Taking soil samples this fall? Why not send them for nematode screening? Take the test and beat the pest! Read on to learn how to take and submit soil samples and the importance of soybean cyst nematode (SCN). Continue reading
As we approach the fly-free date for sowing winter wheat, we need a plan to control our most common weedy pests in this crop. The two most common weeds in our wheat every year are poa and ryegrass. The fall is the best time to control these two weeds in wheat. Continue reading
On September 18th, we applied a defoliation strip trial in Gift, TN. The field was 85% open with juvenile and mature leaves present. As you likely recall, this was immediately before a cold snap. Night temperatures for the next five days were 54, 55, 55, 59 and 57. In this blog, I describe the concoctions applied, share a brief video of the results 13 days after the initial application, and highlight a few important take-homes from the video. Continue reading
Are you thinking about putting in a cover crop this fall? While cover crops can provide many benefits, picking the right species and varieties for your system is critical to maximizing those benefits. Check out our 2020 cover crop variety trial results for a head-to-head comparison of 60 cover crop varieties at three TN locations.
Cover crops were planted in fall 2019 and evaluated for a number of important traits, including fall and winter canopy cover, biomass at termination (April and May), and estimated nitrogen release.
More information can be found in the full publication or excel tables. A virtual tour of the plots was also presented at the virtual Milan no-till field day and is available here.
If you trust the forecast, volatile temperatures should increase over the weekend before again falling into the upper 40s by the middle of next week. Thanks, 2020. Unfortunately, we do not have great options after Sunday and fields in West Tennessee are wet. This blog covers the mixes I’m running prior to Saturday afternoon, Sunday through mid-week and thoughts on whether or not that green, soft boll will mature before a freeze. Continue reading
Wondering what’s been making your soybean field look sickly? Watch The University of Tennessee – Virtual Soybean Disease Field Day at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLu1wQWoPjWdeZwU9N7NLUTpk4And6Z–j Continue reading
Defoliation became a little more complicated this week. While we were lucky enough to miss the mid-week rain, the next few nights are going to be quite cold (upper 40s to low 50s) and it looks like it may be next weekend before lows reach the 60s again. Changing conditions justify a change in rate and often a change in product. In this blog, I highlight a few thoughts on building concoctions as we move through a pretty substantial shift in temperatures. Continue reading
Some have been concerned about losing dicamba due to court or EPA rulings. Everyone should be more concerned about losing dicamba and 2,4-D to Charles Darwin’s theory. Weeds developing herbicide resistance has caused the loss of many more herbicides than anything a court or the EPA has ever done. It’s not even a close race.
This is particularly true for Palmer amaranth. The newest development is that Palmer amaranth has evolved dicamba resistance here in Tennessee. We are in the beginning stages of Palmer amaranth, yet again, becoming a major problem due to the loss of a herbicides’ utility on that weed. Continue reading