Soybean Grower Workshops March 19-23
RSVP
soon to reserve your space at an upcoming
Soybean Grower Workshop
. All meetings begin at 10 a.m. and conclude with lunch. Featured topics for 2018 include:
Understanding Weed Resistance
Soybean Pre Emerge Choices for 2018 and Beyond
Post Emerge Soybean Herbicide Choices
Soybean Trait Update for 2018
2017 Discovery Plot Results for Soybeans
Managing White Mold in Soybeans
Mon., March 19 –
Osceola
, at St. Croix Falls Legion
Tues., March 20 –
Rush City
, at Chucker’s
Wed., March 21 –
Ogilvie
, at Northern Lights in Pease
Thurs., March 22 –
Albertville
, at City Hall
Fri., March 23 –
Isanti
, at Captain’s on Long Lake
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Best Management Practices Help Control Giant Ragweed
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Giant ragweed is becoming more prevalent across Federated’s trade area. “It is a weed that needs to be controlled early,” said John Swanson, Federated agronomist at the Ogilvie location, “and it is one of the most competitive weeds for our crops.”
The best control for this challenging weed is a pre-emergence herbicide, and in corn “Acuron® with bicyclopyrone (SOA-27) is a great choice,” said Swanson (see article below).
Giant ragweed can be very difficult to control post emerge. “It grows so rapidly and we often do not get it sprayed small enough,” said Swanson. It needs to be sprayed when it is 2-4 inches tall
or less.
Post-emerge options to help control giant ragweed in corn include:
- Buccaneer® Plus (glyphosate – if it is not resistant),
- Interline™ (glufosinate, SOA-10)
- Callisto® (SOA-27),
- Dicamba products such as Detonate® or Status® (SOA-4), and
- Stinger® (SOA-4).
In soybeans, controlling giant ragweed is also best with pre-emerge treatments. “A product containing FirstRate® (SOA-2), such as Sonic® or Authority® First, make great choices,” said Swanson. Some ragweed plants are resistant to ALS herbicides, and if FirstRate doesn’t do the job, according to Swanson, “we may have resistance.”
“If the pressure is moderate to light we can also use a Panther® (SOA-14) and Tricor®4F (SOA-5) tank mix as well,” he said.
Post-emerge options in soybeans include:
- Buccaneer Plus (glyphosate – if it is not resistant),
- Interline (glufosinate, SOA-10),
- Flexstar® (SOA-14),
- Cobra® (SOA-14),
- Xtendimax®, Engenia,® or FeXapan® (on dicamba-resistant soybeans only, SOA-4), and
- FirstRate (SOA-2).
Swanson emphasized that the “best management practice is to lay down a pre-emergence herbicide and then follow it with a post application when weeds are 2-4 inches in height.”
Discuss giant ragweed control options with your
Federated Agronomist
soon – before the weeds are popping out of the ground.
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Acuron: A Hard Hit on Glyphosate-Resistant Weeds
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As glyphosate-resistant weeds become an increasingly difficult issue, Federated recommends Acuron® with its three modes of action, applied pre-emerge or early post (up to 12-inch corn).
Ron Paulson, Federated agronomist at Isanti, said, “[Acuron] is almost a one-shot deal. If everything is perfect, you won’t have to come back.” In some situations, dependent upon the weed spectrum, Paulson noted, “you may need to come back post emerge.”
- Bicyclopyrone
- Mesotrione
- S-metolachlor
- Atrazine
“For medium and heavy-textured soils, we really recommend Acuron,” said Paulson. Contact your
Federated Agronomist
to discuss glyphosate-resistant weed control.
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Crop Nutrients from A to Z(inc)
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“As you’re putting the final touches on your nutrient plan for spring,” said Craig Peterson, agronomist at Federated’s Ogilvie location, “
don't overlook zinc
.”
Corn will reveal any zinc deficiency in the first few weeks of plant growth, according to Peterson. And, “cool temperatures in the early spring can magnify the need for zinc,” he said. However, It is possible to predict the need for zinc by:
- analyzing field history,
- soil testing, and
- tissue testing.
Zinc deficiency will show up as white striping on the leaves on each side of the mid rib (top photo), resulting in reduced chlorophyll; this can last season long. Severe zinc deficiency will cause shorting of the nodes, resulting in stunted plants (middle photo).
Peterson said, “Federated Co-ops carries zinc products that will fit anyone’s fertility program.” Dry products can be broadcast but in-furrow application is preferred so the zinc is available to the plant right from the start.
“One pound of actual zinc is a good starting point unless you have a soil test, tissue test, or history that recommends a certain rate,” he said.
- Zinc sulfate 35.5% is the most common dry product; it can be blended with starter at 3 lbs./ac., which provides 1 lb./ac. of actual zinc.
- Racer™ is a total micronutrient package that blends with dry starter, adding sulfur, manganese, iron, boron, and copper along with the zinc.
- MicroEssentials® SZ is a starter with nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, and zinc; each nutrient is fused into each granule for very even distribution (see the January 23 Agronomy Update for more info on this product). Federated highly recommends MicroEssentials SZ blended with potash.
- Liquid options are also available from Federated.
- EDTA Chelated Zinc mixes well with liquid starter and stays in suspension. Peterson said, “normally 1 qt./ac. is sufficient.”
- USA 500™ (universal starter additive) contains zinc and adds phosphate protection plus a growth stimulant that promotes overall plant structure.
Talk to your
Federated Agronomist
to discuss the need for zinc on your farm. And, Peterson said, “Please remember to have a safe spring.”
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Federated Focus: A Service, A Person
Meeting Seed Needs in the Small Window of Spring
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Every spring, Cody Lezer, Federated’s seed warehouse manager, is tasked with the movement of 23,000 units (50-lb. bags) of soybean seed and about 10,000 units of corn seed, plus another few thousand units of wheat seed, all within a six-week window.
Lezer said that much of his job is computer-based as he keeps track of a sizable seed inventory. “I like to keep things organized,” he said, and that’s a good thing, since he is responsible for ensuring that farmers and other Federated locations get their seed – treated or otherwise – when and where they need it.
Working from Federated’s state-of-the art seed warehouse in Ogilvie, Lezer is close to his hometown of Foley where he grew up on a dairy farm with “50 cows and 400 acres” under tillage. He graduated from the Minnesota School of Business with a business management major and an agriculture minor, both of which undergird his work at Federated.
The seed warehouse has been the site of Lezer’s office since he became its manager following a relatively short stint as a Federated applicator in Albertville.
The most challenging aspect of Federated’s seed business is getting everything in – and out – on time. The window for seed delivery is small and warehousing can be a challenge both on the co-op side as well as for growers.
Lezer said, “Federated is a good place to work.” He realistically conjectured that if growers would take seed earlier – opening the usual six-week window to “something more like two or three months” – the rush of moving seed would be less of a challenge, but he enjoys his work even when the demands of spring set in.
Talk to your
Federated Agronomist
about your seed choices, treatment, and delivery options before the spring rush begins.
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Frost Seeding: A Cheap Alternative to Improve Hay and Pasture Lands
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Frost seeding is a popular option to improve forage yield and quality of pasture and hay land. The principle of frost seeding is to broadcast forage seed in the early spring when the ground freezes at night and thaws during the day. The main advantage to frost seeding is the ability to establish desirable species into an undisturbed sod at a low per acre cost. A 60-70% frost seeding establishment rate has been reported by many farmers. The success of frost seeding establishment can be increased by following the key steps outlined below.
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