Western Maryland
Hot and humid is the order of the day, but then again, it is July in Maryland. Wheat harvest is winding down, and soybeans are going in behind most of those acres. Yield and quality are all over the place. Scattered showers have continued, making field work more challenging than we are used to this time of year. We are thankful for the moisture, and the corn is showing it. Early corn is coming into tassel. Grazing and haying is better this time of year than in the recent past. Early dry hay was hard to get right. So, quality is not excellent, but alfalfa is better with the later cuttings. Until next month, hydrate. Water is man’s best friend during the dog days of summer..—Jeff Semler, Washington Co.
Central Maryland
We continue to get rain most weeks, and there’s a general sense of being behind on fieldwork. On Tuesday, another storm came through, dumping a few tenths to almost an inch of rain in spots around the region. Wheat yields are at or above average; however, rainfall delayed harvest and some kernels began sprouting in the field, resulting in lower falling numbers. Full season soybeans are flowering. Earlier in June, yellow poplar weevils were spotted in a few fields in Montgomery County (one field had one weevil per corn plant in some areas). This black-colored weevil is a pest of trees and does not cause damage to field crops, even though their population is higher than normal this year.—Kelly Nichols, Montgomery Co.
Northern Maryland
Heat arrived the latter half of June and into July, which accelerated corn growth and small grain dry down. Wheat harvest began the end of June/start of July with good dry weather; however, we have had a lot of rain over the last 7-14 days and the remaining acres have been a difficult to cut. Wheat yields and quality are all over the place. Overall I think our wheat crop is below average, including straw yields. Corn and soybeans however are loving the heat and consistent moisture. Most of the corn crop is at or near tassel and is looking good. There are reports of some tar spot in the area, but very minimal and should not be cause for panic as July heat will suppress the disease. Farmers will be making fungicide applications to corn in the coming weeks. Soybeans look good and are starting to flower. Double crops are out of the ground in a hurry with these warm soil temps.—Andy Kness, Harford Co.
Upper & Mid Shore
The summer solstice ushered in record heat and afternoon instability, with scattered pop-up downpours across the region. Small grain harvest is in full swing between rain events, and as fields are cleared, double-crop beans are going in, or are already emerging. Corn is progressing well but varies in development. Some early-planted fields are in the silking stage, while others remain in the late vegetative stages. Full-season beans have entered the reproductive stage. The first two cuttings of alfalfa have been promising, with good yields reported. The hot, wet conditions have created a perfect storm for Palmer amaranth and other aggressive weeds, many of which have taken off following the recent rains. Keep scouting regularly and act early to stay ahead of them.—Dwayne Joeseph, Kent Co.
Lower Eastern Shore
It was a good year for wheat. Harvest has been completed. Wheat yield was 70 to 100+ bu/acre, with 90 to 100 bu/acre on average. We had an extended hot and dry period, which really hurt corn. Corn stages vary. Early planted corn is tasseling; some late planted corn is early vegetative stages. Regardless of the stage, corn suffered from the extended dry weather. Double-crop soybean planting is finishing up. There have been reports of fall panicum grass, which has been difficult to control with glyphosate. We had a much needed rain this week, although the amount varied across the region, with reports of 1/2” to over 2”. Soybean is looking OK, and will be better able to overcome the dry weather than the corn.—Sarah Hirsh, Somerset Co.
Southern Maryland
Why can’t everyone just be happy…The corn folks are smiling with the crop receiving weekly rains, shooting tassels and loving life. Then there are those folks on wetter ground with a frown as they still struggle to get in the last of full season beans and finish up double crop planting. In the world of farming these folks are often one and the same person. Overall, crops look decent for this time of the year. The string of high temperatures early in the month stressed crops. Fortunately, the heat came with rain showers and cooler days followed in time for pollination. Beans that have been in the ground for some time are also responding well to the extra moisture. The wheat crop came off fast this year with excellent yields and good quality. Weeds have been a struggle, especially in fields with wetter areas that have not canopied. We are also seeing potassium and manganese deficiency show up in soybeans and corn. Farmers have made a good second cutting of hay with grasses responding well to the steady moisture.—Ben Beale, St. Mary’s Co.
*Regions (counties):
Western: Garrett, Allegany, Washington. Central: Frederick, Montgomery, Howard. Northern: Harford, Baltimore, Carroll. Upper & Mid Shore: Cecil, Kent, Caroline, Queen Anne, Talbot. Lower Shore: Dorchester, Somerset, Wicomico. Southern: St. Mary’s, Anne Arundel, Charles, Calvert, Prince George’s
