corn field update

   With the warm dry weather the corn leaves are rolled up for the majority of the day.  This is its effort to preserve moisture.  There is a layer of plant cells on the surface of the leaf that contracts when dehydration begins that reduces the amount of leaf exposed to further dehydration.  That will allow the plant to recover in the event additional rain arrives.  Temperatures in the 80's and 90's can remove a 1/4 inch of water in evaporation and needs to be supplied by soil moisture reserves or rainfall.  This last two days 50% of the corn belt received less than 1/4 inch 25% less than 1/2 inch and 25% about 1inch. There are more rains forecast and that may replace some of the shortfall in rain received this crop year.  We are setting records for the warmest spring and among the driest.  Although that rain was well needed we are still in a shortage situation.
   Informa Economics is now forecasting 96.76 million acres of corn up 895,000 from their May numbers and 75.96 million acres of soybeans up 2 million from May.  June 29th we will get another look at USDA numbers.  With the early planting much of the corn will be showing tassels by then and south central Ill. is tasseled now.  If we can turn the weather more favorable during that period when pollination and grain fill happens we will be able to meet the yield challenge. 
                                                                              Serving together, Dean