Spring weather was mild-moist-but not excessively wet from March through late April. That was followed by heavy rainfall from late April through early June. From June through August, we had almost ideal crop production moisture conditions. The results were early planting and record crop yields.

Many cornfields produced over 200 bushels per acre. Many soybean fields produced over 70 bushels per acre. Seasonal alfalfa and bermudagrass hay yields exceeded 7 tons per acre at several locations. Many tall fescue hay fields were harvested three times, with total yields exceeding 4 tons per acre.

One concern associated with high yields is feed quality. Drs. Kenneth Ferrell and Jim White, MFA animal nutritionists, are reporting low corn protein levels associated with the 2004 grain crop. I have not seen many grass hay sample analyses but expect widespread low protein levels. Low protein is often associated with high yield because nitrogen, a basic building block of protein, becomes limiting as crop yields exceed nitrogen fertilizer inputs.

I addressed crop nutrient removal in last month's Today's Farmer. Basically, producers who practice quality long-term nutrient management will require minimum plant food input adjustments in response to a single season's high crop yields. Those who have not maintained optimum soil nutrient status will have to increase 2005 fertilizer inputs.

The 2004 environmental conditions stimulated soil borne, foliar and seed borne disease pressure in winter wheat and soybeans. Yield responses to foliar fungicides ranged from 0 to 10 bushels per acre. Many wheat fields were affected by intense rain-induced fusarium head blight (scab), which is not effectively controlled by foliar fungicides. Many soybean fields were infected by charcoal rot and sudden death syndrome, which are not affected by foliar fungicides. I still recommend fungicides based upon the type, intensity and distribution of foliar diseases present.

For the fourth consecutive season, early planted corn performed extremely well. What separated 2004 from previous seasons was the success of early planted soybeans. There is a growing trend toward planting and harvesting soybeans before corn. I have walked too many soybean replant fields to feel comfortable recommending this practice across large acreages. If you plant soybeans early, a fungicide seed treatment is mandatory.

Generally, crop insect pressure was very light in 2004. Soybean aphids, the talk of the winter agronomy meetings last year, were not a major issue. However, experience with this pest trends toward a 2-year cycle, so don't let your guard down next year. Grasshoppers were the dominant insect pest. Those who treated early or spot treated border areas benefited from that treatment. I continue to observe rising numbers of stinkbugs in corn and especially in soybeans.

Alfalfa weevil, potato leaf hopper, bean leaf beetle, black cutworm, armyworm, wireworms and the myriad of usual suspects appeared in pockets last season but did not cause widespread problems. Overall insect pressure was low enough that we did not get a clear idea if preventative insecticide seed and foliar treatments were effective. However, I believe these preventative treatments were partially responsible for the low insect pressure observed.

Once again, the waterhemp/pigweed complex was a major problem in many soybean fields. Well dispersed seasonal rainfall led to multiple flushes of these and other late-emerging weeds such as velvetleaf, foxtail and ragweed. Several agronomists are adding residual herbicide recommendations to Roundup Ready systems to address the multiple weed flush issue.

Glyphosate resistance continues to be a major discussion topic. Along with waterhemp/pigweed and marestail, many believe common ragweed can be added to the resistance list. Please keep this issue in mind, especially as we increase glyphosate-resistant corn acreage.

Forage weed control has become the fastest growing component of the crop protection industry. Grass production increases 50 to 500 percent in most pastures when they are introduced to an aggressive weed control program. Annual and biennial weeds are relatively easily controlled with timely herbicide applications. Sericea lespedeza, olive species, multiflora rose, blackberry/dewberry, willows and oaks are tough perennial weed problems. Plan on a 2 to 4-year complete program including herbicides, mechanical removal, crop nutrition and grazing management to remove these species.

Overall, 2004 was an outstanding crop production year. However, do not let record yields dominate your agronomic selections for next season. Many agronomy decisions (fertility, seed selection, pest management, etc.) are based upon dealing with the "normal" adverse environmental conditions we are accustomed to. The excellent growing conditions in 2004 may have masked some of the agronomic input segregation used for making future crop production decisions. However, 2004 presented obtainable high yields for the optimists among us to shoot for or exceed next year.