Unbelievable, but somehow we are nearly caught up on spraying. I’m down to the last few fields. Fields and skies should be fit enough to get half of those done today. So far, super-sized weeds seem to be managed, but it will be a couple of weeks before we know whether they regrow and require additional treatment.
The bigger concern is in soybean fields. Corn fields are nearly canopied, so shading will do a lot of the weed management for the rest of the growing season. Soybeans, however, are stuck in slow growth (as it seems every year). Hopefully, they kick it into high gear and get canopied soon! We saw our first blooms on some early maturity soybeans this week.
Finishing up fertilizer applications
We also finished side dress nitrogen applications earlier this week. With the wet weather pattern, we started a little earlier than planned but wanted to get it done just in case we got really wet. Everything has now been “rained in,” which makes it available in the soil and beneficial to the plants. Since we are top-dressing (applying fertilizer to the surface), the rain is important as some forms of nitrogen can be volatile and lost when left exposed to nature. (A similar leaching risk exists when nitrogen is injected into the soil.) So, we manage that risk with products that stabilize the nitrogen and keep it available to the plants in the field. Heat this week will lead to some more rapid growth in corn.
Sweetcorn that I planted in early April is starting to tassel. Since I purposely chose taller hybrids, it is a bit disappointing as it probably isn’t even 3 feet tall. This will be prime eating for raccoons. We will likely have to install an electric fence around the corn to keep them out. The most valuable corn is always the first corn harvested, so we will do what we can to protect it.
The kids’ summer schedule is finally slowing down. We are coming into the statewide Indiana High School Athletic Association moratorium week where school facilities are closed to student athletes, and coaches are not permitted contact. Last year the state added a second week to IHSAA. Each school chooses which week for the second break. Though the moratorium only impacts high school students, and has no authority over travel sports, it is good to give the student athletes a little reprieve. Maybe I can get some more work out of them now. And, yeah, I can’t say that without laughing.