Archive for category: Uncategorized

With only 5% of corn acres harvested as grain complete and 2% of soybeans harvested (compared to last year’s 20%) as of the most recent (October 3, 2011) USDA Wisconsin Crop Progress Report, those running combines, trucks and other harvest equipment are in for a super busy October. It’s important to use the few extra moments and rainy days you do have to take extra steps to reduce the risk of a catastrophic combine fire. The risk is higher when you’re going all out to get the crop out of the field before the first snow flies, especially if you don’t take the time to keep your machine clean and take care of all the required maintenance.

A few years ago when I was an agricultural safety specialist in Minnesota’s Agricultural Engineering Department, my research team and I looked at more than 8,000 fires that had occurred over more than a decade. We dug into the details of 620 of these fires that happened from 1998-2000 and learned some important facts.

October is by far the highest risk month, based largely on the sheer number of hours spent in the field, often with little time to pay full attention to maintenance tasks. Mechanical failures like worn out bearings, slipping belts, etc. were the biggest cause followed by electrical system failure (arcing, sparking, overheating), and simple lack of maintenance. More than three-quarters (76.7%) of fires started in the engine area. While “crop residue” was most often the first material to catch on fire, IF the fire burned into a fuel, oil, or hydraulic line, losses were often catastrophic ranging from tens of thousands of dollars to full losses.

Keep your machine as clean as possible. Depending on the design of the machine and the condition of the crop, you will rapidly learn where crop material will tend to accumulate. Manually remove material and use an air compressor (and safety glasses) to blow off dust, chaff and other material as often as possible. If you notice any type of flickering of lights/instruments, unusual noises (from failing beartings or other mechanical components), or even small leaks in fuel or oil lines, diagnose and fix the problem immediately.

If your combine does catch on fire, pull immediately away from the standing crop and get the engine shut down as soon as you can safely do so. A running engine will continue to “fan” the fire and will often continue to pump liquid fuel into a burning area if you’ve ruptured an oil or diesel line. Get help onto the site immediately by calling 911. Provide the dispatcher with your exact location, staying on the line if necessary so that your location can be detected. Let the fire department dispatcher know you have a farm machinery fire so they can send the right equipment. Do not try to fight the fire with an extinguisher unless you are able to approach it safely.

Every grain combine should be equipped with two ABC dry chemical fire extinguishers – the larger, the better, but they should be AT LEAST 10-pounds with an Underwriters Laboratories (UL) approval. One can be mounted in the cab, and one in an area where you can reach it from the ground without having to climb back into the machine. Check the pressure gauge on all extinguishers often. DO NOT try and test the extinguisher by “releasing” some of the chemical. It will effectively unseal the unit and requiring it to be recharged by a local fire department or other facility with the correct equipment. Many fire departments will also provide advice and will take a look at your extinguishers if you have any doubts or need other fire protection advice.

Finally, check with your insurance agent to make sure all your equipment is appropriately covered. A combine fire can easily cost $150,000 or more. The additional “downtime” can run thousands of dollars a day depending on crop prices, the capacity of your machinery, and the weather conditions. Take time to think about and reduce your risk before it’s too late!

John Shutske,

ANRE Program Director (and Professor, Biological Systems Engineering)

The threat of a killing frost across WI has many growers concerned about the potential yield loss to soybean. The soybean fields that I have scouted over the last week are well into the the R6 growth stage (full seed: pod containing a green seed that fills the pod cavity at one of the four upper most nodes on the main stem with a fully developed leaf). In fact as of Monday 9/12/11 8% of the soybean varieties had reached physiological maturity (R7) at our Arlington site. On average a soybean plant remains in the R6 growth stage for 18 days; however the range can be as short as 9 days or as many as 30. As we move through the R6 growth stage and into R7 soybean seed moisture declines thus decreasing the risk of yield loss due to frost. Judd et al. (1982) found that seed in green pods which contain 65% moisture are injured at 28 °F whereas seed found in brown pods at 35% moisture was not injured at 10 °F. If frost damage is suspected remember that frost damaged soybeans will dry slower in the field and accuracy of moisture sensors may be suspect (may be 1-2% higher than the moisture meter reading) (PM 1635).

For more information on storage issues and uses of frost damaged soybean read page two of: Frost Damage to Corn and Soybean.

Literate cited:

PM 1635: Frost Damage to Corn and Soybean. http://www.extension.iastate.edu/publications/PM1635.pdf

Judd, R., T.M. Tekrony, D. B. Egli, and G.M. White. 1982. Effect of freezing temperatures during soybean seed maturation on seed quality. Agron J. 74:645-650.

I have logged many miles across Southern WI the past week and have noticed several pockets of soybean that could use some rain. The U.S. Drought Monitor service verifies my wind shield scouting as it places most of southern WI in the abnormally dry category (Image 1). Across southern and central WI the average soybean field I have been in is at the R5.5 to R6 growth stage (full seed). In WI the R6 growth stage on average lasts ~18 days but will range from 9 to 30 days depending upon the weather. Soybean in this stage use about 1/4 to 1/3 inches of water per day. Lack of sufficient water during this growth stage can cause young pods and developing seed to abort reducing the number of seeds per plant (Images 2 &3).

Image 1.

Soybean plants can reduce the size of their leaf pore openings to reduce the loss of water vapor. This also reduces the intake of carbon dioxide and the manufacturing of photosynthates which slows plant growth. When normal soil moisture returns, normal growth is resumed. This ability to reduce metabolic activity allows plants to tolerate dry spells without dying or harming their ability to resume growth when normal moisture returns.

If stress has severely affected pod set and seed fill, and if livestock feed is needed, soybeans can be harvested as a forage for ensiling. Highest protein and yields are obtained from soybean harvested at the R6 to R7 growth stage. Harvesting soybeans for forage between the R1 and R5 stage will result in a very high quality silage, but dry matter yields will be reduced significantly. Forage quality will be reduced from R5 soybean forward if a conditioning process is used during harvest. Conditioning will cause significant seed shattering.

Wisconsin saw a 37% increase in winter wheat acres harvested (315,000) in the 2010 -2011 growing season compared to the previous year. The forecasted yield for the 2011 crop is 68 bu/a, up 4 bu/a from last year. The increase in winter wheat acres was due to timely corn and soybean harvest coupled with increased commodity price. Wheat that was established in a timely manner last fall looked very good to excellent going into winter dormancy; however some areas had delayed emergence and poor fall growth due to dry soil conditions. Late planted wheat suffered from poor tiller development that led to thin stands and weed control problems. Spring growing conditions were mostly favorable across the state; however excessive rainfall did impact wheat in some low lying areas. Warmer-than-normal temperatures in July accelerated crop maturity, however yields were largely unaffected by the hot weather.

Winter wheat yields were variable across our testing locations due to variable rainfall, planting date, and disease pressure. Wheat yields at the Janesville, Lancaster and Arlington, and Chilton locations averaged 86, 102, 97 and 71 bu/a, respectively. Wheat yield and test weight at Chilton was reduced due to variable stands and poor tillering caused by adverse weather conditions (extremely wet and cool early spring) as well as delayed harvest caused by frequent rainfall events. Overall, winter wheat test weights were excellent in 2011. No winterkill was noted at any location in 2011.

Please visit www.coolbean.info to view the official results.