CORN
Crop Observation and Recommendation Network

November 26 to December 10, 2001
C.O.R.N. 2001-38

In This Issue:

A) 2001 Ohio Corn Performance Test Results Available
B) Ohio Soybean Performance Trial Now On-Line
C) Please Tell Us How You Use C.O.R.N.
D) An Overview Of 2001 Ohio Corn Performance Test
E) Selecting Soybean Varieties For 02
F) Soybean Cyst Nematode Resistant Varieties
G) Status Of First Year Corn Rootworm In Ohio
H) Ohio Corn/Soybean Conference
I) Ohio No Till Conference
J) Regional Agronomy Meeting

A) 2001 Ohio Corn Performance Test Results Available - Peter Thomison CORN Questions

Results of the 2001 Ohio Corn Performance Test are available on-line at http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/corn2001/. Since assessment of hybrid performance is enhanced by using a number of test sites, farmers along Ohio's border with neighboring states should consider checking results of the Purdue, Kentucky, Michigan State, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia Corn Test results. An on-line version of the 2001 Indiana corn test results is available at http://www.agry.purdue.edu/ext/variety.htm. Growers interested in results of the corn hybrid silage trails should consult the Michigan State University and Pennsylvania corn hybrid tests that include silage yields. The North Central Crop Evaluation Committee web site http://www.ksu.edu/kscpt/nccec/ provides links to corn hybrid test results from state universities across the Corn Belt.

B) Ohio Soybean Performance Trial Now On-Line - Jim Beurlein CORN Questions

2001 trial results are on the web site at http://www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~perf

C) Please Tell Us How You Use C.O.R.N. - Greg La Barge, Steve Prochaska CORN Questions

It has been a pleasure for the Agronomic Crops Team at The Ohio State University to provide you with the Crop Observation and Recommendation Network (C.O.R.N.) newsletter over the past growing season. If you would take a few minutes to complete our on-line survey at http://corn.osu.edu/survey/ before December 12, it will help us to provide a quality product for your future.

D)An Overview Of 2001 Ohio Corn Performance Test - Peter Thomison, Minyo, And Geyer CORN Questions

In 2001, 229 corn hybrids representing 39 commercial brands were evaluated in the Ohio Corn Performance Test. Entries were planted in either an early or full season maturity trial at 11 test sites representing a range of Ohio growing conditions.

Hybrid performance was strongly affected by environmental conditions, which varied greatly across Ohio during the growing season, especially with regard to the amount and distribution of precipitation. Conditions in late April and early May were generally dry and favorable for planting, but shortly thereafter, corn was subjected to three to four weeks of cool, wet weather which resulted in restricted, shallow root systems and loss of nitrogen (N) through denitrification and leaching. This protracted period of adverse growing conditions coincided with the germination and emergence stages for corn in test plots.

Table 1 provides an overview of hybrid performance in the early maturity and full season hybrid trials by region. Yields were highest at the sites in the Southwestern and West Central (SW/WC) region and lowest at those in the Northeast/Northcentral (NE/NC) region.

Table 1. A regional overview of the early maturity and full season 2001 Ohio Corn Performance Tests

Rainfall in SW/WC region was above normal and well distributed throughout the growing season. However, rainfall at sites in northern Ohio, especially the NE region, was sharply below average. The test sites in the NE region received 10 inches less precipitation than sites in SW/WC region.

Above normal rainfall at the SW/WC sites during flowering and grain filling promoted high yields, but heavier ears put greater stress on plants with poor root systems, and predisposed corn to stalk rot and stalk quality problems as the crop was maturing. In many cases, plants cannibalized tissues in the lower stalks to provide nutrients to fill the grain. The precipitation and temperatures in October were near ideal for stalk rots. These conditions resulted in extensive lodging of some hybrids in the SW/WC region. Stalk lodging was 25% and 23% averaged across hybrid entries in the early and full season maturity trials. Lodging damage was magnified by strong winds associated with thunderstorms in late October. Conditions were also favorable for poor stalk quality in NE/NC Ohio, but stalk lodging was limited. Reduced stands due to poor emergence at these locations may have limited the potential for lodging. Emergence was especially reduced in the early maturity NE/NC trial where hybrid emergence ranged from 68-95%.

For more details concerning the Ohio Corn Performance Test consult the Results of the 2001 Ohio Corn Performance available online at http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/corn2001/.

E) Selecting Soybean Varieties For 02 - Jim Beuerlein CORN Questions

In 2001 The Ohio State University evaluated 190 soybean varieties at five test sites around the state. One hundred fifty three of the varieties were Roundup Ready and 37 were normal varieties. Depending on test site, yield ranged from a low of 44.8 bushels per acre to a high of 79.1 bushels per acre. Relative maturity ranged from 2.3 to 4.4 while plant height was 22 inches to 47 inches. Lodging ranged from none to all plants on the ground and hard to pick up with a floating cutterbar. Seed size varied from 1800 to 3700 seeds per pound. The percent Oil and Protein varied from 18.2 to 22.9 for Oil and 37.8 to 45.7 for Protein. The partial tolerance to Phytophthora root rot varied from 3.2 to 8.0.

Test results are available County Extension offices in each Ohio county, and on the Internet at www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~perf

When selecting varieties to grow in 2002 using the OSU variety test report, be sure to select varieties having the following characteristics:

1. A range of maturities to spread out the harvest season. Early varieties in narrow rows perform as well as late varieties.
   
   
2. Test plot yields should be greater than average for the test.
   
   
3. Lodging always reduces yield. Varieties should have low lodging scores (1 or 2). Reducing the seeding rate of lodging susceptible varieties will reduce lodging without affecting yield.
   
   
4. Select varieties with a Phytophthora partial resistance score of less than 5 to reduce the loss of yield from that disease.
   
   
5. Selecting varieties with one or more Phytophthora resistance genes (Rps 1b,1c, 1k, or 3a) will also help reduce yield loss.
   
   
6. Varieties with a Sclerotonia rating "M" will have much less yield loss to Sclerotinia white mold than varieties without the M rating if conditions are favorable for that disease.
   
   
7. All seed should be treated with fungicides to improve plant stand and root system health, regardless of variety, crop rotation, tillage, planting date, or seeding rate.
   

F) Soybean Cyst Nematode Resistant Varieties - Dennis Mills CORN Questions

Soil samples for SCN testing submitted by Ohio growers during 2001 indicate that about 8% have very high levels of SCN (more than 5,000 eggs/200 cc), 7% have moderate levels (2000-5000 eggs), 18% have low levels (200 - 2000 eggs) and 66% have none to trace levels (0 to 200 eggs).

Soybean cyst nematode is best managed with crop rotation. When the SCN populations in a field range from 200 to 2000 eggs per cup of soil a soybean cyst resistant variety can be planted. A listing of SCN resistant varieties available for 2002 can be found at http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/scn2002

DO NOT PLANT SCN resistant varieties in fields with SCN populations greater than 2,000. In most varieties only one source of resistance is present. If this source is planted into fields with high populations, you will favor those nematodes that can reproduce on that source and the nematodes will build up in a very short period of time. The end result will be a field with a high SCN population with no resistant varieties available. Additional information is available from the SCN Fact Sheet (http://ohioline.ag.ohio-state.edu/ac-fact/0039.html)

G) Status Of First Year Corn Rootworm In Ohio - Bruce Eisley CORN Questions

Ohio State University Extension personnel continued to monitor for First Year Corn Rootworm (FYCR) beetles in soybeans in 2001. This is the 4th year that monitoring has occurred. Seventy-two soybean fields in 18 counties were
trapped with Pherocom AM yellow sticky traps that were changed weekly from mid-July to late August. Most of the soybean fields were adjacent to first year corn fields. Four traps were changed on a biweekly schedule from mid-July to late August and the number of western corn rootworm (WCR)
beetles were counted and recorded per trap. An average catch of one to two WCR per trap per day would be regarded as a relatively high catch in Ohio.

County WCR averages of 0.5 or above indicate a potential for FYCR problems at some sites within the area monitored. WCR averages near 0.2 indicate a presence of FYCR, but most of the sites are expected to have minimal risk of a FYCR problem.

Beetle numbers remain low in all areas sampled. Counts were lower in most counties sampled in 2001 as compared to the counts from those same counties in 2000. There was only 1 field above 0.5 beetles/trap/day and 75% of the fields had beetle counts of less than 0.20 beetles/trap/day.

A table showing the counties trapped, fields trapped per county and average WCR/trap/day for the four year period is presented on the WEB at:
http://www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~ipm/fycr/fycr6.htm

Other information about the 2001 rootworm survey can be found at:
http://www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~ipm/fycr/fycr.htm

H) Ohio Corn/Soybean Conference CORN Questions

December 13, Der Dutchman Restraunt, Plain City is this year's date and site for the annual meetings of the Ohio Corn Growers Association and the Ohio Soybean Council.

Members can get updated on International Trade Issues, Ethanol and the current Farm bill Discussions. Cost is $15 and you can register at 614-249-2422 or 740-383-CORN.

I) Ohio No Till Conference CORN Questions

December 11, 2001 - Der Dutchmans, Plain City, Ohio 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. The Ohio No Till Council has selected several timely topics that are of key interest to Ohio No Tillers. Topics will include: The issue of slower residue breakdown and the abrasiveness of the corn and soybean residues, How to control winter annuals and perennial weeds, Starter fertilizer - what is really needed? A Presentation on the CORE 4 way of doing Business, A Strip Till Panel - Ohio Farmers, and Carbon sequestration. Cost $20. Call 614-255-2560 for reservations.

J) Regional Agronomy Meeting Agendas & Registration Now On-Line CORN Questions

Complete program information for all eight Regional Agronomy Meetings being held throughout the state during the week of December 17 and January 14 are now on-line at:

http://www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~corn/Education/index.html

CCA credits and Pesticide applicator credits for both private and commercial license will be awarded. Pre-registration ends one week prior to each meeting. Pre-registration cost is $15. After the pre-registration period ends, registration are $20 space permitting. Call 419-337-9210 for more details.

Readers can subscribe electronically to this newsletter by sending an e-mail message to: corn-out-on@postoffice.ag.ohio-state.edu. A successful subscription message will receive by an automatic reply from the listserv. Contact your local Ohio State University Extension Office or e-mail labarge.1@osu.edu if you have problems subscribing.

Past versions of C.O.R.N. can be found on the World Wide Web at: http:/www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~corn/archive/

C.O.R.N. is a summary of crop observations, related information, and appropriate recommendations for Ohio Crop Producers and Industry. C.O.R.N. is produced by the Ohio State University Extension Agronomy Team, State Specialists at The Ohio State University and Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center. C.O.R.N. Questions are directed to State Specialists, Extension Associates, and Agents associated with Ohio State University Extension and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center at The Ohio State University.

Editor: Greg La Barge        Web Editor: Tom Rosati

Information presented above and where trade names are used, they are supplied with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by Ohio State University Extension is implied. Although every attempt is made to produce information that is complete, timely, and accurate, the pesticide user bears responsibility of consulting the pesticide label and adhering to those directions.

All educational programs conducted by Ohio State University Extension are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender, age, disability or Vietnam-era veteran status.

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Keith L. Smith, Director, Ohio State University Extension.

TDD # 1 (800) 589-8292 (Ohio only) or (614) 292-1868

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