Wettest Year on Record?
The outlook from Nov. 8-22 calls for above normal temperatures and rainfall overall. Normal temperatures are highs near 50 and lows near 35. Temperatures will average several degrees above normal. Normal rainfall is about 1.2 inches. Rainfall will average 1-3 inches with the greatest totals in the west. Weather systems will affect Ohio the first half of this week, the first part of next week and the beginning of Thanksgiving week. In addition, a few showers with a colder upper air system will move through later this week.
Longer range, the above normal temperatures of November will gradually turn to normal, then colder than normal as we go through winter. Rainfall will likely turn from above normal in November to normal in early winter before going back above normal later in winter.
As for 2011, it will go down as one of the wettest in Ohio. Some sections of the north and south will have their all-time record wettest year on record, while the central section will likely reach top 3rd to 7th on record.
Here is a breakdown so far:
City This Year Record
Cincinnati 60.71 57.58 in 1990 NEW RECORD
Dayton 45.82 59.75 in 1990
Columbus 44.75 53.16 in 1990
Cleveland 55.81 53.83 in 1990 NEW RECORD
Toledo 38.27 47.84 in 1950
Mansfield 46.29 67.22 in 1990
Parkersburg 49.71 56.12 in 1990
Reminders about fall herbicide treatments
Winter annual weeds are abundant in some fields, and we have also observed some healthy infestations of poison hemlock along the edges of fields. Harvest is a good time to make observations on winter weed problems and take the appropriate action. In our fall research trials, we usually apply herbicides in November, and we have still obtained effective control with December applications. It is always possible that the weather can turn extremely cold by early December, which might reduce control, so our recommendation is to apply within the next several weeks if possible. Consider custom application where late harvest results in a lack of time to apply herbicides. We covered the basics of fall herbicide treatments in a C.O.R.N. article earlier this fall. Several questions we have received about this since then:
1. How to control wild garlic in soybean stubble, in fields going to corn.
A combination of Basis and 2,4-D would be an appropriate choice. Thifensulfuron (Harmony GT), which is a component of Basis, is the most effective herbicide for control of wild garlic. Expect some activity from 2,4-D also, but usually at high rates.
2. Previous C.O.R.N. articles mention Canopy products and their generic equivalents (Cloak, Fallout) for fall treatments where soybeans will be planted next spring, but do not suggest use of the other chlorimuron-containing products - Authority XL, Valor XLT, and Envive.
Numerous fall research trials we have conducted over the last decade have shown that a combination of a relatively low rate of a Canopy product and 2,4-D is effective for control of emerged winter annuals and dandelion.
- The chlorimuron component of Canopy can also provide substantial residual control of weeds into the following spring, if they are not ALS-resistant.
- Canopy DF and EX contain low rates of metribuzin or Express, respectively, which can help control emerged weeds, but are not responsible for any of the residual control that occurs the following spring.
- It’s certainly possible to use another chlorimuron-containing herbicide in the fall, such as Valor VLT, Envive, or Authority XL. However, it’s important to keep in mind that the Valor or Authority component does not help control emerged weeds, and fall application provides almost no residual control into the spring.
We believe the better strategy here is to use the lower cost Canopy products in the fall, and save the products containing Valor or Authority for spring when they do provide considerable residual control of weeds like marestail. If you choose to use these products in the fall regardless of our sage advice, keep in mind that you will still need a full rate of residual herbicide in the spring to obtain the longest residual on marestail and other weeds.
Planting Wheat in November in Ohio
It is well beyond the recommended time for planting wheat in the State of Ohio, but some producers are still interested in getting wheat planted and would like to know what are their chances of having a successful crop, even after planting this late. The short answer is LUCK! Wheat planted this late will likely not tiller well enough going in to winter and as such will likely suffer severe winter-kill. However, if you are lucky and Mother Nature cooperates, weather conditions in November and early December may be mild enough to allow the crop to emerge and develop a few tillers before going into dormancy. In addition, some growth and tiller development may also occur in early spring, again if the weather cooperates.
To compensate for low tiller development, any wheat planted at this time should be planted at a higher-than-normal seeding rate of 2 to 2.2 million seeds per acre. There is very little research data from Ohio on the effect of seeding rates higher than 2 million seeds per acre on yield, so it is difficult to say what to expect. But even at a very high seeding rate, the success of a November-planted wheat crop will depend on the weather. So as you prepare to seed your November wheat, be prepared for relatively poor stands and lower-than-normal yields. Remember, if the crop looks very bad in the spring, you can always replace it with corn or soybean. However, Mother Nature may just surprise us. There have been previous reports of November-planted wheat in Ohio yielding more than 60 bushels per acre.
- Harold Watters, CPAg/CCA (Agronomy Field Specialist),
- Glen Arnold (Nutrient Management Field Specialist),
- Mike Gastier (Huron),
- Steve Prochaska (Agronomy Field Specialist),
- Ed Lentz (Hancock),
- Roger Bender, ret. (Shelby),
- Ron Hammond (Entomology),
- Andy Michel (Entomology),
- Anne Dorrance (Plant Pathologist-Soybeans),
- Rich Minyo (Corn & Wheat Performance Trials),
- Peter Thomison (Corn Production)
- Jim Noel (NOAA/NWS),
- Mark Loux (Weed Science),
- Pierce Paul (Plant Pathology)