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News from the Minnesota Association of Wheat |
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DISEASES, ARMYWORMS SHOWING UP IN RIPENING SMALL GRAINS Red Lake Falls, MN—Diseases and armyworms are showing up in some ripening wheat and barley fields in northwest Minnesota, say University of Minnesota crop scientists. While it's too late to treat for diseases, producers should still monitor for armyworms and treat if necessary, mindful of pre-harvest intervals of some insecticide products. Septoria, powdery mildew, tan spot, and fusarium head blight (scab) are diseases showing up in small grains, says Roger Jones, U of M extension plant pathologist. Fungicides applied on wheat at early flowering (Feekes 10.51) and barley at early heading (Feekes 10.3-10.5) can help suppress these diseases. However, it is too late to apply fungicides at this stage of the growing season, says Jones. With small grains ripening in most areas, an economic response from applying fungicides now cannot be expected. U of M extension small grains specialist Jochum Wiersma says common root rot is affecting some small grain fields, a result of recent waterlogged fields followed by high temperatures. "White wheat heads noticeable from the field edge is more likely a symptom of root rot than scab," says Wiersma. "The difference is that in the case of root rot, the whole heads are white and the plant is pale green to white to tan. In the case of scab, pink or orange discoloration can be seen at the base of glumes, and the stem below the head is typically discolored purple. Also in the case of root rot, kernels if formed are not chalky tombstones, as is often the case with scab." Wheat stem maggots can cause symptoms similar to root rot, but in the Red River Valley, it is more likely that the white wheat heads are caused by root rot, says Wiersma. Unlike last year, leaf rust has not been a major problem thus far in the growing season for most producers, says Jones. The increase in rust last year can be attributed to more inoculum of the disease produced on winter wheat further south that spread north. Temperature and moisture were also ideal for rust infections in the Northern Plains last year. This year, conditions were generally not favorable for rust development, although it still may show up in some wheat varieties such as 2375 and AC Barrie that are more susceptible to leaf rust. Only time will tell how severe disease problems will be in small grains this season, says Jones. The earlier start to this year's growing season may help. Producers who applied fungicides in a timely manner are also more likely to see less disease in small grains than those who didn't spray. "It is quite possible that we could escape major disease problems in wheat, if development of the crop stays ahead of disease," says Jones. "I am still concerned about barley, which seems to have a longer window of susceptibility to scab infection. Barley producers should also note that lodged areas of a field seem to be more susceptible to DON." DON, or deoxynivalenol, is a contaminant that can be produced by scab which can make barley unsuitable for malting. The effect of DON is another reason why Jones is more concerned about scab in barley this year than wheat. Fungicide applications will help reduce DON levels in barley, but often not enough to bring DON levels down to acceptable malting industry standards. Armyworms have become a problem in some small grain fields and need to be monitored, says Ian Macrae, U of M extension entomologist. Macrae says armyworms are dark green to light brown and have a light stripe down the center of their back. Adults lay eggs in grassy or weedy areas or in lodged grain. Macrae says armyworms tend to feed at night and hide during the day. If feeding damage is found in the foliage and no other responsible insects pest can be found, scout for armyworms by parting foliage on the plant and inspecting the plant and the soil below for small fecal pellets, smaller than mouse droppings but the same shape. If pellets are found, then look for larvae under plant trash, soil clods, or in soil cracks. Expect stem clipping from the older, larger caterpillars; younger armyworms are more likely to concentrate their damage on leaves, says Macrae. "Also remember that we may have some problems with this insect in other crops," he says. "As grains mature, we may be scouting for armyworms at the margins of other cropping systems in a couple of weeks. They love weedy, grassy, green areas, and as plants mature, they march off in search of other green matter, just as their name implies." If five worms or more are found per sq. foot, treatment is recommended, says Macrae. There are a handful of insecticide treatment options, but be mindful of some products with pre-harvest intervals. A photo and more details about armyworms may be found on the U of M web site: http://www.nwes.umn.edu/ent/redent.html. Additional information, including maps of armyworm hot spots in northwest Minnesota, can also be found on the Minnesota Department of Agriculture's Plant Pest Survey website at http://www.mda.state.mn.us/pestsurvey. Armyworms do not overwinter in the Northern Plains, says Macrae. Populations arise from adults blown in on southerly storm fronts in late spring and early summer. While armyworms are becoming a problem this year, pressure from other insects including aphids and the orange wheat blossom midge appears to be minimal and sporadic in most cases, says Macrae. Contact: Jochum Wiersma, U of M Small Grains Specialist, ph. 218-281-8629
CHINA PNTR VOTE COMING UP
CHINA'S GRAIN HARVEST LOWER THAN LAST YEAR Although exact figures were not known, it was reported that in 1999, China harvested 118.49 million tonnes of grain in the summer of 1999. The Agriculture Ministry said a fall in planted area and drought caused the drop.
WHEAT INDUSTRY ASKS CONGRESS TO LEVEL THE GLOBAL PLAYING FIELD Speaking on behalf of wheat growers, Minnesota wheat farmer Bruce Hamnes told a Senate subcommittee that "American agriculture cannot compete against foreign governments," and laid out steps that Congress needs to take in a global marketplace that is "characterized by heavily subsidized and protected competition." Over 100 million metric tons of wheat is traded globally, and the U.S. wheat industry, which exports nearly 50% of production, has a global market share of 28%, making America the world's largest wheat exporter. But U.S. wheat growers face increasingly stiff competition from Canada, Australia, the European Union and Argentina. "Flexible, effective, and fully funded export programs are critical to our long-term success," Hamnes told the panel. Pointing out that as historical support was eliminated under "Freedom to Farm," use of agricultural export programs remained stagnate and in some cases decreased as "U.S. farmers were sent out into the world market to survive without their traditional 'tools' of support. Well-funded export programs, which are a necessary part of the equation, were not reinforced," Hamnes said, despite increased promotion activity by competing countries. "As we embark on debates surrounding a new farm bill, export programs that give American farmers and ranchers the tools to survive in the 'new economy' must not be overlooked or taken for granted." Asking Congress to "correct this oversight," Hamnes called for increased funding and an "unshakable commitment to provide American agriculture with the proper tools to develop markets and promote agricultural goods." "The Foreign Agricultural Service and the Animal Plant Health Inspection Service must be funded at levels that allow for adequate personnel and programs to meet the demands of opening and expanding world markets," Hamnes said. "The export of American agricultural products is possible because of a large group of dedicated people in USDA who depend on you for their funding, and to whom the industry is indebted. They make the export programs work." To "counter unfair trade practices" the wheat industry also asked Congress to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to direct unexpended Export Enhancement Program (EEP) funds to export market development activities. EEP is a program that helps U.S. farmers challenge unfair trading practices of subsidizing countries, especially the European Union, but by 1996 the U.S. voluntarily stopped administering the EEP for wheat sales, despite the fact that EU subsidies for wheat and wheat flour exports are still used. Hamnes also reiterated the wheat industry's call for sanctions reform. Even though President Clinton eased the embargo against Cuba, there was a major catch. The sanctions, which are stipulated by law, do not allow products to be sold to the Cuban government; the five flour mills in Cuba are owned by the government. Ergo, no U.S. wheat can be sold into Cuba. " Other actions Congress should take, Hamnes said, include passing "Fast Track" negotiating authority, providing responsible oversight of the WTO negotiating process and, most importantly right now, granting Permanent Normal Trade Relations for China. "If Congress fails to grant China Permanent Normal Trade Relations in a timely and honorable manner we can expect to see very few, if any, sales in the future," Hamnes declared. "There is no issue more important to the future of the industry than finalizing this process." Hamnes offered his testimony to the Senate Agriculture Committee's Subcommittee on Production and Price Competitiveness, speaking on behalf of U.S. Wheat Associates, the industry's export market development organization; the Wheat Export Trade Education Committee, the trade policy and lobbying organization representing the wheat industry on trade issues; and the National Association of Wheat Growers, representing U.S. wheat growers whom, by combining their strengths, voices, and ideas are working to ensure a better wheat industry for today and tomorrow. The full text of Hamnes' testimony can be found at U.S. Wheat Associates' web site. Click on Trade Policy statements, year 2000, and find "The Future of U.S. Agricultural Export Programs U.S. WHEAT ASSOCIATES For more information, contact:
JAPAN HOLDS PROMISE AS GROWING MARKET FOR U.S. FEED BARLEY Mittleider was among a group of U.S. barley leaders who recently took part in a trade mission to Japan. There are some opportunities for U.S. barley in the Japanese food and beverage processing sector. The use of barley for food and beverages is limited in Japan, however, in part because the government-controlled Japanese Food Agency still tightly controls the imports of barley for food and beverage processing. The JFA's authority over purchases of barley for feed applications has diminished in recent years, however. Mittleider explains that rules under the World Trade Organization required Japan to open its borders to increased meat imports. However, this resulted in a reduced market price for Japanese livestock producers and feeders. To offset that, Japanese livestock producers and feeders were granted more freedom to purchase feed grains directly at a lower price on the world market, rather than buy feed more expensively through the Japanese government. The increased freedom to purchase feed grains privately has resulted in an increased market for feed grain imports in Japan. Most of U.S. feed grain exported to Japan is corn. Of the feed grains bought from the U.S. annually, only a small amount consists of barley. "Barley is viewed by Japanese livestock producers as a premium feed product," says Mittleider. "They attribute the fine marbling of the meat to barley in the feed rations." Mittleider says the niche that U.S. barley has in Japanese feed rations has room for growth, since the United States has built a reputation with Japanese buyers as a quality supplier. "On my first trade mission to Japan 15 years ago, the Japanese weren't very interested in U.S. barley, because of the perception that Canada had higher quality barley. Now the roles are reversed, and we are viewed as a more reliable supplier of quality feed barley," he says. "As grain purchases in Japan become more privatized, we have a greater opportunity for barley sales. The challenge is that we must be able to provide a consistent supply of high quality product to continue to build the Japanese market."
ARMYWORMS INVADING NORTHWEST MINNESOTA FARMS ST. PAUL, Minn. - For seven years northwestern Minnesota farmers have fought floods, crop disease and low prices. This summer, they have a new threat: armyworms. Large populations of armyworms have been found in wheat and barley fields in northwest Minnesota. While these infestations have not yet caused major damage, they have the potential to do so if left untreated. Armyworm caterpillars feed on the leaves and stems of small grains and other crops. As they grow larger they begin to sever stems of small grains, causing the loss of the plant's head. It makes economic sense to take action when populations rise above the economic threshold of four or five larvae per square foot. Every summer, the MDA's Plant Pest Survey Program monitors crops statewide for signs of insect infestation. The MDA first detected populations above the economic threshold on July 13 in Mahnomen County. Since then, similar populations have been found in Norman, Polk, Red Lake, Pennington and Marshall counties. Most of the caterpillars found have been small, and there have been no reports of major crop damage yet. However, MDA Survey Coordinator Mark Abrahamson said armyworm populations develop quickly, and it is essential that farmers detect and properly respond to problems as soon as possible. "Once the number of armyworms in a field rises above the economic threshold, it's crucial for farmers to act," Abrahamson said. "Left untreated, an armyworm infestation could devastate a field in as little as three days." Monitoring armyworms is difficult because they are nocturnal and hide on the ground during the day. Scouting requires a close examination of the ground, looking under any debris that might be present. Multiple areas of a field should be checked, as counts may vary widely within a field. Farmers should consider the size of the larvae (how long until they begin clipping heads) and the time until harvest when deciding whether treatment is necessary. The armyworms attacking small grains should not be confused with the forest tent caterpillar, which is abundant in Minnesota this year and is also commonly called an armyworm. The forest tent caterpillar is strictly a forestry and horticultural pest, while true armyworm is strictly an agricultural pest. Additional information, including maps of the infestation, can be found on the MDA's Plant Pest Survey website at http://www.mda.state.mn.us/pestsurvey Contact:
SIZABLE PRICE JUMP NECESSARY TO JUSTIFY STORING CROP AT HARVEST "If you store it in an elevator warehouse, a normal charge is three centsper bushel per month," says Weness, an educator with the University of Minnesota Extension Service. "In addition, you will incur an interest cost on having the money tied up. Holding $2.00- per-bushel corn at 10 percent interest costs 1.6 cents per month. Holding $5.00 soybeans at 10 percent interest is 4.17 cents per month. "It's easy to see that holding corn and soybeans in commercial storage can cost up to 4.6 cents per bushel per month for corn and up to 7.2 cents per bushel per month for soybeans." Interest is a major storage cost. If you sell rather than store, notes Weness, you can pay off loans and stop accruing interest on them. Even if you owe no money, if you sell the grain you could invest the cash and earn interest. Storing corn in bins you already own is easier to justify than storing at an elevator. Your costs for the bin are fixed; they will be there if you put grain in the bin or not. These fixed costs include payments of principal and interest, insurance, and property taxes. Thus you will need less price improvement to justify storing grain in bins you already own than you'll need to justify elevator storage or putting up new bins. If you are thinking about buying a storage bin, include the costs of paying for the bin in your decision to store or sell your grain, says Weness. "If you store grain on your farm, there are several in and out costs you will incur in the first month of storage," Weness adds. "Once the grain is in the bin, in/out charges are not a factor in whether to store or not." The in/out charges are the costs of moving grain into and out of storage. They include equipment fuel and repairs, labor costs, shrink of the corn during drying and storage, and the extra drying costs to get the crop to a storable moisture content. Weness says in/out charges can run from 6-10 cents per bushel on corn and wheat and 5-8 cents per bushel on soybeans. For help in determining your total cost for storing grain, contact your county office of the University of Minnesota Extension Service. Source: Erlin Weness, (507) 372-8210
WEEKLY HARVEST WHEAT REPORT New wheat data is for east central Kansas, northeast, Kansas, northern Colorado, southwest Nebraska and southeast Nebraska. Protein content ranges from
10.0% to 17.2%, with each region's protein average ahead of last year's average except northeast Kansas. The southeast Nebraska average is 13.0%. Regional average test weights are down from last year ranging from
51.7 lb/bu (southeast Nebraska) to 61.8 lb/bu (southwest Nebraska) (68.2 to 81.3 kg/hl). Falling numbers are very high in each region, ranging from 295 to 468 seconds, and higher than the 1999 averages. Southeast
Nebraska and northern Colorado data indicate falling numbers below 300 seconds. There is no new grade data is reported this week. Also, note that the number of samples to be collected has increased from 500 to 700.
Soft Red Winter
CROOKSTON RESEARCH AREAS DEDICATED TO RETIRING WHEAT, BARLEY BREEDERS Crookston, MN—The 11th and 12th research ranges at the Northwest Research and Outreach Center at the University of Minnesota, Crookston, were dedicated to Donald Rasmusson and Robert Busch during the NWROC's recent 2000 Field Day. Rasmusson, barley breeder at the U of M, and Busch, wheat geneticist and wheat breeder, are both retiring this year. Their successors are already in place: Jim Anderson has replaced Busch as wheat breeder, and Kevin Smith is replacing Rasmusson as barley breeder. Busch can be credited for the release of 11 wheat varieties during his 22 years with a joint appointment at the U of M and the USDA's Agricultural Research Service. The most difficult moment of Busch's career may be 1993, when a scab epidemic decimated wheat in the Northern Plains, prompting Busch to rebuild his wheat breeding program around a center focus—increased scab tolerance. His proudest moment may be the release of Marshall, a spring wheat variety which enjoyed great popularity among producers in the 1980s. Rasmusson first came to the U of M as associate professor in 1958, and became a full professor in 1966. He bred six-row barley varieties that became standards of the malting and brewing industry, including Robust, released in 1983. His last release will be Lacey, a new six-row malting barley variety intended to replace Robust as an industry standard. Also honored during the NWROC Field Day was Warren, Minn. producer Jerry Kruger, for his longtime involvement in the Minnesota wheat industry. He was recognized as a Minnesota Wheat Research Champion, an award extended by the Minnesota Wheat Research and Promotion Council. Research ranges at the NWROC are land areas where the experiment station conducts field plot research. The research range dedication honors those who have made genuine and long-lasting contributions to agricultural research in Minnesota. The last research range dedication was five years ago, when the Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers and the Minnesota Wheat Research and Promotion Council were honored. Other honorees during the NWROC's 105-year history are Henry Borgman, Carl Ash, Raymond Dunham, Olaf Soine, Robert Robinson, Jean W. Lambert, Elmer R. Ausemus, B.E. Youngquist, and Richard Behrens. Contact: Jochum Wiersma, U of M Small Grains Specialist, ph. 218-281-8629 |
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