Newsletter published monthly by Crop Quest, Inc. Volume No. 11, Issue No.

8, August, 2002

PERSPECTIVES
Official Publication of Crop Quest Agronomic Services, Inc.

Effects of drought continue to increase in severity

By Ron OHanlon, president

Drought conditions are having a significant effect on many of the crops across the High Plains, especially the western portions of the High Plains. According to the National Weather Service in Dodge City, Kansas, June through May of this year was the second driest on record, receiving only 43 percent of the average precipitation for this time period. Only June to May during 1952 and 1953 was drier, with a negative 13.77-inch deficit. Along the same lines, this season has also been very windy, with an average wind speed of 16.3 miles per hour during May and June. This ranks as the third windiest May/June period in the last 32 years for which data was kept. What effect can we anticipate if the corn crop is suffering from drought stress? Most fields throughout the western High Plains went into the spring planting season with inadequate subsoil moisture. The drought conditions have also magnified the effect various stresses a crop may experience during the growing season, such as hardpans, rootworm larva feeding and soil crusting. Studies summarized by Robert L. Shaw, Iowa State University Department of Climatology and Meteorology, found a three percent reduction in yield per day of stress early in the growth period. However, yield losses jumped to eight percent per day of stress during the time of silking, and continued for about two weeks thereafter, when exposed to drought. Pollination is a critical time period for corn development and yield. Silks grow about one to 1.5 inches per day and will continue to elongate until fertilized. However, temperatures greater than 95 degrees Fahrenheit with low relative humidity will desiccate exposed silks, but have little effect on the silk elongation rate. Heat has an effect on the pollen, which can be killed by temperatures in the mid-90s or greater when accompanied with low relative humidity. It is fortunate that most pollination occurs early to mid-morning when temperatures are lower.
(Continued on Page 3)

Fig. 1. Drought stress can reduce the number of kernels set

by the corn crop and the degree of kernel fill.

Fig. 2. Many corn fields will suffer lower yields based on the
condition of the crop at the time of pollination.

MISSION STATEMENT
Crop Quest is an employee-owned company dedicated to providing the highest quality agricultural services for each customer. The quest of our network of professionals is to practice integrity and innovation to ensure our services are economically and environmentally sound.

By Rollie Stukenholtz, CEO

Member, American Society of Agricultural Consultants Certified Professional Agronomist

Fertilizer usage down due to adverse weather

From all indications, the fertilizer industry is in grave financial condition due to lower usage by farms. The vast area suffering from drought is certainly a major factor. However, the exact opposite can be said for some areas where too much rain also reduced fertilizer usage. We know the weather, as well as low prices, greatly affected the amount of wheat we harvested this year. But what about the other crops? USDA numbers dont seem to reflect a great reduction related to lower fertilizer applications. Fertilizer application rates are normally based on projected yield goals. With the soil profile about as dry as it could get in so many areas last spring, it made sense to adjust application rates to the soil moisture conditions. There are always those who question why, if you dont expect to raise a crop, you put the seed in the ground. With crop insurance being the only hope, that certainly adds another option to crop planning. As I drive through the countryside, I see a lot of nitrogen tanks applying fertilizer for the fall wheat crop. Much of this nitrogen is being applied to ground that produced a partial sorghum crop last year. Unfortunately, many of these fields are being fertilized without a good soil sample to determine whether additional fertilizer is justified. Our summer sampling program has already revealed than many of these fields already contain adequate nitrogen from mineralization to support a good wheat crop. There is always that time that someone chose not to apply a normal rate of fertilizer, then the rains came and the yields suffered. Playing the odds against the weather is probably a lot more risky than playing the lottery. If fertilizer usage has dropped as much as reports indicate, either we should notice substantial reductions in yield, or a lot of farmers have been applying more fertilizer than they needed to produce their maximum yields. With the discrepancies in some of the government reporting numbers, this may be a mystery that will never be solved.

Family farms feel the impact as the dry conditions prevail

It is impossible to determine when a major drought will end. But with each passing day, the damage is leaving a greater impact on the effected areas. While pastures across the drought region look a lot like the Sahara Desert, most noticeable is the number of trees that are dead or dying. Trees on the Western Plains are a valuable asset, considering the time it takes to get them established to the point where they provide shade and slow down wind movement. Unfortunately, people who dont deal with water problems on a regular basis have limited understanding of water management for trees. In fact, far too many practice poor water management for even their lawns. The livestock industry is a major casualty of long term drought. Livestock producers spend a lifetime improving their breeding lines, and are being forced to sell their stock because feed is no longer available or is too costly. With each dry day, we find more and more water supplies drying up. Unfortunately, we have to experience true water shortages before we appreciate the value of an adequate supply of safe water. Since many areas are already acknowledging that this may be the worst drought in modern times, we cant fully measure the long-term impact of water depletion. The greatest impact of all is the financial suffering that always forces many farmers from the land. The same will be true of many businesses that rely on agriculture. I have been through quite a few periods of difficult weather patterns in my life, and this may well be the worst I have experienced in terms of its impact on family farms.

Crop Quest Agronomic Services, Inc. Main Office: Phone 620.225.2233 Fax 620.225.3199 Internet: www.cropquest.com cqoffice@cropquest.com Crop Quest Board of Directors Chief Executive Officer: President: Regional Vice President: Regional Vice President: Financial Vice President: Manager, Garden City Div.: Rollie Stukenholtz Ron OHanlon Jim Gleason Dwight Koops Dave Wetmore Cort Minor

Newsletter Editor: Tania Wood, twood@cropquest.com

Drought continues . . . .
(Continued from Page 1)

However, when accompanied with drought stress, silk elongation may be slowed, while pollen shed is accelerated, causing the two events to be out of synchrony. This results in poor ear fill due to lack of pollination (fig. 1). Even if pollination is 100 percent, drought stress can

reduce the number of kernels set by the crop and the degree of kernel fill. The plants tend to abort kernels starting at the ear tip and moving toward the base, if under stress. It is anticipated that many corn fields throughout the High Plains will suffer lower yields this year based on the stressful condition of the crop at the time of pollination, and due to the stresses of the prolonged drought (fig. 2).

Data shows most moisture occurrences come in less than .10 inches
By Ron OHanlon, president

I have written numerous times about the effects of the drought on crops throughout the High Plains, and the impact it is having on the farming community. For a visual image of what areas of the country are most effected, go to http://www.drought.unl.edu/dm/monitor.html on the Internet. The High Plains has not had any major precipitation for more than a year. Randy Waldren, Crop Quest senior agronomist in Dodge City, Kansas, charted information regarding the number of precipitation events from 1997 to 2002. This information is based on data from the National Weather Service. Table 1.

Table 1 illustrates the number of precipitation events for the various years by the amounts received, and indicates the majority of the rainfall has been in occurrences of less than .10 inches. The chart also shows the total number of precipitation events for each year, and the total amount received over the last few years. Eighty-six percent of all precipitation events measured less than .50 inches of moisture. Only four percent of the precipitation events measured more than one inch or more in moisture. Because of the severe drought conditions, it is these heavier moisture events that will be required to re-supply the depleted subsoils throughout the High Plains.

Employee-Owned & Customer Driven

By Ron OHanlon, President

Member, National Alliance of Independent Crop Consultants CPCC-I Certified

Shelterbelts showing effects of drought stress

Shelterbeltsrows of trees and shrubs planted perpendicular to the prevailing windshave helped to prevent wind erosion across the High Plains for more than 50 years. Reports indicate that a distance of 10 to 20 times the height of the tallest trees in the shelterbelt receive a benefit due to the wind barrier. Everyone is certainly aware of the drought throughout the western High Plains and the effect it is having on many of the crops that are planted throughout this area. However, as shown in figure 1, the drought is also having a devastating effect on these trees. It is especially effecting the cedar and pine trees due to their shallow root systems. By the time the symptoms of the drought started showing up in these shelterbelts, it was too late to save many of these trees, even if the landowner had a means of providing the water (which many do not have).

Fig. 1. For years, shelterbelts have been relied on

throughout the High Plains for their protection against adverse conditions. Many are in poor shape due to the prolonged drought.

1204 Frontview P.O. Box 1715 Dodge City, KS 67801

Employee- Owned & Customer Driven
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