DEWITT —
The nice, soft one-inch rain that fell on parched fields Aug. 26 was only the second one-inch since May 7.
While welcome, it will not help corn fields that have reached early maturity because of the summer’s high temperatures, according to Extension Field Agronomist Virgil Schmitt.
“However, we need to get moisture in the ground for next year’s crops, and that was a good start,” he said. “It looked to me like it soaked in, which is good.”
According to Jim Blaess, U.S. weather observer in Clinton, there also was a 1.28 inch rain in parts of the county on Aug. 4. Total rainfall for the entire month of August was 2.90, compared to normal August precipitation of 4.61 inches.
And in the western part of the county, rain gauges measured the weekend rain at only half an inch.
The corn crop this year also had been damaged by an unusually heavy infestation of Japanese beetles, which in some cases ate the silks which were necessary for pollination, thus resulting in cobs with fewer than normal kernels on them.
The soybean crop, however, is still in a position to benefit from the rain, Schmitt said, since it is still filling the pods with beans.
Going back to the corn crop, Schmitt said, “reports are now coming in of fields testing positive for aflatoxin. So farmers should be sure to inspect and manage fields as they mature.”
Fusarium ear rot is also being found on corn in the area, he said, especially in fields that had insect feeding on the ears by Japanese beetles, rootworm beetles and western bean cutworm.
“This disease causes a white to pink cottony mold that is often at the tip of the ear or anywhere there is insect damage.
“This fungus produces the mycotoxin fumonsin.”
Schmitt had still another caution for farmers as they begin harvesting their crops:
“There are areas in some fields where corn plants are very black. Farmers running combines through those areas report a cloud of black dust and their combines are black afterwards. Most commonly these are areas of the field that died some time ago.
“The black dust is spores of saprophytic fungi. Saprophytes are bacteria, insects, fungi, etc., that are part of Mother Nature’s system of breaking down dead organic materials.
“There are no overt health problems known to be associated with exposure, but people working where dust is flying probably should wear a dust mask. Chuck Schwab, ISU Extension Safety Specialist, suggests a minimum of a NIOSH-approved N-95 respirator.”
Schmitt said there is one ear abnormality which probably is not a hazard to workers in the fields: a red streak on the sides of kernels of corn.
“It is caused by a toxin spread by the wheat curl mite, but is mainly cosmetic and does not affect the feed value of the corn,” he said.
The Herald also asked a spokesman for ADM, a buyer of much of Clinton County’s corn crop and a manufacturer of ethanol, for comments about this year’s record-breaking drought.
Jackie Anderson, Media Relations specialist, replied: “We won’t know the full impact of the drought until after harvest, but like everyone else in the agriculture industry, we are closely monitoring the drought situation.”
Asked if the facility has reduced its production of ethanol, she replied, “We don’t typically comment on our actual productions level.”
She also was asked about the potential that the drought-stressed corn might contain aflatoxin.
“Because aflatoxin can be an issue at any time, not just in drought conditions, ADM has a testing process in place to detect the level of aflatoxin in the crops we purchase. This is a standing protocol in our grain purchasing process every year.
“And ADM adheres to government standards regarding the safe levels of aflatoxin in each of the products we sell.”
Local News
September 3, 2012
Nice rain‚ but too late for corn
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