Ag Radio programs for October 12 - 18, 2007
Alfalfa Stands
This is Ag Outlook 2007 on 1420 KJCK, I'm Chuck Otte, Geary County, K-State Research and Extension Ag & Natural Resources Agent. We had quite a few people try to get alfalfa re-established this fall and you may be trying to figure out if you have a decent stand. Or maybe you've got an older stand and you're trying to figure out if you need to try to replace it next spring. Well, for new stands, the threshold is to have 30 vigorously growing seedlings per square foot. If you don't have them and don't think you'll have them by next spring, then you may have to consider replanting in the spring. If you have an older stand that has less than 5 or 6 good plants per square foot, then it's probably time to consider fall tillage and replanting or at least start getting prepared to plant some new alfalfa come April. If the seedlings aren't doing well, as in they came up and now are just sitting there, then we have a host of things to consider. First of all, did you use starter fertilizer and did you use inoculant? Most fields, unless they have lots of carryover nutrients, are going to need some phosphorus and nitrogen to help get those seedlings started and then to keep them going. Did you soil test to make sure that the pH was above 6.5? Alfalfa can handle alkaline soil, but it can't handle acid soils, even slightly acid. IF you didn't soil test and now your new stand is just sitting there, a soil test would be in order. Did you use high quality treated seed with a seed treatment to reduce seedling diseases? We've had just enough rain that this could be an issue, and if you planted kansas Common, there's no telling what you've got coming up. Alfalfa is far too valuable a crop to skimp on management. If you are having an alfalfa establishment problem, please give me a call.! This has been Ag Outlook 2007 on the Talk of JC, 1420 KJCK, I'm Chuck Otte.
Moving Farm Equipment safely
This is Ag Outlook 2007 on 1420 KJCK, I'm Chuck Otte, Geary County, K-State Research and Extension Ag & Natural Resources Agent. I'm going to be continuing this them of vehicle safety on the roadways for quite some time, so you can just get used to it. One way that you, the farmer, can help yourself when you're moving farm equipment on the roadways is to just follow a few basic rules and guidelines. First of all, make sure that all hazard and visibility lights are working, clean and then turned on once you pull on to the roadway. Same thing for all reflectors and the orange triangular slow moving vehicle signs. It may not be a bad idea to keep a windex sprayer bottle filled with water and a roll of paper towels with you so you can check and clean the lights and reflectors every time you are ready to pull out of the field. Sure, it may seem like a nuisance, but the more visible you are, the safer you will be. Next, if it is at all possible, avoid those busy times of day and I'm thinking 7 to about 8:30 on weekday mornings and 4:30 to about 6 pm on weekday nights. There's going to be more vehicles out on the roadway then and more impatient drivers. It's not your fault that they didn't leave early enough to arrive on time, but they'll sure take out their frustrations with the horn. Also make sure that any securing safety latches are being used and that equipment is road ready. If possible, try to knock off as much dirt and debris in the field before hitting the road. I don't enjoy driving over all that mud on the highway from all the construction, and dirt on the highway is dirt on the highway regardless of the source. And for all of you who encounter farm equipment on the road, please slow down and be patient. This has been Ag Outlook 2007 on the Talk of JC, 1420 KJCK, I'm Chuck Otte.
Controlling Annual broadleaf and grassy weeds
This is Ag Outlook 2007 on 1420 KJCK, I'm Chuck Otte, Geary County, K-State Research and Extension Ag & Natural Resources Agent. More and more producers are going to no till or reduced till farming methods and are utilizing some really good rotations. In fields where you will be going to corn or grain sorghum next spring, you have a great opportunity to control quite a few winter annual broadleaf and grassy weeds now so that they aren't using up potentially valuable moisture and producing more seeds to deal with at some other time. Most of this control effort is going to come down on an atrazine mix of some kind. We generally recommend 1 to 2 pounds of atrazine plus 1 pint of 2,4-D for this fall burndown. The atrazine and 2,4-D will take out most of the cheat type grasses and the winter annual broadleaf weeds will get a double whammy from the atrazine and 2,4-D. This would include a lot of weeds such as henbit, pepperweed, mustards, prickly lettuce, field pansy, evening primrose and horseweed. Many of these are very difficult if not nearly impossible to control in the spring. In the fall these weeds are smaller and much more likely to be controlled. And you have the added benefit of put some hurt on field bindweed if that has been a problem in your fields. Then the atrazine will also control early season weeds in the crop stubble as well as early on in the crop. We have shown time and time again the effectiveness of use a preplant or pre-emerge herbicide even in round up ready crops. It reduces the number of times that you need to use the round up, reduces the liklihood of developing round up resistant weeds and ultimately improves your yield and reduces your production costs. For more information, give me a call so we can discuss the options. This has been Ag Outlook 2007 on the Talk of JC, 1420 KJCK, I'm Chuck Otte.
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