Warm temperatures and limited rainfall are starting to cause concern for Ohio producers. Some farmers are experiencing heat stress in livestock, while others may be forced to replant their soybeans because of slow emergence from dry conditions.

Corn emergence is well ahead of schedule, with 97 percent emerged, a dramatic increase from this time last year when producers were faced with only 18 percent emergence. However, there is some concern for Ohio corn producers over a relatively new pest to Ohio field crops.

“The Asiatic garden beetle is a new problem that’s been recently identified in certain parts of Ohio,” said Ron Hammond, an entomologist with The Ohio State University. “The grub is now considered very aggressive in its feeding habits.”

The grubs feed on corn roots in the spring, causing stand reductions. Much of the damage Ohio growers have reported has been in corn following soybeans, Hammond said. A number of farms in northern Ohio are reporting serious problems with the grub.

While growers should scout for the grubs, there really isn’t much can be done to mitigate them once they’ve begun feeding in the soil and causing stand reductions, he said. Because this is a relatively new pest, there aren’t any rescue treatments available, which is usually the case with other grub issues.

Growers are also seeing their other crops ahead of schedule, with 99 percent of the soybean crop in the ground, 45 percent of the wheat crop turning color and 51 percent of the oat crop headed.

The dry conditions have also allowed farmers to get their first-cutting hay crops in, as well. Lonnie and Shirley Pringle of Lakeville reported this is the first year they have ever finished their first cutting of hay by June 8.

Rainfall varied across Iowa during the week of May 28-June 3, with the northwestern part receiving the heaviest totals, according to the June 4 Iowa Crop & Weather report.

“Much of the state received some welcomed precipitation last week, but some areas remain quite dry and in need of moisture,” said Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey.

Despite the rain, the report said crop conditions declined slightly for the second straight week, with southwestern Iowa recording the driest at 77 percent of the topsoil moisture rated short to very short.

The report said 98 percent of corn has emerged, six days ahead of normal, and nearly all of Iowa’s soybeans are planted, with 84 percent emerging. Fifty-six percent of oats have headed, more than two weeks ahead of normal, the report added.

The report also stated the first-cutting alfalfa of hay is 88 percent complete and well ahead of last year’s 25 percent. “The dry weather has allowed many farmers to spray for weeds and others to finish harvesting the first hay cutting,” Northey said.

In his June 6 crop update, Virgil Schmitt, Iowa State University extension field agronomist, wrote “true white grubs are present in some corn, soybeans and even alfalfa fields” in southeastern Iowa. He said corn rootworms are now hatching, while European corn borer moths are flying around, but in fairly low numbers. Potassium deficiency has also surfaced in cornfields.

In soybeans, Schmitt said two-spotted spider mites are present in the Highway 34 area.

The hot temperatures of May gave way to a cooler-than-normal beginning to June, with some needed rainfall coming to many parts of the state. But the western part of Kentucky is still suffering from dry conditions.

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor’s June 5 report, some portions of the west, including nearly all of the Jackson Purchase, are classified as being in severe drought with nearby areas considered to be suffering from moderate drought conditions.

Crop-wise, NASS’ Kentucky field office’s latest available report rated Kentucky corn as 2 percent very poor, 11 percent poor, 30 percent fair, 44 percent good and 13 percent excellent.

Soybean planting here was well ahead of the five-year average of 53 percent. As of the June 4 report, 80 percent of the crop had been planted.

Burley tobacco planting was ahead of schedule, as well. As of the first week in June, 73 percent of the crop had been planted, ahead of last year’s 49 percent mark. Dark tobacco was also ahead of schedule, with 66 percent of the crop having been planted. The condition of Kentucky tobacco was listed as 3 percent poor, 20 percent fair, 65 percent good and 12 percent excellent.

The Kentucky wheat harvest was still progressing as crop conditions were rated as 4 percent very poor, 14 percent poor, 30 percent fair, 46 percent good and 6 percent excellent.

Some of the rains that inundated the South last weekend were expected to make their way into Kentucky by the first of the week, with some areas expected to receive over an inch of precipitation.

The week ending June 13 was a good one for crops in the Volunteer State, according to NASS’ weekly crop report.

Harvesting and planting across the state were aided by rain late in the week. More than half of wheat was harvested, cotton planting was almost completed and 81 percent of soybeans were planted. Corn was particularly helped by the moisture levels replenished by the rain. The majority of crops were rated as in fair-to-good condition, the report stated.

Topsoil moisture levels were rated 10 percent very short, 32 percent short, 57 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels were rated 10 percent very short, 37 percent short, 52 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus.

Rain levels were above normal everywhere in the state except in East Tennessee, where they were below normal. Temperatures averaged 1-2 degrees above normal across the state, according to NASS, NWS and the University of Tennessee extension.

Even though many areas had rain, not every place did, as the comment from Dyer County Agent Tim Campbell sums up in three words: “Need rain badly.”

Some areas had too much rain. “Recent storms damaged several acres of corn in the north and east parts of Montgomery County,” reported Agent John Bartee.

But for other areas, the rainfall amounts were just right. “The first good general rain is falling this morning (June 4); (wheat) harvest is in full swing, with most producers reporting past the halfway mark. Yields have ranged from the low 50s to upper 70s, with yields in the 60s being the most common,” stated Ed Burns, agent for Franklin County.

“The earliest-planted corn is beginning to tassel. Single-crop beans are planted, and producers are hoping for a good rain to plant beans behind wheat. Some of the earliest-planted (cotton) with moisture is beginning to square.”