In a year that broke records for precipitation (11 inches above normal at 41.5 inches, as of Dec. 10), it can be difficult to find the silver lining in all the clouds, but Kevin Carlson, Federated’s agronomy sales manager pulled together valuable observations as this challenging year comes to a close.

• * While some of Federated’s service areas had up to 30% of their acres in prevent plant, other areas got everything planted and managed to pull out good yields.
• * Considering the low number of GDUs during the 2019 growing season, which produced light test weights, the corn crop turned out pretty well this year.
• * Prevent plant acres will need good management in 2020 to overcome the effects of fallow syndrome (watch upcoming Agronomy Updates for ways to address that).
• * Nitrogen loss was huge in 2019, thanks to the persistent rains, but good nutrient management can fix that.
• * Soybeans were significantly affected by Sclerotinia/white mold due to the perfect environment for a high infestation of the dormant spores. Fortunately, there are effective fungicides to combat that issue – but it will takes proactive efforts in 2020.
• * Weed resistance continues to be a struggle, namely with waterhemp and giant ragweed, but trait selection and good weed management (pre-emerge followed by post-emerge herbicides) will help growers in the fight.

“The bottom line,” said Carlson, “with all things considered in this cool, wet year, we still ended up with a fairly decent crop.” And with “corn and soybean prices up a little,” he said, there is a bit of compensation.

Having just battled back-to-back years of wet conditions, “odds are that we are going into a pretty wet spring” in 2020, said Carlson. Managing around the moisture will be very important.

“We are here to help our customers increase yields, improve profitability, and manage risk,” said Carlson. “Whatever we can do, we will do, within the realm of our wheelhouse” – from making plans to arranging custom services to helping get things planted on time. “We are here to help with those decisions. We know they are not easy,” he said.

As 2019 closes and 2020 begins, remember to contact your Federated Agronomist to discuss

• * hybrid and variety selection,
• * nutrient management, and
• * disease and weed control.

And communicate often with your Federated Agronomy team. “Plans are managed around what we know and what we don’t know,” said Carlson. Help us be in the know in 2020!