Volume 31 Number 49 • April 4, 2020
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The Weekly News Source for Wyoming’s Ranchers, Farmers and AgriBusiness Community • www.wylr.net
A Look Inside
Disease management should be done prior to planting
Rural broadband more critical than ever as coronavirus pandemic forces many to work from home.....................Page 6
“If the forecast holds true, it looks like it is going to be another year of excessive soil moisture and possible flooding,” states South Dakota State University (SDSU) Extension Plant Patholo-
Cover crops can help accomplish soil health..............Page 7 Soybean cyst nematodes should be treated prior to planting..................................Page 7 Equipment safety procedures can save lives and protect workers........................Page 13
Quick Bits
COVID-19
Coronavirus cases in the U.S. increased by 27,089 cases to 216,722 cases as of April 2, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center. The rise in caseloads has been the largest increase as the pandemic approaches the anticipated mid-April peak. The death toll rose by over 1,000 lives to 5,137 deaths as of April 2.
Wool Testing The New Zealand Wool Testing Authority (NZWTA) Laboratory was closed as a result of the ongoing COVID19 outbreak. The temporary closure is scheduled to last at least four weeks. The American wool industry had planned to use the NZWTA Lab for spring 2020 wool testing, while a new commercial lab at Texas A&M University AgriLife in San Angelo, Texas, is developed to take over in 2021.
Winter Blend The Wyoming Department of Agriculture announced a temporary waiver which allows the use of winter blend diesel and gasoline until the transition can be made to summer blends. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a significant decline in gasoline demand, and since fuel storage capacity is limited, more time is needed to transition the distribution system in order to come into fuel quality compliance for the summer driving season.
els of soil moisture have implications on plant stand establishment as well as root rot and nematode infestations. Management options “Managing root rot and nematodes requires
taking action before planting since there are no in-season treatments that can control them,” the two pathologists say. Despite this, Byamukama and Strunk note
Please see DISEASE on page 5
2 0 2 0 S P R IN G P L A N T IN G E D IT IO N
Farming in 2020
Corn Prices May futures prices fought to ease off 11-month lows, gaining three cents to $3.3775 on news of peace talks in the energy sector between Russia and Saudi Arabia. Energy prices rose on the news. July futures rose $0.0275 to $3.415 on the news. Spot bids for corn strengthened at river locations, driven by export demand from the U.S. Gulf. Basis weakened at several other locations in the Corn Belt in response to steady farmer sales in recent weeks amid so much economic uncertainty.
gist Emmanuel Byamukama and SDSU Extension Plant Pathology Field Specialist Connie Strunk in an article published on Feb. 11. Byamukama and Strunk note increased lev-
C O V I D -1 9 w i l l b e a m a j o r f a c t o r f o r p r o d u c e r s e v e r y w h e r e Though agriculture was deemed an essential industry by the Centers for Disease Control and agriculture may not be seeing the same implications as other industries, producers will still see repercussions from the pandemic. “Things are far from business as usual in cities and towns across America. Millions of us are being called to serve our neighbors by staying home. There is a lot beyond our control and still unknown as we face this crisis, but we can focus on and be faithful with the tasks at hand,” says American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) President Zippy Duvall. “For farmers and ranchers our calling hasn’t changed, though its importance hits closer to home in times like these - we are committed to rising every day to grow and harvest the food we all
depend on,” he says. “We can’t do that work alone, however. In the days, weeks and months ahead, agriculture will continue to depend on access to a skilled workforce to help with the work of planting, cultivating and harvesting our crops.” Background The COVID-19 outbreak, previously 2019nCoV, was caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This outbreak was triggered in December 2019 in Wuhan city in the Hubei province of China. COVID-19 continues to spread across the world. Initially the epicenter of the outbreak was China, with reported cases either in China or being travelers from China. “Trade conflicts, prevented late planting and policy innovations have presented a difficult deciPlease see FARMING on page 19
WYLR Photo
Corn planting Soil temperature and moisture are critical With corn planting fast approaching, many growers often question when the optimum time to plant the crop is. According to Kansas State University (KSU) Crop Production Specialist Ignacio Ciampitti, corn planting should follow soil temperature and moisture rather than calendar dates. During an episode of KSU’s Agriculture Today podcast, published March 24, Ciampitti discusses prime corn planting timing and the importance of corn seeding rates. Soil temperature Ciampitti says the ideal soil temperature for corn germination is between 55 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. “Corn emergence at 50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit may take 18 to 21 days, while at 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit, corn emerges in eight to 10 days,” states Ciampitti. “Below 50 degrees Fahrenheit little, if any, germination can be expected.” Ciampitti explains some growers like to push the planting dates up to early April to get the full season corn through its tasseling and pollination stage before the dry summer heat. “There is some research to show this is an effective Please see CORN on page 12
UW offers support In response to student hardships caused by novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the University of Wyoming (UW) is taking extraordinary steps to provide financial security for students for the remainder of the spring 2020 semester. Those steps include a decision to pay the university’s 2,200 student employees, many of whom no longer have access to their positions, through the end of the semester. This is estimated to cost $1.5 million. The university will also launch a $250,000 matching program, Pokes Make the Difference, by the UW Foundation’s Board of Directors to create an emergency fund of at least $500,000 for students in need. Provision of dozens of computers and other technology were provided so students can complete the semester via online instruction at home. Distribution of $163,000 by the Associated Students of UW (ASUW) to students who responded to a notice that ASUW would provide student stipends of up to $300. “As COVID-19 continues to impact the world, the welfare of our students has been our top priority,” Acting President Neil Theobald wrote in a message announcing the UW Foundation matching program. “Many UW students have been dramatically impacted by this event, particularly those students who faced financial and food insecurity before the effects of this crisis took hold. For many, the university has served as the primary resource for not only educational needs, but also critical amenities such as housing, food and technology. Our students have Please see UW on page 20
Alfalfa farmers should aim for dairy-quality hay Following devastating floods across the Midwest and northern plains in the spring of 2019, many farmers in the region are scrambling to find hay to feed their livestock. This has become a particular problem across large dairy producing regions that rely on highquality forage. Gary White, a production seedsman with Allied Seed in Powell notes there are hay shortages across many dairy producing states, which could be a great marketing opportunity for local producers. “Growing dairy-quality hay could be a really great marketing opportunity
for producers across Wyoming and surrounding states who didn’t see as much flooding,” he notes. Shortages Headlines regarding a hay shortage plagued and continue to plague dairy news outlets across the Midwest. According to a dairyherd.com article titled, Hay Outlook 2020, published in late 2019, “Wild weather patterns took a toll on the 2019 hay season, causing the nation’s hay stock to reach its lowest level since 2012 and quality to be hit or miss. Looking to 2020, regional supply and demand will
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Please see DAIRY on page 10