Heat damage

[puffster]

After the wind today corn in Eastern Kansas is virtually done.  This is the 12th day in a row of a 100 plus temps.  The corn in this area has held up until today...now rolled and starting to fire from the bottom.  Some say it won't even make silage.  On our farm we have been haying, with the yields maybe half of usual.  A small relieve is coming this weekend, but right back to the heat.  Even though it has been told to us fringe area farmers that our acres don't count towards the big bushels that are raise in the cornbelt, I can't believe that all the acres of drought that will be lost throughout the scorch areas of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas Missouri, and all the southeast will come to play soon.  Corn basis in the Western Kansas Feedlots areas are cranking up.  Some feedlots are buying wheat for feed.  Most corn in this area will be zeroed out for insurance.  I guess I am just discouraged tonight watching everything burn up, and seeing corn prices struggling.  Maybe it is my inability to understand markets. 

[nwobcw]

   Don't feel bad.  While we are maybe not quite as bad as you this area is suffering too.  I turned the 1st wheel June 3rd, planting in too wet clay.  In some places the slots still haven't closed up.  But we have only had  2.4" rain since June 13th.  My estimate is maybe 20% of the corn could be considered good.  20% more probably won't make anything.  The rest might average half a crop.  Beans for the most part may produce above insurance payments.  That's only because on a 10 year average it doesn't keep up with the increases in yields we have recently seen.  Throw in 2 wipe out years in 2001 and 2004 and the average is hard to keep up.

[puffster]

Just a quick update on the ongoings in Eastern Kansas.  Another day with the temperature hitting 105 here.  Grass is disappearing more each day.  Most double stock cattle are leaving early, with the protein dropping and feed value leaving the pastures quickly.  We are starting to ship next week.  Our pastures should be empty in a couple of weeks.  Beans are looking stressed to the max now.  Reminds me of the early 80's, which I am sure some of you remember.  Like I said in my first post, corn is shot.  Interesting after reading many readers posts, we all have a sad story to tell, which leads me to my point again.. Corn is to cheap.  Wheat acres will be a challenge to be planted with no moisture at all.

[idalivered]

Puffster, I'm not from winter wheat country, but aren't you at least 8 weeks from seeding? Is it common for wheat growers to seed in dry conditions and have fall rains start that crop? How many milo acres and what conditon? If you can't/don't plant wheat on dryland acres, then what?

[puffster]

Idalivered, You are correct in we are couple of months from seeding.  Seeding in the dust is common, but not much moisture collected in fallow ground, and with high imput costs I am wondering if some will not take preventative planting on wheat if possible. .  In our area, we are seeing wheat being used as feed in some rations.  Milo acres are burnt in our area just like corn, with most will not be able to shoot a head.  This heat is just having the plants shut down.  Heard this morning that the dome in out part will not be breaking down.