5.26.20 News from Your Federated Agronomists

Planting is done (or nearly so) and it's time to zero in on nutrient management and weed control. Maximize your yields with split side-dressed nitrogen applications. Apply post-emerge herbicides early. Remember that a good adjuvant will improve the effectiveness of your herbicides. And please, be safe in the fields, and stay well all around!

Early is Best for Effective Weed Control

It was dry throughout most of Federated’s service area until last week and that made growers wonder about their pre-emerge herbicides as weeds popped up. “We got moisture now, so the pre-emerge herbicides will be activated,” said Kevin Carlson, Federated’s agronomy sales manager. Growers who got their pre-emerge herbicides applied will be set to do post-emerge “clean up” down the road, but those who didn’t apply a pre may need to get going with an early post-emerge application ... Read more.

Side Dress Soon to Improve Nitrogen Availability Young corn plants quickly sense the amount of nitrogen (N) available for their nutrient needs and they respond accordingly. If the crop senses limited amounts of N, the corn plant will reduce the number of kernel rows it produces on each ear. According to Kevin Carlson, Federated’s agronomy sales manager, by about V5, the corn has decided how many kernel rows to set. Side dressing N makes ... Read more.

Adjuvants Boost Herbicide Performance Adjuvants improve herbicide activity and are essential to effective herbicide applications. An effective adjuvant addresses these primary factors: 1.    Weeds vary in size, surface, and structure. 2.    Weeds differ in their ability to absorb herbicides. 3.    Spray droplets can easily drift off course. Post-emerge herbicide applications typically, “clean up after the pre-emerge herbicides,” said Adam Jahnz, Federated agronomy sales rep at the Rush City location. Adjuvants help ensure the effectiveness ... Read more.