Author: agronomynews

After Experiencing Drift Damage, What Should You Do?

Paul Goeringer, Extension Legal Specialist, Department of Agricultural and Resource Econ.

This is not legal advice. 

Damage caused by pesticide drift has been in the news a lot over the past couple of years.  With Monsanto releasing new varieties resistant to a new less volatile formula of dicamba, reports of drift damage have increased in many states.  At the winter agronomy meetings, I discussed what type of liability an applicator might face if a neighbor complained of drift damage.

But what should you do if you suspect drift damage in your fields?  An injured producer should contact the state department of agriculture to investigate, begin developing evidence of the damage, consider working with the applicator/neighbor to settle the damage, or consider hiring an attorney to pursue a lawsuit in court.  Understanding how to handle drift damage can help the injured producer understand his/her rights in this situation. Continue reading After Experiencing Drift Damage, What Should You Do?

2017 Mid-Atlantic Crop Management School

SAVE THE DATE!

November 14-16, 2017

Princess Royale, Ocean City, MD

The school offers a 2 ½-day format with a variety of breakout sessions. Individuals needing training in soil and water, nutrient management, crop management and pest management can create their own schedule by choosing from 5 program options offered each hour. Emphasis is placed on new and advanced information with group discussion and interaction encouraged.

Continue reading 2017 Mid-Atlantic Crop Management School

Plan to attend the Maryland Commodity Classic on Thursday, July 27

Farmers are invited to attend the Maryland Commodity Classic on Thursday, July 27, 2017, at Queen Anne’s County 4-H Park. Hosted by the Maryland Grain Producers Association, Maryland Soybean Board, Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board, and Mid-Atlantic Soybean Association, the annual meeting is the premier event for grain farmers in the region.

“This year’s classic offers farmers a great opportunity to get the latest on farm research and current industry topics, from both the state and national levels,” states Dr. Bob Kratochvil, Maryland Commodity Classic chairperson. Continue reading Plan to attend the Maryland Commodity Classic on Thursday, July 27

Seed Treatment in Soybeans

Nathan Kleczewski, Extension Plant Pathologist, University of Delware

Many growers in the region have started using, or are interested in using seed treatments for disease and/or nematode suppression in soybean production.  The use and interest in seed treatments has increased for several reasons.  First, because most seed treatments are applied by the seed supplier or are custom treated, growers do not need to worry about self treating and the various issues associated with this practice.  Second, there are many different chemicals that can be added to modern seed treatments, allowing for a broader spectrum of activity.  Safety, both to the user and the environment is increased due to low use rates as well as reduced exposure.  The big question is- what can you expect with seed treatments? Continue reading Seed Treatment in Soybeans

July Maryland Weather Report

Scott Minnick, NOAA, Wakefield, VA

National July Temperature Outlook

A wet and cool May was replaced by dry and seasonably warm conditions in June. Rainfall for much of the state ended 2 to 2.5 inches below normal, except those that received beneficial rainfall in the western portion of the state. Continue reading July Maryland Weather Report

JUST-IN-TIME PESTICIDE INFO – Adulterated Organic Pesticide Products

Amy E. Brown, Professor, Department of Entomology
DATE: 06/29/2017
ISSUE: Adulterated Organic Pesticide Products
After discovering the presence of five synthetic pesticide active ingredients which were not listed on the labels of two registered organic pesticide products, the Oregon Department of Agriculture stopped the sale, use, and distribution of those products in Oregon.
The products are: PBI-Gordon/ Azatrol Hydro Botanical Insecticide and Azatrol EC. Both products have the EPA Reg. No. 2217-836.
While these five conventional active ingredients can be used on a variety of ornamental, food, and feed crops safely, they were not identified on the labels of these two products and this constitutes misbranding and adulterated product. The non-declared conventional pesticides in the two organic pesticide products are: quantifiable levels of permethrin, bifenthrin, cypermethrin, cyfluthrin, and chlorpyrifos. Malathion was not detected at a quantifiable level.
The two pesticide products under investigation are approved for organic use by the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) and are allowed in organic production. Part of ODA’s core mission is to protect producers across the state and ensure that they have confidence in the tools available to them. ODA has suspended the sale, use, and distribution of the two products while a full investigation is underway.

Variable Corn Height and Yields

Jarrod Miller, Extension Educator, Somerset County

With the weather this spring, planting windows and excessive soil moisture have made for some variable corn heights. There can be a lot of reasons for short corn, including soil compaction, lack of nitrogen and the weather.

Early planted fields may be shorter since corn is growing during cooler, wetter periods, creating an entire field that is shorter than normal. Fields with ponding or sidewall compaction may have variable growth across the field, with drier areas having normal heights. Some of this can be related to lack of nitrogen, either from denitrification in wet soils, or limited uptake from poor root growth. In some cases ponding in lower parts of the field simply kills the plant altogether. Alternatively, during drought periods, those drier parts of a field may have shorter corn due to the lack of water.

Portions of this field won’t recover from excessive water, while those on the edges may be shorter due to restrictive root growth.

Whether or not shorter corn plants have lower yields depends on canopy cover. Continue reading Variable Corn Height and Yields

Managing Multiple Factors in Soybean Injury

Jarrod Miller, Extension Educator, Somerset County

It’s often multiple factors that lead to injury and loss, making it difficult to determine a direct cause. Of these factors, weather is often out of our control, but we can make choices about crop rotation and herbicide selection. A field in Western Maryland under a continuous soybean – wheat – DC soybean rotation had some issues this spring. Our Washington County Ag agent Jeff Semler noted that the field had been planted May 1, but started having issues the first week of June. In the photo below are spots of dead and injured plants spread across the field.

Injury and death of soybeans across a field (Photo by Jeff Semler)

Results revealed multiple issues, including fungal diseases which cause root rot (fusarium and pythium) as well as herbicide damage. Lesions on soybean cotyledons (see photo below) could be the result of PPO herbicides (Sharpen, Valor, Reflex, ect). Continue reading Managing Multiple Factors in Soybean Injury

Wheat Quality: Late Season Alpha-Amylase

Robert Kratochvil, Extension Agronomist, University of Maryland

I have heard reports that the first wheat harvested on the Delmarva this year is having falling numbers ranging between 160 and 320s.  The falling number measurement is used by the industry to assess the amount of starch (flour) damage that has occurred due to pre-harvest sprouting.  When falling number is below 275s, the quality of the flour milled from the wheat may not be suitable for some of the end-use products made with it. Continue reading Wheat Quality: Late Season Alpha-Amylase

Soybean Hail Damage Followup

Jarrod Miller, Extension Educator, Somerset County

Soybeans immediately after hail damage (left) and recovery a few weeks later (right).

A few weeks ago we posted some photos of hail damage to corn and soybean fields in Somerset County. We noted that soybeans will recover as long as they aren’t damaged below the cotyledons. As you can see from the side by side photos, the soybeans look pretty well considering the beating they took. The photos aren’t in the exact same spot, but regrowth has definitely occurred across the field. These soybeans Continue reading Soybean Hail Damage Followup