CMEG Crop Management Extension Group

Field Crop News

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

April 15, 2008    Vol. 08:06

IN THIS ISSUE:

This publication will be available on line at http://fcn.agronomy.psu.edu/ within 24 hours of receiving this email.

Weather Outlook — Paul Knight, Pennsylvania State Climatologist

Right on cue, the atmospheric pattern is shifting out of a persistent storm track from the southern Plains to the eastern Great Lakes — which brought near to below normal temperatures to Pennsylvania and generally above average rainfall, especially in the northern tier to a blocking pattern — which means successive days with very similar weather conditions. Initially, the block will be favorable with sunny, progressively warmer days and clear, calm and cool nights through Friday. However, a sluggish weak storm will slip south of the state drawing in ocean—cooled air and plenty of clouds along with patches of showers starting later Saturday and continuing into Monday. Rainfall will generally be a third of an inch, though the southwest part of the state may receive up to an inch. Drier and very warm conditions should return for the middle of next week and persist into the weekend. Another spell of cooler, cloudy weather with some showers is expected near the end of the month. The east—central and southeast parts of Pennsylvania have turned dry and this trend of below average rainfall will persist for the remainder of April and into May in that part of the state. Odds still favor a cooler than normal May with expanding dryness (particularly in eastern PA). There are indications that June will become quite wet — mainly during the second half of the month.

Check out the predicted Growing Degree Days (base 55) for Pennsylvania for the next two weeks at: http://climate.met.psu.edu/data/regional_gdd.php

Pre—Plant Weed Control for No—till Soybeans — Dwight Lingenfelter, PSU Weed Science

Recently, Mark Van Gessel, University of Delaware Weed Scientist, and I compiled an introductory fact sheet entitled, “Approaches to Pre—Plant Weed Control for No—till Soybeans”. This fact sheet discusses some pros and cons of early spring, late spring, and fall burndown applications and provides some herbicide options to consider when trying to control common winter annuals (including resistant horseweed) and perennials. The fact sheet will be updated later this year to include herbicide efficacy tables and information on issues concerning cover crops and winter annual weed control. It can be found at: http://fcn.agronomy.psu.edu/2008/nt_soybeans_08_wf19.pdf

2008 Herbicide Price Highlights — Dwight Lingenfelter, PSU Weed Science

In general, most in—season herbicide prices have slightly increased (up to a few dollars/gallon or unit). Glyphosate products had the biggest price increase (by at least 50% or more). Generic glyphosates used to cost about $15–25/gallon. This year they have jumped to $30–40/gallon. Last year, most of the premium brand glyphosate products (e.g., Roundup WeatherMax, Touchdown Total, Duramax, etc.) sold for about $35–45/gallon, this year they are selling for about $60–75 in—season. Atrazine has also had a price increase this year, from around $9.50 to over $14/gallon.

The reasons for these increases vary—some suggest more acres of corn and beans, some blame added global demand and short supplies, while others say it’s related to the Olympics in China plus other reasons in between. There is growing interest in products like Impact and Laudis to help control annual grasses postemergence and to provide another tool to manage herbicide resistance. These have performed well in our studies, so you may consider these as possible alternatives to the “old standbys”.

Residual herbicides in soybeans are making a comeback. Most companies are encouraging the use of residual herbicides followed by glyphosate in soybeans. (Chris Boerboom, University of Wisconsin, recently wrote a good article about this entitled, “Does glyphosate price matter?” (http://ipcm.wisc.edu/Portals/0/Blog/Files/17/488/WCM_15(5).pdf). Because of higher input costs overall, it is tempting to cut herbicide rates to save some money, but by doing this, there are negative short— and long—term implications.

Lastly, there are more companies producing generic products that contain metolachlor, acetochlor, pendimethalin, atrazine, glyphosate, and some sulfonylurea herbicides. However, be cautious and consider all factors when looking at generic herbicide alternatives, especially guarantees for re—sprays on product failures.

Ryelage Harvest: Just Around the Corner — Paul H. Craig, Dauphin County Extension

With the arrival of warmer temperatures this week the cereal rye crop has rapidly begun to grow and develop. In some areas in southern PA the crop is approaching mid—calf height and will quickly reach knee height. This indicates that the harvest for highest quality forages is just around the corner. Are you ready??

Many dairy producers have adopted management practices to maximize forage quality and yields from ryelage. These individuals quickly plant rye into harvested silage acreage in the late summer and then gain the advantage of a winter cover crop, a way to recycle fall applied manure nutrients and provide quality forage at a time when other forage crop supplies are getting short. Others have learned to despise this crop based on experiences when feeding an over—mature or too wet ryelage crop.

To ensure high quality ryelage harvest, producers must have harvest equipment ready to go. The quality of ryelage rapidly decreases with maturity and one day in harvest delay can make the difference between high quality and average to poor quality forage. If producers rely on custom harvesters, these individuals should be contacted now to plan approximate harvest schedules.

The most successful ryelage managers time harvest for maximum plant sugar levels with the highest level of digestible forage fiber. These individuals time mowing of rye stands just prior to head emergence. Their goal is to have no more than 5% of the tillers showing any sign of emerged heads. You can monitor where the head is within the plant stalk by feeling for it or by carefully dissecting the tiller. Once the flag leaf has emerged the seed head is soon to follow.

Cereal rye can provide high levels of dry matter per acre. This large amount of forage can greatly affect rapid dry down following mowing. Ensuring a rapid dry down maximizes the level of plant sugars in the plant resulting in better fermentation in the silo and higher quality forage for the cow. Mowing and putting the forage in as wide a swath as possible will aid dry down. By not conditioning the plant the forage will continue to respire in the field post mowing and more rapid dry down will naturally occur. Conditioning breaks the “plumbing” of the plant and limits dry down rates.

Many successful ryelage producers also ted their rye to speed dry down. Most will ted as soon after mowing as the surface of the swath is dry. This is usually followed by a second tedding when the tops of the forage is dry and finally a rake is used when moistures are close to harvest targets (62 – 65%) to prepare the field for chopping.

Another successful practice is to include the use of inoculants to speed the fermentation process in the ryelage storage structure. Be sure to talk to your supplier to select the proper inoculants for a ryelage crop. Be certain to check inoculant rates and the manufacturer date to ensure high quality products. When filling the inoculant tank do not use chlorinated water. Chlorine in public water systems can negatively affect inoculants survivability. Another factor that has been shown to affect inoculant survival is temperature of the water on the choppers. When tanks are located near engines and exposed to sunlight high water temperatures can reduce viability of the bacteria.

Entry Information Now Available for Five Acre Corn Club — Del Voight, Extension Educator, Capital Region Agronomy Team

Go to this site to obtain entry forms and the rules regarding the Five Acre Corn Club. Entry is due July 1, 2008. http://cornandsoybeans.psu.edu/

Contributors: County Educators: Paul Craig (Dauphin), Andrew Frankenfield (Montgomery), Kevin Fry (Armstrong), John Rowehl (York), Delbert Voight (Lebanon). Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Douglas Beegle, Sjoerd Duiker, Dwight Lingenfelter, Ron Hoover.

Editor:Mena Hautau (Berks)

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