Many land owners have written contracts that expire in December and are working on new contracts. There are several types of rental agreements including cropland cash rent, flexible cash lease, share crop lease and pasture leases.
Nearly every South Dakota farmer who applies pesticide must be certified as a private applicator. Certification for private applications must be renewed every 5 years, with expiration dates at the end of the calendar year. So, if you haven’t checked your applicator certification, now is the time to check and see if you need to be recertified this spring. Based on the database provided by the South Dakota Department of Agriculture, all individuals needing recertification for 2012 should also receive a postcard from SDSU Extension stating that it is time to renew.
A flexible-cash lease agreement is a rental arrangement in which the landowner receives additional cash payments from the tenant or operator in addition to the base rate often adjusted for changes in crop prices and yields.
Computers are commonly used on the farm and are often used as tools for farm business records and for tax preparation. There are many software packages on the market with a wide range of complexity and capabilities. Which business software is right for you?
Producers who are working in and around grain bins, grain hauling vehicles and equipment need to be vigilant when they are around flowing grain and high speed power sources. Flowing grain is like a fluid; objects on the grain surface sink with the grain flow and heavier objects sink faster than light ones. A small opening at the unloading gate gives the entire surface the quality of quick sand.
Not all weather data sources are the same, but many of them look similar when you’re checking the latest weather online or watching the evening news. Depending on what type of equipment is at your favorite weather station, you could be getting data from 5 minutes ago, or only what happened yesterday.
Although many people find some level of snow cover to be appealing for at least part of the winter, particularly during the holiday season, farmers and ranchers are often perfectly happy with little or no snow. One exception is winter wheat (and alfalfa) producers, who like to see at least some snow cover on their crops as it provides insulation against winterkill.
Part II of this series briefly discusses developing a question and selecting a site for an on-farm study. Prior management and field properties are key to site selection. Keeping the study simple is equally important for collecting meaningful data.
Many wheat producers were disappointed with their yields and test weights in the 2011 crop. Much of the problem involved scab, or Fusarium Head Blight, and had more to do with what kind of residue they planted into than when they planted, or what variety they planted.
Aphids are some of the most common insects that infest wheat and cause economic loss. Species that typically cause damage sufficient to justify chemical control include Greenbug, Corn Leaf Aphid, Birdcherry-oat aphid, English grain aphid, and Russian wheat aphid. Several of the species are known to vector the virus that causes Barley Yellow Dwarf.
Controlling weeds is important not only to maximize the yield potential of a growing wheat crop, but to reduce the difficulty in harvesting the crop, increase the quality of the crop, and reduce the weed pressure in subsequent crops in the rotation.
Wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV) is the most important viral disease affecting wheat fields in South Dakota. WSMV can cause a yield loss of 10 to 80 %, depending upon the year and growth stage of the wheat plant. The earlier the plant is infected, the greater the yield loss. The wind-blown wheat curl mite (Aceria tosichella Keifer) vectors WSMV from plant to plant. Wheat streak infects wheat, oats, barley, corn, sorghum, millets, and other grass species. WSMV is endemic to South Dakota, meaning it is always here but varies in its amount.
The open winter has some producers thinking of getting a head start on spring fertilization. There are some advantages in that fields are dry, solid and easily accessible - few problems with getting stuck. In addition, many fertilizer dealers probably have equipment and time available to do the spreading now.
Subsurface (tile) drainage has become increasingly popular in eastern South Dakota in recent years. Increasing trends in precipitation, high agricultural commodity prices, rising land prices and the advent of computerized and GPS guided drain installation equipment have all contributed to the increased interest in subsurface drainage. Subsurface drainage is needed on some South Dakota soils to provide adequate root zone aeration and allow for timely field operations. Good design, along with quality materials and installation, helps ensure the drainage system will function effectively with minimal maintenance.
The dry and cool conditions are encouraging some wheat producers to apply their fertilizer needs now rather than in spring. However, there are some considerations that should be kept in mind with this practice. Applying phosphorus, potassium and sulfur needs on the surface should not be a problem for tilled or most no-till acres. With tillage, the fertilizer most likely will be worked in and safe from loss.
As we move toward fall fertilization and planning for spring, the question of Nitrogen (N) Stabilizers comes up. Can we apply a material with our N fertilizer to protect it from loss?