November 7, 1997 Vol. 97.13
IN THIS ISSUE:
Index of 1997 Articles:
Mark Your Calendar:
November 4, 1997 - Days Inn, Meadville
November 7, 1997 - Oakhurst
Tea Room, Somerset
December 9, 1997 - Holiday Inn-TGIF Restaurant, Williamsport
December 10, 1997 - Quality Inn (Embers), Carlisle
December 11, 1997 -
Lancaster County Farm and Home Center, Lancaster
December 12, 1997 - Berks
County Agricultural Center, Reading
8:30 am.
Registration: Registration fee is $15 plus meal cost.
Winter meeting dates for the 1997/98 season are listed below. Topics will vary from meeting to meeting. If you are interested in learning more about a particular meeting, please contact the individual county.
| Date | County | Subject | Contact | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 18 | Northwest | Soybean Management | Don Fretts | 412-438-01111 |
| December 19 | Southwest | |||
| January 7 | Bedford | Nutrient Management | Susan Fox | 814-623-4800 |
| January 20 | Lebanon | Forage Management | Del Voight | 717-270-4391 |
| Jan. 20, 21, 22 | PA Lime, Fertilzer & Pesticide Meeting, University Park | |||
| January 23 | Lycoming & Surrounding Counties | Crop Management | Tom Murphy | 717-327-2350 |
| January 26 | Adams | Crop Management | John Rowehl | 717-840-7408 |
| January 27 | Franklin | |||
| January 28 | York | |||
| January 29 | Cumberland | |||
| January 30 | Perry | |||
| January 27 | Chester | Crop Management | Mena Hautau | 610-378-1327 |
| January 28 | Lehigh / Northampton or Bucks / Montgomery | |||
| January 29 | Bucks / Montgomery or Lehigh / Northampton | |||
| January 30 | Berks | |||
| January 28 (evening) |
Monroe / Carbon | Crop Management | Donna Foulk | 717-421-6430 |
| February 3 | Lebanon | Planter Management | Del Voight | 717-270-4391 |
| February 4 | Berks | Planter Management | Mena Hautau | 610-378-1327 |
| February 4 | Clarion | Soybean Management | Nelson Smith | 814-226-4956 |
| February 3 | Beaver | Crop Management | Ryan Hockensmith | 412-654-8370 |
| February 4 | Butler | |||
| February 5 | Lawrence / Armstrong | |||
| February 6 | Indiana | |||
| February 5 | Luzerne | Crop Management | Donna Grey | 717-825-1701 |
| February 10 | Lancaster | Crop Management | Bob Anderson | 717-394-6851 |
| Feb. 10 & 11 | Fayette / Lawrence | Forage Management | Don Fretts | 412-438-0111 |
| February 12 | Franklin | Crop Management | Robert Kessler | 717-263-9226 |
| February 13 | Corn - Soybean Conference, Grantville, PA | |||
| February 16 | Potter | Weed Management | 814-274-8540 | |
| February 18 | Bedford | Crop Management | Sue Fox | 814-623-4800 |
| February 23 | Elk, Cameron, Mckean | Crop Management | Susan Alexander | 814-849-7361 |
| February 26 | Southeast Sweet Corn Conference | |||
| March 3 | Cambria | Crop Management | Ron Hostetler | 814-472-7986 |
| March 3 | Bedford | Weed Management | Melanie Barkley | 814-623-4800 |
| March 10 | Elk, Cameron, Mckean | Pest Management | Susan Alexander | 814-849-7361 |
| March 12 | Fulton | Weed Management | 717-485-4111 | |
| March 16 | Franklin / Adams | Weed Schools - Fundamentals | Robert Kessler | 717-263-9226 |
| March 17 | Union | Weed Schools - Fundamentals | Dave Messersmith | 717-524-8721 |
| March 19 | Berks | Weed Schools - Advanced | Mena Hautau | 610-378-1327 |
| March 20 | Chester | Weed Schools - Advanced | Joel Hunter | 215-333-7460 |
| March 19 | Crawford | Crop Management | Joel Hunter | 814-333-7460 |
| March 25 & 26 | University Park Weed Inservice for Agents | |||
Certified Crop Adviser Corner:
The following individuals are members of the 1997/98 Pennsylvania Certified Crop Adviser Board. Certified Crop Advisers should feel free to contact board members with their thoughts relating to any aspect of the program.
| Ted Bean, CCA Valent |
| Lyle Forer, PA Department of Agriculture |
| Elwood Hatley, CCA Penn State University |
| Don Hartzler, CCA PA Agronomic Products Association |
| Cedric Karper PA Department of Environmental Protection |
| Robert Pardoe, Jr. Producer |
| Duane Pysher, CCA National Resource Conservation Service |
| Jeff Schneck, CCA Moyer and Son, Inc. |
| Jon Stutzman, CCA Brubaker Agronomic Consulting Service |
Now is the time to review your CEU status. We are moving into a time of the year when more programs offering CEU's will become available. CEU requirements are based on a two year cycle which begins on July 1 of each year. The CEU requirements are:
The next exam will be held on February 6, 1998 at the Department of Agriculture Building in Harrisburg. We have had requests to conduct a study session prior to the exam. The study session will be on December 22, 1997. If you know of anyone taking the exam and not on our mailing list but interested in the study session, please contact Dr. Elwood Hatley, Penn State University, Department of Agronomy, 814-863-1013.
Elwood Hatley
Production:
Not unlike many crops, the establishment of a perennial forage crop is an expensive proposition. Planning ahead for forage establishment and spending some money up-front, if needed, will increase the chances of success. Furthermore, planning ahead may mean the difference between having a good stand or having a marginal stand that will cost you money in the long run.
Whether you are planning to establish a forage crop next spring or late next summer, it isn't too early to start planning.
Forage Species - match the forage species or mixture to soil characteristics. For example, don't try to fool yourself into growing alfalfa on poorly drained or acidic soil. Red clover is well suited to these conditions and produces quality forage.
Soil Test - do this at least six months ahead of anticipated seeding. If lime is needed, it takes considerable time (allow six months) for it to react and neutralize acidic conditions. Soil testing well ahead of time gives you more opportunity to apply nutrients if needed.
Weed Control - will save money in the long run. Getting good control in the previous crop is important. However, be careful of herbicides with long residuals. Triazine residues can stunt or even kill legume seedlings.
Variety Selection - can help you fine-tune your forage management. Study seed company offerings and the Penn State Forage Trials Report. There are many improved varieties of grasses and clovers, as well as alfalfa.
Don't try to follow alfalfa with alfalfa - a chemical exuded from the roots of alfalfa is detrimental to alfalfa seedlings.
There is still time. Most of these factors can still be influenced by you. Save money and aggravation by planning ahead.
Dave Hartman
Columbia Co. Ext.
One reason many producers give for planting mixed alfalfa/grass stands is to reduce weed invasion as the stand ages. The theory is that as the alfalfa begins to die out, the grass will become dominant and keep the weeds at bay. Weeds can contribute to total forage yield, but are seldom as productive or as high in quality as forage species. A recent study by Eric Spandl and James Kells from Michigan State University provides some interesting insight to this theory. They took forage yield and quality measurements from 3 and 4 year old alfalfa and alfalfa/orchardgrass stands in Central Michigan. They also measured percentages of alfalfa, orchardgrass, and weeds in each cutting during the 2 year study.
The alfalfa/orchardgrass stand produced higher tonnage during both years of the study compared to alfalfa alone. Alfalfa/ orchardgrass yields were about 13% higher than alfalfa alone. Keep in mind these are older stands with decreasing alfalfa density. As expected, weed yields were much higher in the solid-seeded alfalfa stands.
Forage quality tended to be higher in alfalfa alone compared to alfalfa/orchardgrass - even though the alfalfa had a much higher level of weeds in the stand. Quality differences were greatest for first cutting where delayed harvest can affect orchardgrass quality; while alfalfa quality is not affected as much by harvest timing.
So what does all this mean for the producer? If they typically keep fields in hay for 4 or 5 years, planting alfalfa/grass mixtures can be a way to maintain yield through the later years of the stand. This is especially true if you have soils that are not well suited for alfalfa. A mixed alfalfa/orchardgrass stand will also compete better with invading weeds as the alfalfa dies-out. On the other hand, solid-seeded alfalfa may be a better option if they rotate hay fields after 2 or 3 years of production.
Dave Messersmith
Union Co. Ext.
Pest Management:
Winter or early spring can be a good time to apply herbicide treatments to multiflora rose. Not only do dormant treatments provide more consistent control than do foliar treatments; but also, it is a slow time of year for other field work. Below are some dormant season control options.
Banvel is generally most effective when used as a basal bark application, applied with an emulsifier, diesel fuel and water, or spot-concentrate treatment, which is a measured quantity of undiluted herbicide directed into the ground near the plant crown. Grazing lactating dairy require 7 days for <1 pint/A to 60 days for >4 pints/A.
Spike pellets can be hand broadcast around the main trunk of multiflora rose plants. Scatter 0.25 oz of pellets around trunk anytime except when the ground is frozen or saturated. Early spring is an optimal time to apply Spike. Spike is persistent in soil and can cause injury to nearby vegetation. No grazing restrictions apply if using <20 lb./A. of Spike.
Crossbow also can be applied as a dormant treatment. Thin-line basal applications, basal bark treatments, and dormant stem applications can be used during the dormant season. For additional information on application methods or other restrictions for any of these herbicides refer to their product label.
For more information on multiflora rose and its management refer to the publication Agronomy Facts 46: Multiflora Rose Management in Grass Pastures. A copy can be obtained through your local county extension office.
Dwight Lingenfelter
Whether you do it by walking every inch of a farm, while taking soil samples, or from the seat of a combine now is one of the best times of the year to scout for weeds. Scouting now lets you see the end result of your weed control program. Everything that happened during the growing season lies before you to observe. The quackgrass that you missed with your burndown herbicide, the velvetleaf that somehow broke through your PRE, and the fall panicum that emerged after an August thunderstorm.... It's all there and you can bet it will be there again next year unless you take some corrective measures.
When scouting, make notes on each field about:
Also note anything else that may have affected herbicide performance (i.e., weather conditions, soil type, heavy crop residue, etc.). This information, along with your pesticide records, will be invaluable when you start planning your herbicide program for next year. With the array of corn and soybean products on the market, finding a 'winning' combination can be easy if you have the right information.
Dave Messersmith
Union Co. Ext.
AGENT'S CORNER
In recent years there has been a major sales effort to market certain hybrid corn varieties for silage purposes. Here in SW Pennsylvania corn acres allocated to silage approximate 30%. This makes the variety of corn chosen for ensiling very important.
One of my dairy farmers wanted to establish a silage plot this crop year and so we did. Seed suppliers were invited to participate and asked to supply one or two varieties they recommend for corn silage for dairy cattle. Plots were established on May 16, with some varieties being replicated, but not all. This was due to lack of sufficient seed for replication, the need to establish a minimum of four rows per variety due to planter limitations and the size of the plot. Our goal was to field harvest with the farmers equipment and make the yield data collection as painless as possible. However, three of the varieties were replicated to establish whether replication would have been significant with the final data. The varieties will be nameless.
All plot samples had a forage analysis (fresh) completed on them so that DM yields and forage quality yields could be determined.
As an afterthought, I established an additional plot 2 weeks later using some of the same varieties. My thought was to compare silage quality only of varieties planted on a different date with the use of different management variables. Only the variety would be the same and care was taken to be sure soil fertility was not a limiting factor.
Harvest of the plots occurred one week apart in October with the later planted plot harvested later but at an earlier stage of maturity than the earlier planted and harvested varieties.
| Hybrid | Analysis | 5/16 | 5/23 | % Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | DM | 38% | 33.3% | -13 |
| CP | 8.1% | 9.0% | +11 | |
| NDF | 46.7% | 45.4% | 3 | |
| NEL(MCAL/lb) | .78 | .76 | -2.5 | |
| 2. | DM | 41.8% | 39.0% | -6.7 |
| CP | 7.7% | 8.4% | +9 | |
| NDF | 44.2% | 48.5% | +9.7 | |
| NEL(MCAL/lb) | .77 | .72 | -6.5 | |
| 3. | DM | 37.1% | 36.1% | -2.7 |
| CP | 8.5% | 9.3% | +9.4 | |
| NDF | 46.4% | 45.1% | -3 | |
| NEL(MCAL/lb) | .76 | .76 | = | |
| 4. | DM | 36.1% | 35.2% | -2.5 |
| CP | 8.0% | 9.3% | +16.2 | |
| NDF | 48.5% | 44.6% | -9 | |
| NEL(MCAL/lb) | .72 | .79 | +9.7 | |
| 5. | DM | 35.2% | 36.1% | +2.5 |
| CP | 8.2% | 9.2% | +12% | |
| NDF | 48.5% | 44.6% | -8.6% | |
| NEL(MCAL/lb) | .71 | .69 | -2.8 | |
| 6. | DM | 39.0% | 38.0% | -2.6 |
| CP | 8.2% | 9.1% | +10.9 | |
| NDF | 45.4% | 48.5% | +6.8 | |
| NEL(MCAL/lb) | .76 | .71 | -7 |
DM= Dry Matter
NDF = Neutral Detergent Fiber,DM basis
CP = Crude
Protein, DM basis
NEL = Net Energy Lactation, DM basis
Observations:
If we were selecting a hybrid that might be most consistent adapting to different management practices and planting date, we might pick #4 because it increased protein with the earlier harvest, exhibited lower NDF and delivered greater NEL. It also stacked up pretty well when compared to others harvested later.
Granted there were no replications of this trial, but even so I find the observations interesting which raises additional questions as to how much credibility can be placed on varieties that are recommended for best quality silages when so many variables are not consistent at the farm level.
This comparison also supports the concept that hybrid evaluation for silage should be conducted over many environments and those hybrids with the most consistent quality profiles should be considered for production. Since often we cannot anticipate the environmental conditions a hybrid will experience before planting, consistency is an important trait.
Don Fretts
Fayette County
In Lebanon most crops have been harvested for many uses. Yields are highly variable with corn yielding between 81 and 189 bu/acre depending on rainfall and soil type. Corn silage also was variable with yields varying between 15 and 28 tons/acre. Some producers are going to be in need of forage and have resorted to harvesting alfalfa in the fall. Those who planted an emergency forage such as sorghum and soybeans are pleased with the results on both tonnage and quality.
Soybeans are yielding fairly well due to the rains during grain fill. Yields varied from 35 to 67 bu/acre with the majority in the low 50's. There were many weed escapes mainly from the use of the sulfonylurea herbicide family which is sensitive to drought during application and hopefully those individuals who used these herbicide programs have learned a lesson. Double crop beans look to be variable as well with some pushing it to make 20 bu and some looking to make at least 30 bu/acre.
Rye, triticale, wheat and barley are thriving with some timely rains and ideal soil conditions for planting. Alfalfa spring and fall seeded looks excellent.
Del Voight
Lebanon County
William S. Curran
Assoc. Prof. Weed Science
William S. Curran
Associate Professor Weed Science
email: wsc2@psu.edu
Website Address: http://fcn.agronomy.psu.edu/