Northern Illinois Agronomy Research Center

Department of Crop Sciences---University of Illinois

COLLEGE of AGRICULTURAL, CONSUMER AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

MARCH 2002 Newsletter Issue 19:2 Lyle Paul - Agronomist David Lindgren - Farm Foreman 14509 University Rd. Shabbona, Il 60550 Phone/Fax 815/824-2029 e-mail lylepaul@illinois.edu

/research/rdc/dekalb

2002 Weather Data:

2002 Precipitation (Inches)

Rainfall & Soil Moisture:
The generally dry weather of 2001 has continued into the first two and one-half months of 2002. About one-half of the tile lines on the Center has been running. These are mainly the larger tiles that drain more than one area or drain part of the neighbors' fields. While a shortage of rainfall does not continue to accumulate, since 1/1/01, the Center has received a total of over 7.6" less rainfall than long term average rainfall would indicate should have fallen.

Each growing season is separate, but it would be beneficial to have full subsoil moisture recharge at this time of year. Soil moisture reading taken 1/30/02 (the most recent report that we have from the Illinois State Water Survey) shows moisture deficits at all of the 6 inch segments to the two meter depth that the readings were taken. The soil at that time was holding from 30 to 70% of the potential plant available moisture that it could hold at the individual levels. The total for all layers of the two meter depth was 60% of the plant available water that the soil could be holding at that time.

The web site of the Illinois State Water Survey is: http://www.sws.uiuc.edu/warm.

At that site, monthly weather summaries of the 18 sites in the Illinois Climate Network are available for the past year and this year to date. At that site, there are also graphs showing the previous days readings for many of the measurements that are taken to determine the weather report. These include high and low temperatures, wind speeds and directions, sunshine and many other observations that are taken.

Oat Seeding:
Oats are not the major crop in Illinois that they once were. However, right now the price of oats is higher than the price of corn. There has been discussion by some farmers who might be interested is seeding oats in 2002. Following are the yields from Fred Kolb's work from 2001 and also the 3 year averages for the oat sites around Illinois. Discount the 2001 results from DeKalb, that trial was seeded much later than it should have been. Seed might be hard to find, but I know some seed producers do have a supply as of March 8th.

Fred Kolb's crew seeded three acres of oat varieties on March 20th. Three acres may not seem like much area, but when one considers that the individual plots are 14' long by 4' wide and there about 1600 plots in that area, it made for a long day of oat planting.

The data above were compiled by Fred Kolb, Robert Dunker, Lyle Paul, Eric Adee and Glenn Raines. Fred Kolb's small grain breeding program is partially supported by Illinois Foundation Seeds, Inc. and the Quaker Oats Company, Inc. Brochures published by Illinois Crop Improvement Assn, Inc.

VarietyTrials:
Normally each year, I have reported the corn and soybean average yields for all of the different sites that the variety testing group has trials. This has given a good idea of the general weather and growing conditions around the state. This year the variety testing group has added more sites and the averages would be more difficult to display on the page. If you would like to compare yields around the state, go to Crop Sciences Departmental web site: http://www.cropsci.uiuc.edu/ and then go to the Research, Outreach, and Extension part of that site. There you can bring up all of the yield data from all of the different trials for yourself. If you are not attached to the web, you can also get the information in printed form at your local Extension Office.

2001-2002 Agronomy Handbook:
As the internet becomes easier to use and more people have access, many more resources are being added to the web. At the Crop Sciences home page, http://www.cropsci.uiuc.edu/ you can review a copy of the current Agronomy Handbook. This is the second year of the book and if you haven't gotten a copy, you might want to review some of the changes that were made in this latest revision. Again, if you are not connected, you can purchase a copy at your local Extension office.

Advisory Committee Meeting:
On March 7th, we had a meeting of the Advisory Committee for the Research Center. The group had several good ideas for possible areas that needed additional research. We are also in the process of finalizing all projects for 2002. If you have any research ideas that you think should be reviewed and would like to suggest them to us, give us a call, letter or e-mail.

Mark these dates on your calendar and plan to be with us. More details on topics and other items will follow later.

Internet newsletter:
Several people who have received the newsletter by mail have switched to the internet version. If you would like to change, if your address has changed or if you would like your name removed from the mailing list, please let us know. If you would prefer to get the newsletter as an e-mail attachment, please:
e-mail me at lylepaul@illinois.edu,
with the version -Word Perfect or Word you would prefer. For address corrections, e-mail, write or call to the address at the top of the newsletter.

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