Dr. Chris Teutsch of UK Research and Education Center recently released a short YouTube video with John Grove - “Ten Tips to Help Livestock Producers Weather High Fertilizer Prices.” Chris had ten really good points on the topic. I’ll provide a quick synopsis of those bullets and a few of my own thoughts. Ironically, I had already been thinking about concerns with increased fertilizer prices before I saw the video and, after watching it, decided to not to completely reinvent the wheel but just run with it.
Read MoreBuckwheat as Nurse Crop for Clover
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.
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