Wheat Pete's Word, Aug 1: Hail injury, corn salvage, cover crop seeding, and organic matter maps

Harvest is somewhat paused with all the rain and storms rolling through Ontario. Once wheat is ready, it’s time to roll, roll, roll, but what happens when you’re held up by weather? Peter ‘Wheat Pete’ Johnson tackles that, plus top tips on salvaging drought-stressed corn, and choosing cover crops, in this week’s Wheat Pete’s Word. (Full summary follows the player)

Have a question you’d like Johnson to address? Or some yield results to send in? Leave him a mes— sage at 1-888-746-3311, send him a tweet (@wheatpete), or email him at [email protected]

SUMMARY

• A sad note to start the Word. We miss you, Amy.
• Too much of a good thing — rain, rain, rain. Some crops are looking very tough: corn, soybeans, in bad shape and now quality issues ahead of harvest.
• Wheat harvest has ground to a halt — and we’ve got black point, smudge,and mildew. All are generally caused by the same agent (alternaria). As it gets worse, it becomes a grading issue
• Frost damage fall out, out east. What made it worse?
• Soft white wheat quality is tanking fast, too. Every time it rains, you lose test weight. Find out why in this video.
• Sprouted wheat — can I keep it for seed? Do a vigour test. But really, go get some certified seed.
• Clover hanging out in wheat stubble, post-harvest,  with Canada fleabane; how do I control the fleabane? 1/2 litre per acre of MCPA ester.
• Hail storms have left some crops in a sad state. Knocked seed out of the wheat crop, and shredded corn.
• Do your hailed on crops NEED fungicide? No more so than a non-hailed crop, and you may end up with ruts in your field.
• Corn, just tasseling, had the top knocked off. Will it make a cob? The answer may surprise you.
• Short corn — would it still have decent yield potential? Yup. Can still get 60% grain, 40% stover.
• Salvage corn with only 2-3 leaves still green, now it’s starting to tassel. Going to leave it. Another farmer is going to graze or bale it; can you grow wheat on that field? Take precautions!
• Drought stressed corn for grazing? When you get rain, beware of nitrates!
• Potato leafhopper is in alfalfa, too. Not just edible beans.
• Thicken up clover where it’s thin, and how do I get it in the ground? Figure out your goals and  work from there.
• Do not hesitate. Get those cover crops on and harvest the sun.

These relay intercrop soybeans @stonecroftfolk farm might just have a chance! pic.twitter.com/ZvMMKAx8VE

— Peter Johnson (@WheatPete) July 23, 2018

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