Several dairy farmers have been asking the question: Does improving soil health improve dairy cow health and dairy cow performance? Either higher milk yields, higher components, or just overall herd health? It’s a tough and complicated question to prove definitely, but the answer appears to trend in the direction of YES to all of the above. Milk is about 87% water and 13% solids. As it comes from the cow, the solid portion is about 3.7% fat and 9% solids not fat. Milk has fat soluble Vitamins A, D, E, K. The solids not fat portion is protein, carbohydrates (primarily lactose) and minerals including calcium and phosphorus. Milk is a good rich, dense food source especially for young growing children but also for older adults to avoid calcium deficiency. Researchers at Cornell University compared three fields, one unmanured and two that were manured at three different locations. The number of sites is low so our confidence in the data is rather limited. This was research conducted b...

  Seed imbibition is the process by which dry seeds absorb water, swell, and start germinating. A corn seed will absorb 30% of its weight in water while a soybean seed absorbs 50% water by weight to start germinating. Water moves into the seed coat, to the embryo, and the endosperm which greatly expands the seed and softens the seed coat. Soon radical roots start growing which are the first seed roots. For corn and soybeans, the soil temperature needs to be above 500F but 600F to 700F is much better. Seeds can take 18-20 days to germinate at 500F, but only 8-10 days at 600F and 1-5 days at 700F. This measurement is taken 2 inches deep in the soil. Generally, the soil temperature and moisture are a little more uniform when seeds are planted at least 2 inches deep or deeper. Corn can be planted 3 inches deep to get a more uniform emergence or at least down to moisture. Most areas have received adequate moisture this spring, but there are still areas with much less moisture due to thi...

Researchers at the USDA have identified a leading culprit for the massive honey bee die off.: Varroa mites harbor virulent virus that weaken and eventually kill honey bees. Varroa mites have become resistant to amitraz, the only remaining widely used miticide for hives. Amitraz was widely used, but no longer is considered effective at controlling Varroa mites in honey bee hives. The Varroa mite is an external parasitic mite that attacks and feeds on honey bees. The Varroa mite is one of the most damaging honey bee pests in the world. A significant mite infestation leads to the death of a honey bee colony or hive, starting in late autumn through early spring. Often hives become weak over the winter and the honey bee population in a hive is decimated by spring. Without management for Varroa mite, honey bee colonies typically collapse within 2 to 3 years in the USA. The Varroa mite can reproduce only in a honey bee colony. It attaches to the body of the bee and weakens the bee. The Varroa...

  Fast seed germination is critical to achieving high crop yields.  Cold wet weather often causes early crop stress that can be difficult for the plant to overcome and may cause long-term yield loss. Corn seed that germinates 3 days later than its neighbors is like a weed.  Fast seed emergence has many advantages.     First, the seed generally has enough energy to get the roots established and a leaf growing to capture the sun’s energy.  When seed roots emerge quickly though, there is less time for seed damage by insects, especially seed corn maggots, wireworms, and root worm larva.  Fast growing plants can outrun most slug damage or flea beetle which feast on sickly plants that are struggling to grow quickly.  Corn seeds provide nourishment for 7-14 days or until V3 while soybean its 7-10 days. New growing roots supplement seed nutrient reserves to improve plant growth, especially from micro-nutrients needed to speed up plant growth.  When s...