Greetings Everyone! There are a few meeting announcements that I would like to make followed by a couple of links to Ag News you should be aware of. The first educational meeting I would encourage you to attend is “Tobacco Day” which is on Thursday, December 4, 2014 in Johnston County. The Extension Center in Johnston County will host the meeting where new Tobacco Research will be presented by NCSU Tobacco Specialist. Pesticide Credits will be offered at the meeting. Go to the following link to register for meeting and meal.  http://plantpath.ces.ncsu.edu/events/nc-tobacco-day/
 
More educational opportunities will be posted in January 2015.
 
Farm Bill News
County Meetings are now being held by FSA to learn about the new Farm Bill and how it will affect you. I encourage everyone to contact their local FSA office and find out when meetings are scheduled. The FSA has a web tool to learn the process to enroll in FSA programs. Please view information on the link listed below.

http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=home&subject=arpl&topic=landing
 
Industry News
DuPont has a unique website that discusses lessons learned from the 2014 production season. Click here to check these out if you have time. I find these websites are useful tools to stay informed of problems locally and across the nation.
 
DuPont announced last month they sold their forage herbicide product line. Bayer Crop Science will now be marketing Cimmaron and Pastora.

Burndown Considerations

Remember how wet it got in January and February, 2014, and burndown applications couldn’t be made? That’s why now is a good time to begin LeadOff™ applications. Below is some key information.

 LeadOff herbicide

LeadOff is our primary recommendation for burndown for controlling winter weeds such as henbit, annual bluegrass, suppression of ryegrass, and extended residual control of marestail.

LeadOff is now starting to be applied, and I wanted to send a few reminders:

  • Optimum timing for LeadOff applications is November through early March.LeadOff residual control is longer under colder soil temperatures.
  • An early burndown reduces weed populationsand allows for easier planting/minimum tillage in the spring. Weeds such as henbit can be an alternate host for cyst nematodes and many insects, and shade the ground, resulting in slower soil warmup.
  • LeadOff should always be completely dissolved in clean water (minimum 5 minutes agitation in the tank) prior to adding other products to the spray mixture. This will allow for the desired weed control and normal tank cleanout. (See the attached sheets).
  • LeadOff should be mixed with glyphosate for better burndown of existing weeds and grasses. If cutleaf evening primrose and marestail are emerged, 2,4-D or dicamba should be added.
  • If corn growers plan to use Counter nematicide, LeadOff should be applied at least 60 days before planting corn.
  • LeadOff should be not be applied to sand, loamy sand, or sandy loam soils under 1% organic matterwhere field corn is to be planted.

FirstShot™ herbicide information

If LeadOff does not fit a grower due to crop rotation, Counter use, or any other reason, FirstShot may be used in a burndown program as an alternative. It is a 1:1 ratio of the same components as in Harmony Extra™ herbicide, but is labeled for burndown only. It has a shorter residual and allows for more crop rotational flexibility. See the attached sheet for more details. FirstShot does not control bluegrass or any grass species.

Regards,

Wayne Vickers

In conclusion, this winter I will begin a series of informative workshops. Please let me know your topics of interest. I look forward to hearing from you, and hope everyone has a good Thanksgiving!

Sincerely,

Rick Morris

Harvey’s Agronomist