FCN Logo College of Agricultural Sciences Penn State

October 9, 1998 Vol. 98.13

IN THIS ISSUE:

Production:

FALL TILLAGE

With the dry weather, late summer, and early fall this is an ideal time to perform deep tillage on those fields with suspected or verified soil compaction. Remember - look for the compaction zone and set the tillage tool just beneath it. Lifting and shattering the compaction zone is far more effective than pulling the deep till tool as deep as the available horsepower will permit.

For those fields that will be chisel plowed, leave them rough and leave as much residue on top as possible. A two-inch wide straight tooth will do as much "soil loosening" as a four-inch twisted shovel. There will be plenty of time to smooth and level next spring. Much less wind and water erosion will occur on the fields left rough.

Fields that are heavy disked this fall should have some rye planted. Plant the rye first then disc. Remember brown water in the streams adds to our image problem and can cause problems down stream. Mud on the roads leads to law suits. Agriculture doesn't need either.

Lynn Hoffman,
Agronomy Extension- Tillage Specialist



WINTER APPLICATION OF MANURE

Winter application of manure is the least desirable, from both a nutrient utilization and a pollution point of view. The major problem is that frozen soil offers a relatively impervious surface that prevents rain and melting snow from carrying nutrients into the soil. The result is nutrients are lost and thus unavailable for crops and pollution may occur through runoff.

Nitrogen availability is lower with fall and winter applied manure. For example, only about 15-20% of the manure N will be available to corn from a fall or winter application. With a cover crop this can be increased to about 40%. This is compared to about 50% N availability from a spring manure application incorporated immediately.

If daily winter spreading is necessary, manure should be applied to fields having a vegetative cover or crop residue with the least runoff potential. It should be applied to distant or limited-access fields in early winter, then to nearer fields later in the season, when mud and snow make spreading more difficult. The use of conservation practices which reduce or slow runoff will help reduce the adverse effects of winter applied manure. Also, be aware that serious compaction can result from driving heavy manure spreaders on wet soils.

Manure applications in the winter should be made as far away from environmentally sensitive areas as possible (i.e. steep slopes and areas near to bodies of water should be avoided if possible in the winter). Some special environmental considerations for field application of manure which are specified in the Nutrient Management Act regulations include:

Whenever possible manure should be spread as close to the time that the crops will use the nutrients as is practical. However, it is often necessary to apply manure at other times of the year. When manure is spread in the winter the potential agronomic, economic and environmental factors discussed above must be taken into consideration.

Douglas Beegle,
Agronomy-Soils



CORN GRAIN, SELL IT OR STORE IT?

The corn crop is about ready to harvest and now comes the decision to sell or to store. The prospects of $2.20 per bushel corn at harvest make it very tempting to "put it in the bin and keep it until prices go up." But the question is just how much do prices have to go up to make storage profitable? Several factors must be considered. These include: interest or opportunity costs; storage facility ownership and operation costs; and the costs of shrink and drying below market standards to assure safe storage.

Consider two examples of grain storage break-even calculations:

1. Grain corn at $2.20 market value (11/1/98) is stored four months at 15.5% moisture for March 1999 sale. The interest or opportunity rate is 8%.

Estimated facility ownership $.088
Est. Repair and maintenance $.024
Dry and shrink below 15.5% $.011 (handling loss)
Aeration/operation $.008
Interest/opportunity $.059
Labor $.048
Storage cost $.238
Harvest price $2.20
Break-even in March '99 $2.44 per bushel

2. Grain corn at $2.20 market value (11/1/98) is stored eight months at 13.5% moisture for July 1999 sale. The interest or opportunity rate is 8%.

Estimated facility ownership $.088
Est. Repair and maintenance $.024
Dry and shrink below 15.5% $.091
Aeration/operation $.015
Interest/opportunity $.117
Labor $.048
Storage cost $.384
Harvest price $2.20
Break-even in July '99 $2.58 per bushel

These examples are only estimates. Each producer needs to input their own costs and establish their own break-even values. Additional storage considerations should include the risks associated with the possibility of grain quality deterioration and adverse price fluctuations. Also, the calculations indicate break-even prices. How much price advance is needed to offset the storage risks and to meet profit goals?

Allan Shoener
Schuylkill County Extension

Pest Management:

AIM HERBICIDE REGISTERED FOR USE IN CORN

FMC Corporation's Agricultural Products Group has received a use registration from the EPA for Aim herbicide, a new post-emergence corn herbicide.

Aim herbicide contains the active ingredient carfentrazone-ethyl. The U.S. EPA granted an expedited review for products containing carfentrazone-ethyl in 1997 because they were classified as reduced risk herbicides. Aim is the first of these reduced-risk herbicides to be registered.

Carfentrazone-ethyl is an inhibitor of protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO). Its action results in membrane disruption, which ultimately kills sensitive weeds. In general, it is an extremely low-use-rate herbicide that works rapidly to control broadleaf weeds. "The new herbicide is labeled for use on corn from emergence until the eight-leaf-collar stage, which is usually less than 24 inches tall.

Aim kills several troublesome weeds including velvetleaf and pigweed, is a low-use-rate product, is low cost and can be used alone or with most other herbicides on the market. Aim will be available for approximately $4 an acre." Contact your Agriculture supplier for more details about Aim availability.



BALANCE HERBICIDE NOT REGISTERED IN PENNSYLVANIA

Balance received a conditional registration from EPA for use in 16 states that produce corn. Balance is not registered in Pennsylvania or in any other northeastern state. Balance is registered for use in: Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, parts of Texas, and Wyoming.

The reason for limiting Balance's geographic distribution as well as the long delay in granting a Balance registration center around concern for movement to groundwater and non-target plant injury. Rhone-Poulenc has agreed to conduct research and monitoring programs to assure that Balance does not pose a significant threat to the environment. However, until Rhone Poulenc can prove to EPA that Balance is not a real environmental threat, we can only watch our neighbors to the west and observe their experiences with this new corn herbicide.



GIANT HOGWEED AND GOATSRUE ADDED TO THE PENNSYLVANIA NOXIOUS WEED LAW

The Pennsylvania Noxious Weed Law was recently amended to include two new weeds: giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum), and goatsrue (Tephrosia virginiana). Both weeds are currently on the federal noxious weed list. Giant hogweed is an escaped ornamental that belongs to the Apiaceace or carrot family. It is a biennial or short-lived perennial that has been found in urban settings, along roadsides, and could infest agricultural land. Giant hogweed is a large plant at maturity (up to 12 feet tall) and produces white flowers in clusters that can be as much as 2 to 3 feet in diameter. Seeds eventually fall off or are blown by wind and produce new plants. Giant hogweed can be a major skin irritant. The sap of the plant contains a glucoside called furanocoumarin that can cause painful burning blisters in susceptible people. The plant juice can also produce red blotches that later develop into purplish or blackened scars. The northwestern counties of Pennsylvania (Erie, Crawford, McKean, Warren) are the primary region with known occurrences of this weed. New York state also has reported its presence.

Goatsrue is a perennial legume that was originally investigated as a potential forage. However, goatsrue leaves and roots can be toxic to livestock. The infestation of this weed is believed to be isolated in the Philadelphia area, although other populations could exist. Goatsrue looks similar to the vetch's in appearance with pinnately compound leaves that have 17 to 29 leaflets. The flowers of goatsrue are like other members of the pea family and have a yellow base and pink wings. At maturity goatsrue forms a typical legume seedpod.

If you suspect giant hogweed or goatsrue in your area, please contact Mr. Will Mountain at the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (717-772-5209).



NEW WEED I.D. SOFTWARE AVAILABLE

Version 2.0 of the CD-ROM "Weeds of the United States and Canada" from the Southern Weed Science Society (SWSS) has been released and should be ready sometime in late October.

The program now covers 362 weeds (Version 1.0 had 300) and also includes the major agronomic crops. It has an interactive key to identifying seedling grasses, descriptions of over 70 plant families, includes 'Intriguing World of Weeds' which are excellent articles by Dr. Larry Mitich, University of California (courtesy of the WSSA), collar illustrations of all 79 grass species, audio narration of the tutorial sections, and much enhanced interactive quizzes and games in the tutorial section. The new feature of most interest is a 'Presentation Maker' that allows you to choose your own sequence of pages and save the sequence so you can make custom presentations or lectures within the program. This feature also works as an enhanced "bookmark" list. Weed distribution maps now encompass Canada and Alaska.

The cost is $120.00 each for a single copy, 10% off for 2 to 99 copies and 20% off for 100+ copies. Upgrades from Version 1.0 are $60.00 each. Shipping is included in the price. All proceeds go to the SWSS.

Orders may be placed to:

Southern Weed Science Society
1508 West University
Champaign, IL 61821
Phone - 217.352.4212
Fax - 217.352.4241

Bill Curran,
Agronomy, Weed Science

Precision Vision:

GETTING THE YEAR'S DATA INTO MY FARM MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE

Corn is already being chopped and combine season is right around the corner. For those of you who have yield monitors, you have hopefully calibrated the yield monitor or will be doing so as you begin combining. Each manufacturer specifies the method of calibration and setting the sensor calibration scales in the electronics data logger box so that both moisture readings and mass flow rate are within acceptable tolerances.

Before you combine - calibrate your yield monitor

Your equipment supplier or yield monitor technical support person has most probably reviewed the steps in recording the yield data and getting maps printed or at least stored as data files in your home computer. The dealer or yield monitor supplier may have even printed the paper copy yield maps for you last year in a notebook for reviewing this winter and making plans for applying nutrients for the next growing season.

Getting yield data into a computer database

This column deals with the next step - developing a computerized database for storing and mapping all the crop data. The current research emphasis at universities and equipment manufacturers is to develop methods for making sense out of all the soils data, yield maps, nutrient plans and pest/weed maps that have been made for your fields. These components for your mapping software or geographic information system will be available in the next few years. In order to make use of these new decision making software programs; your crop maps must be in a digital map database. Based on data stored in the GIS digital map data bases, this new software will generate nutrient and manure application maps, seed population maps and lime application maps for you to insert in your computer controlled variable rate nutrient application spreader/sprayer, lime spreader or seed planter.

Getting crop data into digital map form does take time and effort but it's worth it!

The key to keep in mind, and this is the point I am trying to make in this column, is that it will take a fair amount of time and effort to prepare your computer GIS data bases for efficient use in the future. It will be worth the investment of time and frustration, but with proper knowledge, the effort can be reduced. First, remember the column I wrote on mapping back in May, I talked about GPS - global positioning systems. In June, in the mapping column, I stressed the need for understanding coordinate systems and the datums that the map is based on. Then in the next column, I talked about the use of a GIS - a geographic information system to maintain your digital maps and the data that goes along with the maps, called attribute data.

Points to consider when developing a GIS database for maps and crop information

Here are some guidelines for entering maps and attribute data into your GIS:

  1. All digital maps when entered into the GIS must have the same projection and datum. Best choice is to use latitude/longitude or Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) coordinate system and WGS84 or NAD83 datum. WGS84 is the standard for all GPS data. NAD83 is almost the same, but close enough for use in Pennsylvania.
  2. Make sure all scanned images or soils maps on paper are georectified with a common projection and datum. Maps are not scanned images. Only maps have projection and datum characteristics. Digital images do not have projections, only x/y coordinate systems. Contact my office if you need additional information and your equipment or software supplier cannot help you. (My office number is 814 865 3722) or email at dgw4@psu.edu)
  3. Make sure all digital maps are in the same projection and datum when converted from the yield monitor software.
  4. When converting soils data taken from different locations in the field and analyzed separately with a GPS location for each sample point, have the soils data spatially interpolated into a grid or raster map. Spatial interpolation is when the area between the soil sampling points is assigned a value by interpolating the soils data between the nearest sample points. Interpolated soils characteristics maps are generated which are specific for each of the analysis components. These maps may show nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, CEC, and pH. Lime recommendations are often included for each analysis from each sample point, and these recommendations can be made into a lime recommendation map. The same is true for nutrient and micronutrient recommended application. But, if you took grid soil samples then mixed them all together for a field composite or field average, the above method cannot be used because you do not have distinct points in the field which indicate the variability in soils characteristics.
  5. You may wish to create a field boundary map using a GPS and a data recorder, so that the crop boundaries or fence lines show up as field edges in a digital map. A series of these maps with each field identified with the crop grown for each growing season can track the crop rotations from season to season. Field notes can be made in the computer so that comments for each field can be digitally stored in the databases.
  6. An aerial photo can be georectified (See note 2) into a digital map image. The aerial photo map can be used as a record for locating buildings, roads and for planning new building expansions. The GIS can be used to measure distances on any of the maps or the aerial photo map.
  7. There are other types of maps that can be entered into the GIS if properly georeferenced (made to match the coordinate systems of existing maps in the GIS). Some of these maps include weed and pest infestations from your crop scouts, pesticide and herbicide application maps and nutrient application maps. Nutrient application maps are useful for documenting amounts of nutrients applied in accordance with nutrient management plans.

Getting all the maps in the right form so they "stack"

When all of the maps are entered into the GIS, and if each map has the same projection and datum, all of the maps should line up perfectly over one another. That is, if you were to visualize standing above all the maps, and looking down through the stack, each field should stack on top of the same field in the other maps. The boundaries of each field should match with the same boundaries on the maps above and below in the stack. When that condition is achieved, you are ready to use the GIS to make some important management decisions about your farm using the latest technology in geographic information systems.

Contact me if you need help

If you would like additional information about mapping, contact me at Penn State University.
Happy harvesting!

David Wagner,
Ag & Bio Engineering, Precision Ag


Agents Corner:


ADAMS COUNTY

Corn and bean harvest is well ahead of normal in our county. Some corn that was planted in late April was harvested at 18% moisture before this last rain. Corn planted in mid to late May is currently running about 23-26% moisture. Stalk rot is prevalent in our area with some fields having excessive lodging. Beans have also been drying quickly. With the lack of rain during late August and September, some corn silage was cut on the drier side with many samples averaging 60% dry matter.

This has proven to be an excellent year for hay production. Most producers were able to make four cutting of alfalfa, and some even have squeezed in a fifth cutting. Tonnage and quality were exceptional.

Tillage in preparation for small grain planting had been difficult due to the dry weather. Recent rains have provided an opportunity for barley and wheat planting.

Six Bt/non Bt test plots are currently being harvested in the county. The insect and yield data from this project will be combined with other test plots from around the state. Be sure to attend your local corn or crops program this winter to learn the results of this Penn State field study.

Larry Swartz
Adams County

CENTRE/CLINTON COUNTIES

Corn silage harvest began in mid September and is pretty much complete at this point. Some farmers are still looking for some green corn to finish their silage piles. Silage yields from corn planted in April have been reported as high as 30 tons per acre. Yields for corn planted in May are much lower.

We still have not had a killing frost, but the corn and soybean crops have long since turned brown from the dry weather this year. Some soybeans have been harvested already at moisture levels as low as ten percent. Corn grain moisture varies with maturity, planting date and soil types, but has been tested as low as 20 percent recently.

Because of the dry soil conditions, little wheat has been planted to this point. Many growers have decided to reduce or eliminate wheat or barley acreage because of the dry conditions.

Grain producers are currently concerned about low market prices, while dairy producers, who need to purchase grains, welcome them. This year, it appears that many grains may be purchased at prices below what it would cost to grow them.

Gary Dauberman
Centre/Clinton Counties

WAYNE COUNTY

Numerous successive frosts during late September and early October essentially ended our 1998 growing season. While our first frost was at least a week earlier than our normal frost date, no one seemed to notice or care - the corn was mature or already harvested! A bit unusual for those that routinely rely on a frost to help dry the corn. There are still a fair number of late-planted fields that need to be harvested, but the majority of the corn is already in the silo or bunker, which is early by our standards. Moistures were lower than optimum in many cases because of the early maturing crop. Silage yields across the northeast ranged from poor to excellent. Early planted corn in well-drained fields predictably yielded the best. Some "picking corn" remains however most producers chopped all their acres or marketed any excess to a neighbor.

Dry, sunny weather during September encouraged many producers to harvest their third cutting orchardgrass as dry hay instead of haylage. The quality of this hay is exceptional and will be in demand in the barn and in the hay markets this winter. Hay stocks as we enter the winter are high however the overall quality of the 1998 hay crop is tempered by that awful first cutting we had.

Dave Messersmith
Wayne County

William S. Curran
Associate Professor Weed Science
email: wsc2@psu.edu

Back to:

Website Address: http://fcn.agronomy.psu.edu/