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May 8, 1998
Persistent rains bring flood of anxiety
for Indiana farmers
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Like a teacher during a fire drill, Purdue University agronomist
Bob Nielsen is urging Indiana corn growers to remain calm as they wait to plant.
"Fearmongers among us have already begun to wail about the effects of a late start
to planting on the corn crop's yield potential," Nielsen said. "This fear, coupled
with the uncertain and unpredictable effects of El Nino this coming summer, encourages
some to write off the 1998 corn crop altogether. My response to this in early May is,
phooey!"
Fueling farmer fear is the most recent report from The Indiana Agricultural Statistics
Service, which said that mostly because of wet fields, just 10 percent of the state's
intended corn acres had been planted by May 3. That compares with 56 percent at the same time last year and a five-year average of 23 percent for the date.
Indiana farmers generally try to finish planting corn in early or mid-May, at which
point they begin planting soybeans. Farmers in southern sections of the state begin
earlier than the rest, while those in northern Indiana start later. The rush to plant
is generated by the necessity for crops to mature before the first frost in fall.
Despite the numbers from the statistics service, Nielsen said it was way too soon
to panic -- though some farmers and many grain traders are doing just that.
"Some are even speculating about how many intended acres of corn will have to be replaced
with soybeans to accommodate the shortened growing season," he said.
In recommending calm, Nielsen noted that previous experience indicates that late planting
does not necessarily doom a crop.
He cited the 1996 and 1997 growing seasons, which respectively represent the latest
and the earliest average planting dates during the past 15 years. Half of the state's
corn crop was planted by May 28 in 1996 and by May 2 in 1997. However, the average
statewide corn yields for the two years were identical, at a respectable 123 bushels
per acre.
"It is true that for any given field, delayed planting beyond early May will likely
result in lower corn yields due to a number of factors, including shorter growing
season, insect and disease pressure, and moisture stress during pollination," he
said. "However, if one reviews the data for average statewide planting dates and corn yield
for the past 15 years, there is not a strong relationship between the planting date
and the statewide average corn grain yield. In fact, only about 3 percent of the
variability in statewide corn grain yield during the past 15 years is related to planting
date."
Despite that fact, Purdue agronomists and independent crop consultants annually emphasize
the importance of timely planting -- which can leave farmers wondering what they should
think.
"Although we know that early planted corn will usually yield more than later-planted
corn, the exact yield level depends on a host of other factors," Nielsen said. "Simply
put, planting date is not a single predictor of absolute yield in a given field for
a given year."
CONTACT: Nielsen, (765) 494-4802; e-mail, rnielsen@purdue.edu
Zebra mussel expert cautions boaters
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Boating season is here, and boaters should be especially careful
this year to avoid spreading zebra mussels and other nonindigenous species to new
waters, said Pat Charlebois, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant biological resources specialist.
Zebra mussels were reported in three additional northern Indiana lakes last fall:
Chapman Lake in Kosciusko County and Pine Lake and Stone Lake in LaPorte County,
according to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. That brings to 18 the number
of Indiana lakes infested by the small, but expensive, pests. They previously had been found
in the Ohio and St. Joseph rivers and in lakes in Elkhart, Lake, Marshall, Steuben
and White counties.
Zebra mussels, transported from Europe in ballast water of ships, were found in the
Great Lakes in 1988. They clog water intake lines, creating major cleanup costs,
and contribute an unpleasant taste and odor to drinking water. In one five-year period,
Great Lakes industries and municipal water suppliers spent an estimated $120 million
in cleanup costs, according to Charlebois.
Inland waters become infested when zebra mussels are transported among lakes and rivers.
The mussels can attach themselves to boats and fishing equipment, and their free-swimming
young can live in the water in bait buckets and engine cooling systems. Boat engines can be damaged if cooling systems are clogged. Native species can be harmed
when zebra mussels out-compete them for food.
"Although effects on native fish and clams may not be seen for several years, zebra
mussels will rapidly increase water clarity in inland lakes by filtering out suspended
particles in the water. These particles are microscopic plants and animals, which
form the base of the food chain," Charlebois said.
When checking their boats, people should look for small, D-shaped mussels no bigger
than a large fingernail, usually with black and white stripes, similar to stripes
on zebras. Boaters can help slow the spread of zebra mussels by following a few simple
steps.
Before leaving the boat launch:
- Inspect boats, trailers and boating equipment and remove any visible plants or animals.
- Drain, on land, all water from the motor, live well, bait bucket, bilge and transom
wells.
- Dispose of unwanted bait in a trash container. Never release live bait into a waterway
or transfer aquatic animals between waterways.
After leaving the boat launch:
- Wash boats, tackle, downriggers, trailers and other boating equipment to kill any
exotic species not visible at the launch. Use tap water of at least 104 degrees Fahrenheit
or a high-pressure sprayer. This task should be done on the way home or after arrival at home before drying.
- As an alternative, dry equipment for at least five days. Some exotics can survive
for up to two weeks out of water.
- Learn to identify the organisms and which waterways are infested. Report any new
infestations to Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant or the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant is funding research and outreach efforts to help prevent
further spread of zebra mussels and other nonindigenous species. For additional information,
contact Charlebois at (847) 872-0140, e-mail, p_char@ix.netcom.com.
Compiled by Chris Sigurdson, (765) 494-8415; E-mail, sig@ecn.purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu
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