HIGH PLAINS AG AGRICULTURE ON THE HIGH PLAINS OF TEXAS | MARCH 2016 | HIGHPLAINSAG.COM
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO IN A DOWN COMMODITIES YEAR? ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: COTTON, CORN, PEANUTS, SORGHUM, TECHNOLOGY & WINE GRAPES
INSIDE THIS ISSUE OF HIGH PLAINS AG
IN THIS ISSUE
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IT’S CHEVY TRUCK MONTH AT JOHN ROLEY’S!
Cotton BALANCING PEST CONTROL WHILE BRACING FOR A TOUGH YEAR .....p4
Peanuts
BREEDING SUCCESS SERIES: PART 2 ................................................p6
In The Field
FARMING IS A TOUGH PROFESSION ...............................................p7
Feature
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO IN A DOWN COMMODITIES YEAR? ......p8
Sorghum
TAKE STEPS TO PREVENT LODGING IN SORGHUM ......................... p10
Technology
HOT PRODUCTS TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY AND PRODUCTION ....... p11
Grapes
PREPARING FOR THE UPCOMING SEASON ................................... p12
Corn HEADING INTO THE NEW CROP YEAR ................................................................. p14
ABOUT HIGH PLAINS AG MAGAZINE High Plains Ag Magazine, based in Lubbock, Texas, is proud to feature local articles about farming and ranching on the High Plains of Texas. For more information, please contact one of the representatives below:
Rowdy Bolen - Publisher, 806-687-4814, rowdy@texasautoguide.com Elaine Witherspoon - Sales, 806-687-4814, elaine@texasautoguide.com
www.johnroley.com
1403 State Rd. 114 • Levelland 806-894-6141 Page 2 \ March 2016 \ www.HighPlainsAg.com
High Plains Ag Magazine Po Box 16381 Lubbock, Texas 79490 http://www.HighPlainsAg.com
START PLANTING FOR 2016 WITH A TRUCK FROM JOHN ROLEY COME SEE US AND SAVE!
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www.HighPlainsAg.com / March 2016 / Page 3
BALANCING PREVENTIVE INSECT PEST CONTROL MEASURES IN COTTON WHILE BRACING FOR A TOUGH ECONOMIC YEAR ON THE TEXAS HIGH PLAINS
COTTON
By By Suhas Vyavhare, Assistant Professor and Cotton Extension Entomologist and Blayne Reed, Extension Agent-Integrated Pest Management, Hale and Swisher Counties, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension With the growing season just around the corner, farmers are busy preparing fields and making tough decisions for 2016. Cotton, the crop often known as “white gold,” looks to have some difficulty bringing major economic incentives to farmers this year. Commodity prices have been below production costs for the last couple of years and future market moves, or lack thereof, are suggesting prices will be about the same this year. This means 2016 is going to be another challenging economic year for cotton growers. Despite this, surveys indicate increased cotton acreage in Texas in 2016. The increase in projected cotton acreage is largely the result of similar and weaker market prices of most of the usual alternative crops to cotton (corn, sorghum, wheat). The looming threat of sugarcane aphid is also likely to prompt some sorghum producers to opt out of sorghum production. There are some improved expectations for weather and water conditions that will be more favorable for cotton production as we come into planting season but often in uncertain times we just return to what we are best at. With the current market conditions, one common way to balance a crop production budget is to trim production cost. This is where we think producers are going to be faced with some hard decisions. From the insect pest management viewpoint, a big chunk of money is spent in the form of tech fees well before the crop comes out of the soil. Decisions about whether or not to plant varieties with Bt
Page 4 \ March 2016 \ www.HighPlainsAg.com
Photo Courtesy of Blayne Reed, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
traits and whether or not to have a preventive seed treatment are tough to make. Deciding whether or not to use Bt seeds and/or seed treatments is a bit like gambling. Some years the gamble works, then in the next it may not. In the past few years we did not get high caterpillar pressure in cotton on the Texas High Plains so many may feel that non-Bt cotton may do just fine. Many of those Lepidopteran pests in recent years have been lured away from cotton toward late-planted corn or sorghum and those are crops that might not have very many acres in the region this year. It could also turn out to be a higher than average year for caterpillar pressure. In either case a Bt trait could be just the hedge of protection that protects a field’s economic margin. Preventive seed treatments play an immensely important role in protecting seedling cotton from early season insect pests such as thrips and wireworms insuring a healthy start. If you are opting not to have an insecticidal seed treatment with decent residual properties, you will need to take extra care in early season field scouting and be ready at a moment’s notice to treat for any potential problems to save the crop and income. When we discuss and think through the pros and cons, using these preventive tactics for insect pest management might just be the wiser decision. The upfront investment in preventive tools helps give us the helping hand and peace of mind that we need that might have just helped divert from a very costly disaster. Insect pressure will vary with general location, between fields, and will be dependent upon weather and cropping practices. Ultimately, it is important that farmers make decisions based on local agronomic and environmental conditions and should be based on solid field scouting and experience.
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PEANUTS
BREEDING SUCCESS SERIES: PART 2, ADVANCED LINES THAT ARE NEAR RELEASE Story & Photos Courtesy of Texas Peanut Producers The TAMU AgriLife Research peanut breeding program is constantly making new crosses and selections with materials that have qualities or traits that are better than varieties that are currently being offered to peanut growers. This is all in an attempt to improve profit margins and reduce grower risks. For instance, when we released Tamrun OL11, we greatly reduced the risk of crop failure due to Sclerotinia blight and we increased profitability by providing a variety with improved grade attributes. We released Webb in an attempt to provide growers who have fields infested with Rootknot nematodes, another variety option that is high oleic and will survive a nematode infestation. At the time of its release there were no other high oleic nematode resistant variety options. That being stated, we have a number of advanced lines which are nearing release that we hope will improve grower profitability and or reduce grower risks. Due to pre-publication issues, we are not permitted to pre-publish names, numbers, and data about lines that we are about to release because it would compromise our ability to publish release articles on this material. We can however speak in general terms as to the development of our advanced materials which we consider to be within a year of potential release. We are awaiting approval on a new high oleic Valencia-type release. The new release will have improved yield potential ranging from 13-33% higher than current Valencia-type cultivars depending upon the year and the location. There is only one other high oleic Valencia-type being grown commercially and that was developed by the University of New Mexico. The new line has shelling characteristics equal to New Mexico Valencia C which was grown commercially for many years. We have a 1.7 acre seed increase located at the TAMU Research and Extension Center in Lubbock. We have about 100 lines in our multiple disease resistance program which are being yield tested this year.
Peanut breeding lines in Yoakum,Texas
A few of these lines are in advanced testing stages with one in particular being looked at as a possible release candidate for 2016. This line is high oleic and does have resistance to Rootknot nematodes. Over the last two years of testing, it has had a 9-13% advantage in yield over Webb with a 1.1-2.5 percentage point higher average grade resulting in a 10-16% higher value/acre across two years and four locations. We are testing the line at 6 locations against our most advanced lines and commercial varieties as well as testing it against our newer generation lines in 4 different tests at 4 locations for a total of 22 tests. If the lines performs well again in 2015 we will proceed with its release. The program has been working on early maturing runner lines for many years now. We released Tamrun OL12 because it was 2 weeks earlier maturing than current commercial cultivars, but after contamination of the Breeder’s seed stock due to out-crossing from bees, we decided to table the re-increase of Tamrun OL12 because we felt that we had better performing lines which were only one year behind the re-increase of Tamrun OL12. We literally have hundreds of breeding lines which are being tested and evaluated as early maturing runner materials. In 2015 we chose 5 of our most advanced lines that performed at the top of the test for yield and planted small seed increases at Yoakum Texas. We are increasing these lines in anticipation of selecting one as a release candidate after the 2015 crop season. While these lines are not as early maturing as Tamrun OL12, they are earlier than current commercial varieties and they have yield potential up to 1,000 lbs/a better than Tamrun OL12 and improved grade characteristics. Check our next issue for part 2 of this 3 part series, How DNA Markers are Helping Us Help You!
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1681 FM 403 Brownfield, TX 806-637-0568 Page 6 \ March 2016 \ www.HighPlainsAg.com
IN THE FIELD new home being built in west Lubbock.
2007 John Deere 4520 Cab with bucket stolen from Chace & Elizabeth Hill’s home in west Lubbock.
Farming is a tough profession. We farmers have to deal with changing commodity prices, variations in inputs, increasing costs for equipment and weather that can make or break a farm.
Not a brand new tractor by any means but a tractor that was used daily in the vineyard to plow, disc, spray and move heavy bins of grapes from the ground into the truck. The loss of equipment is one of the most devastating things to happen to a farm. When a tractor goes down, one that you rely heavily upon to get the job done, then you are missing out on valuable work time. Here are the details:
There’s the one thing we farmers cannot stand and that’s property or equipment loss.
• Stolen on a Friday night in Verrado Estates, a newish upscale subdivision just off 50th street and 179.
Recently, one of my good friends and a partner in our new winery had a John Deere 4520 tractor stolen from his
• Doors to the cab of the tractor were locked and tractor was blocking two trailers which could have been stolen AFTER the tractor was moved.
• Fuel gauge was/is broken so the thieves put diesel in the tractor and left a fuel can on the ground, with a decal that says Lone Star Kart Racing Association #11. • Thieves also kicked in the back door of the house. They brought the construction tools outside and buried them in dirt piles outside the house, (in hopes of returning to steal them?) • Boot and shoe prints found and the tractor was roaded somewhere, possibly a location nearby or loaded onto a trailer away from the homes in the subdivision. If you are approached by someone selling a 2007 John Deere 4520 Cab Tractor with a bucket and 4 wheel drive, please call the Lubbock Sheriff ’s Department. Serves as a reminder to check insurance coverage on all farm equipment.
___________________________________
Rowdy Bolen - Publisher, High Plains Ag
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www.HighPlainsAg.com / March 2016 / Page 7
FEATURE
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO IN A DOWN COMMODITIES YEAR? Page 8 \ March 2016 \ www.HighPlainsAg.com
What will you do this year? That’s the big question every farmer asks another farmer. There are no silver bullets or magic 8-balls to give you the answer. Fact is, it’s not going to be a fun year to farm and that’s why everyone isn’t a farmer, right?
always seem to figure it out in the end,” says Neal. When asked what he needs to do to be profitable, Jason replied, “Profit, are you kidding,” he laughs. “We are hoping to break even this year. If we break even, then it will be a good year for us.”
From the lending side of the business, it is difficult to make some of these loans cash flow due to low prices and high input costs. With some good winter moisture, yield potential looks promising at this point. Hopefully, everyone can “buckle down” and make it through these tough years.
The Neal family is planting a mix of crops, as they always do to maximize their potential yields and match the right crop with the choice of field. “We’ll plant some corn in some spots,” he says, “and plant this in cotton and if we get hailed out, we’ll replant 90 day corn here and sorghum back over the cotton. It all depends on the weather.”
Travis Ferguson of AgTexas says “Farmers have to be pretty conservative on their budgets this year. The price has been driven down to the cost of production and to be able to make it through this year, they’ll need to have good yields and not spend a lot.” “From the farm loan side, we can’t do any magic on it.” Farmers will need to “buckle down and get through it,” he said. Travis considers AgTexas “the best of the best. We have good producers with years of knowledge and we also have some young farmers who are just getting started. If these guys can make it work this year and the price rebounds next year or two, it will all work out.” Jason Neal, a fourth generation farmer in Smyer, Texas says, “Times will be tough this year but it’s not the first time we’ve had to deal with these conditions. We’ve all been there before and somehow we make it work.” “Wheter it’s drought or low prices, weeds, or fighting Mother Nature, we
Speaking of weather, the wet year last year helped farmers catch a break and allowed them to deep break their fields to maximize weed control and turn the soil over. Much needed rains provided relief from the drought Texas experienced from 2011 - early 2014. But the excess rains also caused huge problems with some crops being washed out, hailed out and farmers left with little choice but to replant and hope for the best. If the rains continue to come this year, like last, farmers can expect a higher yield but will have to deal with the weeds. Logan Newsom, a Sales Rep at Wilbur Ellis at the Earth location, recommends farmers do what they can to stay on top of the weeds before they become a problem. One thing most farmers are taking advantage of is spraying a preemergent herbicide to prevent weed seeds from germinating. “When you spray a pre-emergent early, you take control of keeping your field clean from the beginning,” says Newsom.
“Some guys are going glyphosate or the Liberty route and I tell them my suggestion is to hit the yellows hard and combat the weeds early.” Weed control became a big battle with farmers last year. Herbicide resistant weeds didn’t burn down like they had in the past and with big heavy rains, farmers couldn’t get in the fields to spray when they needed to. This year, if a farmer wants to produce a quality crop that commands the highest possible price, the crop will need to be clean and clear of weeds. But that doesn’t mean the grower will need to buy more herbicide than is required. Farmers will need to stay on top of the situation and hit the weeds when they are small instead of trying to kill weeds once they’ve reached a height of 4-5” which then becomes a bigger problem. Jack Caviness of Farmers Co-Op in Levelland advises adding nitrogen to get the crop started and adding micro-units to drip cotton during mid-bloom. “Depending on what stage the plant is in, available moisture and heat units, fertilizer can help achieve higher yields and improve quality.” One thing is clear, farmers will need to maximize their budgets this year to keep their farm going. “When the economy falls apart, inputs are one of the first cuts,” Caviness says. He adds, “A little bit of fertilizer can go a long way and the plant will always get a benefit from it.” Farms this year will need to control expenses, make smart decisions regarding fertilizer for improved crop health and stay on top of weeds if they intend on making it through this down market year. www.HighPlainsAg.com / March 2016 / Page 9
TAKE STEPS TO PREVENT LODGING IN SORGHUM
SORGHUM
Story By Brent Bean, Sorghum Checkoff Agronomist Lubbock, Texas Lodging can occur with any plant, but unfortunately it can occur in sorghum more than some would want. Some years are worse than others, and in 2015 we saw more lodging in sorghum than in the previous few years. There are two types of lodging - root lodging and stalk lodging. ROOT LODGING Root lodging is when the stalk is intact but the plants lodge from the roots. The roots either break off or are pulled loose from the soil, causing the plant to fall over. When this occurs early in the life of the plant, the sorghum will usually recover, although a “bend” in the stalk will remain, which is called “goosenecking.” Root lodging can occur on small plants two to three weeks after emergence to any time prior to harvest. When it occurs early, the final yield is generally not affected since the plants quickly begin to grow upright. Root lodging predominantly occurs when soil conditions are wet and very high winds occur. When sorghum is being irrigated, growers should allow the soil to dry between irrigations the first 35 days after planting to encourage the roots to develop deeper into the soil.
Brent Bean, Sorghum Checkoff Agronomist Field Photo Courtesy of Larry Reichenberger
lodging, however, when other issues are affecting stalk strength, a high grain yield adds weight to the top of the plant creating more stress on the stalks. WHAT CAN YOU DO? • Evaluate hybrids for standability, charcoal rot and fusarium. • Apply only the amount of nitrogen needed to meet the desired yield goal. This is seldom a problem since most growers under apply N in sorghum. • Check soil potassium levels and correct if needed. • Do not plant more seed than is needed to reach the desired yield goal.
Insect feeding on roots can also greatly increase lodging, so seed treatments should be considered. STALK LODGING Stalk lodging is when the plant stalk either breaks or bends over and does not recover. This can occur either at the base or higher up on the plant stalk. There are several causes of stalk lodging: • High wind speeds. • Genetics. Some hybrids will lodge more than others. Growers should take the opportunity to review hybrid standability ratings from the 2015 season. • Lignin content of the hybrid. It has long been known that lower lignin content is highly correlated to lodging. • Plant population. Higher plant populations result in increased lodging potential. • Row spacing. Narrow row spacing tends to cause stalks to be smaller in diameter. • Disease. Stalk borers and diseases. • Sugarcane Aphid. Sugarcane aphids left untreated take away valuable nutrients from the sorghum plant causing stress that can lead to an increase in lodging. • High soil N levels. High N levels are known to promote lodging. • Low soil K levels. K is necessary for normal lignin and cellulose development in plants, enabling them to stand upright and resist lodging. • Stresses during grain fill. When sorghum is stressed from lack of water or nutrients during grain fill, starch reserves in the stalk are transported to the grain. This weakens the stalk predisposing the plant to lodging • High grain yield. High grain yield in and of itself does not cause Page 10 \ March 2016 \ www.HighPlainsAg.com
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Last winter, GVM introduced the Mako 400HC, a self propelled sprayer that was the answer to the hole in the equipment market after the elimination of the SpraCoupe.
Designed for farmers and applicators with small fields or small jobs, the Mako will be the smallest self-propelled sprayer in the marketplace. Small, stable, and nimble, the Mako features a 400 gallon tank, multiple boom options, 46 inches of crop clearance, a light footprint and a tight turning radius. “One of the best things about this Mako Sprayer,” says Doug Melcher, who sells them at Terry County Tractor, “is the Cummins diesel engine which powers the lightweight self-propelled sprayer. It’s built on the Tier 3 extension which means there are no emissions to mess with.” GVM recently announced the upcoming launch and delivery of the Mako 440. With 36” of clearance, the Mako 440 will accommodate farmers and applicators who favor low center of gravity. “What’s great about this new machine is that it provides comfort and stability for any user,” says Mark Anderson, President and Owner of GVM Inc. “Farmers and applicators all have different preferences and we are eager to provide another clearance option.” The smallest, most compact self-propelled sprayer in the marketplace; the Mako is the perfect machine to get into fields early when grounds are wet.
The Tow & Blow is a portable and extremely affordable wind machine, which is highly effective in combating freezing temperatures, or frost, as well as soaring temperatures and the associated sunburn in plants. It is a highly adaptable wind machine that can be used in valleys as well as hilly terrain, and it can be easily relocated – so it protects trees, vines and any horticultural or viticultural crop against frost in the most challenging environments. The Tow & Blow portable wind machine raises up to 26’ above the ground and features an Auto Start function when a specified temperature triggers the fan to kick on. Both the fan and the rotation/ oscillation of the machine will operate once the set start temperature is reached. “The fact that the Tow & Blow is portable is a big selling point,” says Steve Newsom. “This machine can be moved from one spot in the vineyard and isn’t stationary. It’s easy to set up and has an adjustable rotation speed.” The Tow & Blow can also be used for assisting with pollination and comes with water misting option for cooling. There are no “specialty parts,” all are available worldwide which means you don’t have to rely on the manufacturer for unique spare parts.
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www.HighPlainsAg.com / March 2016 / Page 11
WINE GRAPES
WINEGROWERS PREPARE FOR UPCOMING SEASON.
developing a good crop and a profitable year. If the primaries have already pushed and a freeze comes in, you’ve essentially lost the majority of your crop.
Rowdy Bolen - Winegrower - Hockley County rowdy@texasautoguide.com
With the recent warmer-than-normal temperatures we’ve experienced, winegrowers are preparing for an early start to the upcoming growing season. Chace Hill grows 50 acres of winegrapes just west of Levelland and is expecting budbreak to be earlier than normal this year. “We’ve had highs in the 70’s and night time lows in the 40’s. That’s going to help the ground temp rise and send a signal to the plant roots that it’s time to go,” Hill says. He expects his early budbreak varieties to be about a week early which makes him a little uneasy. For much of the southern High Plains AVA, budbreak begins around the 1st week of April with white varieties pushing first then followed by red varieties. This is the most critical time of the year for the plant. The grower only gets one shot at producing 100% of the crop or taking a loss if a late spring freeze comes in after the buds have pushed shoots. The first bud to push on the vine produces 100% of your crop. These are called the primary buds. Primaries are critical to FINANCING AVAILABLE FROM:
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Secondaries will then push shoots but those will only produce a crop load of around 30%. A crop load of 30% will produce excellent fruit quality but a grower will be losing out on several thousand dollars per acre in lost production. Growers were hit hard in 2013 and 2014 with late spring freezes and come 2015, growers were ready to fight back with the various forms of frost protection. Luckily, weather held off without a late freeze and 2015 was the largest harvest on record, with over 11,000 tons of grapes produced state wide. At an average price per ton of $1500, Texas Grape Growers cashed in over $16 million dollars in earnings for 2015. --------------------------------------------------------------If you are interested in growing wine grapes, the High Plains Wine Weekend on April 14th, 15th & 16th is a great place to start. • High Plains Wine Growers BBQ - growers get together with wineries and media for conversation and a casual dinner. • Newsom Grape Day - held in Plains at Newsom Vineyards, speakers from all over the state will address issues with vines, harvest, production and winery information • HPW Soiree - 5 course dinner and auction to benefit the High Plains Winegrowers Association. Visit the HPW website at www.highplainswinegrowers.org for more information.
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Stationary & Portable Wind Machines www.HighPlainsAg.com / March 2016 / Page 13
CORN MARKET UPDATE: HEADING INTO THE NEW CROP YEAR
CORN
Story By Mark Welch, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Economist In the three years following the drought of 2012, we have had 3 of the 4 highest U.S. corn yields in history: 158.8 in 2013, 171.0 in 2014, and 168.4 in 2015. Production set a record in 2014 at 14.216 billion bushels and carryover stocks at the end of the year were 1.731 billion, a 46-day supply of corn on hand going in to the next marketing year. The U.S. season average farm price that year was $3.70 per bushel. In 2015 the size of the crop was down to 13.6 billion bushels but with a 200 million bushel decline in exports, ending stocks are up 100 million to 1.837 billion. The most recent carryover estimate for 2015/16 is a 49.5 day supply of corn and a season average farm price of $3.60. The outlook from USDA for 2016 calls for acreage to be up about 2 million and yields steady with production of 13.8 billion bushels. A crop that size is 200 million bushels larger than 2015 which, when combined with 100 million bushel increase in beginning stocks, raises the corn supply by 300 million bushels. Total use is projected to be up about 150 million bushels but that still raises ending stocks 150 million. This raises days of use on hand at the end of the marketing year to a 53-day supply and lowers the season average farm price to $3.45. Since 2006 (the biofuel era), we have seen significantly higher corn prices when the days of use on hand drops below 40 (see Figure 1). What are the prospects for getting carryover down to this level in 2016? We could do it with use. Holding acres and yield steady, use would need to increase to 14.2 billion bushels to drop days on hand to 40 (that would be a record all-time high for corn use). We could do it with acres. Holding yield and use steady in USDA’s outlook, planted acres of 86.8 million drops days of use to 40 (the last time planted corn acreage was that low was 2009). We could do it with yield. Holding acres and use steady we need a yield of 162 bushels to get carryover down to 40 days (that would be 3 bushels below the straight-line trend yield for 2016 of 165 bushels, but would still be the third highest in history). As we move through the spring, USDA will use updated information from the Planting Intentions report in late March
and early season crop planting conditions in preparation for the official 2015/16 marketing year estimates in the May World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE). While decisions at the producer and consumer level, weather, and other factors will influence prices, the prospects now are lower rather than higher in 2016. That puts the focus on production decisions to increase revenue. Growing conditions in the Southern Plains look favorable given the moisture we have to work with and the forecast for above normal precipitation and cooler temperatures through May. Declines in fertilizer and fuel prices are helping to lower expenses for 2016. A typical Texas corn budget for 2016 shows that with normal yields, the break even price is about $3.85 per bushel. Holding costs steady and producing a yield 110% of normal drops the break even from $3.85 to $3.50; yield 125% of average results in a break even of $3.15.
MARKET CHART FOR CORN PROJECTIONS
Source: USDA, OCE, 2/26/2016
FIGURE 1
SAFP, $/bu
8 7
6 5 4
15/16 16/17
14/15
3 2 1 0
20
30
40
50
60
70
Days of Use on Hand at the End of the Marketing Year
Photo Courtesy of United Sorghum Checkoff
Page 14 \ March 2016 \ www.HighPlainsAg.com
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Us Today To Schedule Coming To The Mallet In March... Contact Your Upcoming Event! MARCH 19TH-20TH
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BIG ENOUGH TO SERVE YOUSMALL ENOUGH TO KNOW YOU. www.HighPlainsAg.com / Marchxxx 2016 / Page 15
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Page 12 \ December 2015 \ www.HighPlainsAg.com