education Series Disc 1 Table of Contents

Transcription

1 education Series Disc 1 Table of Contents

2 The SYSTeMS APPROACh education Series Disc 1 The route to higher yields is found using the Systems Approach, which Farm Journal Field Agronomists Ken Ferrie and Missy Bauer integrate into the series of Corn College events and TV. While the Systems Approach involves a variety of agronomic practices, it is based on one guiding principle: Every management practice is intrinsically linked and ultimately impacts yields. To help put all those pieces together, each chapter brings together the best of the best segments on one topic to help you implement the Systems Approach on your farm.

3 Chapter 1: Planters Planter Levelness One of the first things to check is planter levelness, which can throw off any other adjustments. Walk through this process in the field. Planter Attachments - Row Cleaners Learn about where and how row cleaners can clear the path for higher yields with three examples. Gauge Wheels (too loose) Missy Bauer explains the visual and audio clues for proper gauge wheel setup. Row Cleaners and Down Pressure Row cleaners affect what the seedbed looks like. Learn from two examples demonstrating different settings. Parallel Arms/Bolts and Bushings When bolts and bushings wear out, this causes bouncing of the leads to row units. Learn how to do the rock test, check row unit ride, and inspect bolts and bushings. Disk Opener Alignment Assess wear and condition of the disk opener blades to determine the timing of replacement. Seed Tubes Check the condition of seed tubes, seed tube guards, seed firmers and more to ensure your planter isn t sabotaging seed delivery. Planter Calibration In the shop with Ken Ferrie, see how he uses a simple tool to provide confidence in the condition of the planter s transmission. Picking the Right Attachments Evaluate the conditions best fit for mounting a straight coulter or wavy coulter on your planter.

4 Chapter 2: Planting Row Spacing Walk through the considerations of population, equipment decisions, water management and other agronomic practices. Planting Speed Watch side-by-side video demonstrating how planting speed affects performance to solidify why the optimum range is 4.5 to 5 mph. Proper Planting Depth Missy Bauer shows how to measure planting depth and explains the value of good seed-to-soil contact, good moisture and even depth. Delayed Planting and Winter Annuals If weeds aren t managed upfront, they cause problems at planting, become a host for insects and use nitrogen. Micro-Environment Watch how to dig a cross-section with Ken Ferrie and diagnose how the machine was set to troubleshoot problems. Tough Closing Conditions/Rootless Corn Check a mid-season example that shows a young plant struggling from rootless corn syndrome caused by too-dry planting conditions and leaving the slot open. Replant Call Go on a replant call with Ken Ferrie, who shows a field that looked fine from the road, but in the field there was a different story. Heavy Residue/Corn-on-Corn In heavy residue, this in-field example shows how the right equipment makes a difference with emergence and overall uniformity. Planting Troubles Tillage isn t always the answer to fixing a poor seedbed, but here the top considerations to avoid a rough planter pass.

5 Chapter 3: Water Management Tiling and Drainage Where necessary, properly draining a field can provide higher yields. Spacing and depth needs to be matched to the field and tile outlet. Volumetric Water Sensors Head to the field with Missy Bauer as she shows how this tool can measure the efficiency of irrigation systems and help farmers make better irrigation decisions. Irrigation Calibration Learn how to measure the uniformity of a pivot from end to end. VRT Irrigation As this technology comes of age, Ken Ferrie walks through examples of where a standard water rate was either delivering too much or not enough water in the most challenging zones.

6 Chapter 4: Varieties Understand Seed Genetics Variety selection can be the No. 1 factor in changing yield. Look at a hybrid s weakness to manage how you position that hybrid, and learn how nitrogen and population affect different genetics. Hybrid Population Certain hybrids like more population, and some like less. Missy Bauer walks through an on-farm plot to show that not every hybrid should be planted at the same population. Variety Selection This is a high-pressure job, and Ken Ferrie advocates farmers put more yield maps, data and research behind their decision-making process to put the right hybrid on the right acres. Variety Selection by Leaf Style See how a hybrid s leaf style impacts water and light management in the field. Variety Selection by Maturity Spread the risk across your farm by varying your maturities, and learn more with this in-field example featuring samples ranging from 92- to 110-day maturity. Hybrid Response to Disease The management system for disease is year-round, and Ken Ferrie says that if farmers remember that, they ll understand how events throughout the year change disease management.

7 Education Series Disc 1 Head to the field with Farm Journal Field Agronomists Ken Ferrie and Missy Bauer as they provide the Systems Approach to the following agronomic topics: Chapter 1: Planters Chapter 2: Planting Chapter 3: Water Management Chapter 4: Varieties Also Available: Disc 2: Fertility, Soils, Layers of Data, Variable-Rate Technology Disc 3: Harvest, Nitrogen, Pest Management, Application Tech Disc 4: Tillage, Soil Health, Tech Tools, Growth and Development Tune in regularly to Corn College TV. Check airing schedules on RFD-TV and local affiliates. To learn more about or register to attend a Corn College training, visit To order more from this series, call (888) or visit , Farm Journal Media. All rights reserved. Farm Journal is a registered trademark and the property of Farm Journal Media.

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