Weekly Update

Greetings,

It has been an exceptionally dry fall. Hard to believe that can be said after the last couple years. The fall harvest on CCSP went well, but with the hail, wind, and excessive rain, we were like everyone else with nothing to brag about in the yield categories. If fact, it is one of those years you would just as soon not add them up. I really don't think any of the data we collect would validate much of anything. The strip till variety trial did have the ring of truth where the strip till showed a 7 bushel advantage, which has been the norm. I planted the trial late, June 4, using 79-80 day hybrids. The green snap was not quite as bad, and it did not seem to single out any of the varieties. However the yields were still low, not even coming close to 100 bu.

On a more positive note, the winter wheat is coming nicely. Again, timing is everything, and under dry condition the old rules apply. Planting ahead of 2 little shots of rain really made a big difference. I had everything in except the soybean planting done by the 2nd two tenth deluge but most of that did not come until October 10 rain. The critical time for winter is always March, but it is nice to see something green out in the field. I planted the variety Overland. Dave Kinzler was kind to supply the seed.

Next time I will have the yields to look at. Maybe.