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AGRICULTURE/FARMING
Pine needles,
good or bad?
Q. My question is, can pine needles be used to mulch
rhubarb? I’ve heard that rhubarb and walnut trees don’t
mix, but would pine needles hurt rhubarb? I’m afraid to
let anyone put bark mulch around my
rhubarb because the companies providing
the bark do not know if there is
walnut in the mix. — M.S.
A. Pine needles should be fine to
use around rhubarb, a 2-3 inch layer
would do nicely. Stick with fallen needles
gathered from your own or local
pines; there have been problems with
fire ants hitching rides in pine straw
from Southern states.
Black walnut trees produce a substance
called juglone in all parts of
the walnut, but especially in the roots,
foliage buds and fruit husks. Juglone
is toxic to some plants, including
rhubarb, so it is best to avoid using
any part of walnut in your mulch or
B. Rosie
Lerner
compost. Other trees closely related to black walnut also
produce juglone, including butternut, English walnut,
pecan, shagbark hickory and bitternut hickory, but in such
limited quantities compared to black walnut that toxicity
to other plants is rarely observed. For more information
on black walnut toxicity, see Purdue Extension Bulletin
HO-193 “Black Walnut Toxicity.”
Q. What can I apply to string bean and escarole plants
that will deter rabbits from eating them? Also, Japanese
beetles ravage the leaves on the fruit trees I have. I have
used malthion in the past. Could you recommend something
else? Is there anything new to try? — JM, Valparaiso,
Ind
A. While there are some commercially available rabbit
repellents, they are of limited use in a vegetable garden.
What makes the vegetables taste bad to rabbits will also
make them unpalatable for humans. The most practical
method of deterring rabbits is to fence the garden or at
least the crops that are being damaged. The fence will
need to be of woven wire or 2-inch poultry netting, 2
1/2-3 feet high to exclude rabbits. The fence should be in
place at planting time as young plants are the most attractive
and most susceptible to damage. More information
on preventing rabbit damage to garden and landscape
plan ts can be found at the Purdue Wildlife Conflicts
website.
Fruit trees are among the most preferred foods of
Japanese beetles, so it is a perennial battle. Adult beetles
are most active from mid July through August and can
quickly ravage foliage and ripening fruit, when beetles
are present in large numbers. They can feed upon more
than 300 different species of plants, but are especially
fond of roses, grapes, smartweed, soybeans, corn silks,
flowers of all kinds, and flowering crab, plum and linden
trees, as well as overripe and decaying fruit. There are a
number of strategies that can be employed to help reduce
the damage. Check out Purdue Extension Bulletin E-75
“Japanese Beetles in the Urban Landscape,” for more
information.
Rosie Lerner is consumer horticulture
specialist for Purdue University
WEST LAFAYETTE,
Ind. — Corn and soybean
crops in Indiana and Ohio
are in the best shape among
the nation’s leading production
states, according to the
latest U.S. Department of
Agriculture Crop Progress
report.
The condition ratings are
welcome news for growers
in both states amid falling
grain prices after the release
of the latest USDA National
Agricultural Statistics
Service acreage report. The
report, released June 28,
showed an increase in U.S.
acres from 2012 for both
corn and soybeans.
“The real surprise in this
report is that we didn’t see
the shift we expected from
corn acres to soybean acres
because of delayed planting,”
said Chris Hurt, Purdue
Extension agricultural
economist.
Listen to Chris Hurt discuss
grain prices.
USDA reported national
corn acreage is estimated
at 97.4 million, up slightly
from 2012. Estimated soybean
acreage is 77.7 million,
up 1 percent from last
year.
Hurt estimated that with
current crop conditions
U.S. yields would average
about 156 bushels per
acre on corn and 43 bushels
per acre for soybeans.
However, weather conditions
appear to be improving
for crop development in
the Midwest over the next
two weeks and that could
improve yield prospects.
Hurt was quick to point
out that the report includes
both planted and intended
acres of each crop. With 6
At closing Monday,
July 1
Central States, Montpelier
1-888-935-1107
Corn by July 16 $6.36,
new crop corn 2013 $4.81,
January corn $4.98.
Beans by July 12 $15.56,
beans balance of July
$15.56, new crop beans
2013 $12.16, January beans
$12.39.
Cash wheat $6.35, January
wheat $6.68.
Corn condition best
it’s been in five years
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Thunderstorms
moved across the state during the
week causing some wind damage and flash
flooding, according to the Indiana Field
Office of USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics
Service.
Some southern counties received heavy
rainfall leaving standing water in many crop
fields.
The major field crops showed good
growth with the warm temperatures early in
the week and ample moisture.
Winter wheat harvest continued where
weather permitted with good yields being
reported. Some wheat acreage was blown
down during the week’s storms. Wet weather
kept spraying of herbicides and cutting of
hay to a minimum.
There were 3.1 days suitable for field
million intended soybean
acres yet to be planted,
the final acreage numbers
could change.
“These numbers certainly
aren’t the final numbers,”
he said.
As is, the report generally
is bearish for both corn
and soybean prices, which
Hurt estimated could fall
to about $5 per bushel for
the 2013 crop average and
$11.75 per bushel on newcrop
soybeans. With high
production costs this year,
these price points would
be enough to at least cover
many producers’ expenses.
Indiana and Ohio producers
are in prime position
to fare better financially
than producers in states
where delayed planting was
more serious. Strong crop
condition ratings now and a
near-term favorable weather
outlook mean the odds
favor above trend yields in
these states.
As of Monday’s (6/24)
USDA Crop Progress
report, 82 percent of Ohio’s
corn crop was rated good to
excellent, while 76 percent
of Indiana corn rated the
same.
Ohio soybeans rated 78
percent good to excellent
and 72 percent of Indiana
soybeans fell into the same
categories.
“Ohio really has the
premier corn crop of the
major production states as
of right now and Indiana is
a close second,” Hurt said.
“This is very encouraging
to producers after suffering
through last year’s
drought.”
Listen to Chris Hurt discuss
potential marketing
Agland Grain, Bluffton
824-3820
July corn $6.32, October/November
corn $4.83,
December corn $4.93.
July beans $15.62, fall
2013 beans $12.09, January
beans $13.32.
July/August wheat $6.35.
TUESDAY, JULY 2, 2013 • The News-Banner • Page 1a
Indiana, Ohio producers could
still benefit from bearish report
work during the week. Corn condition
improved and is rated 79 percent good to
excellent compared with 19 percent last
year at this time.
Planting of soybeans is nearing completion
in most areas with the exception of
some southern counties and double cropped
acreage. Ninety-six percent of the soybean
acreage has emerged compared with 100
percent last year and 93 percent for the
5-year average. Soybean condition is rated
74 percent good to excellent compared with
20 percent last year at this time.
Twenty-seven percent of the winter
wheat acreage has been harvested compared
with 88 percent last year and 47 percent for
the 5-year average. Winter wheat condition
is rated 76 percent good to excellent at this
time.
GRAIN PRICES
and storage strategy.
Recovering production
of corn and soybeans in
both states and nationwide
will mean lower prices
compared to those of the
2012 drought, but also less
volatile prices.
Very low inventories of
old-crop corn and soybeans
left end users battling for
short supplies, driving up
prices. Hurt said higher
yields in 2013 would help
grain stocks recover.
“Higher production
gives us a chance to begin
rebuilding more grain
inventory, which helps
keep prices from being as
extreme and volatile,” he
said. “We’ve had very low
inventories of old-crop corn
and soybeans from poor
weather in the last three
growing seasons, so we’ve
been on pins and needles
with the available supplies.”
Tight inventories and
higher prices can benefit
growers, but the combination
leaves end users, such
as livestock and ethanol
producers, to compete for
grain. The higher prices
keep some of those end
users from being profitable.
According to Friday’s
(6/28) USDA-NASS Grain
Stocks report, the U.S.
corn inventory is 2.76 billion
bushels, down 12 percent
from June 2012. Hurt
said it would take a crop
of 13 billion bushels to
meet basic demands, and
he projects this year’s crop
to come in at 13.8 billion
bushels, allowing stocks to
build.
Soybean stocks total
435 million bushels, down
35 percent from this time
last year. Hurt expects 3.3
billion bushels of soybean
production in 2013 which,
like corn, would be enough
to start adding inventory.
To view all of the
USDA-NASS reports, visit
http://www.nass.usda.gov.
Auction Thurs., July 11 • 6 pm
PRIME FARM GROUND
Farm Ground Located between Coverdale Rd. and
Branstrator Rd. on Hamilton Rd.
38.5 Acres - Section 25
(Allen County - Lafayette Township)
Location of Auction:
Lighted Gardens Banquet Hall
10794 State Road 1, Ossian, IN 46777
P R OP E R TY IS B E ING OF F E R E D IN 1 TR ACT
Sharon Herrberg, Owner
For more information on this auction contact
www.BKMauction.com
Sam Haiflich Lic #AU19800029
260-824-3982 • 260-740-7299
LIN’S LOCK &
KEY, INC.
HOME - AUTO - BUSINESS - COMMERCIAL
•Locks •Safes •Door Closers •Padlocks
•Mobile Service •Deadbolts Installed
Also Repair Garage Doors, Openers,
Springs, Cables, Radio Controls
1132 S. Clark Ave. - Bluffton - Lin Harrold, CML
(260)824-3533 • Cell 827-8743
CERTIFIED MASTER LOCKSMITH
Do you have a
service or
product for
area farmers?
Call
824-0224
or 622-4108
and find out
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Ag Services Directory can be!
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B LUFFTON
1-800-876-9351 or
(260)565-3659
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4777 W. 500 N.
HUNTINGTON
1-888-876-9352 or
983 N. St. Rd. 13
WABASH
1-888-876-9353 or
(260)563-1149
(260)356-7958
e-mail: troxel@troxelequipment.com
website: www.troxelequipment.com
Bio - Soy Diesel -
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824-2220
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Friday 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
Saturday 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
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