University of Wisconsin Agronomy Researchers Study Plant Growth Regulator and Foliar Fungicide Application in Oats-2018

A research trial was initiated in the spring of 2018 at the Arlington Agricultural Research Station, Arlington, WI to assess the impact of a plant growth regulator (PGR) (Palisade, trinexapac-ethyl, Syngenta) and a foliar fungicide (Trivapro, benzovindiflupyr+azoxystrobin+propiconazole, Syngenta) in oats to offset the negative effects of lodging and protect against stem rust. Read more…

Lactating cows require a lot of energy.  At the heart of this conversation on energy is a discussion on what crop is the most economic and bet fits within the producer’s resources to purchase or grow.

One option offered for consideration by Virginia Tech’s Gonzalo Ferreira is barley or hulless barley.  Hulless barley features a loose husk covering that is removed during combine threshing and cleaning of the grain.  It can be harvested two to three weeks earlier than traditional barley.

The question Ferreira answered in a recent study was how high-producing cows will respond to this high-energy cereal grain.  In an on-farm trial, Ferreira and his team compared hulless barley to diets containing corn, measuring production performance and nutrient utilization.

“Overall, cows consuming diets with hulless barley grain performed as well as cows consuming diets with corn grain,” he said.  “In addition, and contrary to our expectations, we observed that feeding hulless barley did not decrease milkfat concentration.”

The researchers compared hulless barley to hulled barley, finding that pelleted barley in either form led to similar lactation performances, even with different forage-to-concentrate ratios.  “Substantial or dramatic milkfat depression should not be expected when feeding diets containing 30 percent barley or less as the grain source,” Farreira concluded.

This article was reprinted from the Farm Flashes section of the April 10th, 2018 issue of Hoard’s Dairyman

As cover crops have become increasingly popular in recent years, some farmers are finding benefits beyond the environmental benefits of controlling erosion, improving soil health and controlling weeds.  In the Midwest, winter cereal grains, such as Rye and Winter Triticale have been the most practical choice for a winter cover crops, primarily due to the later harvest of fall crops and the limited amount of heat units remaining thereafter.  Rye, which can germinate in soil temperatures as low as 34 degrees Fahrenheit, can be planted virtually up and until the ground has frozen if utilizing it as a cover crop.

Many producers, however, have discovered that those winter cereal grains can also be a great source of feed.  Find out whether or not you may be leaving money on the table by not harvesting those cover crops in the article entitled, “The New Crop on the Block”, by Tom Kilcer in the April 10, 2018 edition of Hoards Dairyman

Since the introduction of low lignin alfalfa into the market place, some dairy producers are combining low (reduced) lignin alfalfa with brown midrib (BMR) corn silage in their feed rations.  Currently, there are two types of reduced-lignin alfalfas in the marketplace:  Naturally selected reduced-lignin varieties, and Transgenic reduced-lignin varieties (which are most often combined with the glyphosate tolerance trait).  Relative to normal-lignin varieties, there appears to be evidence that these reduced-lignin alfalfa varieties can provide anywhere between a 5 to 15 percent reduction in lignin and up to a 15 percent improvement in ivNDFD and relative forage quality (RFQ).  But, will combining these two improved feed products result in too much digestible fiber in your TMR ration?  Read more about this in… Doubling Down on Reduced Lignin – in the March 2018 issue of Hay & Forage Grower.

Alforex Hi-Gest® 360 Brand Low Lignin Alfalfa seed is a conventionally bred cultivar, which means you don’t have to pay for expensive additional traits that you may not need.   Hi-Gest® Alfalfa producers can expect to increase feed digestibility by 7-10% and increase milk production by up to 3 lbs/day, or reduce feed cost/ton by delaying harvest without sacrificing feed quality.  Hi-Gest® 360 Alfalfa has a 1.5 W.S.I. (very winter hardy) and is comparable in price to other non-traited, premium quality alfalfa.  For more information about Hi-Gest® 360 Alfalfa, visit www.AlforexSeeds.com.  

See also this complimentary article:  Doubling down on reduced lignin from Hay & Forage Grower magazine

This post has been added from a thread created by a Beck Ag Moderator.  See more about this discussion at BeckAg.com.

Farmers are more likely to be pinching pennies this spring and consequently may be questioning whether their soybean seed needs a fungicide seed treatment this planting season.  The answer depends on several factors from weather and planting date to drainage and seed costs.  Soy check-off dollars pay for regional seed-treatment research providing U.S. soybean farmers with local and practical production knowledge to help protect their yields against seedling diseases.

Here are six things soy check-off wants you to know about soybean seed treatments from a regional perspective.

1. Farmers with poorly drained soils, planting into no-till fields, continuous-soybean or soybean-corn rotations and a history of replanting are the most likely to see the added benefit of using a seed treatment, according to The Ohio State University.
2. When early planting and cool/wet conditions converge in late April to early May, seed-treatment fungicides are effective according to the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
3. Using a seed treatment is most beneficial in fields with a history of post-planting problems like minor soil crusting, temporary flooding, soil compaction or poor drainage according to the University of Kentucky.
4. Using a fungicide treatment on soybean seeds increases the probability of achieving a satisfactory stand and will enhance the early-season vigor of established seedlings according to the Mississippi Soybean Promotion Board.
5. With the increase in seed cost many farmers don’t want to overplant.  As a result, according to Iowa State University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, some farmers are decreasing their seeding rate and using the money they save on seed treatments instead with good results.
6. Fungicide seed treatments on soybean seed showed an average yield increase of 2.5 bushels per acre over an eight year period, according to Kansas State University Research & Extension.

Applying seed treatments is a rapidly growing trend.  In fact, the soybean industry estimates that 60-70% of the 2014 soybean seed planted will have a seed treatment.  As recently as 2008 only 30% of soybean seed was treated and only 8% in 1996.

Always remember to separate treated seed and harvested soybeans to protect the integrity of the U.S. soybean supply. This will avoid putting the U.S. soybean industry’s relationship with customers beyond the elevator in jeopardy.