Tag Archives: agronomy

Agvocating: It’s harder to say than do

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When I first heard people saying the word, “Agvocate,” I tried repeating it and realized it’s not an easy word to say. But here’s the good news: it’s much harder to say “agvocate” than it is to be an agvocate. 

The word agvocate was coined by Mike Haley, a fifth generation Ohio farmer, and it’s become a movement that has been fun and inspiring to watch. It’s never been more important for those of us involved in food production to tell the story of modern agriculture - to remind people that a modern farm is still, almost always, a family farm. Greater understanding is accomplished when farmers share with their “urban neighbors” how food is grown, the number of hours it takes and the labor required, as well as the heart and soul that goes into producing food for the world.

Agvocating has been an amazing movement to watch thus far. If you’re ready to become a part of it, I urge you to get involved. Sign up for Twitter, share the story of your farm on a family blog, or simply remember to talk about the importance of modern day food production and agriculture with neighbors and community members.

Here’s a great resource for getting started: http://agchat.org/2010/09/why-would-a-farmer-want-to-blog.html.

Also, check out this link to a great video creating by the Ag Chat foundation that shares some interesting information about just how much agriculture does for our world today:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYoADgvJgE4

How are you agvocating?

The Importance of Starting Harvest Early

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Leaving corn in the field until its moisture levels are below 20% could actually cost you more than drying grain. Experts say that growers must weigh the risk of severe lodging and resulting yield losses when they allow corn to dry too long in the field.

The optimum harvest moisture for corn is about 23-25%. Kernels shell easily and stalks generally stand better at this moisture level. With a timely and efficient combining, normal harvest loss is about 1 or 2%. Harvest losses increase by 2 to 8% above the normal level if corn dries down too much in the field. Most harvest losses are caused by kernel shattering or corn never getting into the combine. As stalk lodging and ear dropping increases, the more corn dries down in the field.

Balance is needed between field dry down and harvest loss. These spreadsheets show the importance of starting harvest early.

Click on the chart to view full-size image.
Source: Monsanto Agronomic Spotlight

Widespread SDS has many asking, “What do I do?”

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In last week’s crop report, we highlighted the fact that SDS has been widespread in Iowa and surrounding states. One reason we’re seeing widespread SDS this year is because fields have experienced the perfect storm: soils that were compacted last fall due to a late and wet harvest were also wet and cool during the 2010 planting season. As a result, ideal conditions were created for the soil-borne fungus that causes SDS.

Farmers throughout Latham service areas, including Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Missouri and South Dakota, have been asking repeatedly, “What should I do?”

Although there isn’t anything you can do right now to minimize the severity of damage from SDS this season, there are multiple management practices you can employ to help ensure SDS doesn’t strike again in the future. Ways to avoid future SDS damage include:

  1. Crop rotation – Make sure you don’t plant beans-on-beans in fields that have been hit with SDS. Note fields where SDS is especially prevalent. Crop notes will help you plant a soybean brand with high SDS tolerance in those areas the next time you plant soybeans.
  2. Tillage – No-till practices allow soil to remain cooler and wetter longer, which can increase the severity of SDS. Tilling helps change soil conditions to be more adverse to SDS.
  3. Planting Date – Planting at a later date can help reduce the risk of SDS, as well.
  4. And Variety Selection – Variety selection is incredibly important. Choose soybeans brands that have high SDS tolerance. Latham® brands that have done very well in SDS-affected soils include the following:
    1. L2085R
    2. L2767R2
    3. L2987L
    4. L2648R2
    5. L2875R
    6. L3268R2

We will follow up with additional blogs on SDS this week. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have about your own fields. Are you seeing SDS in your fields? If so, to what degree?