Lafayette Online » corn crop

Gray and pink molds turning up in Indiana cornfields

Carolyn Shelby — 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

Carolyn Shelby — 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

Study shows more corn for biofuels would hurt water

Carolyn Shelby — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 01:10:57 +0000

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — More of the fertilizers and pesticides used to grow corn would find their way into nearby water sources if ethanol demands lead to planting more acres in corn, according to a Purdue University study.

U.S. Department of Agriculture data has shown that corn acreage has increased with the demand for ethanol, with 93 million acres in 2007, an increase of 12.1 million acres that year.

The study of Indiana water sources found that those near fields that practice continuous-corn rotations had higher levels of nitrogen, fungicides and phosphorous than corn-soybean rotations. Results of the study by Indrajeet Chaubey, an associate professor of agricultural and biological engineering, and Bernard Engel, a professor and head of agricultural and biological engineering, were published in the early online version of The Journal of Environmental Engineering.

“When you move from corn-soybean rotations to continuous corn, the sediment losses will be much greater,” Chaubey said. “Increased sediment losses allow more fungicide and phosphorous to get into the water because they move with sediment.”

Nitrogen and fungicides are more heavily used in corn crops than soybeans, increasing the amounts found in the soil of continuous-corn fields. Sediment losses become more prevalent because tilling is often required in continuous-corn fields, whereas corn-soybean rotations can more easily be no-till fields, Engel said.

“The common practice is there is a lot of tillage to put corn back on top of corn,” Engel said. “Any time we see changes in the landscape, there is a potential to see changes in water quality.”

Chaubey said there was no significant change in the amount of atrazine detected in water near fields that changed to continuous-corn rotations. The commonly used pesticide sticks to plant material and degrades in sunlight, keeping it from reaching water through runoff or sediment.

U.S. Department of Agriculture data has shown that corn acreage has increased with the demand for ethanol, with 93 million acres in 2007, an increase of 12.1 million acres that year.

“As we look forward here, if corn stover is going to be a preferred bio-feedstock, we would see more corn acreage being planted,” Engel said. “We need to know how that will affect water quality.”

The USDA and Purdue funded the study. Chaubey and Engel are expanding their research to Iowa, Tennessee and Arkansas. That three-year study will include impacts of various biofeedstock, such as switch grass, and developing management practices to reduce sediment, nutrient and pesticide losses.

Info meeting set for student corn, soybean innovation contests

Carolyn Shelby — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 18:41:55 +0000

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University students from all majors are invited to an informational meeting on Sept. 15 to learn more about participating in the Student Soybean and Corn Product Innovation Competitions.

The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. in Wetherill Laboratory of Chemistry, Room 200.

The two contests – which are separate, but run simultaneously – give students an opportunity to conceptualize a novel product idea; complete patent searches and literature reviews on current products; do market research reports; develop a budget; and create, package and market the product. The winning team from each competition will be awarded a $20,000 cash prize.

“These competitions give students real-world innovation experience and teach them how to take a product from concept to completion – all skills that will benefit them as they go out into the workplace,” said Katharine Woodhead, competition project coordinator. “Many of the most successful teams have been the ones made up of students from different majors and backgrounds because their multitudes of experience aid in the different aspects of the competition.”

Each team needs two faculty advisers – one technical and one non-technical – so professors and lecturers also are invited to the informational meeting.

“We need professors to step up to the challenge of advising teams,” Woodhead said. “It’s an extremely rewarding experience to help the students succeed in these competitions.”

In addition to the $20,000 cash prize for the winning team in each competition, teams may have an opportunity to network with large companies, some of which may be interested in commercializing the products. If a company is interested in commercializing a team’s product, Purdue will help with the patent process. If the company does buy the product rights, the students can receive a portion of the product’s sales royalties.

The Soybean Innovation Competition is sponsored by the Indiana Soybean Alliance. The Corn Product Innovation Competition is sponsored by the Indiana Corn Marketing Council. All supplies and lab fees are covered, so students’ only cost is energy and creativity.

For more information, visit the Student Soybean and Corn Product Innovation Competitions group on Facebook at http://tinyurl.com/mla4yy, or contact Woodhead at 765-496-3837, kwoodhea@purdue.edu

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

Carolyn Shelby — 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.

Crop yield estimates to highlight annual state fair report

Carolyn Shelby — 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.

Corn growers: Tips to decide if a fungicide application is warranted

Carolyn Shelby — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 05:18:26 +0000

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Now is the time of year when corn growers need to decide if a fungicide should be applied, and a Purdue University expert has a few guidelines to help in the decision-making process.

“Deciding whether to apply a fungicide is not a straightforward question,” said Kiersten Wise, Purdue Extension field crops disease specialist. “There are several things that must be taken into consideration.”

University research from across the Midwest shows consistent yield advantages from a fungicide application occur when there is a significant amount of disease in a field, Wise said.

Early gray leaf spot of corn symptoms (Image source: P. Esker, UW-Madison)

“This is the time to get out there and scout and determine the amount of disease in the field,” she said. “This will really help you decide if a fungicide application is justified.”

Wise recommends farmers take into account hybrid susceptibility, the level of disease in the field, previous crop and cropping system, late planting, and if weather conditions are favorable for disease development.

Hybrids vary in their susceptibility to foliar disease of corn, and hybrids susceptible to diseases such as gray leaf spot are at a greater risk of disease development than hybrids with moderate or high levels of resistance, she said.

“As far as limiting yield potential, gray leaf spot is the main disease we are concerned about,” Wise said. “However, if you see a little bit of gray leaf spot in the field when scouting, that doesn’t necessarily mean you need a fungicide application.”

Growers should look through the entire field, consider the type of field and where the lesions are located on the plant, she said.

“Check to see if lesions are on the ear leaf or if the disease is on a few leaves below the ear leaf and determine the percentage of plants affected,” she said. “Fungicide application should be considered on fields where the hybrid is rated as susceptible or moderately susceptible and 50 percent or more of the plants display disease lesions on the third leaf below the ear and higher prior to tasseling.”

So far, Wise said she has seen gray leaf spot on lower leaves in some susceptible hybrids.

When looking at the previous crop and cropping system, it’s important to remember that most fungal diseases, such as gray leaf spot, survive from year to year on crop residue.

“Planting continuous corn or planting corn into high levels of corn residue with no-till will increase the likelihood for a disease to develop,” Wise said.

Late planting across much of Indiana, Illinois and Ohio this spring means the crop is at increased risk of gray leaf spot development, according to research from Iowa State University. Favorable weather conditions for disease development of gray leaf spot are high humidity and moisture levels, as well as moderate to warm temperatures.

Wise cautioned growers to be careful in making the decision about whether to apply a fungicide and also include economics in the list of things to consider.

“It’s an added cost, and with the price of corn right now, we need to make sure that the fungicide application will pay for itself,” she said.

Economic return depends on fungicide application costs, drying costs and the price of corn. Wise said an increase of approximately 10 bushels per acre is needed to pay for the cost of fungicide application with corn priced at $3 per bushel and an application cost of about $30 per acre. As the price of corn increases, the additional amount of yield needed to pay for the fungicide application decreases, Wise said.

So when corn is at $3.50 per bushel and application costs $30 per acre, a yield increase of about 8.5 bushels per acre is needed to pay for the cost of application. If corn reaches $4 per bushel, then a yield increase of about 7.5 bushels per acre is needed to cover application costs.

For more information about determining whether a fungicide application is warranted, contact Wise at 765-496-2107, kawise@purdue.edu

Western bean cutworm season beginning in Indiana

Carolyn Shelby — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 22:56:18 +0000

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Crop producers should start scouting for signs of western bean cutworms this week, according to a Purdue University Extension specialist, after the first signs of the corn pest were recently found in northwestern Indiana.

“Typically at the end of June we start catching our first moths, and that’s what’s happened this year,” said John Obermeyer, Purdue Extension integrated pest management specialist.

Western bean cutworm eggs look like dozens of tiny pearls on the upper surface of the top leaves of a corn plant. (Photo courtesy of John Obermeyer)

Western bean cutworm is a pest that can cause damage to ears of corn. A cluster of about 50 to 100 small, white, pearl-like eggs are laid on the upper surfaces of the top leaves of a plant. They will turn a deep purple just before hatching, Obermeyer said.

Once hatched, larvae get quickly into the corn whorl and eat until ears are formed. Once in an ear, they will eat before cutting out of the ear and dropping to the ground to winter, becoming moths the following summer. Molds often form where the worms have eaten.

Western bean cutworm first showed up in Indiana about three years ago. But in areas that have been dealing with the pest for decades, Obermeyer said, yield losses could be as high as 20 percent, although that is unusual. He expected the losses to be significantly lower in the state, though it will be worst where the insects were observed last year.

Western bean cutworms can cause extensive damage to an ear of corn once inside. Once gone, the ears are also susceptible to mold. (Photo courtesy of John Obermeyer)

Western bean cutworms like sandier soils with continuous corn rotations. They are attracted to fields that soon will or are actively pollinating.

Obermeyer said producers should check 20 consecutive plants for egg masses. Anything higher than 5 percent to 8 percent of plants infested should receive an aerial insecticide, he said. He said Cry1F Bt corn seed also has been effective in controlling western bean cutworm.

“Once we start seeing moths, which we have in the northwestern counties, we know the eggs aren’t too far behind,” Obermeyer said. “Egg scouting is the only chance we have of catching them before they get into an ear.”

Obermeyer said the western bean cutworm is most likely to be seen in northwestern Indiana counties, and as far south as Benton County. One moth was seen on the eastern border of Indiana in Jay County already this year.

Nitrogen losses no more than normal, despite wet spring

Carolyn Shelby — Thu, 28 May 2009 16:19:46 +0000

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Even though it’s been an unusually wet spring in Indiana, it was cold enough to limit the conversion of anhydrous ammonia to nitrate during the rainy periods, said a Purdue University expert.

Even though it's been an unusually wet spring in Indiana, it was cold enough to limit the conversion of anhydrous ammonia to nitrate during the rainy periods, said a Purdue University expert.

Nitrogen losses should be about average because of the cooler-than-normal temperatures across the state, said Jim Camberato, Purdue Extension soil fertility and plant nutrition specialist.

“If a farmer applied anhydrous in the fall, the average loss would be estimated at about 30 percent of the nitrogen if they did not use a nitrification inhibitor such as N-Serve,” Camberato said. “Fortunately, most Indiana farmers apply their anhydrous in the fall with a nitrification inhibitor, and we estimate the average loss to be about 15 percent of the applied nitrogen.”

A nitrification inhibitor slows the conversion of nitrogen to nitrate — the form that is lost.

“For anhydrous applied in the spring without a nitrification inhibitor, we also estimate 15 percent of the nitrogen to be lost,” he said. “If a nitrification inhibitor is used with spring anhydrous, dependent on when it was put out, losses will be minimal.”

Camberato said farmers who planted shortly after anhydrous application should watch for anhydrous injury, particularly in sandy soils.

The best application of nitrogen is to sidedress UAN (urea ammonium nitrate) or anhydrous UAN by either injecting it into the soil or dribbling it onto the soil surface, he said. If it’s injected at least 2 inches deep, ammonia loss is eliminated. When dribbled on the soil surface, losses of UAN are only about 5 percent of the nitrogen applied.

“A broadcast application of UAN between the corn rows or a broadcast application of urea left on the soil surface have the potential to lose 15 or 30 percent of the nitrogen content as ammonia to the air, so I do not recommend them,” Camberato said. “If you want to leave urea on the surface, then adding a urease inhibitor, such as Agrotain to the urea should be considered.”

However, he said making an injected application of UAN would still be better than adding the inhibitor to urea.

Because nitrogen is relatively expensive compared to grain lately, one should consider the cost of nitrogen and the value of the grain for determining the rate of sidedress nitrogen application, Camberato explained. A Corn Nitrogen Rate Calculator based on recent Purdue research by Camberato and Bob Nielsen, Purdue Extension corn management specialist, is available at http://extension.agron.iastate.edu/soilfertility/nrate.aspx. The calculator is designed to help farmers calculate the economic return to nitrogen with different nitrogen prices and corn prices. For more information on modifying recommendations derived from the calculator, visit http://www.agry.purdue.edu/ext/corn/news/timeless/NitrogenMgmt.pdf

Agricultural economists discuss USDA report in live Webcast

Carolyn Shelby — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 22:33:31 +0000

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Two Purdue University agricultural economists will crunch U.S. Department of Agriculture planting intentions data and share their insights during an online meeting from 7-9 p.m. March 31.

Chris Hurt and Corinne Alexander will discuss the USDA’s “Prospective Plantings” report and offer marketing strategies on the same day the report is issued. Online participants can ask questions electronically and view and print Hurt’s and Alexander’s PowerPoint presentation. The meeting will be conducted using Adobe Connect, a Web conferencing program.

To participate in the live online meeting or watch an archived version later, log onto https://gomeet.itap.purdue.edu/march31outlook. Some county offices of Purdue Extension also plan to host the live Webcast. For more information, contact a Purdue Extension office.

The annual “Prospective Plantings” report estimates how many acres of corn, soybeans, wheat and other crops American farmers expect to plant each year. Acreage projections are based on a survey the USDA conducts with farmers across the country.

“The report is the first indication of what farmers are actually going to plant this year,” Alexander said. Farmers and commodities traders pay close attention to the planting intentions report, she added.

“We expect the report to have a major impact on markets,” Alexander said. “If you think back over the last couple of years, we’ve seen major acreage swings on the order of millions of acres moving out of corn or soybeans, or back into corn and soybeans and wheat, as well. We’re expecting the same sort of massive acreage shifts this year.”

In the 2008 planting intentions report, the USDA estimated that the nation’s farmers would plant 86 million acres of corn, 74.8 million acres of soybeans and 63.8 million acres of wheat. Farmers eventually planted 85.9 million acres of corn, 75.7 million acres of soybeans and 63.1 million acres of wheat.

Large acreage shifts are likely this year, Alexander said.

“We at Purdue are estimating that corn acreage will be down nationwide by about 1 million acres, soybeans will be up by 6 million acres and wheat will be down by 4 million acres,” Alexander said.

Those interested in watching the Purdue online meeting should have DSL/high-speed Internet access. Computers must have Adobe Flash Player installed to receive the Adobe Connect program. A free plug-in download of Adobe Flash Player is available at http://www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer/

When logging in for the meeting, computer users should click “Enter as a Guest,” enter their name and then click the “Enter Room” button. Make sure computer speakers are plugged in and turned on to hear the presentation.

The 2009 USDA “Prospective Plantings” report can be accessed after 8:30 a.m. EST March 31 online at http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/MannUsda/viewDocumentInfo.do?documentID=1136

Lafayette Online » corn crop

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