US Extension specialists say corn yield response to nitrogen and needed fertilization rate decreases in years with below normal rainfall. But making broad assumptions this fall could mean a hungry crop next spring.Increased field variability was obvious this year and ensuring every plant has equal access to enough food in 2013 will be nearly impossible. Good soil sampling will be critical this fall, making sure enough cores are taken, and to the right depth. When interpreting results, remember that potassium availability may be overestimated in low testing soils or underestimated in high testing soils due to this year`s dry conditions and a higher incidence of binding in the soil. Also consider that high salt (fertilizer) concentrations in the sampling area can cause pH readings to be about 0.5-1.0 pH units lower than the actual pH before you decide to apply lime.
When drought gives you lemons
If necessity is the mother of invention, then unconventional market opportunities should be no surprise during drought.As dry conditions worsen and some farmers begin to open insurance claims for withering crops, nervous livestock producers are creating new demand for alternative forages. Feeding straw to supplement reduced hay yields continues to become an increasingly attractive contingency plan among cattle producers, both in Canada and the US. In some cases, demand is so high buyers are offering free trucking in addition to lucrative pricing.Closer to home OMAFRA offers a range of tips for saving, salvaging, and even pricing crops for feed. Harvesting grain corn early naturally fits ensiling. Soybeans can be adapted for green feed, silage, or substitute for alfalfa hay. With a little out-of-the-box thinking and creative market development, grain farmers can generate some financial lemonade this year, no matter how dry the conditions.
Aphid app offers first recommendations to spray beans
Farmers who haven’t started to scout their soybeans for aphids may want to consider taking their smartphone on a field trip soon.As of the third week of June, Aphid Advisor is recommending farmers spray for soybean aphids at some specific sites. Launched for Blackberry users one year ago, the app is still only a pilot decision-making tool but these latest results suggest it may be gaining in popularity among farmers and researchers in select regions.Developed by a team directed by the University of Guelph’s Dr. Rebecca Hallett, the app combines observed pest and enemy population counts with expected population growth rates, and predicts whether natural enemies will control a growing aphid population or not. If not, a warning to spray is generated and can be immediately uploaded to the site so other growers can monitor local trends in real time.