BCR_Ag Matters_121722

Assoybeanplanting dates moveearlier, agronomy planschange

By JeannineOtto AGRINEWS PUBLICATIONS

NEOGA,Ill.—Asfarmersinsouthern Illinoismakeplansfor2023 , planting soybeansearlyisoneoftheir priorities.

“One of thebigthingsgrowersare talking aboutonsoybeansismaturity. Withgrowersplantingearlier,theyare starting tolook intoearlier-maturing beans, ” saidJoshTooley,DEKALB Asg ro w technica l agronomis t fo r southern Illinois.

Butassoybeanplantingdatesmove earlier, Tooleysaidtherearesomeother factors toconsider.

Weed control and makingadjustments to herbicide applicationsalso need tobe consideredsinceitwon’t justbesoybeans emerging.

“Wedon’treallywantour highest-powered herbicideouttooearly,becausein

southern Illinois,thefirstweekofMayis generally whenwaterhempstartsemerging.Wewantourresidualherbicidesas close to that expectedemergence dateas possiblesowegetthebestbangforour buck,”Tooleysaid

“Weareworkingwithgrowerstodo a burndown before planting.If they areplanting early, then doing a post-residualoftheirgoodresidualherbicide and possibly their XtendiMax in that late Apriltimeframe.Thenthey are comingback,21to28dayslater,with theirsecondpasswithLibertyandresidual,”hesaid.

Tooleysaid Asgrow XtendFlexsoybe ansperformeduptoexpectations insouthern Illinoisthisyear,outyieldingcompetitorsbyovertwobushels peracre

“Wewereexceptionallyhappywith ourXtendFlexproductsthisyear,”he said.

plotdata from theirarea.Visitwww. dekalbasgrow.com/harvesttosignup.

ThiscolumnwascontributedbyIllinoisAgriNewsforAsgrow.

“They’re builtto yieldandtha tis whatthey’redriving—yield.”

TooleynotedthatIllinoisfarmers can nowrecei ve digita l harvestresultsviaemail,inclu di ngthelatest

Dogssmellaratin barn-hunttraining

ByCathyDyson THEFREELANCE-STAR

BEALETON,Va.(AP)—Somedogssprintedlike deerintothedraftybarn,withitstinroofthatrumbledeverytimethewindgusted—whichitdidoften onachillySundayafternoon.

Othersdidmoreofanambleasiftheyhadallday tosniff everypieceofstrawandanalyzethevarious aromascontainedwithin.

Buttoonedegree oranother,justabouteverydog thatenteredthetrainingbarnatLibertyHillPetResortinBealetonsmelledarat,whichisthepurpose ofthesportknownasbarnhunting.

It’s justthat somedogs know betterwhat todo aboutit.

Sophie,aCavalierKingCharlesSpaniel,wagged her tailexcitedlyassoonasshe entered with her owner,SonyaBakerofManassas.

Sophielookedtoowell-groomedtoberooting throughstrawanditwasn’tlongbeforeslimdried

stalkshungfromhersilkybrownandwhitecoat.

But when she located a canisterthatcontained arat,sheputherlittlepawstoworktoclear straw aroundit.

Theratwassafeandsecurethewholetime,protectedinanaeratedtubeaboutthesizeofonesused atbankdrive-upwindows.

Sophieyippedandbarkedwithexcitement ,especiallyafterherownerpickedupthecanister.

BakerhelditatthelevelofSophie’snose, saying, “Gitit,gitit,gitit,”andSophiedancedaround with delight.

Andthat’sthe pointoftheexercise, said Mary Ann Robertson. She’sLibertyHill’sformer owner andcurrenttrainer whostartedbarnhunting in southernFauquierCountyyearsago.

MonroehuntsforratsatBarnHunt National competition.

“It isfun,”she saidwithextra emphasis onfun. “Thedogisincharge,it’snotlikeobedienceoragility orrallywhereyou’re tellingthemwhat todo. They

havetotellyouandmydoglovesit. I guess heloves tellingmewhattodo.”

She’s referrin g toSto jan, a Belgian Malin oiswholove s tosqueez e his shepherd frameinto tunnels arranged unde r balesofhay.

Sheisnotreferringtoherotherdog, Julie t, a poodlewhos e attitudesuggests shecan’tbebotheredwithbarn hunting —oranyotherinstructions,if truth betold.

Whilealldogshaveasenseofsmell estima tedtobebetween1,000and 10,000times strongerthan human’s, not allhave the samestronginstinct to putittouse,Robertsonsaid.

Barnhuntinggives dogsofallbreeds and sizesa chancetosniff aroundand determineiftheycanzeroinonone distinctive aroma andavoiddozensothers.

Thatincludesthesmellsofother canines, droppedtreatsoreventhe barn mousethatskitteredthroughthe building afewdaysago.

DaleGrahamofCulpeper Count y nam edhe r cattledog-Shepadoodl e mix Sherlockforthewayhelikedto explore everythingasapuppy.

Heshow edhi s invest i gati ven ature ashehoppedfrompillartopost, looked outbarnwindowsandlicked anyone whogotclosetohim.

Graham tried togethim ontrack, calling out,“No,notthoserats”when Sherlockstoodatop a haybaleand gazed atcontainers,outsidethecaged ring, filledwithratcannisters.

“Wehave a distinctlackoffocus here,”shesaid.

Drake,animmac ul atelygroome d blackpoodle,was te d notime.He pranced around the stacked-up bales, sniffinginthecrevicesforthedistinct aromaandquicklyfoundone.

Hisowner,KatyStewartofFredericksburg,calledout,“Rat.”

RobertsonorDanielleCross,adesignated“ratwrangler,”letherknowif Drake’sinstinctswerecorrect.

Whatmakesthegamemorechallengingisthatsomecannisters c ontainedra t bedding,no t th e ra t themselves,andtheammonia-tinge d littercanbealmostaspungentasthe rodentthemselves.

Whiledictionariesconsiderratsandmicevermin,atLibertyHill,they’relookeduponaspets andtreated accordingly.Norats are harmedduringtheexercise.

Be foredog s le ar n tobarnhunt, they’re introducedtotheblackordark grayanimalstoacquiretheirsmell.

Robertsonmaintainsratsarealmost assmartasdogsand quicklyrealize thoseafterthemcan’tgettothem.

“Weusedtohavesomeratsthat wouldjumpintothetube”because theyweresoeagertoplay,Crosssaid.

SomeofthedogslikeToby,a borde r terrier, h adancestors t rainedto findratsinfieldsorbarnsandexterminat e them.

Tobylovesthegame—it’shiskind

ofthingtodo, saidhis owner Lynne LeeperofWarrenton.

Buthe’snevershownanyaggressiontoward the rats;hejustlets her knowwhenhe’slocatedone.

Barnhuntingis a greatchancefor

city dogstopractice theartofhunting “withouttheirownersneeding a shotgun,”saidKathleenReilly-Olson ofVienna.

“Welovecominghere,”shesaid. “Mydogslovethisplace.”

Agrisciencetakescenter stageatFFA convention

Winningprojectsparksinterestofotherstudents

ByMarthaBlum AGRINEWSPUBLICATIONS

INDIANAPOLIS —Agriscienceprojectsfocusedonfish,pestcontroland meatconsumptionresultedinnational awardsforIllinoisFFAmembersduring the95thNationalFFAConventionand Expo,heldinIndianapolis.

Greyson Applebeean dGehrigB unselmeyerworkedtogetherona project thatinvolvedraisingfish.

“Whenwewenttonationalconventionourfreshmanyear,wetoured afish facilityandwewantedtostart afi sh farmforour chapter,”Bunselmeyersaid. “So,wedecidedtoform asmallbusiness andthen westartedtorun intoproblems withpHandnitrates.”

TheMaroa-ForsythFFAmembers measure dbothnitratesandpHin the catfishfacilityfortheirwinningAgriscienceproject.

“Weworkedwiththefiltrationsystem to e ff ectivelytaketh en itratesaway,” Bunselmeyersaid.

“Ourmaingoalistotrytosellthefish tocommunitymemberstostockponds andweals owant tobreedfishso we don’thavetokeepbuyingnewbatches offisheachyear,”Applebeesaid.“And wehaveplanstoharvestthefishtohave acommunityfishfry.”

ThesophomoreFFAmemberswere quitesurprise dtobeselectednational Agrisciencewinners.

“Wewereinshockandnobodyexpectedustowin,”Applebeesaid.“NobodyhasdoneanAgriscienceprojectin ourchapter,sowedidn’tthinkthiswas something thatcould happen.”

AsApplebeewalkedthroughtheAgriscienceFairattheconvention,hesaw projectsthathethoughtwerebetterthan theonetheteamcompleted.

“We’renotthemostknowledgeable 100%ofthetimeonourproject,butwe workproblems outwhentheycomeup,” hesaid.“That’ssomethingreally great aboutusandwe’regoingtoworktogether againandneitherofus wouldwantitany otherway.”

Winning anationalawardhassparked interestofmoremembersinthechapter.

“Nowwe’vegototherkidsinterested indoing aproject,”saidCassieCrouch, adviseroftheMaroa-Forsythchapter. “After18years Istilldon’tdothingsthe sameway andtheyaregettingmorekids excited,sohopefullythatwillgrowinto someotherthings.”

“Assoonastheycalledournameson stagean dwes aw65,000people clappingandscreamin gf orus,myheart dropped,”Applebeesaid.

“Itwassoexcitingbecausebothof uswork edsohardthispastyearand our adviserworkedhasworkedjustas hardtry ingtokeepus calm ,cool and collected.”

SamanthaAlvarezgottheideaforher

AgriscienceprojectaftertakingasummerclassattheUniversityofChicago.

“Ilearnedaboutdifferentbiological techniquesinthatclassandthatinFloridatheyreleasedgeneticallymodified mosquitoestocontrolthepopulation,” th eC entra lB urlington F FA mem b er said.“Ithoughtthatwasreallyinteresting,so Iwantedtotrytocontrolemerald ashborerbeetles.”

SinceAlvarezworkedonherproject duringthewinter,sheusedredflour beetles.

“Geneticallymodifyingthebeetle wouldbe difficultwithmyskill set,so instead Ijustfedthemthetreatments,” thehighschoolseniorsaid.“IfedDsiRNAsthatstoppedtheproductionofproteinsthatwereessentialtosurvival and ultimatelykilledthebeetles.”

Winningthenationalhonor,Alvarez said,was agreatfeeling.

“Iwasinshockthatallthehardwork I’ddonehadpaid off,”shesaid.“Istill haven’treallyprocessedityet.”

Alvarez iscurrentlyapplyingtocolle ges, includingtheU niversityofChicago.

“Thatwouldbebydreamschooland Iw ouldliketocontinuemyresearch ther e,” s ai dt heFFAmember,whois advisedbyRyanRobinson.“I’dliketo becomearesearcherandIwantto do geneticresearchorgeneticengineering.”

Working i n t he genetic sf iel dh as been agoal forAlvarezsinceshewasin

eighthgrade.

“It’s been apassionofminefor awhile now,”shesaid.“Butdefinitelydoing this andhowmuchIlovedthisprocessencouragedmetocontinueonthispath.”

“Itwassuperexciting,”said Olivia Shike,aboutwinning an ationalAgriscienceaward.“Whentheycalled my name,itwasanhonoranditfeels really goodwhenyouputinallthework.”

TheUnityFFAmember’sprojectfocusedonthemeatpreferencesof GenerationZ,whichincludespeoplefrom age 10to22in2022.

“IwantedtofocusonthisageofpeoplebecauseI’m amember ofGeneration Z,”Shike said.“I was curiousbecause whenwethinkaboutthefutureofthe agriculturalindustry,Generation Zi s going to be making decisions for many yearstocome.”

Forhersurvey,Shikeaskedabout 11 foodvaluessuchasprice,safety, appearance,tasteandnutritionalcontent.

“Ialsohadsevenquestionsabout the influenceoffood labelsonconsumerdecisions,”shesaid.“Twoadditional questionsaskedpeople torankfoodvalues andthefoodlabelsfromleasttomost important.”

Shikehad alotofinformationto sort throughafter1,18 6peo plecomplete d hersurvey.

“Humanelyraisedwas20%moreimportant foodlabelthananyother food labeltheyhadtoselectfrom,”the high

portance onanimalwelfare.”

For foodvalues,the most important were safety,priceandtaste.

“Wemaycaremore aboutthe environment oranimal welfare, but weare still tethered topriceandifitdoesn’t taste good,we’re notgoingto buy it,” said Shike,whoisadvisedbyRichMcCabe.

“Wehearaboutincreasedvegetarianism andveganism with GenerationZ, but inmystudytherateofvegetarianism and veganismwas2.34%,whichwasthe same rateformillennials,”Shike said. “In mystudy, 93% ofpeople said they consume meatoftenorfairlyoften.”

Shikeplanstokeepdoingresearch projects sincetheonesshehascompleted havebeenalotoffun.

“I’ve gained skills I would nothave without theAgriscienceFair,”shesaid. “I lovegettingresultsandbeingableto turn numbersintomeaning.”

LookingattheAgrisciencedisplaysat convention wasenjoyableforShike.

“Itwasprettycoollookingatthem and thinkingtheseare thepeopleI’m probablygoingtobespendingfuture time withasco-workers,”shesaid.

Martha Blumcanbereachedat815410-2254, ormblum@shawmedia. com. FollowheronTwitterat:@AgNews_Blum.

SamanthaAlvarezgot the ideafor herAgriscienceproject after taking a summerclass atthe University of Chicago.Working inthe genetics field hasbeen her passion fora while andshe would liketo becomearesearchertodogeneticresearch or geneticengineering

Olivia Shikeand her adviser,Rich McCabe, are honored on the stage ofthe NationalFFA Convention as a nationalwinner in the Agriscience competition Shike’s projectfocusedonthemeatpreferences ofGeneration Z, whichincludespeople fromage 10 to 22 in 2022

Birddeclinetiedtograzinglandchanges

ELIZABETH,Ill.—Wildlifestudies havenoted significantdeclinesinMidwesterngrasslandsongbirdsover the last few decades The research found thedeclinecorrelatedwithreductions ingrazingandhayfieldsintheregion.

ResearchhasfoundthatmanyMidwesterngrasslandbirdsneedgrassof varyingheightsand densities during theirlifecycle.Thesebirdsdependon shortgrassandopeningsforforaging, nestingandchickdevelopment.

Asland transitioned torowcrop s ove r rec en t decades,thebird s lost these habitats createdbygrazing and forageharvesting.

Overthelastthree years, a UniversityofIllinoisgraduatestudenthascollectedinformationaboutthebarriers andmotivationsto reversethe trend.

Specifically, John Strauser waslooking athow toaddresstheeconomic, socia l andcom mu nitymotivation s neededtoretur n margina l landsto forageproduction.

Hisprojectfocuse d oncollectingdatafro m landowners,farmers andresidentsinJoDaviessCounty innorthwesternIllinoi s an d Gra nt CountyinsouthwesternWisconsin.

Theprojectwaspartiallyfundedby U.S.Fish andWildlifeServicewith a

focusonidentifyingcollaborativeopportunitieswithagricultureandwildlifeinterest.

The capstone report,“Understanding LimitationstoGrass-based Agriculture intheDriftlessRegionofIllinois andWisconsin,” wasreleased recently

Thestudyfoundmost farmers,landowners and residents recognized the connectionbetweendeclininglocal birdpopulationsanddecliningforage productioninthearea.

The r espondentsalsopr o vide d insightintobarrierstoreturningto morelivestoc k gra zing andforage production.Someoftheseincluded: econo mic pressures, safetyconcerns oftheagingfarmpopulationworking around livestockandpressures related to communityandsocialnorms.

Therespondentsalsoidentifiedopportu ni tiesrelatedto a community focusingonincreasinggrazingand forageproduction.

A focu s ongrasslan d production couldopenopportunitiesforyoung an d beginning farmsthroughlower initialinvestment.

Offe r diversificationofincome streams,allowingthenextgeneration tojoinanoperationwithlowerinvestmentin clu dingmin im aladditional

land.Thesechangeswouldhelpbring morestability and resources to rural communities.

The completereportcanbe found at: https://go.illinois.edu/grass-basedag.

Buildin g ontheresearch, U of I Extensionispartneringwith University of W isconsin-Exte nsionand the Grassland2.0projectto offer a communitywork sh op,Workin g toward Regenerative Agriculture, onDec 9. TheworkshopwillbeheldattheElizabeth Community Building, 402 West St.,Elizabeth,startingat10a.m.

Thefocuswil l beonfarme r and communityopportunities tosup port

grazing,forageproductionand native grasslandbirdhabitats.

Theprogram willbebrokenintothree main presentations and discussions:

•Optionsandgoalsetting

•Evaluatingtheoptionsand economics.

• Connecting tothe local supply chains

The workshopisnot justfor those intereste d ingettingint o theforag e productionbusiness,butalso those interestedinsupportingthe transition andincreasinggrasslandsongbirds locallythroughimprovedhabitats.

Formoreinformationandtoregister,gotogo.illinois.edu/jsw.

Thereareavarietyofconservationpracticesthatcanbeimplementedtobenefitgrasslandbirdswhilesustainingorenhancingagriculturalproduction.

Howtogrowand careforamaryllis

By KennethJohnson

Amaryllisare popular plants, both as giftsand as decorations during the holidays Theyarea great way to adda splash of colorindoors.They produce large(six- to 10-inch)trumpet-shaped flowersonlongstalks(11/2to 2 feet long).Amaryllis comein a variety of flower colors, rangingfromred, salmon, pink,purple, andwhitetobicolor, and are often striped ormottled. Manyoftheamaryllisplantsavailable thistimeofyearcomepre-potted and arereadytogo.You’lloccasionally findsomethathavealready started togrow,andallyouneedto do isgivethemsomelightandwater. However, ifyoubuyanunpotted amaryllis bulb,thereareafewthings you needtodotogetitgrowingand off toagoodstart.

Plantthebulbinapotthatis about twoincheslargerindiameter than thebulb.Makesurethepot has drainageholes.Selectasoil-less (well-draining) pottingmixandplant the bulbsothatthetopone-thirdof the bulbisstickingoutofthepotting

mixture.Waterthepotwellandplace itinadark,warmarea.

Oncenewgrowthappears,move theamaryllisintoasunnylocation. Addwatertothepotuntilitbegins todrainoutthebottomanddiscard theexcess.Youwon’tneedtowater againuntilthesoilfeelsdrytothe touch.Oncetheflowerbudsbegin toshowcolor,movetheplantout ofdirectsunlightandideallyintoa coolerlocation.Movingtheplantwill helpretaintheblossomsforalonger periodoftime.

Whilepeopleoftentreatthemas annuals,youcangetamaryllistorebloomnextyear.Oncetheflowers begintofade,cutthemoff toprevent seedformation(waittoremovethe flowerstalkuntilityellows).Donot removeanyoftheleaves;thiswill allowtheplanttocreatefoodtostore soitcanbloomagain.Placeyour amaryllisinabrightindoorlocation andwaterthoroughly,butletitdry betweenwaterings.

Oncethereisnolongerariskof frost,amarylliscanbetakenoutdoors.Placetheminanareathat

receivesfilteredsunlightatfirst,and thengraduallymovetoanareawhere itwillgetaminimumofsixhoursof sunlightaday.Fertilizeyourplant everytwoweekswithaliquidfertilizerorapplyaslow-releasefertilizer.

Inthefall,bringtheamaryllis indoorsbeforethefirstfrost,store thepotsinadark,coolplace(50to 55°F),andstopwatering.Removethe leavesaftertheyhavebecomeyellow. Thebulbwillneedtogothrougha restingperiodforapproximatelyeight to12weeksbeforeitcanbeforcedto bloomagain.Whileitisinthisresting

period,periodicallyinspectthebulb, andifitbeginstogrow,placeitina sunnywindow.Ifitdoesn’tstartto growonitsown,youcanforcenew growthbywateringthesoilthoroughlyandplacingtheamaryllisback intoasunnylocation.Whenthebulb beginstoshowsignsofgrowth,start thebloomingcycleagain.

Withalittlework,youramaryllis bulbcanproduceabeautifulholiday plantforyearstocome.

KennethJohnson is a Universityof Illinois Extension educator, horticulture.

Nomoremadcowworries: Bannedblooddonorscangiveagain

ByJonelAleccia APHEALTHWRITER

DAVENPORT,Iow a (AP) U.S. Arm y veteran M attSchermerhorn couldn’t giveblood for years because hewasstatione d inEurope duringa deadlymadcowdiseasescarethere. Now,he’sproudtobebackinthedonor’schair.

Schermerhorn,58,isamongthousandsofpeople,includingcurrentand formermilitarymem bers,wh o ha ve returnedtobl o od do nationcenters acrossthecountryafterfederalhealth officialslifted a banthatstoodformore thantwodecades.

“It’s a responsibility. It’sa civicduty,” saidSchermerhorn,whodonatedon VeteransDayattheImpactLifecenter inDavenport. “You reallydon’thave togooutofyourwaytoomuchtohelp yourfellowman.”

Bloodcollectorsnationwide aretrackingdownpeople like Schermerhorn, U.S.citizenswholived,workedorvacationed intheUnited Kingdom, France, Irelandorservedatmilitary basesin Europe during variousperiodsbetween 1980and2001,aswellasanyonewho received blood transfusions inthose threecountriesanytime since 1980.

Since1999,thosepeoplehavebeen bannedfromgiving bloodintheUnited Statesforfearthatthey’dbeenexposed tomadcowdisease.

Outbr eaks of the cattle-borne infectionswept through Europe, eventually killingatleast232peo pl e,mostlyin the U.K.

Fourcaseshavebeenreportedinthe UnitedStates,allinpeoplewholikely acquired theinfectionsabroad,health officialssaid.

The rarediseaseiscausedbyanabnormal formof a protein called a prion,

whichtriggersdamaging changestothe brainandcentralnervoussystem.

It’s spreadfromsick cattl e topeople who eatcontaminatedbeef, butit canalsobetransmittedthroughblood transfusions.

Butafterdecadesofresearchand reassessment , thefederalFoodand DrugAdministratio n hasdetermined thattheriskofthediseasehasabated, thanksinlargepart tochanges inthe waycattleareraisedandthetreatment ofdonated blood.Theagencyeasedthe restrictionsoverthepasttwoyearsand fullyliftedtheminMay.

That means hundreds ofthousands of formerdonorscanonce againroll uptheirsleeves , perh ap s bolstering U.S.bloodcollections , whichlagged duringtheCOVID-19pandemic.

“The most important thing isfor indi-

viduals that believe theymay now be eligibletocalltheirlocal blood center,”said KateFry,chief executiveofAmerica’s Blood Centers, whichrepresents more than 600 bloodcollectionsites providing nearly60% of the U.S.blood supply.

TheAmericanRedCr-oss,which providesabout40%oftheU.S.supply, lastmonthbegan accepting donors previouslydeferredbecauseoftheriskof mad cowdisease,formallyknow n as variantCreutzfeldt-Jakobdisease,or vCJD.

Invariably fatal,withanincubation period thatcan last yearsorevendecades , theemergenceofvCJDin humansinthelate1990s alarmed officials responsibleforthesafetyoftheblood supply,saidDr.RitaReik,chiefmedical officer forOneBlood,a collection centerinFlorida.

“Itwas a scar y newdisease,”Rei k said.“Which iswhyitrequired such a lengthoftimetostudy thisdisease toget a levelofcomforttoget to the deferral.”

IntheU.K.,fivecasesofvCJD were transmitted by bloodtransfusions,accordingtotheNationalHealthService.

Today,theriskofbeinginfected via bloodtransfusion is“essentially negligible,”Reiksaid.

Trackingdownlostdonorshas been a challenge,saidDr.John Armitage, chief executiveoftheOklahoma Blood Institute. Hisst a ff hasus ed em ails, postcardsandphonestocontact more than6,300donorswhowere turned awa y since1999. So far,about 350 have returnedtodonate.

“Wefeelgood aboutthatas a firs t effort,”Armitagesaid.“Weknow there arefolksthatwehaven’treachedyet.”

Bansremaininplaceforpeople who aresuspected ofhaving vCJDorrelated diseases,thosewhohave a bloodrelativewith a relateddiseaseand those whoreceivedpituitaryhumangrowth hormoneoracertaintypeofbrain tissuetransplantfromcadavers.

Thenow-liftedmilitaryban included Schermerhorn, a re t iredArmylieutenantcolonelwhowasstationed in Germanyfrom1988to1992.

Schermerhornstayedawayfor years —untilhesawalocalnewsstory about therecentchange.He’sdonated his raretypeO-negativebloodeight times sincelastyear.

ForSchermer ho rn,givingbloo d isone way torepay past donorswho steppedupwhenhisolderbrother was badlyinjuredinaboatingaccident.

“Mybrotherhadtakennine pints ofbloodfromcompletestrangers,” he said.“Theywerepartofthelifeline that kepthimalive.”

APPHOTO

MattSchermerhorntalksaboutdonatingbloodattheImpactLifebloodcenterinDavenport,Iowa.Schermerhorn,58,isamongthousandsofcurrentandformermilitarymembersandcivilianswhohavereturnedtobloodcentersacrossthecountryafterfederal healthofficialsliftedalongstandingbanthisspring.

Boost controltosavefertilizer

By TomC. Doran AGRINEWS PUBLICATIONS

NEWORLEANS Those2-to 4-inchweeds that emergeamid young corn plantsmayappearharmless, but are stealingwater, costlynutrientsand yields beforetheyareeliminatedwith a post-emergenceherbicide application.

“Saveyourfertilizerinvestmentfor the crop,nottheweeds,”saidShawn Hock, Syngentaherbicide product lead Weedscompeteforsunlight,water, nutr ientsandspace.Syngentaconducted fieldtrialsacross20locations and foundthatonaper-acrebasis,2to 4-inchweedsconsume13.5pounds of nitrogen,0.85 poundsof phosphorous and16.8poundsofpotassium.

“Toputthatinperspective, a bus helofcornrequires0.8po un ds of nitrogen.So, 13. 5 poundsofnitrogen cons umedbysmallweeds would ha veproducedover 16morebushels of corn,”sai d HockatSyngenta’s recen t med ia su mm it . “Upto$24pe r acreinfertilizercosts islostby2-to 4-inch weeds.”

HIGH COSTS

Farmersareusedtoswingsininput priceseveryyear,but becauseof the combinationofglobaldemand,high ener gyprices,exportrestrictionson certa inglobalsupplier s, thewarin Ukraine andthechallengeswithproduction, logisticsandtransportationit was reallychallengingin2022.

“Fertilizer price s wentfrom about $100 per acrein2020to upwardsof $300 peracrein2022. A lotoffarmers were able to positionthemselves between $100and$300,andaccording to UniversityofIllinoisageconomists the 2022fertilizercostwasabout$240 per acre.That’sabout 2.4timeswhatit was in2020,”Hocknoted.

“Alotofthesameelementsexist

todayaslastyear.ThewarinUkraine isongoing.Energy pricesare not trending down now; they’re going up. There is adieselfuelshortage.Theriversysteminthe U.S isnotlookinggood, somore things are beingtransported byrail ortruckthanwhathas traditionallybeendone. Growers shouldbe watchingallthesethingsandtryingto positionthemselvesthebest they can.”

IMPROVEDROI

Hock stressedSyngentaisnot promotingtheuseoflessfertilizer, but improvingfertilizeruse efficiencyper unitforabetterreturnoninvestment.

“Webelievethefirststepinmanagingfertilizer efficiencyisbyeliminated weedsalltogether.Early-seasonweed controlsave s alloftha t fertilizerinvestmentfor the crop. Investing that moneyinastrong,pre-emergentresidualherbicide would pay dividends,” headded.

“Ifwecanencourage th e id ea of investingin a pre-emergentresidual herbicidethatiseffectiveandsafe,we canhelpgrowersgetmoreoutoftheir fertilizer,growhigheryieldsandhelp answersomeofth e challenges t he worldisdemandingofustoday.”

HERBICIDEOPTION

Forexample,Hocksaidproduct s lik e Acur on,whichca n beap pl ied in a split applicationwith a portion ofthe rateapplied pre-emergence,is uniquelypositione d tohelpgrowers improvetheir fertilizeruseefficiency byincreasingyield.

Hesai d Acuronprovide s powerful control overa broadspectrum of wee ds,has lo ng-lastingresidualto keepfieldscleanandhasprovencrop safetyfordevelopingcornplants.

“Whe n applie d as a pre-emergent andatfulllabelrates,we’vebeenable todocumentinouron-farmtrialsthat

producerscangain5to15morebushelsanacrecompared toothercorn herbicideleadingbrandswithAcuron becauseitcontrolstough,yield-robbingweedsbetter,”hesaid.

“Weedshave undoubtedly increased inprevalence.Wedidsomemarketresearchlastyearand40% ofcorngrowerssaidthey’rehavingmoredifficulty controllingweedslikewaterhempand Palmeramaranth.

“We are always lookingatnewways toput activeingredients together toget ahead ofweeds Aswecontinue tobring new conceptsto market, residualweed controlprinciplesandintegratedweed

managementstrategies are important.

“Weinvest$1billion annuallyon cropprotectioninvestments.Partof itisformulation Partofitislooking atnewwaystoputactiveingredients togethertocontinuetomakethatgain untilwegetthese breaking technologiestomarket.”

HockaddedSyngentaplanstoannounce a newherbicideconceptat CommodityClassicinMarch.

TomC.Dorancanbereachedat 815-410-2256ortdoran@shawmedia. com.FollowhimonTwitterat:@AgNews_Doran.