Posts

Showing posts from 2013

Cereal Rye as a Feed

Image
The following article was written by Eric Richer, Fulton County Extension Educator. In recent years, rye (Secale cereale L.), also known as cereal rye or winter rye, has been planted by producers as an entry level or “user friendly” cover crop. As a cover crop, it is a great nutrient recycler, soil builder, topsoil loosener, and erosion preventer. For dairy and beef producers, rye can also be considered for additional grazing or forage value. Based on surveys from several Northwest Ohio producers who have used rye as a spring feed source, it can provide additional feed tonnage on idle acres in a corn-soybeans rotation and with minimal effort or expense. According to the Ohio Agronomy Guide, rye is most winter hardy and earliest maturing cereal grain grown in Ohio. While spring rye-lage will not have the same feed value as corn silage, producers can evaluate its cost per pound of gain to see if it may fit in their total mixed ration (TMR) feeding systems. Based on feed analyses from fiv

Palmer Amaranth

Image
  A new noxious weed has emerged in Ohio called Palmer amaranth. Palmer amaranth looks like many pigweed species and can reach a height of 6-8 feet tall and is extremely competitive and aggressive. Sprague, 2011 at Michigan State reports: Palmer amaranth has a rapid growth rate (up to 2.5 inches per day), high drought tolerance, and high seed production (40,000 seeds per plant), has the ability to cross pollinate with other pigweed species and it has developed herbicide resistance (roundup and/or ALS). Palmer amaranth has smooth stems and leaves with no hairs that help to distinguish it from redroot pigweed, smooth pigweed, and Powell amaranth. OSU Weed Scientist Dr. Mark Loux (CORN Newsletter) writes: The epicenter for new Palmer amaranth infestations is in an area southwest of Columbus, bordered roughly by Midway on the north and Washington CH on the south. There is a dairy in the area that has been using cottonseed products for protein feed from the south, so try to avoid importing

Fall Planted Cover Crops

Image
August is a great month to plant fall cover crops, especially after wheat harvest. There are three major types of cover crops: Grasses, Brassicas, and Legumes. Grasses (oats, cereal rye) have a fibrous root system and absorb soil nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) while adding soil organic matter. Brassicas (oilseed radish, rape/canola) suppress weeds and insects and reduce soil compaction and add active organic matter. Legumes (crimson clover, winter peas) are nitrogen fixers that add soil nitrogen. Oats are easy fall crop to grow and may also be a source of forage. As a cover crop, drill 1 bushel or 30 to 60 pounds about 0.5 to 1.5 inches deep in the soil. If you are broadcasting seed, increase the seeding rate 10% (works well before a rain). Good seed to soil contact increases growth. Add 40 -50# N which may be in the form of manure, fertilizer, or as a legume companion crop to increase growth by 50% or more. If forage is desired, drill 2 bu,/A and add fertilizer or manure to get 1-3 t

Cover Crops after Wheat

Image
With wheat soon to be harvested, think about planting cover crops to improve their soil health. There are four major types of cover crops including grasses, legumes, brassica and others. Grasses tend to accumulate nutrients with their fibrous root system and generally make phosphorus more available. They generally have a higher carbon to nitrogen (C:N) ratio. Major grasses include oats, wheat, cereal rye, annual ryegrass, Sudan-sorghum, and barley. These grasses are a grown before soybeans, may absorb left over nitrogen from fertilizer or manure, are good erosion fighters, and reduce soil compaction. Cereal rye (wide leaf) is a winter annual that germinates at 30F. Cereal rye improves soil compaction and suppresses weeds. Annual rye (narrow leaf) is another winter annual with a tremendous root system but may be hard to kill in spring. Sorghum Sudan is a summer annual that dies with the first frost so it needs to be seeded immediately after wheat harvest. Mow or chop after it grows 3 fe

No-till Corn Planting

Image
  Many farmers are now just starting to plant corn. For Northern Ohio, the ideal time to plant corn is late April until May 10 for optimal corn yields. In the Midwest, estimated yield losses for corn are about 0.3% per day initially reaching about 1% loss per day by the end May (Nielsen, 2013). Yield losses are based on many factors including the risks of hot dry conditions during pollination, insect and diseases pressures, and a shorter growing season; which may or may not occur. In 2010-2011, late planted crops produced great yields because of timely summer rains. According to Peter Thomison, OSU corn specialist, “Lower grain yields are not a certainty with late plantings. While delayed planting may cause slightly lower yields, planting date is just one of many factors that influence corn yield. Weather conditions (rainfall and temperature) in July and August are probably the most important yield factors. However, if late planted crops experience severe moisture stress during pollina

Compaction Problems in Early Planted Corn

Image
With cold wet spring, farmers faces delays in spring planting. Generally, farmers try to get corn planted by May 10th and soybeans by mid-May to maximize yields. However, it does not pay to plant too early if the weather conditions and the soil is not fit. Farmers with large acreage may be tempted to get started a little early, but “mudding in” crops may result in hard compacted soils that get replanted. Two years ago in 2011, crops yields were high even though crops were not planted until June, because it rained all summer. Waiting for the soil to be fit is generally the best bet in the long run. Some soils (especially sandy soils or loamy soil) may tolerate planting when the soil is a little wet but clay soils are much more unforgiving. Plant growth may be hurt the entire season if the soil structure is damaged. Soil compaction reduces root growth which then results in reduced nutrient and water uptake. Seeds planted into compacted soils tend to have shallower roots and may be hurt b

Spring Nitrogen Application for Corn

Image
The Tri-State Fertilizer Guide gives the following recommendations on corn nitrogen application. The timing of nitrogen (N) fertilizer applications is an important factor affecting the efficiency of fertilizer N because of leaching and denitrification. Denitrification occurs when nitrate N (NO3 - ) is present in a soil and not enough oxygen (O2) is present to supply the needs of the bacteria and microorganisms in the soil. If oxygen levels are low, microorganisms strip the oxygen from the nitrate, producing N gas (N2) or nitrous oxide (N2O), which volatilizes from the soil. Three conditions that create an environment that promotes denitrification are wet soils, compaction and warm temperatures. Timing N applications to reduce the chance of N losses through these processes may increase the efficiency of fertilizer N use. Ideally, N applications should coincide with the N needs of the crop. This approach requires application of most of the N requirement for corn during a period 6 to 10 w

Macro and Micro Nutrients

Image
The following article was written by Ed Lentz, Hancock County Extension and Jim Hoorman. Farmers often get sales pitches when it comes to plant nutrition. They generally are knowledgeable about the main nutrients, but they are encouraged to try new products to improve crop yields. A basic understanding of soil fertility is important for high crop production. All crops require sixteen essential nutrients for proper growth and development, the specific amount of each nutrient depends upon the crop. The air or atmosphere provides carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. The rest must come from the soil and the amount available for a plant depends upon many factors such as the soil type, organic matter, pH, drainage, microbes, temperature, and rainfall. In the soil, nutrients are absorbed with water being pulled through the plant, diffusion exchange from a chemical gradient, and by roots intercepting the nutrient molecules. Some nutrients are required in large amounts compared to other nutrients, whic

Adapting Agriculture to Extreme Weather

Image
The following information comes from a USDA-SARE grant on Midwest weather and climate. Extreme weather events may change your future farming operation. During wet springs, farmers often use larger equipment and additional hired help to plant in a shorter time period. Cover crops through evapotranspiration may dry the soil quicker. Controlled traffic also promote firmer soils for timely planting. The Ohio State University (OSU) is experimenting with autosteer and self- propelled robots which may allow equipment to get smaller. Smaller lighter equipment (3-4 rows) operated remotely using robotics decreases the weight and compaction factor and operate 24 hours per day. In 20 to 30 years (maybe sooner); planting, spraying and harvesting operations may be vastly different than it is today. With a longer growing season expected, farmers will plant earlier and use longer season crops hybrids that they harvest later. However, OSU research shows that longer crop maturities do not necessarily pr