Using Fieldwork Days Data to Manage Fieldwork

Ray Massey and Pat GuinanUniversity of MissouriCommercial Ag Program

Crop Progress and Fieldwork DaysApril through November USDA data –

Reporters’ opinion of ▪ crop conditions and soil conditions allowing

equipment into the field▪ Percent of crops at various stages

http://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Missouri/Publications/Crop_Progress_and_Condition/

Crop Reporting Districts

NW Missouri Field Workdays

Mar 27Ap

r 10Ap

r 24

May 08

May 22

Jun 05

Jun 19

Jul 03

Jul 17

Jul 31Au

g 14Au

g 28Se

p 11Se

p 25Oct

09Oct

23Nov

06Nov

200

1

2

3

4

5

6

Day

s pe

r w

eek

NW Corn Planting Date

Mar 20Apr 03

Apr 17May 01

May 15May 29

Jun 12Jun 26

0102030405060708090

100

1980-1989 1990-1999 2000-2010

Perc

ent

Com

plet

e

Average Date of

Last Spring Frost

Missouri April Precipitation

19801982

19841986

19881990

19921994

19961998

20002002

20042006

20080.00

2.00

4.00

6.00

8.00

10.00

Apr

il Pr

ecip

itatio

n (in

.)

Median Date of Last Spring Frost (≤32°F) 1971-2000

NW MO Corn Planting: Median date

1977

1979

1981

1983

1985

1987

1989

1991

1993

1995

1997

1999

2001

2003

2005

2007

2009

20-Mar

9-Apr

29-Apr

19-May

8-Jun

28-Jun

18-JulMedian Trendline Outliers

Day

s

1 day earlier every 6 years

NW MO Corn Planting: Days between 25th and 75th percentiles

1977

1979

1981

1983

1985

1987

1989

1991

1993

1995

1997

1999

2001

2003

2005

2007

2009

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40 Days between Trendline Outliers

Dur

atio

n in

Day

s Increase 1 day every 6 years.

NW Corn Harvesting Date

Aug 21Sep 04

Sep 18Oct 02

Oct 16Oct 30

Nov 13Nov 27

Dec 110

102030405060708090

100

1980-1989 1990-1999 2000-2010

Perc

ent

Com

plet

e

Average Date of First Fall

Frost

Factors Affecting Planting DateWeather: rainfall and temperatureSeed CoatsSeed GeneticsSeed Company Promotions – replant

provisionsAdoption of no-tillLarger equipment – faster plantingLarger farmsCustom fertilizer and farming

Uses of PFDM Equipment management – number of

pieces of equipment necessary to complete fieldword with confidence.

Land acquisition questions – can I add 200 acres with existing equipment?

Cropping dynamics – given delayed planting, what is the probability successfully carrying out current cropping plan.

Nutrient management plans – probability of completion for regulatory purposes

crops.missouri.edu

MU Resource Guides

Crops.missouri.eduSwine.missouri.eduBeef.missouri.eduDairy.missouri.edu