BOUGHT THE FARM

spit??  Sounds more than odd, but that is what researchers at Cornell, University of Goettingen, and National University of Colombia discovered.  They were studying the effects from saliva of the Guatemalan potato moth larvae (Tecia solanivora) had on a commercial potato plant.

Their results included that when the larvae infected fewer than 10% of the tubers, the plant produced marketable yields that weighed 2.5 times more than undamaged plants.  Even when up to 20% of the tubers were infected, yields still doubled.  How about when half of the potatoes were infested?  Yields were equal to plants without infection!

This is something you might want to investigate further http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100527131704.htm

Wonder if any of the crops in the Midwest respond in a similar fashion to invasive pests??

With the recent rainfall events, now is a great time to make sure that the nitrogen you applied earlier is still there. 

Jim Fawcett, ISU Extension Agronomist, posted some comments about doing this www.iowafarmertoday.com/blog/?p=732

The Iowa Soybean Association, through their On-Farm Network, has some great information on the impact of spring rainfall on nitrogen.  You can review their 2010 Conference Presentations here http://www.isafarmnet.com/2010OFNConfPresentations/ofnpresentations.html.  Iowa's guide for nitrogen recommendations is http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/PM1714.pdf 

Ohio State University has 5 questions to Help Evaluate Your Nitrogen Loss http://cornandsoybeandigest.com/inputs/fertilizer/five-questions-evaluate-nitrogen-loss-0525/

Remember that plant available sulfur is in the sulfate (SO₄)^- form, which makes it susceptible to leaching.  Make sure to include some sulfur (like SuperCal SO4) in your sidedress application!

Soil testing is a regular practice for many crop producers.  Some livestock operations regularly check feed samples, but why shouldn't both be done?  I have noticed that many cattle producers have never tested their soils or feed, yet still expect maximum efficiency & productivity from their forages. 

I think this article http://cattletoday.com/archive/2002/May/CT205.shtml is a great read for all cattlemen & women.  If we don't have a good handle on what the soils are able to support, and we don't know what the forages are testing, how can we manage?

When I was growing up, there were many local farms with cattle.  Today most of those operations are no longer present, and many of the current producers continue to practice management techniques that have served them well in the past, but not necessarily today.  Soil & forage testing is every bit as valuable to livestock producers, as it is to row crops.

Elwynn Taylor, ISU Climatologist, talks about the ocean temperature changes which may impact our summer weather.

http://twitpic.com/1qo7wd

US researchers found that soybeans associated with naturally occurring rhizobia had lower aphid densities than either the artificially fertilized plants or the plants inoculated with commercial rhizobia. They also found the same level of nitrogen in both soybean plants inoculated with natural rhizobia and those inoculated with commercial varieties. The researchers do not yet know what the natural nitrogen-fixing bacteria do to repel aphids.

To have proper nodulation you need oxygen in your soil and sulfur.

SuperCal SO4 should be in every soybean blend. SuperCal SO4 provides sulfur in the plant available sulfate form. SuperCal SO4 helps naturally aerate soils too! Without air and sulfur rhizobia cannot do their job and provide the soybeans with adequate nutrition.

Yield Starts Here is a blog for farmers, focusing on increasing yield and profitability by focusing on the soil. It is managed by Craig Dick, a Blogronomist and Sales and Marketing Manager at Calcium Products. Find other articles by Craig and guest writers at http://blog.calciumproducts.com/ .

 From the PFI List Serve:

AGRONOMY RESEARCH PUBLISHED IN NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

Matt Liebman, agronomy, and a team of researchers at ISU, have found that a farm can cut its fossil fuel use in half by shifting to a four-year cycle — adding a year of another grain, such as oats, and a year of alfalfa, a legume, to the typical corn-soy rotation. Liebman’s research was published in the May 3 issue of National Geographic News, “Saving Fuel on the Farm by Making Hay.” Liebman’s research has been supported for the Leopold Center for six years, and will continue over the next three years. More: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/05/100503-energy-saving-fuel-with-hay/

You might find this tool handy for calculating growing degree days for your location. 

http://www.weather.com/outlook/agriculture/growing-degree-days/

 From The LA Times via http://twitter.com/Teddy_Salad:

Supernova (exploding stars)  rich in calcium!

Scientists say it may explain why there's so much of it in the universe, and in us.

"The total amount [of calcium] we see [in the universe] is quite high," Filippenko said, "more than can be explained with conventional supernovae. This new class could explain the large amount of calcium."

Nearly half of the material expelled from SN 2005E was calcium — five to 10 times as much, in terms of mass, than calcium produced by typical supernovae of any variety, according to the paper co-written by Filippenko. The researchers said that it would take only one or two of these calcium-rich supernovae every 100 years to generate all the calcium present in life on earth.

Yield Starts Here is a blog for farmers, focusing on increasing yield and profitability by focusing on the soil. It is managed by Craig Dick, a Blogronomist and Sales and Marketing Manager at Calcium Products. Find other articles by Craig and guest writers at http://blog.calciumproducts.com/ .

Growing conditions have stymied crop development in the Midwest recently.  Some of the neighboring corn fields have been planted for nearly 4 weeks, & are just starting to poke through today.  Getting the crop off to a good start seems to be a problem in recent years. 

Bob Nielsen, from Purdue University, explains why corn seems to experience this every year.

"During this important transition from dependence on kernel reserves to dependence on the nodal root system, corn seedlings are easily sidetracked when growing conditions are not adequate for maximum photosynthesis and rapid development of the nodal root system. Consequently, the appearance of corn seedlings during these early leaf stages can be downright ugly during extended periods of cloudy, cool weather. Throw in some excessively wet soils plus a little soil compaction plus a pinch of frost damage and you have a good start on a recipe for "crappy" stands of corn. The best remedy for most fields of yellow-green corn seedlings suffering from the effect of "crappy" growing conditions is the return of ample sunshine and warmth."

The entire article can be found at: www.agry.purdue.edu/ext/corn/news/timeless/UglyDuckling.html

Here's to hoping for sunshine & warmth!

We are asked all the time about earth worms. Most of us don’t think of them until it is time to go fishing, but earth worms may be the most important livestock on your farm. Jerry Brunetti,  world renowned consultant calls them the "chicken-cow"of the soil. They have a gizzard to grind soil and plant particles, but they don’t eat the ground soil. They regurgitate the this mess into their tunnels where this mucousy concoction is fed on by bacteria and fungus. It is this microbiological smorgasbord that the worm actually eats!

25 earthworms per square foot of soil equal 1 million earthworms per acre. Studies in England have shown that in healthy soil forty tons of castings per acre pass through earthworms bodies daily. A new USA study indicates 1½ million worms per acre which move 20 tons of earth each year. Studies by the National Soil Tilth Lab have shown that with good food sources and favorable conditions, a field might have over 100 worms per square yard.

• 7 times the available phosphorous
• 6 times the available nitrogen
• 11 times the available potassium
• 3 time the available magnesium
• 2 times the available carbon
• 1.5 times the available calcium
• Worm casts can contain 40% more humus

When the soil gets very cold, very hot, very wet or very dry, it's hard on an earthworm. A typical behavior is to tunnel deeper into the soil, to where conditions aren't so extreme. Some species, especially during hot, dry periods, roll themselves into balls and excrete mucous around themselves, creating a kind of cocoon. In such a state their body functions slow down drastically. They go into a kind of suspended animation, just waiting for soil conditions to improve.

• Earthworms don't have eyes, but they do have light-sensitive cells scattered in their outer skin. These cells don't enable earthworms to see images, or forms, but they do give their skin the capacity to detect light and changes in light intensity. The worm's skin cells are also sensitive to touch and chemicals
• Earthworms have simple brains which specialize in directing body movement in response to light, and not much else. To show how simple the brain is, if an earthworm's brain is removed, changes in its general behavior are hardly noticeable
• Earthworms, as the drawing above shows, possess five hearts. The calciferous glands shown between the hearts manage excess calcium in the worm's diet, a problem you may have if you eat a lot of dirt.
• Earthworms have no lungs. Their "breathing" consists of oxygen from the air passively diffusing through the skin into the body. One problem with having such permeable skin is that earthworms dry out easily.

Yield Starts Here is a blog for farmers, focusing on increasing yield and profitability by focusing on the soil. It is managed by Craig Dick, a Blogronomist and Sales and Marketing Manager at Calcium Products. Find other articles by Craig and guest writers at http://blog.calciumproducts.com/ .  

As we approach the midpoint of May, many farmers are preparing to harvest the 1st cutting of this year's hay crop.  I have noticed that a few producers have already begun, and more will get started soon if the weather cooperates!

Dr. Stephen Barnhart, ISU Extension Agronomist, gives some good suggestions on timing the 1st cutting. www.extension.iastate.edu/CropNews/2010/0513barnhart.htm

Matt Digman, University of Wisconsin-Madison, has some tips on making sure your equipment is ready to go.  www.agweb.com/news_printer.aspx?articleID=157317. 

If you harvest haylage, you may find this helpful in improving your forage quality. www.progressiveforage.com/~proforag/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2797:0409-fg-ensiling-what-to-know-before-you-start-the-pile&catid=89:storage&Itemid=123

Good luck with your hay crop!

The following report was compiled by Hannah Lewis, Andy Larson, John Baker, and Lynn Fallon and distributed by Practical Farmers of Iowa www.practicalfarmers.org

My oldest son graduates from high school next weekend, & I have been fortunate to attend some of his activities during his senior year.  One of these events was the 2009 National FFA Convention last October. 

Mike Rowe, from Dirty Jobs, gave one of the best received speeches while I was there.  I ran across some comments that Mike made about his appearance here http://www.mikeroweworks.com/2010/05/the-future-of-farming/

Does agriculture have an image problem?  Maybe.  I am not convinced that it does. It is challenged by things such as GMOs, livestock confinement, and preserving natural resources.  But agriculture, like everything else, will always have (has always had) its challenges.  I think that addressing the root problem (i.e. soil erosion), is a much better use of time & resources than fixing an image problem.

What do you think?

HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE