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  • 8/4/2019 CQ Perspectives Mar 2006

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    Volume 16 Issue 2 March 2006

    OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF CROP QUEST AGRONOMIC SERVICES, INC

    Continued on Page 2

    Special Edition: Pre-Plant 2006

    C r o p Q u e s t P e r s p e c t i v e s

    By:Ron OHanlon,President

    Member, National Alliance

    of Independent Crop

    Consultants, CPCC-I

    CertiedFarmers! We hope you will take time to review this issue of our

    wsletter. We wanted to do an expanded issue that would provide addi-

    nal information to help you prepare and plan for the crop to be planted.

    op Quest agronomists from across our entire service area have contrib-

    ed to this issue by giving their thoughts or ideas on what they feel areportant in preparing for the upcoming planting season.

    We realize that some farming practices in one area may not t another

    ea, or that even some farmers are not set up to adopt a certain farming

    actice, but the ideas may be enough to encourage you to try something

    w, if you are looking for a better way. Maybe it will give you ideas on

    w you could adjust your own program if what you have been doing is

    t giving you the desired results.

    We all know that the expense to plant a crop has raised dramatically

    ese past couple of years with higher energy prices, increased fuel costs

    d higher fertilizer expenses. In previous issues of our newsletter, we

    have written about some of

    the reasons for the higher

    prices due to weather disasters, terror threats, increased usage of fertil

    overseas and the phasing out of unprotable fertilizer facilities here in

    United States. There doesnt appear to be anything on the horizon thatdramatically lower the cost of these inputs, so it is critical that we lear

    how to make a prot while utilizing these inputs to maximize an econ

    cal return.

    In the last issue of our newsletter, we introduced some thoughts from

    several economists to encourage you to take a serious look at your ma

    keting plan. Knowing your cost of production and marketing your cro

    a disciplined manner may be the only way to survive during these tim

    high input costs and low commodity prices.

    The entire agronomic staff at Crop Quest hopes you nd this issue h

    ful and we pray that you will have a successful crop year in 2006.

    Expanded Pre-Plant Crop Issue

    Crop Quest agronomist Jim Halling has been helping row-crop farmers

    Southwest Kansas since 1998. He has seen input costs uctuate since

    started consulting. But like so many of his clients, he doesnt see an

    d of high input and energy costs changing soon, so hes helping his

    stomers meet their production and income goals with science and good,

    mmon-sense management practices.

    Cash ow and market decisions are causing a lot of producers to wait

    ntil the last minute to decide which crop to put in their elds. Farm-

    s need to be as exible as possible during these rough times, Halling

    forms. Due to the areas high pumping costs and high fertilizer costs,producer needs to be exible in making decisions. Having good records

    e going to go a long way in helping him make informed decisions that

    ep his input costs in check.

    Crop Quest agronomists all across the country are working

    with their clients to go over cash ow issues and help them

    budget the year out so they can make the most-informed

    decisions possible.

    Right now we are trying to put some realistic prices on

    what pumping prices are going to be because of the

    uctuating price of natural gas and diesel fuel, says

    Halling. We are trying to pencil out scenarios that

    may mean a complete change in the crop being

    Make Strong Decisions This YearU t i l i ze Last Year s Records To

    m Halling

  • 8/4/2019 CQ Perspectives Mar 2006

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    Utilize Last Years Records ...Continued from Page 1

    C r o p Q u e s t P e r s p e c t i v e s2 w w w . c r o p q u e s t . c o

    planted in 2006. Some of those scenarios say that planting sunowers or

    cotton that cut back on water use in our area might be a more economi-

    cal choice over corn where we know we will be pumping all season

    long. We are also penciling out the risk factors between planting cotton

    or corn.A farmer with good production and cropping records has the upper

    hand because he knows exactly what crops were in specic elds, whats

    a viable crop to rotate into based on last years fertilizer and herbicide

    choices and what the elds are capable of producing, Halling states.

    Many of the chemicals we are using have longer residual activity and

    some carryover concerns. We have to watch our rotational restrictions

    for alternate crops or cropping options. We have to know which herbi-

    cides were in the eld the year before to avoid a wreck this year or even

    next season.

    We have run into different scenarios where we were going to stay

    long-term in certain crops. However, due to rising input costs and

    market strengths, many of our farmers wanted to change to an alterna

    crop, Halling recalls. Unfortunately, the long-term residual of some

    the herbicides they used eliminated this option in certain cases. Know

    a producers desire of a possibility to alternate to another crop is a ke

    issue we discuss with our clients prior to planting or applying certainclasses of chemicals. Records will paint a clear picture of the rotation

    restrictions oflast years crop prior to planting that eld this year.

    Insecticide management also ts into good record keeping,

    Halling adds. We can go in with certain pesticides that handle both c

    rootworm beetles and corn borer. This can eliminate a pass across the

    eld and save half the price of a larvae treatment next season. That ty

    of planning can save a farmer upwards of $10 to $15 off a rescue or s

    applied treatment at planting next season. Knowing what you are goi

    to do with the eld in advance can save you money, labor and improv

    yield potential.

    When diesel and

    natural gas prices

    were reasonably

    inexpensive, it was

    a routine croppingpractice to start

    putting water on

    the eld in Febru-

    ary and March

    while temperatures

    were cool. With

    the sky-high prices

    of both diesel

    and natural gas,

    prewatering is

    no longer being

    viewed a routine

    practice, but onethat requires the

    help of science and

    planning to make it

    work.

    Mickey Huddleston is entering his 15th year of helping farmers

    reach their optimal yield potential in Southwest Kansas. While he

    still believes that prewatering is a sound, economic practice, he is

    hedging his opinion with good science and solid economic data.

    That is exactly what his Crop Quest customers have come to expect

    from him.

    Experience and sound research tells us that if we dont start off

    with a good moisture prole, it can typically mean a reduction of 20

    to 30 bushels of corn and potentially as high as 80 to 90 bushels of

    corn per acre, Huddleston states. We often see producers

    who start off with a low moisture prole who think they can catch

    up as the year goes on. It seldom works out that they can catch

    up to the damage they inicted by not starting with an appropriate

    moisture prole.

    Huddleston, who is based in Ulysses, Kan., notes, If you start of

    with a good prole, youre not having to water a lot, which cools th

    soil temperature off early in the spring. This practice usually lets the

    corn plants grow much faster and provides better plant health throug

    out the growing season.Huddleston considers a good moisture prole is at least 5 to 6 fee

    soil moisture that can be determined through moisture checks throug

    out the spring prior to planting. We usually want to probe several p

    of the eld to determine proles in various parts of the elds, he ad

    Usually we try to focus on those parts of the eld that dont soak a

    well or consist of a different soil type and make sure we get those w

    tered to deliver a uniform stand of corn.

    However, Huddleston also knows that current

    energy costs are going to make many growers not

    want to put 5 to 6 inches of moisture on the

    elds. They will not want to spend the $50/

    acre or more for 5 to 6 inches of water. The

    downside to that decision, notes Huddleston,is that by not having a good prole, a producer

    is taking a huge gamble that will certainly

    affect performance, increase trips across the

    elds, plant health and yield potential.

    It only takes 20 to 25 bushels

    of corn to pay for the prewatering

    Huddleston points out. It is still

    worth the cost, especially if we h

    a normal, dry season.

    In conclusion, Huddleston not

    Prewater soil moisture checking

    critical. The result is an even stan

    that is up quick and grows better

    than starting with a low prole an

    ghting it all year.

    Mickey Huddlesto

    The Value of Prewatering

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    Special Edition: Pre-Plant 2006

    Farmers are constantly hearing, Plan ahead to take advantage ofmarketing opportunities. In reality, planning ahead can be as simpleas choosing the right herbicide or insecticide this year that providessome residual, cost savings next year. Paying close attention todecisions made this season that benet next season makes goodeconomic sense.

    Entering his 20th season as an agronomist, Howard Bartel,Weatherford, Okla., is spending a lot of windshield time getting infront of his Crop Quest customers to help them plan ahead to optimizetheir input costs in 2006. He says that starts by looking at 2007.

    My customer conversations right now are centered on what herbi-cide program we are going to use in 2006, relates Bartel. There are alot of residual herbicides being considered and used that growers needto be aware ofprior to planting.

    New chemistry is allowing us to do an excellent job in weed con-trol. However, if you are not familiar with the long-term residual issuestied to many of these new chemicals, you can be opening yourself up toreducing or eliminating follow-up cropping options, Bartel adds. Intodays dizzy markets, thats not a good business position to be placingyourself, especially if it can be avoided by looking at next years cropbefore choosing herbicides and pesticides right now.

    Bartel points to a few examples of commonly used products wherehe has seen rotational issues close down a producers

    planting options. In peanuts, Cadre is an excellentproduct with long-term residual issues if followingpeanuts with certain crops. Similar rotational issues

    exist when using atrazine and Callisto in corn,and Staple and Diuron in cotton. You must

    plan ahead if youre using these longer-last-

    ing residual herbicides.A common practice is applying Olym-pus or Maverick, Glean and Finesse

    for weed control in wheat. If you forget

    where you applied the chemical and plant canola the following yeyou could be facing a devastating loss. You would probably havecanola that would not germinate or die due to herbicidecarryover in that eld.

    In addition, he adds, as you look to rotate into canola or evencotton after wheat, you have to be aware of the longer-residual hecides like Olympus, Maverick or Finesse. While effective for weewheat, they can stunt or even kill rotational crops like milo and ca

    Look At Older Products

    I am going back to some older residual herbicides in cotton tooptimize my control and cut some chemical costs, says the veteraagronomist. However, that means we need to know what we are to do with that farm next year. In light of advancing herbicide resitance issues in this part of the country, we really have to know whare planting this year as well as into next year and beyond.

    Low pH is also an issue Bartel is visiting about with his producIf you have low pH soils, we need to plan in advance, especial

    if we want to rotate into summer crops like soybeans and, to a lesextent, cotton. We really need to implement a plan to correct the pthose elds that we will rotate out of wheat into soybeans or cottowe have a chance to raise a good rotation crop vs. having the low shut us down. That planning should start right now, prior to planti

    I have farmers who are all no-till or partially no-till. I have sevprograms in cotton and milo where I can put out a fairly long residherbicide well in advance of putting the crop in the ground, Barteexplains. That can save them possibly two to three passes with a down with glyphosate. Those reductions and cost of chemical acrothe elds could be the difference in making money on the crop or

    Bartel also notes that the high price of nitrogen is making wheamilo budgets really tough. We can save farmers money by soil sapling and testing to see if we have carryover nitrogen that we can advantage of in milo. Milo/canola/cotton really benets and utilizcarryover nitrogen.

    It is helpful to me to know how much carryover nitrogen is in eld, because that directly impacts how I set up the nitrogen manament on the crop during the growing season, he notes. If you arnot planning ahead by having us pull soil samples or deep soil nitrsamples, we do not know what you have. You could totally void thbenets of the carryover nitrogen by planting a crop that cannot uthe additional nitrogen. That would waste the cost benet you havinvested in the eld the year before.

    P l a n n i n g N o w A l l o w s Y o u T oM a x i m i z e Y o u r I n v e s t m e n t

    Howard Bartel

    C r o p Q u e s t P e r s p e c t i v e s 3

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    C r o p Q u e s t P e r s p e c t i v e s4 w w w . c r o p q u e s t

    Stan Schield is entering his 31st year as an agronomist in

    the Montezuma, Kan., area. He has seen farming practices

    and trends come and go. The one practice that he says needs

    to really be visited is ripping

    the ground prior to planting.

    The agronomist says ripping theground because it is something

    you have always done just does

    not have merit any longer.

    I dont like to see farmers

    routinely preplant rip the ground

    in the spring, Schield says. Usu-

    ally the soil is a little wet and that

    certainly affects the efcacy of

    the ripping. Ask yourself, What

    is the soil moisture? prior to

    ripping. In addition, Are there

    dened compaction areas where

    ripping makes sense or is it a mat-ter of routine? We need to stop

    random ripping.

    Schield says that he has fewer

    people every year doing random ripping. We use to do quite a

    bit of inner-row ripping after the crop is up (8- to 9-leaf stage),

    but not as much now. We used to do it for runoff control fr

    the sprinkler irrigation systems, but now we are practicing

    either reduced- or minimum-till and my farmers are maint

    ing crop residue on the soil surface so the runoff is less. So

    inner-row ripping is quickly becoming a practice of the pa

    But the agronomist is quick to add, If you feel you needrip the ground, I would much rather see producers do it af

    planting (inner-row ripping) vs. preplanting when soils are

    wet. The ground is easier to work and soil moisture is

    not as critical an issue at that time.

    Who are the likely candidates or situations

    where ripping is a good tillage practice? Schield

    contends that it depends on the compaction after

    harvest.

    Ripping may be a solid option if it was

    extremely wet at harvest and compaction

    issues now exist. This is the one time where

    I would recommend ripping, he explains.

    A good example of this was the harvest of2004 where farmers were dealing with extremely wet harv

    conditions, causing major ruts in the elds, etc. In a year li

    that I would recommend ripping regardless of the soil m

    ture the following year. Severe compaction caused by a wet

    harvest can dramatically affect yields.

    When in Doubt , Don t R ip

    Success Starts With Knowing Your Optimum Planting DatFarmers are always eager to get the year off to agood start. That usually means they want to be in

    their elds as quickly as they can and when en-

    vironmental conditions are as near to perfect as

    possible. However, jumping the gun can also

    have severe debilitating effects on your crop

    and your crops health, standability and

    yield projections. Just because you see your

    neighbor in the elds doesnt mean you have

    to jump on the planter and go.

    Planting dates vary by regions and you

    should visit with your Crop Quest agrono-

    mist for the optimum planting dates in your

    area. Why visit with them on this simple issue? Mainly becauseyour Crop Quest agronomist can provide you with the best planting

    schedule based on your specic eld and farm conditions. Issues

    like moisture prole, herbicide treatment timing, seed variety, etc.,

    can play a huge part in your decision when to plant for optimum

    performance, herbicide safety and yield.

    The optimum planting dates for the major grain crops in central

    Kansas, for example, are:

    CORN: April 15th to May 10th

    SOYBEANS: May 1st to May 30th

    GRAIN SORGHUM: May 25th to June 10th

    Planting at the optimum time allows for quick seedling emergence, which, in turn, provides more even stands. In addition,

    adhering to proper planting schedules results in fewer seedling

    mination issues, less early competition due to weeds, fewer dis

    issues and healthier plants for the rest of the season.

    Likewise, planting too early often results in erratic stand em

    gence or weak plants. Sometimes, planting too early could resu

    a total loss of the stand due to an unexpected late freeze.

    Similar issues exist if you plant too late. Later planting dates

    will put the crop at risk for being in its reproductive stage in th

    hotter and drier part of the summer. We usually expect less yie

    from a crop that is planted too far outside of the optimum plan

    window.

    Talk to your Crop Quest agronomist todayand get the whole picture prior

    to planting. Utilizing an opti-

    mum planting

    schedule can

    make a huge

    difference in

    your crops

    success in

    2006.

    Stan Schi

    By: Jim Gleason

    Regional Vice President

    St. John, Kan.

  • 8/4/2019 CQ Perspectives Mar 2006

    5/8C r o p Q u e s t P e r s p e c t i v e s

    In 2006, Crop Quest agronomist RogerUnruh is recommending that many of hisarmers incorporate a good starter fertilizerrogram into their crop budgeting. He and hislients have seen what a good starter fertilizer

    rogram means in getting their corn crop offo a good start prior to environmental stressesaking their toll.

    Unruh, based in Halstead, Kan., says starterertilizer programs are growing inopularity in his area. Hav-ng a good starter fertilizerrogram is making solidconomic sense and is anxcellent way to start arop, get good early rootevelopment, developmuch healthier plantnd improve yields,

    he agronomist out-ines. We continue totress starter fertilizerrograms in wheat and

    were seeing that same production and plantealth benets when used in corn.When talking about starter fertilizers, Unruh

    s insistent that the best way to take advantagef the investment is to place the nutrients in

    concentrated bands. Banding starter fertilizersis especially important on early planted cropswhen soil temperatures are cool, adds Unruh.This is especially true on early planted cornand corn in general. Our experience has shown

    this is the most efcient way to apply andutilize the nutrients.

    In low pH soils, Unruh says phosphorusis more available to the plant when banded.He also recommends addingnitrogen in the starter so there

    is an even nitrogen/phosphate ratio. Thispractice seems to move the nutrients downeffectively so the crop can utilize it more ef-ciently, Unruh notes. Nitrogen and phospho-rus work well in tandem with each other.

    We are also doing quite of bitof dribbling the fertilizer on thetop of the soil, Unruh adds.There has been quite a bitof research showing that

    if you keep your nitrogenand phosphorus in a goodratio of one another, youllsee excellent yield results.

    Unruh says banding the starter fertilizer vbroadcast applications is catching on becausof the continued growth of minimum- andno-till practices. Banding causes less tie-up

    on the residue vs. a broadcast application of nutrients, he points out.

    One of the disadvantages obanding is that you must keean eye on the salt index inrelation to where you plant a

    where the fertilizer is.Unruh adds that all Crop

    Quest agronomists areextensively trained to help

    farmers work through these types of applica-tion options and soil conditions. He says thatyour agronomist should perform a soil nutrietest prior to banding to help assure proper anexpected results.

    Get Your Investment Off To A Strong Start

    There is much debate

    whether or not solid-seeded soybeans are a more efcient planting

    actice than conventional 30 rows or even split-row 15 rows. Accord-

    g to veteran Crop Quest agronomist Scott Beguelin, Silver Lake, Kan.,

    e old adage works just ne if it aint broke, dont x it.

    If it is working, stay with what you have, Beguelin advises. Until

    mething like Soybean Rust becomes an issue, there is no reason to

    ange the row widths.

    One of the apparent benets of solid-seeding soybeans is that there

    a quicker canopy (especially in no-till situations) to keep weeds from

    tablishing and competing for nutrients and moisture, Beguelin adds.

    he main benet of this planting system is developing a quick canopyd greatly reducing the need for expensive herbicides and weed tillage

    practices.

    In general, though, I think there are perhaps more

    disadvantages associated with solid-seeded soybeans

    vs. 30 or 15 split-row plantings.

    Beguelin says that in dry years, solid-seeded elds

    tend to lose moisture much quicker than in wider

    rows. With more roots per inch, moisture is

    taken up quite quickly, he points out. In

    the wider rows, the roots dont branch out

    so quickly until they need to go out for more

    moisture. Normal to above normal rainfall years, we d

    not see much difference in yield based on row widths.

    Another issue that must be factored in is that, in solid-seeded soy-

    beans, there is a much larger investment in seed. We use about 40%

    more seed in solid-seeded plantings, Beguelin notes. In years with

    more moisture, we see more disease in solid-seeded beans vs. conven-

    tional row widths as well.

    Beguelin adds that many farmers are compromising between con-

    ventional 30 rows and solid-seeding by moving to split-row plantings

    that utilize 15 row spacing. Split-row plantings dont t under a ood

    irrigation system because we cant get 15 furrows, he notes, But

    under center pivots or dryland conditions, the split-row plantings workgreat. There are some disadvantages to split-row plantings, mainly the

    additional cost of planting and tillage equipment, he adds.

    In dry years, we have consistently better yields under the wide

    rows vs. solid-seeded elds, Beguelin states. Ten years ago the

    solid-seeding was growing, but over the last three to four years, weve

    seen it decreasing as more producers adopt the split-row concept. Also

    contributing to this increase is the high cost of seed and the diseases we

    have been seeing in some solid-seeded elds. In the irrigated areas, it is

    predominantly 30 rows, but in the uplands and dryland, we are seeing

    more split-row plantings.

    Solid-Seeded Soybeans vs. Conventional Widths . . .

    Special Edition: Pre-Plant 2006

    W h a t s R i g h t F o r Y o u ?

    Roger Un

    Scott Beguelin

  • 8/4/2019 CQ Perspectives Mar 2006

    6/8C r o p Q u e s t P e r s p e c t i v e s6 w w w . c r o p q u e s t . c

    With crop production inputs under the microscope in 2006,

    corn and soybean growers using glyphosate-tolerant seed tech-

    nologies hope to hold on to the fact that they are only going to

    need one or possibly two glyphosate (Roundup) applications to

    have a weed-free environment for their crops to grow in. How-

    ever, Cimarron, Kan.,-based Crop Quest agronomist Harlan

    Bartel says it may not be that easy in 2006.

    Glyphosate-Tolerant Soybeans

    Apparently the wide use of glyphosate alone on soybeans

    has caused problems, says Bartel. Im not prepared to say

    that were seeing resistance to glyphosate, but were certainly

    seeing several weeds break through the Roundup treatments andthey are starting to get established in troublesome numbers. In

    many of our soybean elds, well be recommending the use of a

    pre-emergence herbicide program in these glyphosate-tolerant

    soybean elds to try and stop the establishment of some of these

    problem weeds and assist the glyphosate treatments.

    Bartel is speaking directly to the increased pressure brought

    on by kochia, Palmer amaranth and velvetleaf weeds.

    We see kochia as a particularly difcult weed to control in

    some elds with just glyphosate alone, Bartel adds. Where we

    have heavy kochia problems, were having a hard time killing it.

    We are going to have to do more than what we have done in the

    past. We will have to attack them with pre-emerge herbicides.

    Weve been hampered in our choices for good herbicides withthe absence of Authority herbicide which showed good kochia

    control, but Spartan, which is similar to Authority in control-

    ling some of these broadleaves and especially kochia, will be

    available and will be a viable option.

    Glyphosate-Tolerant Corn

    The veteran agronomist reports similar concerns when it

    comes to Roundup Ready corn. Were starting to see some

    major weed breaks in Roundup Ready

    corn. The agronomist adds that, on

    some farms that have a history of these

    key broadleaf weeds, he is advising

    against using Roundup Ready corn

    varieties.

    Well need more than just glyphosate

    to have the crop meet yield projections in

    2006. All of our agronomists are working

    closely with customers to make sure we

    are in position to handle these weed pres-

    sures in corn. It is going to require the use of some traditional

    herbicides in combination with glyphosate-tolerant hybrids.Bartel says that he is going to recommend growers who are

    using Roundup Ready technology should augment their weed

    control with more traditional herbicides. I dont think well

    need to always use these traditional herbicides at full rates and

    we might alter some of the herbicide timing. Some elds will use

    pre-emerge and early post-emerge treatments in combination

    with glyphosate. I do not think glyphosate alone will be good

    enough to provide the protection we need to meet yield goals in

    my area. Regard-

    less, if we want to

    make yield projec-

    tions, were going

    to have to do a bet-ter job of protect-

    ing these crops.

    M a n a g i n g W e e d C o n t r o lI n G l y p h o s a t e - T o l e r a n t C r o p s

    Harlan Bartel

  • 8/4/2019 CQ Perspectives Mar 2006

    7/8C r o p Q u e s t P e r s p e c t i v e s

    Perennial weed problems in corn and soybean have generally in-

    creased across the region with the adoption of reduced tillage systems.

    Most products used for selective weed control in corn and soybean

    have limited activity on perennials; thus, control options are limited as

    long as the eld is maintained in row crop production.

    The availability of Roundup-Ready soybeans and corn has some

    weed managers thinking that problems with perennial weeds are

    solved. Recently, though, we are nding that is not the case.

    Pre-emergence herbicide programs have long been the mainstay of

    weed management in corn, due in large part to the low cost of atrazine

    and its broad spectrum of control. A total pre-emergence approach can

    still be effective in elds with low-to-moderate populations of most

    perennial and annual weeds.

    The best way to approach them is with the class of chemicals

    referred to as growth regulator herbicides, i.e., Banvel and 2,4-D.

    Usually well see the perennial herbicide sprays going on just prior

    to corn reaching the ve-leaf stage. Another chemical that seems to

    be providing some promising perennial weed control in corn with no

    crop damage is Callisto used in a post-emerge application. In addi-

    tion, another chemical named Distinct that ts this growth regulator

    category has been used in tank mixes in corn. The problem with these

    chemicals in corn especially at high rates that are needed to control

    perennial weeds is crop damage.

    A total post-emergence herbicide program should be applied before

    most weeds in a eld exceed 4 to 6 inches in height, and reinfestation

    with later-emerging weeds is likely if a herbicide with residual activity

    is not included.

    Perennial Soybean Problems

    Generally, prior to planting soybeans, well recommend a tank-

    mix of Roundup and 2,4-D to keep the elds clean until planting.

    Roundup is a popular herbicide, especially in Roundup-Ready crops.

    It does a good job on perennial weeds in soybeans where we are using

    Roundup alone. If we are really wanting some good control of the

    perennials, we will usually use a higher than standard rate to get some

    activity on those weeds.

    Perennial Weeds . . . Treat or Not?

    Special Edition: Pre-Plant 2006

    Kyle Aljoe

    It is the contention of veteran Crop Quest agronomist

    yle Aljoe, Dimmitt, TX, that when it comes to weeds,

    you start clean, it is easier to stay clean. Moreover, in

    year where chemical input costs are a major decision

    ctor, getting ahead of perennial and annual weeds and

    asses could make the difference in your 2006 crop.

    Cotton producers especially understand that if you

    ve a lot of weeds in the seedbed, youre not going tot good soil-to-seed contact. Secondly, if you have a

    t of weeds, they are going to compete for the available

    oisture which will, in turn, cause problems with sprout-

    g and germination and cause stress on the seedlings.

    Our conventional till cotton producers

    ll probably put down Trean or Prowl

    iuralin-based yellow herbicides) to

    ld back the grasses and small seeded

    oadleaves, Aljoe adds. That seems to

    ld true regardless if the producer is

    practicing chemigation or spraying it on and working it

    in. Most producers will utilize something (squirrel cage

    packer, etc.) to rm the bed. On the at ground, we will

    run a eld cultivator with a Flexi-Coil behind it to rm

    the beds up.

    In our no-till cotton ground, we will apply the triura-

    lin, then kill the weeds with glyphosphate, and imme-

    diately plant right into that, Aljoe continues. In all ofthese management practices, we are recommending a

    preplant-incorporated herbicide program using a yellow

    herbicide and a pre-emerge herbicide tankmix.

    Aljoe, who has been an agronomist for 23 years, also

    notes that farmers have a good technology in place with

    the Roundup-Ready and the Liberty Link programs. We

    need to help these programs out a bit with good grass and

    weed control to take the pressure off the seedling cotton

    and reduce competition for soil moisture.

    Star t C lean , Stay C lean

    By: Kent Norton

    Agronomist

    Wichita, Kan.

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    Planter Maintenance ...Its The Little Things That Matter

    Q. I once had a corn

    grower call me out to

    his eld because the

    planter was planting

    more seeds on one side of the planter than the

    other. Can you diagnose his problem?

    A. A well-maintained planter gives seed its

    best chance. Planter maintenance is espe-

    cially important for producers in no-till and

    reduced-tillage systems. Most of the physical

    responsibility for manipulating soil, placing

    seed and getting the seed off to a good startrests on the planter.

    Key Planter Issues

    aTire pressure: This is often overlooked,

    but can make a huge difference in how

    your planter and accompanying equip-

    ment operates.

    aChains and bearings: Make sure the

    chains are loose and that the bearings

    are not worn and are working properly.

    aSeed tube wear can affect how success-

    fully the planter is going to plant. Checkfor wear and proper feeding.

    aTractor hydraulics: Most tractors todayrequire a lot of hydraulic uid to run the

    equipment. If you are running markers

    and sprayers, etc., make sure the uidlevels are good and that everything is

    running correctly.

    aMake sure press wheels are centered

    over the row. During the course of the

    season, you can have an operator who

    starts to turn the tractor before the

    planter is raised up out of the ground.

    This causes a lot of drag and may move

    the press wheels off-center over the row.

    aMake sure your fertilizer delivery

    system and your sprayer systems are

    functioning properly. In most cases,those tanks have not been looked at

    since they were used last year and they

    can have buildup on the nozzles, akes

    in the tanks to clog lines, etc. Flush the

    system out and make sure it is spraying

    accurately.

    aMarks can be difcult to

    see in heavy residue,

    even if additional

    weights are used for

    markers. Try foam

    markers or use the

    old rows in residue as

    a guide.

    aGet off the tractor periodically, es

    ly as conditions change, and chec

    depth, spacing, population and se

    soil contact.

    aPlanting speed is critical. You can

    at your planter book to get a recom

    mendation for your specic equip

    but I usually tell producers to ope

    the planter at the 5-mph to 5-1/2-m

    range. Field conditions dictate spe

    And the answer to the corn growers

    tion was that he had a at tire on the si

    the planter that was planting more seed

    Which leads to my number one tip in

    planter efciency get off the tractor

    once in a while and make sure everythi

    working properly.

    By: John Hecht

    Agronomist

    Farmington, NM

    Roundup, Roundup Ready and Maverick are registered trademarks of Monsanto Company.Spartan is a registered trademark of FMC.Bicep, Callisto and Dual are registered trademarks of Syngenta.Radius, Olympus and Epic are registered trademarks of Bayer CropScience.

    Cadre, Distinct and Prowl are registered trademarks of BASF.Authority, Staple, Diuron, Glean and Finesse are registered trademarks of DuPont.Banvel is a registered trademark of Micro Flo Company LLC.Trean is a registered trademark of Dow AgroSciences LLC. *Spraying photos courtesy of Dow AgroScien