C.O.R.N. Newsletter: 2016-15

When it comes to making decisions around selecting a data service(s), understanding “Terms and Definitions” becomes an important component of the decision.  The Privacy and Security Principles for Farm Data published by AFBF states that “Farmers should know with whom they are contracting if the ATP contract involves sharing with third parties, partners, business partners, ATP partners, or affiliates. ATPs and data service providers should clearly explain the following definitions in a consistent manner throughout all of their respective agreements:

1. Farm data;
2. Third party;
3. Partner;
4. Business partner;
5. ATP partners;
6. Affiliate;
7. Data account holder;
8. Original customer data.

The need for definition of any of these terms or similar ones used in the agreement is need for clarity and transparency.  The absence of definition to any of these terms within an agreement should result in the ATP providing defining an alternative term in the contract and privacy policy.  There is not standard terminology to date for much of the terminology used within agreements, contracts and privacy statements.   AgGateway has developed a glossary of terms and definition as related to ATPs providing a foundational start to standard terminology.

So often, words are interchanged for each other, but many may not be familiar with the array of synonyms for several of these words.  Especially in the agriculture industry, terminology can change from one company to the next, leaving the consumer, or in this case the grower, to sift through user manuals to determine what words align with which definitions.  For example, between two companies, the act of a planter NOT dropping a seed into place could be referred to as “skip” or a “miss”, but both can be interchangeable as related to planting.  Within contracts between growers and ATPs, there can be a lot of terminology that may have a variety of definitions.  It is also extremely important that all participants within a data contract have a clear understanding as to what specific terms mean.  Knowing specific terms and their accompanying definitions allows for contracts to be clear, concise, and better understood among all participating parties.  Make sure you fully understand the terms and their respective definitions used in data service agreements, contracts and privacy statements.  It is important for such concerns as who can access your data or who data can be shared with outside the ATP.

Rainfall was mixed across Ohio over the past weekend. According to preliminary reports of OSU county agricultural educators, some areas of SW Ohio received as much as 6-inches whereas other areas, e.g. west central Ohio, received little or no rain with corn. In areas where rainfall was heavy localized ponding and flooding may occur. If ponding and flooding was of a limited duration, i.e. the water drained off quickly within a few hours, the injury resulting from the saturated soil conditions should be minimal.

The extent to which ponding injures corn is determined by several factors including: (1) plant stage of development when ponding occurs, (2) duration of ponding and (3) air/soil temperatures. Prior to the 6-leaf collar stage (as measured by visible leaf collars) or when the growing point is at or below the soil surface, corn can usually survive only 2 to 4 days of flooded conditions. Since most corn is not beyond the V5 stage, it’s vulnerable to damage from ponding and saturated soil conditions. The oxygen supply in the soil is depleted after about 48 hours in a flooded soil. Without oxygen, the plant cannot perform critical life sustaining functions; e.g. nutrient and water uptake is impaired, root growth is inhibited, etc. If temperatures are warm during ponding (greater than 77 degrees F) plants may not survive 24-hours. Cooler temperatures prolong survival so the moderate temperatures forecast his week should be beneficial. Once the growing point is above the water level the likelihood for survival improves greatly.

Even if ponding doesn't kill plants outright, it may have a long term negative impact on crop performance. Excess moisture during the early vegetative stages retards corn root development. As a result, plants may be subject to greater injury during a dry summer because root systems are not sufficiently developed to access available subsoil water. Ponding can also result in losses of nitrogen through denitrification and leaching. Even if water drains quickly, there is the possibility of surface crusts forming as the soil dries that can impact the emergence of recently planted crops. Growers should be prepared to rotary hoe to break up the crust to promote emergence.

For corn that’s emerged, check the color of the growing point to assess plant survival after ponding. It should be white to cream colored, while a darkening and/or softening usually precedes plant death. For corn not yet emerged, evaluate the appearance and integrity of seeds or seedlings that have yet to emerge (likely rotting if discolored and softening). Look for new leaf growth 3 to 5 days after water drains from the field.

Disease problems that become greater risks due to ponding and cool temperatures include pythium, corn smut, and crazy top (http://oardc.osu.edu/ohiofieldcropdisease/t01_pageview2/Home.htm).
Fungicide seed treatments will help reduce stand loss, but the duration of protection is limited to about two weeks. The fungus that causes crazy top depends on saturated soil conditions to infect corn seedlings. There is limited hybrid resistance to these diseases and predicting damage from corn smut and crazy top is difficult until later in the growing season. However the economic impact of these latter two diseases is usually negligible.

Reference:
Nielsen, R.L. 2015. Effects of Flooding or Ponding on Corn Prior to Tasseling. Corny News Network, Purdue Univ. [On-Line]. Available at: http://www.agry.purdue.edu/ext/corn/news/timeless/pondingyoungcorn.html (URL accessed June 6, 2015)