Not that season. At Pinicon we equate phases of the growing season with the predominant field operation, not necessarily the better-known meteorological term. Spring is planting season, fall is harvest, early summer is spraying season and midsummer is fungicide season.

The timing of fungicide application happens during silking in corn and flowering in beans. An important milestone in the growing season, fungicide application occurs early enough to make strategic adjustments while advanced enough to give us a clearer view of the likely outcome. 

Ground rigs are used for fungicide on soybeans while we prefer aerial application for corn. Skyline Aeronautic operates out of our airstrip in McIntire. Via trusty pilot Rodney Hoelscher, owner Carl Brumm gets daily birds eye crop condition reports. Acres applied in '23 were down around 50% due to the belief that yields were either below insurance trigger levels and/or dry conditions are not conducive to fungal procreation. 

Precipitation has been well below average and highly variable. YTD totals from our sixteen rain gauge locations show a tale of two climates. Amounts since 5/1 vary from 4.6" at the Jacobson Farm five miles north of Leroy Minnesota to 11" at Garden, five miles north of Elma Iowa. Twenty-three miles separate these fields. 

The choice to not apply fungicide this year is understandable. The typical 10–20 bushel response would not be expected due to adverse conditions, the price of corn is down, and in many cases the anticipated yield is below the insurance trigger level. If the practice will not bring yields above the trigger yield, there is no economic incentive to spend money on more inputs.

Yet, there is another way to look at this decision. Five bushels of optimally marketed corn will cover the cost of application. Although less lucrative than is typical, fungicide application pays. We have also observed soils with the least natural productivity, in general, benefit the most from intensive management. While production on some farms will be down by up to 30%, we think it is possible to stay within 15% of our long-term average by providing every farm with the best opportunity to thrive.

From a short-term cash maximization perspective, not applying fungicide is a rational choice. However, from a long-term reputational integrity perspective, maybe not.

We feel maintaining the highest possible yield history has value to our company and landowners.

To my surprise, GDU (growing degree units) accumulation so far this year at 1,770 is slightly below '22 while still 180 units above average. We will need an average temperature, frost free September for all the corn acres to reach maturity.

Grain hauling, equipment maintenance, mowing and planning for harvest are the major activities going forward. The silver lining in a short crop is the road to completion is shorter.

That means more time to prepare for '24, destined to be our best crop ever.

Jim