Chad Lee, Ph.D. Director, Grain and Forage Center of Excellence Extension Professor and Agronomist,University of Kentucky

Transcription

1 AG NEWS 2016 Soybeans Chad Lee, Ph.D. Director, Grain and Forage Center of Excellence Extension Professor and Agronomist,University of Kentucky Meade County Extension Service 1041 Old Ekron Road, Brandenburg, KY Fax N O V E M B E R According to Chad Lee, questions are coming in about damaged soybean seed. Dr. Lee suspects that two primary things are causing this in most fields. 1. Ample rains early that promoted large plants, shallow roots and diseases 2. Dry weather late that prematurely stopped photosynthate movement to the seed which stopped seed fill. The stop in photosynthate can cause premature plant death, green stem syndrome, green seeds and shriveled seeds. The purple seeds are often the result of a fungus, Cercospora kikuchii which cause Purple Seed Stain. Shriveled, Cracked, Stained Soybean Purple seed is sometimes a result of staining from pokeweed or nightshade berries that were harvested with the soybeans. The very dark, shriveled soybeans can be the result of Diaporthe phaseolorum var. caulivora or Diaporthe phaseolorum var. merdionalis and/or Phomopsis longicolla. The resulting shriveled seed is sometimes called Phomopsis Seed Decay (PSD) and another disease is called Stem Canker. Farmers want an answer of how to stop this next year. We cannot control getting too much rain early and about 9% of our fields cannot control getting too little water late. This is the biggest factor. After that, some varieties are rated better for tolerance to diseases than others. Selecting tolerant/resistant varieties is a good option, but that seems to be a very difficult task. Keeping track of all varieties, disease ratings and yields is not easy to do. Soybean Damaged Seed This year is extremely disappointing since most fields looked good in early August. Most of these fields started to slide downhill and the real damage was hard to see until the combine opened the fields. So, the August optimism was crushed by the actual harvest. That crushing blow is compounded with the low commodity prices. As we enter the winter, we are going to have to work very hard to help producers to not have a knee-jerk reaction to this year. Sincerely, THE FUNDAMENTALS are always important, but they are critical to survival the next year. Andy Mills Meade County Extension Agent for Agriculture & Natural Resources

2 Storage Capacity of Level Full Round Grain Bins (Based on cu = 1 bushel. Es mates vary by material density, packing and shape of grain surface.) Grain depth Bin diameter, ,113 1,453 2,271 3,270 5, ,113 1,453 1,840 2,271 2,748 3,270 4,451 5,814 9,084 13,081 20, ,226 1,669 2,180 2,759 3,407 4,122 4,905 6,677 8,721 13,626 19,622 30, ,635 2,226 2,907 3,679 4,542 5,496 6,541 8,902 11,628 18,168 26,162 40, ,044 2,782 3,634 4,599 5,678 6,870 8,176 11,128 14,534 22,710 32,703 51, ,453 3,338 4,360 5,519 6,813 8,244 9,811 13,354 17,441 27,252 39,243 61, ,861 3,895 5,087 6,438 7,949 9,618 11,446 15,579 20,348 31,794 45,784 71, ,270 4,451 5,814 7,358 9,084 10,992 13,081 17,805 23,255 36,336 52,324 81, ,679 5,008 6,541 8,278 10,220 12,366 14,716 20,030 26,162 40,878 58,865 91, ,088 5,564 7,267 9,198 11,355 13,740 16,351 22,256 29,069 45,420 65, , ,497 6,120 7,994 10,117 12,491 15,114 17,986 24,481 31,976 49,962 71, , ,905 6,677 8,721 11,037 13,626 16,488 19,622 26,707 34,883 54,504 78, , ,314 7,233 9,447 11,957 14,762 17,861 21,257 28,933 37,790 59,046 85, , ,723 7,790 10,174 12,877 15,897 19,235 22,892 31,158 40,696 63,588 91, , ,132 8,346 10,901 13,796 17,033 20,609 24,527 33,384 43,603 68,130 98, , ,541 8,902 11,628 14,716 18,168 21,983 26,162 35,609 46,510 72, , , ,949 9,459 12,354 15,636 19,304 23,357 27,797 37,835 49,417 77, , , ,358 10,015 13,081 16,556 20,439 24,731 29,432 40,061 52,324 81, , , ,767 10,572 13,808 17,475 21,575 26,105 31,067 42,286 55,231 86, , , ,176 11,128 14,534 18,395 22,710 27,479 32,703 44,512 58,138 90, , , ,584 11,684 15,261 19,315 23,846 28,853 34,338 46,737 61,045 95, , , ,993 12,241 15,988 20,235 24,981 30,227 35,973 48,963 63,952 99, , , ,402 12,797 16,715 21,154 26,117 31,601 37,608 51,189 66, , , , ,811 13,354 17,441 22,074 27,252 32,975 39,243 53,414 69, , , , ,220 13,910 18,168 22,994 28,388 34,349 40,878 55,640 72, , , , ,628 14,466 18,895 23,914 29,523 35,723 42,513 57,865 75, , , , ,037 15,023 19,622 24,833 30,659 37,097 44,148 60,091 78, , , , ,446 15,579 20,348 25,753 31,794 38,471 45,784 62,316 81, , , , ,855 16,136 21,075 26,673 32,930 39,845 47,419 64,542 84, , , , ,263 16,692 21,802 27,593 34,065 41,219 49,054 66,768 87, , , ,586 Storage Capacity of Full Cones Angle of Bin diameter, ft Sam McNeill, PhD, PE Extension Agricultural Engineer University of Kentucky Repose Factor Corn ,205 1,604 2,082 3,306 4,936 9,640 16,658 32, Soybeans ,324 1,762 2,287 3,632 5,422 10,590 18,299 35, Wheat ,147 1,574 2,094 2,719 4,318 6,445 12,588 21,753 42,

3 Total shrink and bushels of grain remaining after drying and handling for any moisture level, handling loss and type of grain. Initial Final Wet Moisture Moisture Handling Dry Grain Content Content Shrink Total Shrink Grain bu % wb % wb % % bu bu Enter the number of bushels of wet grain, the initial and final moisture content (% wb), and the handling shrink in percent (example, 1/2 % as 0.5). 2. The total shrink (in percent and lost weight in bushels) is calculated along with the number of bushels of dry grain. 3. Economic incentives for moisture management of corn, soybeans and wheat are shown below. (Update grain prices to generate new tables and graphs). Shrink cost (cents/bu) vs Grain Moisture: Corn $3.00 $4.00 $ Shrink cost (cents/bu) vs Grain Moisture: Soybean $9.00 $10.00 $ Shrink cost (cents/bu) vs Grain Moisture: Soybean $9.00 $10.00 $

4 Fall Pasture Management Affects Spring Growth An article form the Grazing News...A publication of the Master Grazer Program The UK Forage publication Rotational Grazing ID-143 provides a good overview of the goals of grazing management. Good grazing management achieves the right balance between availability of standing forage, forage utilization, and animal performance. A good manager stocks pastures heavily enough to graze available forage down to a target height that will allow rapid and maximum forage regrowth (during the growing season) without compromising nutritional needs of livestock. A good manager will observe pastures frequently for overgrazing and undergrazing and will periodically adjust the stocking rate or movement of cattle as needed. This publication also provides a table with guidelines for beginning and ending grazing heights and usual days of rest for several pasture crops (see table on the next page). While all of these points are very important for good grazing management, the ending grazing height changes as you move into the late fall in preparation for winter. Simply put, you do not expect regrowth after grazing in the late fall. That s your last grazing before the winter and then that pasture will be rested and not grazed until spring. Your main goal with fall grazing management is to insure good regrowth next spring. Fall grazing management guidelines vary depending on the type of forage. Cool Season Perennial Grasses i.e. orchardgrass and tall fescue. During the grazing season, the recommended ending grazing height for orchardgrass is 3 to 6 inches and for tall fescue 3 inches. Our basic recommendation is to maintain a grazing height at or above 3 to 4 inches for these cool season grasses. Grazing to this height allows leaf area to remain after grazing for continued photosynthesis and energy production. Also, the base of each grass shoot or stem is where energy is stored for regrowth. In the late fall, it is not necessary to leave leaf area for photosynthesis since it will be frosted back over winter, but it is important to leave the base of the shoots so that energy storage remains for faster regrowth in the spring. In other words, a late fall ending grazing height of 3 inches is recommended so that your pasture will green-up sooner in the spring. The exception is when you are planning to frost seed clover in February. Tap-rooted Legumes i.e. red clover and alfalfa. During the grazing season, the ending grazing height for alfalfa is 2 to 4 inches. The reason that close grazing is fine is that the energy reserves needed for regrowth are stored in the taproot below ground. This same principle holds true over winter since spring regrowth will come from these root energy reserves. With alfalfa and red clover though, close grazing in the late fall can lead to more weed growth over winter. In addition, leaving some stubble can help winter survival if there is a heavy wet snow or ice that freezes solid next to the ground. The stubble will prevent ice encasement from smothering the plant crowns. Warm Season Annuals i.e. pearl millet, sudangrass, sorghum/sudangrass. Since these grasses are annuals they will not be regrown in the spring. During the growing season it is very important to leave a tall ending grazing height. The recommended 8 to 12 inches limits the removal of their growing point and leaves several nodes on the stem below grazing height. Both of these insure a rapid regrowth after grazing. In the late fall though, it is fine to graze them as low as possible. A low grazing height is all the more important if you are seeding a winter cereal or new permanent pasture into this field. Native Warm Season Grasses i.e. eastern gamagrass, big bluestem, indiangrass. switchgrass. During the grazing season with native grasses, it is important to end grazing at an average height of 8 to 10 inches. Similar to the warm season annuals, this limits removal of the growing point and allows more rapid regrowth after grazing. With these grasses their energy is stored at the base of the stems over winter. Therefore, it is fine to graze them much closer once they go dormant after frost. The most important fall grazing management is that you allow 6 to 8 weeks of regrowth before frost so their energy reserves are increased going into the winter. Preparing for Frost Seeding. There is always an exception to the rule and this is definitely true in relation to late fall grazing when planning to frost seed in February. The standard recommendation is to graze as close as you can in the late fall or winter before frost seeding. A close grazing in the late fall or winter means less shading of the new clover seedlings when they emerge in the spring. In addition, close grazing slows down spring green-up which gives additional time for the clover plants to get started. This is one reason why frost seeding works so well after close grazing of stockpiled fescue. Crop Beginning Grazing Target Height Ending Grazing Target Height Usual Days of Rest Alfalfa (hay types) White Clover Red Clover Fescue, Tall Spreading Forages - i.e. kentucky bluegrass and white clover. Both of these forage plants are referred to as spreading types. Kentucky bluegrass spreads by underground stems called rhizomes and white clover spreads by above ground stems called stolons. Since both of these structures are either just below or just above the soil surface, they are not affected by grazing height. The thickness of rhizomes and stolons allows them to store energy needed for regrowth. In short, these forages can be grazed close in the late fall and will still show rapid green-up in the spring. Kentucky bluegrass Orchardgrass Pearl Millet Small grains Sorghum/ Sudan Native Warm Season Grasses

5 Grazing Alfalfa in the Fall and Winter An article form the Grazing News...A publication of the Master Grazer Program Alfalfa is one of the most productive forage legumes grown in Kentucky. Traditionally, cutting it for hay has been the preferred method of harvest, but by following simple management practices it makes an excellent quality pasture. This is especially true in the fall because grazing also avoids the problem of slow hay curing due to low temperatures and high humidity. All classes of livestock can benefit from alfalfa in the fall. Alfalfa makes excellent pasture for weaned calves. It can add weight to yearling cattle or increase cow condition prior to winter. Standing alfalfa also can serve as an excellent protein supplement for livestock grazing adjacent to crop residues. Most of the protein in alfalfa is derived from the leaves and managing to minimize leaf loss is essential to increase protein intake. Alfalfa productivity will influence the number of animals a given area will support. with excessive snow or ice. When rotationally grazing alfalfa, fencing doesn t have to be complex. Simple low-cost electric fences that retain animals to one area are ideal. Properly managed grazing can have less impact on the plant than cutting for hay, because of the repeated wheel traffic during hay cutting, tedding, raking and baling. Stand Decline: It is important to have a sacrifice area while grazing alfalfa. Especially during periods in the fall and winter when soil conditions are wet from rain or snow. Crown damage from foot traffic on wet soils leads to a disease called crown rot. Crown rot is the leading contributor to loss of alfalfa stands over the winter. In order to protect plant stands, producers should place animals in their sacrifice area or sacrifice paddock during periods with wet soil conditions. Health Risk When Grazing Alfalfa: Bloat remains a potential problem when grazing alfalfa in the fall, especially during the first three to five days after alfalfa has been exposed to freezing temperatures. The risk of bloat is reduced substantially after a significant portion of the forage moisture is below 50 % or the top half of the plant has dried down. When animals are first turned into alfalfa, several basic steps can be taken to reduce the potential for bloat. Start by providing products containing poloxalene which are available in a small block form. The feeding rate of this supplement is one block to every five head of grazing cattle. Observe your stands before turning livestock into them to be sure that no immature alfalfa is present. Providing your animals with grass hay will further reduce the potential for block. Hay can be provided free of choice during the first two weeks of late fall/winter grazing. For more information and guidance, contact your local extension office. Alfalfa Preparation for Fall/Winter Grazing: To help alfalfa survive the winter, allow plants to grow without cutting or grazing for at least six weeks prior to the first killing freeze ( <24 F). This rest period allows plants to store carbohydrates needed for winter survival and to develop new shoots in the spring. In Kentucky, alfalfa should not be grazed or harvested from mid-september until early November. Usually by early November, even if there is no killing freeze, the plants have entered winter dormancy and will not begin regrowth after harvest or grazing. Stands that have been adequately winterized typically are less susceptible to winter damage and the following year s first growth will be more productive. Grazing in Fall/Winter: Rotational grazing is essential to efficiently graze alfalfa and maximize stand life. There is flexibility in the length of a grazing period, but do not leave animals on a paddock for more than a week. Alfalfa should not be over-grazed due to the risk of damage to the crown and crown-buds. Move animals when the stubble height is grazed down 3 to 4 inches. Alfalfa can be grazed or harvested lower height during the growing season, but some stubble promotes winter survival especially during winters Alfalfa Crown Rot.

6 Meade County Cooperative Extension Service 1041 Old Ekron Rd Brandenburg, KY NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID BRANDENBURG, KY PERMIT #49 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Have You Heard of the VFD VFD is the Veterinary Feed Directive. Starting January 1, 2017 most of the feed, minerals, and water additives that contain antibiotics are not going to be so easily obtained by livestock owners. In order to purchase such products such as a mineral containing Chlorotetracycline, CTC, a producer must first obtain a VFD from his or her veterinarian which then has to be on file with the feed store. Any product that is classified as a feed that contains an antibiotic required a VFD before it can be purchased and fed. For a better understanding and a detailed description of the VFD go to the North Dakota State University website at: