Some thoughts about harvest time

Jenna Nees

It’s harvest time in Indiana and that means the roads will contain more slow-moving vehicles, the roadsides will become vacant and many farmers and farm families will be putting in long hours.

As the hustle and bustle of harvest occurs, remember that there is no room for forgetting the importance of safety or of sleep.

Although harvest has started there are still many things that farmers need to keep in mind. First, we would encourage all producers to have a working fire extinguisher with them. Ideally, we would prefer them to have a Class A or a stored water extinguisher with antifreeze solution in it and a dry chemical ABC fire extinguisher. Having a fire extinguisher readily available may be of more importance this year since we have had an exceptionally dry summer and fall.

When traveling down the road, remember to be a good citizen. Farmers should make sure their equipment has working lights (front, rear and turn signals) and they have a slow-moving vehicle (SMV) sign posted where everyone can see it. Any vehicle that operates at less than 25 mph is required to have a SMV sign on it. If you come up on a vehicle with a SMV sign (red triangle with orange edges), keep enough distance between you and the farm equipment so you are able to stop quickly if the need arises. Farmers should make sure their SMV signs are in good condition and can easily be seen. When traveling on the road, farmers should turn on their hazard lights to help notify other drivers they are there.

As we progress through harvest, we would encourage all farmers to continue to scout their fields. If you have a field with a large patch of weeds (specifically waterhemp and ragweed) consider doing that part of the field at the end of harvest in order to prevent spreading any weed seeds. If you can’t wait until the end of harvest to do that area, then harvest that part of the field last and clean out all equipment before moving on the next field.

When scouting assess how your weed control program did for the 2024 growing season. If it did not do well, make note of the issues and develop a plan on how to control those weeds in 2025. Some weeds to be on the lookout for include morning glory, bindweed and burcucumber. If you would come across poison hemlock during your scouting, then consider taking some control measures now. Any poison hemlock that is in the rosette stage and is still green, is more susceptible to a herbicide application now, than in the spring.

In terms of crop diseases, you may see some tar spot in corn. At this point in time, it is too late to spray for it. It is important to note that tar spot has been confirmed in 87 of the 92 counties in Indiana. Another disease to look for is red crown rot in soybeans. Red crown rot will cause a red discoloration of the lower stem near the soil-line. If you cut open the stem the central pith may have a gray discoloration. It has been confirmed in four Indiana counties. If you find any in your fields, contact Purdue Extension. We would greatly appreciate a sample from a field.

For livestock producers, now is a great time to have your forage analyzed. You can do this by sending a representative sample to a certified laboratory. To obtain the sample you will need to utilize a forage probe. There is a forage available to producers through the Purdue Extension Putnam County office.

Additionally, the Indiana Forage Council organized the Hoosier Hay Contest. The deadline for hay and baleage sample submission is Sept. 30. Forage quality results for the categories that a producer enters will be shared with them. Quality results will also be shared with all entrants in a specific category, but results of others will be anonymous. Details about the Hoosier Hay Contest can be found at the Indiana Forage Council website (https://indianaforage.org/).

Visit www.extension.purdue.edu/putnam or contact the local Purdue Extension Office at 653-8411 for more information regarding this week’s column topic or to RSVP for upcoming events. It is always best to call first to assure items are ready when you arrive and to RSVP for programs. While many publications are free, some do have a fee.

Upcoming Events:

Sept. 28 – Weed Wrangle, sponsored by Putnam County Remove Invasive Plants, 9-11 a.m., Ivy Tech Community College.

Sept. 30 – Deadline to enter Hoosier Hay Contest.

Oct. 14 – Extension Office closed for Columbus Day.