Early Cold Snap Hurts Fall Fieldwork

November’s below freezing cold, along with heavy rains, is causing problems for fall fieldwork. While harvest is complete is many areas of Indiana, in others there are still crops in the field. Dan Emmert, with DuPont Pioneer, says post-harvest fieldwork is being hampered by 2 inch rains and below freezing temperatures in southern Indiana, “Wet conditions at harvest resulted in some ruts in fields, and many growers would like to go back and fix them before planting season next spring.” He warns, however, that doing any fieldwork now while the soil is still so wet will only cause more compaction.

He said fall chemical applications are also on hold, “A lot of guys want to use glyphosate to burn down fall annual weeds, but we do not recommend that when the temperatures are below 50 degrees.” For much of this past week, temperatures have been below freezing in most of southern Indiana. “Last week when the temperature went above freezing, we did have some guys in the field applying some 2-4-D,” he said.

Emmert is not recommending fall nitrogen application this year, “South of I-70 I would not recommend fall nitrogen application.” He feels putting nitrogen on closer to when the plants will be needing it is a better approach.

He told HAT farmers in SW Indiana are pleased with the 2014 growing season for the most part? In southwest Indiana, the slope of the land was a big factor in determining yields, “The biggest factors this year were good drainage and hybrids that could withstand disease pressure.” He added that fields with good tile systems also had higher yields.