In Indiana, the entire state is marked by some kind of drought as farmers finish up this year's harvest. If rain doesn't come yet this fall, Indiana farmers are crossing fingers and toes for good snowfall. Lots of problems, but maybe not crops, can erupt when the ground is too dry. 

 Additionally, many farmers are in their first or second season battling the tar spot fungus. Which raises the question: when do you apply fungicide to combat this pesky new disease? The answer goes back to the weather and to moisture levels. 

"Visually it's a really hard disease to scout for, but to some degree you can know it's present," says Indiana agronomist Ben Jacobs. "There is a planting date correlation this year that will match back up with the weather. You can kind of predict or get an idea of how heavy the pressure it going to be if you focus on when you planted and how much moisture you got."

If this is the first season dealing with tar spot, here's the best advice from the Indiana Agronomy podcast: 
🌽 - Try not to plan on doing two fungicide applications. 

🌽 - Plan to try and apply fungicide earlier, not at the silkening stage but at the blister stage when the kernels are clear or just starting to turn yellow. 

🌽 - Push a couple week past when you're used to applying, but not too late.

Learn more about tar spot: 
https://www.pioneer.com/us/agronomy/Tar-Spot-of-Corn.html

Pioneer tar spot tolerant hybrid seed:
https://www.pioneer.com/us/products/corn/tar-spot.html



 

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As you start to pivot from 2024 harvest to 2025 planting, it's time to start thinking about soil fertility. During this episode of the Pioneer Agronomy podcast, to soil test or not to soil test in drought conditions?

"I wouldn't delay it. There's the option, but if you're usually sampling after Harvest, do it then. Understand that those results might be skewed a little bit. You could make an argument to wait for more moisture in the ground. But if it's my ground and I have the time to get across the field, I'm going to do it in that weather window. I'm in favor of getting it done," says Pioneer Agronomist Ben Jacob.

It's harder to take soil samples when the ground is dry, and some of the numbers could be skewed slightly due to the lack of moisture. If you're going to sample now, podcast host and agronomist Brian Shrader reminds us that soil samples need to be taken at the same depth, even if it's hard to drive the probe to full depth.

Find more resources on nutrient management in the soil from Pioneer here: https://www.pioneer.com/us/agronomy-science/topic.nutrientManagement.html 

 

 

 

 

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In this episode of the Indiana Pioneer Agronomy Podcast, hosts Carl Joern, Brian Shrader and Ben Jacob discuss how harvest is progressing statewide under extremely dry conditions, which have helped keep things moving but pose safety risks for farmers. Agronomists discuss their hybrid and soybean “draft picks” from earlier in the season, highlighting which are outperforming in yield. Growers have raised concerns about crops turning black, largely due to hot, dry weather and disease pressure. There's also discussion on the breakdown of stover post-harvest. Reports from Pioneer test plots show several hybrids exceeding 300 bushels per acre, with Z-series soybeans also achieving strong yields.

For more information on stand evaluation, visit:  https://www.pioneer.com/us/yield-results.html

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For those starting to look toward 2025, agronomists are recommending farmers watch the calendar and start planning for herbicide and fungicide treatment early. Lots of early tar spot and other diseases and pests are being found in fields at harvest this fall.

During this episode of the Indiana Agronomy Podcast from Pioneer, we hear from Brad Burkhart with a crop protection update. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

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Soybeans shatter? You betcha. Especially when conditions are dry, say during a flash drought. During this episode of the Indiana Pioneer Agronomy Podcast, we hear more about soybean shatter, performance by maturity, as well as wheat planting best practices. Listen for expert advice from Agronomists Carl Joern, Ben Jacobs and Cale Russler. 

Preventing Soybean Shatter: https://www.pioneer.com/content/dam /dpagco/pioneer/na/ca/en/files/articles/DF-Reducing-Yield-Loss-from-Pod-Shattering-in-Soybean-NA_CA_EN_V1.pdf 

Wheat Planting: https://www.pioneer.com/us/products/wheat.html 

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Considering trying to get into growing for seed production for Pioneer Seeds? During this episode of the Indiana Agronomy Podcast hosts Brian Shrader and Carl Joern talk with John Hettinga. Hettinga is the production manager at the Pioneer seed production facility in Plymouth, Indiana. 

If you're interested in getting involved in growing for seed production, Hettinga says it's best to start by getting in touch with your local sales rep or territory manager. 

Get a look inside Pioneer's breeding program: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2c-DUEcF5Cs 

Take a tour of a seed production facility: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzof2wXNR9c 

 

 

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uring this episode of the Indiana Pioneer Podcast host Brian Shrader talks with fellow Pioneer agronomists in different regions of Indiana about how this year's wacky summer weather has affected crops and anticipated yield for 2024. Carl Joern and Ben Jacobs join and talk compounding stress on corn as well as how drastically different rainfall has been from North Indiana to South Indiana.

Also in this episode, three agronomists on what the perfect growing season would look like in the Midwest. What would you say for your crops?

Don't forget to like, follow or subscribe for more expert advice from Pioneer Seeds!

https://www.pioneer.com/us/agronomy/high-night-temperature-corn.html 

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During this episode, an agronomist's perspective on "corn sweat," also known as evapotranspiration. That's after a conversation about what a flash drought is and how it's affecting corn and soybean crops in Indiana with Pioneer Agronomists Brian Shrader and Ben Jacobs.  

https://www.pioneer.com/us/agronomy/corn-water-use.html 

https://www.drought.gov/what-is-drought/flash-drought

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In this episode of the Pioneer Agronomy podcast from Indiana, listen in as host Brian Shrader talks with Ben Jacob, both Pioneer agronomists. During this episode, learn about late summer diseases that are effecting crops in South and East Indiana including southern rust, common rust and tar spots. Then, tips on testing stalk quality in late season corn, and a discussion about the absolutely unreal heat we experienced early this week.

More about Southern v Common Rust: https://www.pioneer.com/us/agronomy/common_rust.html 

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Later-Season Decisions in Disease Hotbeds

In this episode of the Indiana Pioneer Agronomy Podcast, hosts Carl Joern and Ben Jacob discuss what happens when you have premature death, whether from disease or from early frost. At what point does that photosynthetic shutdown affect your yield? The short answer is, the earlier it happens in that plant's life, the more yield will be affected. The group also discusses deciding when and where to deploy resources when things get tight.

Additional Resources:

Yield Impact of Premature Plant Death in Corn: https://www.pioneer.com/us/agronomy/Yield-Impact-of-Premature-Plant-Death-in-Corn.html

Phantom Yield Loss in Corn - A Five-Year Nebraska Field Study: https://www.pioneer.com/us/agronomy/phantom-yield-loss-corn.html

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