If I were to make a list of underutilized crops in American agriculture, buckwheat would be near the top. Buckwheat is a short-season broadleaf grain crop that is very easy to grow and can thrive in hot and dry conditions. As a cover crop, it is renowned for its ability to mineralize phosphorus from the soil as well as provide late-season pollinator habitat.
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Fall Pasture Management
Forages going dormant is significant. USDA-NRCS defines stockpiling as 'allowing standing forage to accumulate for grazing at a later period, often for fall and winter grazing after dormancy.' The key word here is dormancy.
Once dormant, they can be grazed with less harm to energy reserves. Forage plants are sensitive to grazing in the fall. That is why I usually promote the use of annuals or crop residue, or ideally the combination of the two in the early fall. It allows the pastures to recuperate and build reserves.
Read MoreManagement 101: Seeding Depth
It’s critical that growers do everything possible to achieve the proper planting depth, giving their latest investment an opportunity for success. Here are 5 key reminders to ensure proper seeding depth and maximum germination.
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Be on the Lookout for Alfalfa Weevils
Indiana has had enough warm, spring days for alfalfa growers to start seeing alfalfa weevil emerging in their fields. So producers should be scouting for the pest now instead of waiting to see obvious damage before doing anything about it, a Purdue Extension entomologist says.
The early season pest is active in both adult and larval forms in the spring, and heavy infestations can be destructive to the alfalfa crop.
Read MoreSummer Annuals - Part 1 - Fertility Management
My experiences with summer annuals have been very good. They are often underutilized and undermanaged because of a lack of education on best management practices. I want to take a practical management approach with this article to help other farmers improve their experiences with summer annuals.
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