March 2021 Key Discussion Topics
Mar 10, 2021
Spring is just around the corner. Here are a few topics that you should be thinking about as we finally break out of this brutally cold spell.
Alfalfa Spring Management
Managing weeds in alfalfa often begins with a residual treatment while the alfalfa is still in a dormant state. With warmer weather just around the corner, consider applying herbicides in the next two weeks to avoid damaging plants as they come out of dormancy. Applying fertilizer to alfalfa while it is dormant is also a good practice. Soil samples can help you determine what your alfalfa will need for the upcoming season. Finally, take some time to read your stand as it comes out of dormancy this spring. Check for winterkill and damaged crowns and roots to determine the longevity of the field and when you should consider terminating the stand.
Wheat Topdress Plans Utilizing Tissue Testing and/or In Season Imagery
As the wheat in the area starts to green up, now is a great time to schedule tissue testing to help with improved topdress application efficiency. Samples of the leaf tissue can be analyzed to determine what nutrients are lacking in the plant to help apply the appropriate amount of nitrogen, sulfur, and other micronutrients. Spring topdress applications help the plants get a healthy boost as they come out of winter dormancy. We are starting to see some henbit, cheat, and mustards greening up as well. Work with your agronomist to plan for lasting weed control in your wheat fields.
Fertilizing for Spring Crops
Spring planting is just around the corner. As we start to fertilize ahead of our Spring planting, consider variable rate applications and utilizing nutrient stabilizer products. Variable rate applications of nutrients can help place your nutrients in the areas of the field that the crops will use them most efficiently. Zones can be created using historical yield maps along with NDVI imagery from the R7 Tool. Nutrient stabilizers can reduce losses to volatilization and leaching through the Spring weather. As our weather patterns shift to larger rainfall events, avoiding runoff and leaching is important economically and environmentally.
Spring Burndowns = Clean Fields to Start the Season
Driving by at 55 mph, most of the fields in the area still look fairly brown. However, if you step out into those fields, there are weeds beginning to emerge under the cover of the stubble. Marestail and other winter annuals have been growing throughout the winter and are ready for some warm temperatures to help them grow. Once marestail has bolted, or began growing upwards, it becomes increasingly hard to control. Check that winter annuals are turning green, changing from a dormant stage, and start applying burndown applications with a residual product in the tank. Keeping fields clean from now through
Seed Treatments for Fall Crops
Now that we have most of the crop plans finalized and hybrid selection completed, it’s a good time to think about seed treatments before your seed is delivered to the farm. Whether your needing a fungicide or insecticide applied to soybeans or biologicals on your corn seed, seed treatments can have a huge effect on yield. We have multiple years of data from our research plot and on farm trials to help decide what the best choice is for you. Learn more about our Quad 1 Seed Treatment Here
Hopefully this gives you a couple things to think about going into Spring. If you have questions, please reach out to your Great Bend Co-op Seed or Agronomy Sales Representative.
Alfalfa Spring Management
Managing weeds in alfalfa often begins with a residual treatment while the alfalfa is still in a dormant state. With warmer weather just around the corner, consider applying herbicides in the next two weeks to avoid damaging plants as they come out of dormancy. Applying fertilizer to alfalfa while it is dormant is also a good practice. Soil samples can help you determine what your alfalfa will need for the upcoming season. Finally, take some time to read your stand as it comes out of dormancy this spring. Check for winterkill and damaged crowns and roots to determine the longevity of the field and when you should consider terminating the stand.
Wheat Topdress Plans Utilizing Tissue Testing and/or In Season Imagery
As the wheat in the area starts to green up, now is a great time to schedule tissue testing to help with improved topdress application efficiency. Samples of the leaf tissue can be analyzed to determine what nutrients are lacking in the plant to help apply the appropriate amount of nitrogen, sulfur, and other micronutrients. Spring topdress applications help the plants get a healthy boost as they come out of winter dormancy. We are starting to see some henbit, cheat, and mustards greening up as well. Work with your agronomist to plan for lasting weed control in your wheat fields.
Fertilizing for Spring Crops
Spring planting is just around the corner. As we start to fertilize ahead of our Spring planting, consider variable rate applications and utilizing nutrient stabilizer products. Variable rate applications of nutrients can help place your nutrients in the areas of the field that the crops will use them most efficiently. Zones can be created using historical yield maps along with NDVI imagery from the R7 Tool. Nutrient stabilizers can reduce losses to volatilization and leaching through the Spring weather. As our weather patterns shift to larger rainfall events, avoiding runoff and leaching is important economically and environmentally.
Spring Burndowns = Clean Fields to Start the Season
Driving by at 55 mph, most of the fields in the area still look fairly brown. However, if you step out into those fields, there are weeds beginning to emerge under the cover of the stubble. Marestail and other winter annuals have been growing throughout the winter and are ready for some warm temperatures to help them grow. Once marestail has bolted, or began growing upwards, it becomes increasingly hard to control. Check that winter annuals are turning green, changing from a dormant stage, and start applying burndown applications with a residual product in the tank. Keeping fields clean from now through
Seed Treatments for Fall Crops
Now that we have most of the crop plans finalized and hybrid selection completed, it’s a good time to think about seed treatments before your seed is delivered to the farm. Whether your needing a fungicide or insecticide applied to soybeans or biologicals on your corn seed, seed treatments can have a huge effect on yield. We have multiple years of data from our research plot and on farm trials to help decide what the best choice is for you. Learn more about our Quad 1 Seed Treatment Here
Hopefully this gives you a couple things to think about going into Spring. If you have questions, please reach out to your Great Bend Co-op Seed or Agronomy Sales Representative.