu/PPDL/hot09/8-6.html, http://www.hort.cornell.edu/department/Facilities/lihrec/vegpath/photos/lateblight_tomato.htm and http://vegetablemdonline.ppath.cornell.edu/PhotoPages/Spin/Tom_Spin.html

Growers who identify late blight should plow under or pull out and destroy infected plants, Egel said.

“Home growers should discard the infected plants in trash bags and not place them in compost piles,” he said. “It’s important to also remove neighboring plants because they will be infected, too.

“Commercial growers should assume that the disease will infect their plants and apply the appropriate fungicide. Good fungicide coverage is critical. Pathogen spores can be moved on equipment and workers; therefore, growers should spray and work in affected fields last and clean equipment between fields.”

The most recent information will be posted at the Purdue Plant and Pest Diagnostic Laboratory Web site at http://www.ppdl.purdue.edu/PPDL/hot09/8-6.html and on the Vegetable Crop Hotline Web site at http://extension.entm.purdue.edu/veg/

Late blight can be slowed, but there are no tools to completely stop its spread. The last time Egel said he saw late blight in Indiana was in 1998 on potatoes in Knox County.

“It is believed that infected tomato plants were shipped to large retail stores throughout the northeast region of the country,” said Gail Ruhl, senior plant disease diagnostician. “The fact that infected plants were introduced early in the season and that we’ve had wet, cool conditions have excelled the spreading of spores.”

Late blight is a fast-moving and highly destructive disease of tomatoes and potatoes if conditions are right.

“I had a report that a lady called and said she checked her tomato plot July 30 and then went back three days later and they were all melted down,” Ruhl said. “They went from looking great to looking bad.”

For questions and more information, contact Egel at 812-886-0198, egel@purdue.edu

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Crop yield estimates to highlight annual state fair report

admin — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 21:17:31 +0000

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — A slow start to spring planting led to a mad dash by farmers to finish in June, followed by cool and wet weather that hampered crop development. Those wild fluctuations in the 2009 crop season will provide the backdrop for fall crop yield projections that will be presented Aug. 12 at the Indiana State Fair in Indianapolis.

The annual crop report takes place at 9:30 a.m. in the Pioneer Our Land Pavilion and is open to the public. Speakers include Chris Hurt, Purdue University agricultural economist; Greg Preston, Indiana director of the National Agricultural Statistics Service; and Anne Hazlett, director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture. Jay Akridge, Purdue’s Glenn W. Sample Dean of Agriculture, will moderate the panel discussion.

Crop report panelists will analyze that morning’s U.S. Department of Agriculture crop production numbers and what that data means for Indiana.

“The August crop report is one of the most anticipated in years,” Hurt said. “It will provide an evaluation of the actual acres that finally got planted this spring and what the cool summer means to yield potential.

“Just one year ago, the world was fearfully short of basic foodstuffs. This year, much better world harvest and improved prospects for U.S. production appear to have reduced the fear of supply shortages. Large crops will help reduce food price inflation, which has been a concern over the past year.”

Preston said spring planting started late across much of Indiana.

“On June 1, the amount of corn planted was 17 days behind the average five-year pace,” he said. “For soybeans, on June 1 we were 14 days behind for the five-year average.”

Lower-than-average temperatures after planting extended corn and soybean crop development, Preston said.

“By the end of July, crop development was still behind last year’s pace and about half as far along as where we would be for the five-year average,” he said.

The crop report starts 30 minutes before the Pioneer Our Land Pavilion officially opens. Those attending the meeting should enter at the main entrance on the building’s south side.

Those with Internet access also can follow the report on Twitter, the social networking Web site. Regular “tweets” will be posted throughout the meeting on the Purdue Extension Twitter feed. To receive the Twitter posts, visit http://twitter.com/PurdueExtension and request to “follow” the feed. Users must already have set up a free Twitter account.