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March 5, 1999 Vol. 99.1

IN THIS ISSUE:

Field Crop News Renewal Form - (to continue receiving Field Crop News you must return this and survey form

Mark Your Calendar

Production

Pest Management

Precision Vision

Mark Your Calendar:

SMALL GRAIN CLINIC

April 21, 1999; 10:00 am to noon at the Penn State Agronomy Research Farm, Rock Springs, PA. Certified Crop Adviser CEUs will be provided.

This clinic will provide hands-on experience and discussion on disease identification, planting dates, soil fertility, crop staging, growth and development, and other topics related to small grain production and management. Contact Elwood Hatley at (814) 863-1013 for additional details. Hope to see you there!

Production:

AGRONOMY GUIDE ON THE WEB

Check out the electronic version of the Penn State Agronomy Guide 1999-2000 on the internet. It contains the same sections and has a similar layout to the hard-copy version. It also has a search function to help you find a desired topic. Let us know what you think! The web address is: http://AgGuide.agronomy.psu.edu/

Dwight Lingenfelter, Agronomy

ALFALFA SEEDING ISN'T "ROCKET SCIENCE"

Good stand establishment is essential to optimizing the production potential of alfalfa. Thin stands encourage weed invasion, reduce yield, and may shorten the life of the stand. Considering these negative consequences of poor stand establishment along with the high actual and opportunity costs associated with establishing alfalfa, it is important to minimize the chances of failure.

Plan Ahead: Numerous activities including weed control, adjusting soil pH and fertility, and selecting the best variety need to be completed well in advance of actually seeding a new alfalfa stand. Remember that "the lack of planning is planning for failure".

Seeding Depth: In my opinion, the number one reason for poor alfalfa stand establishment is seeding too deep. The agronomic rule-of-thumb is not to plant a seed deeper than 5 times its diameter. That means that alfalfa shouldn't be seeded deeper than 1/4 inch. Any deeper than 1/4 inch increases risks of poor emergence and a weak stand. A tilled seedbed must be firm in order to have accurate seeding depth.

Seed-to-Soil Contact: The alfalfa seed must absorb approximately 125% of its own weight in water to germinate. From the alfalfa seed's perspective, that's a lot of water! Since the water must move from the soil into the seed, it is crucial that the seed be in contact with as much soil as possible. Poor seed-to-soil contact results in poor and sporadic germination which lowers the number of productive alfalfa plants in the stand.

Seeding Rate: Alfalfa seeding rate recommendations vary considerably across the country depending on soil and environmental conditions. Reducing seeding rates below the recommended level is not the place to cut corners on alfalfa establishment. Economic analyses show that less than 4% of the total cost associated with alfalfa production is seed cost. Reducing alfalfa seeding rates is truly being "penny wise and pound foolish".

Seeding Method: While there has been a lot of debate over which seeding method (e.g. broadcast, fluid seeding, notill) is the "best", it really isn't a big issue as long as each method is done correctly. This includes not seeding too deep, getting good seed-to-soil contact, and making sure enough seeds are being seeded per acre.

I realize these basic alfalfa establishment principles seem rather routine, but every year there are unnecessary establishment failures. Many of these failures occurred because of one or more of the basic principles outlined above weren't followed. This year, don't focus on the details of alfalfa establishment so much that the basic principles are forgotten.

WINTER SNOW IS BENEFICIAL TO FORAGES

The snow this winter was an annoyance for those of us who had to shovel it or travel in it. However, the forages loved it! It was just what they needed to increase their chances of surviving the winter and being productive next summer. How does snow help forages survive the winter? Lets use alfalfa as an example to demonstrate how this works.

If the alfalfa plant has properly hardened for the winter (increased sucrose and decreased water in the root cells) its crown and roots can withstand temperatures as low as 5° F. This temperature may alarm you since air temperatures are frequently lower than this. Fortunately the snow works as a layer of insulation and protects the roots and crown from extremely cold air temperatures. This is why winters with little snow cover (therefore little insulation from extreme fluctuations in temperature) are very hard on alfalfa persistence. Last winter is an excellent example of this occurring throughout much of the state.

Management practices such as fall harvest reduce the amount of stubble remaining on the field. Reduced stubble can also reduce the "snow catch" in a field and decrease the amount of snow cover. This increases the chance of winter injury and decreases the chance of forage survival.

So, while we may not like the disruption snow causes to our daily routines, remember there is truly a silver lining to those snow clouds! "Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!"

Now all the forages have to do is survive the next couple weeks when there is no snow and possibly some very cold weather. This time of year is when we generally see most of the "frost heaving" of forages occur.

Marvin Hall, Agronomy, Forages

Pest Management:

SOYBEAN CYST NEMATODE SURVEY

The soybean cyst nematode is a parasite that enters the root near the tip of a young developing soybean root. Here it obtains its food supply from the plant. Once mature, the female breaks through the epidermis of the root but remains attached to the root. The white to light-yellow female dies when egg laying is complete and then her body is transformed into a brown cyst packed with eggs. Under favorable conditions, most of the eggs will hatch as soon as the development is complete. The larvae emerge from the cyst and are capable of entering young developing soybean roots. The nematode can complete several cycles during the growing season.

In many cases, yield loss and plant damage occurs before symptoms are visible. By the time plant symptoms are visible soybean cyst nematode populations may be very high, thus reducing management options. Visible symptoms are:

Soybean cyst nematode has not been reported in Pennsylvania. However it has been found in surrounding states: Delaware, Maryland, and Ohio. The Bureau of Plant Industries, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, has been taking a limited number of soil samples each year to determine if the soybean cyst nematode is in Pennsylvania. To date they have not found it in our soils. They will continue collecting random soil samples from soybean fields. In addition they are willing to test soils that anyone suspects contains soybean cyst nematode. The soil sample should be collected and handled as follows:

  1. Use a soil probe to collect samples (6 to 8 inches in depth)
  2. Using a zigzag pattern, collect 10 to 20 soil samples per 10 to 20 acres
  3. Collect cores from areas with similar soil type and crop history
  4. Dump cores from each test area into a bucket and mix thoroughly
  5. Place 1 pt. (2 cups) of mixed soil in a soil test bag or plastic zippered bag and label with a permanent marker
  6. Store sample in a cool, dark place until shipped to the testing lab.

Ship the samples to Mr. Earl Flack, PDA-BPI, 2301 North Cameron Street, Harrisburg, PA, 17110-9408. If you have questions about the testing procedure, Mr. Flack can be reached at Telephone: 717-705-4343, Fax: 717-783-3275, and e-mail: eflack@pda005.pda.state.pa.us

The soybean cyst nematode has the potential to reduce yields significantly. As indicated above, no cases have been identified in Pennsylvania. However, soybean is being grown on more acres and entering the rotation more frequently. This could increase the probability of detecting this organism in our soils. Let's take advantage of the PDA program and have soils tested that are suspect of containing soybean cyst nematodes.

Elwood Hatley, Agronomy, Small Grains

The Field Crop Weed Control Guide 1999: Available

The 1999 Field Crop Weed Control Guide is now available for purchase. This guide is revised annually and contains updated information on herbicides and some new tables. Its layout is similar to the previous Weed Control Guides and the Agronomy Guide. The Weed Control Guide is arranged for easy reading and is intended as a "quick reference". However, it is not a substitute for current product labels.

Some new tables include:

Other tables have been updated to include any new information or other label changes for new and current herbicides. The Guide also contains a broadleaf and grassy weed ID key, as well as a Weed Management section which discusses aspects of weed biology, herbicide-resistant crops, herbicide resistant weeds, postemergence herbicide principles, and herbicide application information. There are five commodity sections which discuss weed management in corn, grain sorghum, soybean, small grains, and forages.

To obtain a copy of the 1999 Penn State Field Crop Weed Control Guide visit your local county extension office or contact the Penn State Publications Distribution Center at (814) 865-6713. Each copy is $6.00

1999 PSU Herbicide Selector Available on the Web

The 1999 version of the PSU Herbicide Selector will soon be available to download from the web. This version has been updated from last year's program, so you will need to delete the 1998 Herbicide Selector from your hard drive and then completely download the new 1999a version. As new information is obtained, updates to the Selector may occur throughout the year.

The PSU Herbicide Selector program was originally developed at Ohio State University and has been modified for use in Pennsylvania. The objective of the PSU Herbicide Selector is to aid in the selection of suitable corn and soybean herbicide programs for use in Pennsylvania. The Selector provides herbicide options for and information about selected weed species as well as herbicide and application pricing information.

This program was developed for use on IBM or IBM compatible computers and will run in Windows 95 or Windows NT, but runs best in the DOS mode. To download a copy of the 1999a PSU Herbicide Selector visit the following web site and follow the instructions: http://www.agronomy.psu.edu/weeds/herbselect.htm

What's New for Agronomic Weed Control (1999)

CORN

Labeled or Updated

ACCENT GOLD 83.8DF (DuPont) is a new mixture containing nicosulfuron, rimsulfuron, flumetsulam, and clopyralid. The rates of nicosulfuron and rimsulfuron are the same as are found in Basis Gold, but flumetsulam and clopyralid (Hornet) have been substituted for atrazine. The product is targeted for producers who like the concept of Basis Gold, but do not want to use atrazine. The use rate is 2.9 oz/A on corn up to 12" in height or 6 collars. Accent Gold should be applied prior to foxtails reaching 6" in height. Accent Gold will provide broadspectrum control of most weeds that are emerged at the time of application. Most likely DuPont will not be marketing this new product in our area this year.

AIM 40DF (FMC) is labeled for early postemergence use on corn (field, seed, popcorn, and silage). Aim (carfentrazone-ethyl) is a PPO inhibitor which results in membrane disruption and ultimately kills sensitive weeds. The label warns against tank mixing with EC (emulsifiable concentrate) formulations of other herbicides and crop oil concentrate (COC) due to greater potential for crop injury. The use rate for Aim is 1/3 oz./acre. Aim is effective on small black nightshade, velvetleaf, lambsquarters, and pigweed. It is likely to be used as a tank mix partner with atrazine, Banvel or Clarity to improve broadleaf control.

AXIOM 68DF (Bayer) herbicide was labeled for use in corn and soybean early last summer. Axiom is a combination of flufenacet and metribuzin sold as a 68% DF (54.4% flufenacet and 13.8% metribuzin). Flufenacet is an amide type herbicide similar in control spectrum to Dual, Harness, Surpass, Frontier, etc. Performance of Axiom on annual grasses and small seeded broadleaves has been similar to Dual, although it may need some assistance with yellow nutsedge. Axiom can be applied to corn from 13 to 23 oz/A.

BANVEL 4S will no longer be marketed by BASF. It will be sold by a BASF "sister-company" called MicroFlo. Clarity will continue to be sold by BASF (see additional notes below).

CLARITY 4S (BASF), for all practical purposes, will replace Banvel in the agronomic market. It has a new label that allows post applications of 8 oz/A on corn up to 36" tall. See label for additional details.

CELEBRITY WG (BASF) is a mixture of the sodium salt of dicamba (Banvel) and nicosulfuron (Accent). Celebrity will be marketed by BASF as a co-pack; each co-pack will treat 8 acres and deliver 0.26 lb/A of dicamba (equivalent to 0.5 pt/A of Banvel) and 0.031 lb/A of nicosulfuron (equivalent to 2/3 oz Accent).

DISTINCT 70WG (BASF) is a postemergence herbicide (BAS 662) that contains a new growth regulator-type herbicide (diflufenzopyr) plus dicamba (Banvel/Clarity). This herbicide interferes with plant auxin balance and causes susceptible weeds to bend, twist, and die. It is effective on many types of broadleaf weeds and provides some suppression of certain annual grasses. In general, it will be applied early post (4"-10" tall corn) at 6 oz/A plus adjuvants (do not use oils as additives). Mid-post and split applications are also possible. For grass control use a pre-grass herbicide or tank mix with a post product such as Accent.

DUAL II MAGNUM 7.62E and BICEP II MAGNUM 5.5L (Novartis) contain new formulations of metolachlor (i.e., s-metolachlor) that will be incorporated into the Dual and Bicep line of products. It is a more active form of metolachlor; therefore less product is required per acre (1 to 2 pt per acre). These new Dual Magnum and Bicep Magnum products also will contain the corn safener. It controls the same weed spectrum as previous Duals or Biceps.

BICEP MAGNUM TR 4.59L (Novartis) contains s-metolachlor, atrazine, and flumetsulam (Python). It is primarily targeted at areas that have triazine-resistant lambsquarters and pigweed, but will also control the same weed spectrum as previous Bicep products. Bicep MAGNUM TR can be applied preemergent to field corn from 1.6 to 2.2 qt/A. Follow restrictions with regard to soil insecticides, soil pH and organic matter, planting depth, etc. to avoid crop injury. It will mostly be marketed in mini-bulk tanks in our area in 1999.

LEADOFF 5L (DuPont) is a prepackage mix of dimethenamid (Frontier) and atrazine being marketed by DuPont that contains the same ratio as Guardsman herbicide from BASF. LeadOff contains 2.33 lb/gal of dimethenamid and 2.67 lb/gal atrazine and may be soil applied to field corn, seed corn, sweet corn and popcorn.

LIBERTY ATZ 4.3L (AgrEvo) is a new prepackaged post product that contains glufosinate (Liberty) and atrazine. It may be used in Liberty Link or glufosinate-resistant (GR) corn hybrids only. At 40 fl oz/A, Liberty ATZ will provide 1 lb ai or 1 qt atrazine plus 24 fl oz Liberty 1.67L. Liberty in combination with atrazine controls a number of annual weedy grasses and broadleaves.

NORTHSTAR 51.4WG (Novartis) is a new pre-package postemerge herbicide for use in corn. NorthStar is a premix of the equivalent of 0.5 oz Beacon (active ingredient primisulfuron) and the equivalent of 4 oz of Banvel or Clarity (dicamba). The labeled use rate for NorthStar is 5 oz product/acre and it can be applied over-the-top to corn between 4 and 20 inches tall. Unlike Exceed, NorthStar only has an 8 month rotation restriction for soybean.

PINNACLE 25DF (DuPont) (thifensulfuron) is labeled for early post application in corn. The rate is 0.25 oz/acre and may be applied to 2 to 6 leaf corn (<6 collars) not over 8 inches tall. Pinnacle will provide good control of velvetleaf, pigweed, lambsquarters, smartweed, and mustards.

ROUNDUP READY corn (Monsanto). In 1999, the only glyphosate product that can be legally applied over-the-top of Roundup Ready corn hybrids is Roundup Ultra. No other glyphosate products should be applied.

SPIRIT 57WG (Novartis) is a combination of prosulfuron and primisulfuron, the two active ingredients in Exceed. Spirit may replace Exceed herbicide in certain geographic locations due to the concern for carryover of prosulfuron. Spirit is a 3:1 ratio of primisulfuron:prosulfuron, whereas Exceed is a 1:1 ratio. There will be a 10 month rotation restriction for soybean in Pennsylvania following Spirit. Spirit should perform similarly to Exceed, but may need some additional help with lambsquarters or bigger velvetleaf..

Pending

ACTION 4.75WP (Novartis), (fluthiacet-methyl), is a postemergence contact-type herbicide that provides excellent control of velvetleaf, and also has activity on some other broadleaves. Action will most likely be tank mixed with other products or be sold as a premix to increase the weed spectrum.

BALANCE 75WDG (Rhone Poulenc) is not yet labeled east of Ohio. Watch and listen to our neighbors to the west for their experience with this new product this first year.

SOYBEAN

Labeled or Updated

AUTHORITY 75DF (DuPont) contains the single active ingredient sulfentrazone. Authority is applied preemergence at 4 to 5.3 oz/A and provides control of common broadleaves including nightshade. To broaden the weed control spectrum tank-mix with other pre products or apply a planned post herbicide such as Classic, Synchrony, or Roundup (on respective herbicide resistant varieties only).

AXIOM 68DF (Bayer) herbicide was labeled for use in corn and soybean early last summer. Axiom is a combination of flufenacet and metribuzin sold as a 68% DF (54.4% flufenacet and 13.8% metribuzin). Flufenacet is an amide type herbicide similar in control spectrum to Dual, Harness, Surpass, Frontier, etc. Performance of Axiom on annual grasses and small seeded broadleaves has been similar to Dual, although it may need some assistance with yellow nutsedge. The current maximum use rate for soybean is 13 oz/A.

CLARITY 4S (BASF) is now labeled for preplant applications in soybeans. Apply 4-16 fl oz/A prior to planting. A waiting interval of 14 days is required for 8 oz/A or less and a 28 day wait is necessary for the 16 oz rate. Clarity can also be used to control weeds prior to harvesting. A preharvest application of 8-64 fl oz/A may be applied 14 days before soybean harvest. See label for additional details.

FIRSTRATE 84WDG (Dow AgroSciences) Cloransulam-methyl is an ALS-inhibitor and is in the same chemical family as flumetsulam (Python). Although FirstRate is registered both Pre and Post in the Midwest, it appears that the product may only be marketed Post in the Northeast. The strength of FirstRate is its activity on weeds in the composite family, including cocklebur and common and giant ragweed. It is not effective postemergence on lambsquarters, pigweed, or eastern black nightshade. The common use rate for FirstRate is 0.3 oz/A for postemergence applications, but can be applied up to 0.6 oz/A.

LIBERTY LINK (AgrEvo) soybean may make it into the market place in 1999. These beans allow over-the-top applications of Liberty herbicide (glufosinate).

ROUNDUP READY soybean (Monsanto). In 1999, the only glyphosate products that can be legally applied over-the-top of Roundup Ready soybean varieties are Roundup Ultra, Roundup Original, Roundup Custom, Glyfos (marketed by Cheminova) and Roundup Ultra Dry (pending label).

Pending

ACTION 4.75WP (Novartis) (fluthiacet-methyl) is a postemergence contact-type herbicide that provides excellent control of velvetleaf, but also has activity on some other broadleaves. Action will most likely be tank mixed with other products or be sold as a premix to increase the weed spectrum.

EXPERT 75WDG (Novartis) (oxasulfuron) is a postemergence sulfonylurea (ALS inhibitor) herbicide. It provides control of many annual broadleaf weeds in soybeans. Expert is short-lived in the soil and should not interfere with crop rotations.

Roundup Ready update

Roundup Ready (RR) corn and soybean continue to increase market share. In 1998, RR soybean captured about 40% of the U.S. market, while RR corn gained almost 1 million acres in its inaugural season. Expect both to increase as more varieties and hybrids become available. RR technology has had dramatic effects on the U.S. industry. Soybean herbicide prices continue to drop; some companies have simply decided the soybean herbicide market is no longer worth pursuing. Starting in 1999, third party glyphosates (e.g., Glyfos) enter the market and after the year 2000, more companies will have access to the active ingredient glyphosate as the Roundup patent expires. The next 5 years should certainly prove interesting......

ALFALFA

Labeled

SELECT 2E (Valent), a post-grass herbicide that contains clethodim, is now labeled for use in pure seeded alfalfa. At 6 to 16 oz/A (8 oz avg.), Select provides good control of annual and certain perennial grass species and should be a good addition to alfalfa. The higher rate range may be necessary for quackgrass and annual bluegrass control.

SOME OPTIONS FOR WEED CONTROL IN ALFALFA

As those alfalfa fields break dormancy and the chickweed, deadnettle, and yellow rocket take off, our attention may turn to alfalfa weed control. As for items to consider now or in the next few weeks, remember a few important guidelines.

Gramoxone Extra 2.5S (paraquat) - May be applied at 1.5 to 2.5 pt/A to established "dormant" stands with 2 inches or less spring regrowth. The weeds must be actively growing at the time of application. Gramoxone is also labeled at 13 to 24 fl oz/A for dormant application on newly fall seeded stands. Gramoxone will desiccate any green tissue including actively growing alfalfa. Be especially cautious with new fall seedings. Gramoxone is effective on low to moderate infestations of winter annuals including chickweed, henbit, deadnettle, and mustard species. If winter annual weed infestations are severe, consider one of the soil active alternatives. Do not use on mixed stands.

Lexone/Sencor 75DF (metribuzin) - May be used on established alfalfa. Apply 0.5 to 1 lb/A before spring regrowth. Impregnation on dry fertilizer can improve crop safety and allow for slightly later applications (up to 3 inches spring regrowth). Lexone or Sencor controls winter annual broadleaves and grasses (higher rates for grass control). May be used on mixed alfalfa-grass.

Poast Plus 1E (sethoxydim) - Poast Plus controls annual grasses and suppresses perennial grasses in seedling and established alfalfa. Apply Poast Plus at 1.5 to 2.5 pt/A to actively growing grassy weeds. Poast Plus performance improves with warmer temperatures. However, Poast Plus should be applied to small grasses. Do not use on mixed stands.

Pursuit 70DG (imazethapyr) - Pursuit may be used for weed control in seedling or established alfalfa. Apply Pursuit at 1.08 to 2.16 oz/A plus adjuvants to actively growing weeds 1 to 3 inches in height. Pursuit performance improves with warmer temperatures. Pursuit is effective on many winter annual broadleaves including small chickweed. Pursuit may be used on established alfalfa-grass mixtures.

Select 2EC (clethodim) - Apply Select at 6-8 fl oz to actively growing grasses that are less than 6 inches tall. Rates up to 16 fl oz may be used to control larger grasses, annual bluegrass or perennials such as quackgrass. Include a crop oil concentrate in the spray mixture. May be tank-mixed with Pursuit, Buctril, or 2,4-DB for broadleaf weed control. Do not use on mixed stands.

Sinbar 80W (terbacil) - May be applied to established alfalfa at up to 1.5 lb/A or to a new fall seeding at 0.33 to 0.5 lb/A. The reduced rate seedling year application is specifically aimed at chickweed. Sinbar is effective on a number of annual broadleaves and some grasses at the higher rates. Apply to "dormant" alfalfa before 2 inches of spring regrowth. Do not use on mixed stands.

Velpar 2L (hexazinone) - Apply Velpar to established alfalfa at 2 to 6 pt/A during the dormant period before 2 inches of spring regrowth. Velpar is effective on annual broadleaves and grasses. Velpar is the most effective dormant season treatment for suppression of dandelion and dock species (higher rates for grasses and perennial suppression). Do not use on mixed stands.

WEED CONTROL IN SMALL GRAINS

Late March through mid-April is typically a good time to control weeds in small grains. Most of the small grain herbicides control annual broadleaf weeds and can suppress perennial broadleaves. Harmony Extra and Peak are effective on wild garlic and wild onion. Harmony Extra and Peak both are effective on chickweed and several other winter annual broadleaves. Peak is weak on henbit and deadnettle. In addition, Peak recrop restrictions include 10 mo. for soybeans and 15 mo. for alfalfa. (In most cases, Harmony Extra remains the herbicide standard in small grains. However, since it's a combination of two ALS-inhibitor herbicides use herbicide resistance management practices such as tank-mixing or using different modes of action in subsequent crops.) 2,4-D, Banvel, or MCPA can improve the control of some winter annuals and perennials and Stinger is the most effective herbicide on thistles. Hoelon has been labeled for use in wheat and barley to control annual ryegrass and other weedy grasses but is not effective on downy brome or cheat. Hoelon may be applied pre or post in wheat, but only pre in barley. The following table summarizes the available small grain herbicides. See a current herbicide label for specific weed species, rates, and restrictions.

Small grain herbicides for Pennsylvania.
Herbicide Cereal Max. growth stage Rate/A Legume
companion		 Fertilizer
carrier
Banvel wheat, barley, oats jointing (stage 6) 1/4 pt no yes
Buctril wheat, barley, oats boot (stage 9) 1/2 pt yes yes
Harmony Extra wheat, barley before visible flag (stage 7) 0.3-0.6 oz no yes
oats before jointing (stage 5)
Hoelon wheat, barley before jointing (stage 5) 1.33-2.67 pt yes(?) yes-wheat
no-barley
2,4-D ester wheat, barley before jointing (stage 5) 1/2-1 pt no yes
2,4-D amine wheat, barley, oats before jointing (stage 5) 1/2-1 pt no yes
MCPA wheat, barley, oats before jointing (stage 5) 1/2-1 pt yes no
Peak wheat, barley, oats jointing (stage 6) 0.25-0.5 oz no yes
Stinger wheat, barley, oats boot (stage 9) 1/4-2/3 pt no yes

Dwight Lingenfelter and William S. Curran, Agronomy, Weed Science

Precision Vision:

Why the name PRECISION VISION? Because Penn State is committed to becoming the foremost leader in university research and extension in precision agriculture. Our commitment is to helping Pennsylvania farmers and producers, large and small, stay abreast of the newest technologies in this new area of "precision agriculture". This is the second year for this column. Seems like it was just last month I was finishing the last column, talking about ending the harvest season and meeting the guys down at the donut shop for "sinkers and coffee". Over the winter, I did get some feedback that the PRECISION VISION column was read and even some of you readers were able to remember some of the contents. Makes me feel like I am getting better at this "technology transfer".

Now for the real test. Did any of you adopt any of the technology I discussed in the column last year? I'd like to hear from you, the readers, on what kinds of precision agriculture technology you are using on your farm. In order to do my job right, I need to hear from the readers on how they are adopting innovative or precision technologies. So we are planning a contest. Here are the contest rules.

THE 1999 PENNSYLVANIA PRECISION AGRICULTURE CONTEST

Write a letter and describe how you have adopted precision agriculture, site specific farming, precision sprayer or spreader application, Global Positioning System or Geographic Information System technologies in your farming activity. Make the description no longer than 600 words (That's about two pages, single spaced, typewritten words. You can handwrite the letter if you don't want to type it. Photos of equipment are appreciated. The letter should include a description of what technology you adopted, how successful (or unsuccessfully) it worked, and how it changed your farm profitability. The best five entries will be awarded a prize. All entries that did not win one of the top five places, will receive a consolation prize. Entries must be postmarked no later than April 15, 1999. Winners will be announced by April 30, 1999.

Include your Name, address and telephone number along with your contest entry. Send the entries to Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, 225 Agricultural Engineering Building, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802. Attention David G. Wagner, Extension Specialist Precision Ag. Program. Precision Ag Contest.

Here are the prizes.

1st prize winner: Receives a free GPS survey of his farm using our JD Gator and Trimble Differential GPS. We will provide a hard copy map (paper map) to scale, with topographic contours, and if you have a computer with GIS (Geographical Information System) software, in addition, we will furnish a digital georectified digital map to start your farm GIS system. The map will define the field boundaries with acreage reports for each of the fields or contour strips. We will collect soil samples to your specification, each sample located with the GPS, so you can begin your soil mapping. You will have to assume the cost of the soils analysis, but I will supply the computer location report and soils mapping after the analysis is complete and results are given back to me. The winner also receives a free sprayer calibration at your farm, a sprayer calibration kit by TeeJet and new stainless steel TeeJet 2nd Generation drift reduction nozzles, not to exceed a total of 30 nozzles. Nozzles types and sizes will be chosen to fit your spraying needs.

2nd prize winner: Receives a free GPS survey of his farm as described above, but with no soils sampling collection or mapping. The winner also receives a free sprayer calibration at your farm and a TeeJet sprayer calibration kit and 20 new stainless steel TeeJet sprayer nozzles to fit your spraying needs.

3rd prize winner: Receives a free sprayer calibration at your farm, a sprayer calibration kit by TeeJet and new stainless steel TeeJet 2nd Generation drift reduction nozzles, not to exceed a total of 30 nozzles. Nozzles types and sizes will be chosen to fit your spraying needs.

4th prize winner: Receives a free sprayer calibration at your farm and a TeeJet sprayer calibration kit and 20 new stainless steel TeeJet sprayer nozzles to fit your spraying needs.

5th prize winner: Receives a free sprayer calibration at your farm, and a TeeJet sprayer calibration kit.

Winners will be selected by a jury of faculty from the Agronomy Department and Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department.

Judging Rules:

  1. Entries will be judged on the innovative use of precision agriculture technologies in your farming or agribusiness operation.

  2. Entries will be judged on the description of impacts or management changes brought about through the use of precision agriculture technologies in your agri-business or farming operation.

  3. Entries will be judged on the description of changes in your profit or loss financial position through using precision agriculture technologies in your farming operation or agribusiness.

  4. You must have introduced the precision agriculture changes in your farm or agribusiness to qualify for a prize.

That's all for this issue. Contact me if you have questions.

David G. Wagner, Ag & Bio Engineering, Precision Ag

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

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