As the summer weather continues to challenge us with excessive rainfall, many producers are now considering what their options may be for planting a summer forage for next winter's feed needs.  Dr. Stephen Barnhart, ISU Extension, has some excellent tips & recommendations in this article: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/CropNews/2010/0629barnhart.htm. 

One issue that Dr. Barnhart does not address is the need to monitor soil nutrients.  Some or all of the nutrients that were applied during this growing season may have been lost.  The only way to know for sure is testing of both the soil & tissue.  Make sure to include these tools as you consider what your next steps once things start drying up.  SuperCal SO4 is an effective tool in helping the soil & microbes begin to recover.

Be sure to check out this link to past stories:

http://blog.calciumproducts.com/posts/resources-on-flooding.cfm

There is an interesting article in the July issue of No-Till Farmer .

Glyphosate resistant pigweed Georgia

"No-Tiller Losing Pigweed Fight"

Dyersburg, TN, farmer Eddie Anderson a 15 year veteran of No-Till PLOWED under 1000 acres to combat glyphosate resistant pigweed. Also in the article "glyphosate resistance is the single largest threat to production agriculture."

I cannot imagine undoing 15 years of work due to a weed control issue.

We have a customer and crop advisor that is working in Georgia and has seen some tremendous results with SuperCal 98G as part of his comprehensive soil restoration and fertility improvement program.

I believe that these pictures demonstrate that the practices that Verity farms promote can help you combat glyphosate resistant pigweed.

Additions of SuperCal 98G help eliminate Resistant Pigweed

In “Weeds and Why They Grow” (Jay L. McCaman), its shown that pigweeds grow best in low calcium soils. We know through work done by Dr. Don Huber and many European researchers that glyphosate is a strong calcium chelator, making it unavailable to plants.

Howard and the Verity farms staff can explain how they have helped farmers combat weeds, disease and improve yields though better soil fertility principles. He can be reached at: 712-567-4145.

On a final note here is a like to what he has accomplished in Iowa. http://blog.calciumproducts.com/posts/field-day-update_-verity-farms.cfm

In my short but busy career in agriculture (crop scouting, production seed, insecticide sales, and agronomy sales) I have never seen roots like Howard has achieved. 

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/ .

HOLD A CANDLE TO 
 
Meaning: measure up, compare to.
 

Origin: Apprentices used to be expected to hold the candle so that more experienced workmen were able to see what they were doing. Someone unable even to do that would be of low status indeed.

Sir Edward Dering used a similar phrase 'to hold the candle' in his The fower cardinal-vertues of a Carmelite fryar, 1641: "Though I be not worthy to hold the candle to Aristotle."

'To hold a candle' is first recorded in 1883 in William Norris's No New Thing:
"Edith is pretty, very pretty; but she can't hold a candle to Nellie.
 

Source: http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/183700.html

 A great article from No-Till.com on making sure you get the most out of your glyphosate.

http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/pages/Search.php?type=all&search=glyphosate

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/ .

Why would a Calcium Manufacturer care about silicon? 

We are in the business of growing more and better crops. Anything that can help do that and improve calcium uptake deserves our (and your) attention.

Check out this great article by NTS out of Australia on Silicon. It's a little long by our standards but worth the effort.

A major mineral is missing in many soils and most soil tests do not even monitor its presence. This mineral can increase stress resistance....click for more...

Additional Related Articles from Calcium Products:

Proper Nutrients are Key for Disease Resistance

Silicon The Forgotten Nutrient - Pick up by AgProfessional.com

Boron

Can Calcium Help Defend Soybeans from White Mold?

20 Mineral Elements for Plant Growth

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/ .

Our thoughts go out to all those affected by flooding. I can’t remember a time when we had flooding issue in (almost) July! In addition to not being able to get into the fields to spray weeds, the stand losses , and nitrogen leaching; flooding affects the soil in many ways.

Here is a list of past stories related to weather and flooding. After all you can’t control the weather, so let’s think about how we are going to protect our soils and yield for the future.

GO HAY WIRE

Meaning: To go wrong, to become overly excited or deranged.

Origin: Hay-wire is the light wire that was used in baling machines to tie up bales of hay. At the turn of the 20th century the expression 'a haywire outfit' began to be used in the USA. This was used to describe companies that patched-up faulty machinery using such wire, rather than making proper long-term fixes. In 1905, The US Forestry Bureau Bulletin described a 'Hay wire outfit' as 'a contemptuous term for loggers with poor logging equipment'.

By 1920, the use of haywire to mean 'awry' or 'out of control' was recorded in Dialect Notes, Volume 82.

This may be a reference back to 'hay-wire outfits' but is more likely to be a literal allusion to scrambled hay-wire - anyone who has handled coils of wire will be familiar with its determination to gather into an irretrievable tangle. 

To go haywire was recorded in the late 1920s. For example, in this piece about a basketball game from The Helena Independent, January 1928:

"...their anxiety to score let their passing game go haywire with many wild heaves finding marks in the bleachers."

Source: http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/go-haywire.html

Farm Sayings Friday is weekly feature of Yield Starts Here. You might think your grandparents made it up, but that old saying likely goes back many years. In this feature we will figure out who said it first and what it really means! Do you have a well used saying in your family, send to us and we'll feature it in a future blog.

 

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/ .

The Ministry of Ag in India is including gypsum and lime as part of a 10 part plan to increase yields. If India gets it why are "experts" here in the United States so reluctant to promote the benefits of gypsum? See the whole ten part plan below.

Government Adopt Strategies To Increase Productivity Of Rice

RIGHT AS RAIN

 Gene Zimmerman, Quality Soil Nutrition, Wisconsin

          Grass and Alfalfa Mix sowed on April 15th, SuperCal SO4 was spread at a rate of 300 lbs around the field boarder.

Gene was very happy with the improvements in germination where SuperCal was used.

Go to our testimonial page for more pictures from Gene and to see other testimonials

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/ .

 Mayfly hatch near La Crosse Wisconsin.

Just for fun and with spraying season getting near, I thought you would all enjoy this.

Found at: http://thegoat.backcountry.com/2010/06/08/bug-hatch-caught-on-radar/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+The-Goat+(Backcountry.com:+The+Goat)&utm_content=Google+Reader

NEW POSTING!

We are seeking a Territory Sales Representative to provide leadership and direction for our products. This position will focus on converting customers to using our products, training customers in their use, and expanding market share.

This will be an outside sales position with territory to be determined. Could include but not limited to; Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, and parts of Wisconsin. The territory will consist of Eastern Iowa, Eastern Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois.

Final territory will be determined based on candidate quality. We are looking for the most qualified candidate and will tailor a territory that is mutually beneficial.
 
What you’ll be doing:
Represents the company as needed to accomplish sales goals
Continuously promotes the quality and performance advantages of CPI products and services
Develops product strategies and identifies products or services that would allow for growth while achieving maximum impact on profitability
Coordinate product marketing programs, facilitate quotations, and ensure all pricing information is communicated
Develops internet based communications on product information, capabilities and applications.
Assist in the development of print based communications on product information, capabilities and applications
Work with management to determine trade show participation and develop marketing plans to make shows a success
Coordinate conference and trade show activity including preparation and participation in the shows and conferences
Arrange miscellaneous promotional events and opportunities
Coordinate R&D trials and participate as required
 
What we expect:
Maintains open communication with the management team as to the need of the customer
Represent the Company, as appropriate, in its relationships with major customers, prospects, and key influencers to promote a positive image
Is aware and understands competitive products. Reviews, assesses and evaluates surveys, articles, patents, sales reports, competitors publications and similar information
Develop a thorough understanding of pricing schedules and customer contracts
Is flexible and open to new challenges and experiences
Has an entrepreneurial sprit and is dedicated to lifelong learning

What you’ll need:
A high degree of personal motivation, a desire to make an immediate contribution and possess a distinct sense of urgency
Demonstrated credibility and ability to build solid client-focused relationships
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in business, marketing, or agronomy
3-5 years sales and marketing experience working in an agronomic/horticultural environment
Knowledge of agronomy industry, centers of influence, distribution, retailers, market structure and dynamics
Good strategic influencing skills to coach, train and mentor, with staff and customers
Highly proficient computer skills MS Office
Experience with Microsoft Dynamics is helpful
CCA accreditation or ability to obtain designation
 
What you’ll get:
We offer competitive performance based wage
Generous benefits package, including health, 401k, car, and expenses
Opportunity for personal and professional growth
 
Who to contact:
craig@calciumproducts.com

HIGH ON THE HOG

Meaning: Affluent and luxurious.

Origin: The source of this phrase is often said to be the fact that the best cuts of meat on a pig come from the back and upper leg and that the wealthy ate cuts from 'high on the hog', while the paupers ate belly pork and trotters. The imagery of lords and ladies feasting on fine meats at Olde Englyshe banquets is easy to bring to mind and this seems to be the right context for the phrase to have been coined in. However, as far as the source of this expression goes, our imagination needs to leap forward a few centuries.

None of the variants of the phrase 'living (or eating) high on (or off) the hog' is to be found in any of the works of Chaucer, Shakespeare or the like. In fact, they aren't found in print in any form until the 20th century, and then in the USA rather than England.

The idea that 'living high on the hog' initially meant 'living the high life' and eating pork, rather than literally 'eating meat from high on the pig', seems plausible but is dealt a blow by the following citation. This is the earliest printed form of the phrase that I have come across - from the New York Times, March 1920:

Southern laborers who are "eating too high up on the hog" (pork chops and ham) and American housewives who "eat too far back on the beef" (porterhouse and round steak) are to blame for the continued high cost of living, the American Institute of Meat Packers announced today.

'High off the hog' has a similar pedigree, i.e. mid 20th century USA. For example, the San Francisco paper the Call-Bulletin, May 1946:

I have to do my shopping in the black market because we can't eat as high off the hog as Roosevelt and Ickes and Joe Davis and all those millionaire friends of the common man.

Why, when people had eaten pork for millennia, did the phrase not originate before the 20th century, is a difficult question to answer. Nevertheless, 'high on the hog' appears to have been derived, in the USA, as a reference to the cuts of meat on pigs. The question of why the clunky idiom 'eating too far back on the beef' didn't quite catch on with the public is a little easier to resolve.

Source:http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/high-on-the-hog.html