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Winter 2003-2004
Northcentral
Potassium (K) - keep an eye on it this year. Scientists, crop advisers, and
farmers are seeing more and more incidences of K deficient crops. Why? Some
possible reasons are:
• crop removal of K has been underestimated and has exceeded K application
rates for some time, leading to lower soil K supplies;
• soil test results were not representative of true soil K availability,
because of soil conditions when sampling, poor sampling procedures, or both;
• responses to K were potentially greater than expected, because of differences
in varietal characteristics, soil chemistry, or other cultural practices.
What can you do? Be aware that there is some uncertainty
in soil test K data. This means that proper K nutrition
may take more vigilance. Here are some things you
can do:
• determine if K application is appropriate relative to crop removal and
soil test levels;
• watch for visual symptoms of K deficiency in crops;
• test plant tissue during the season, to see if the crop is getting enough
K;
• test soils properly and consistently.
Northeast
Corn yields in 2003 were average to above average in most of the Northeast. Soybean
yields varied across the region, with lower yields than average in Michigan and
Ontario, but good yields in Quebec and Pennsylvania.
Prospects for winter wheat were put in question with warm weather in the last
part of December, followed by extreme cold in mid January.
The following chart approximates the 2003 nutrient removal in selected states
and provinces.
Northern Great Plains
Are you making the best use of nutrient management tools?
Most farmers will tell you that profitable crop production has high yields
and good prices as its foundation. Nutrient management plays a major role in
obtaining these high yields. Nutrient management has its roots in sound science.
This is the science of soil testing, crop residue inputs, crop nutrient removal,
fertilizer application rates and timing, and manure analysis and application.
All of these technologies and management inputs influence the potential of a
soil to produce high yielding crops with the desired quality characteristics.
In fact, these are the tools available to each and every farmer to ensure that
enterprises operate profitably.
High yields do not just happen by chance, but rather are the result of persistent
attention to detail. Careful attention in planning and implementation of new
and improved crop and nutrient management and technology are essential. Are
you using the right tools to position yourself for a successful and profitable
crop in 2003?
Southern/Central Great Plains
Conditions across the region are quite variable. Winter wheat in some areas is
in excellent shape, while in others it's a disaster. For example, in parts of
western Kansas stands are thin to non-existent while in the central and eastern
parts of the state the crop is in good to excellent condition. Where yield potential
is good, growers should consider nitrogen (N) topdress application to make the
most out of the crop. Also, chloride (Cl) may be an important topdress ingredient
to reduce disease incidence and optimize yield. Looking ahead to spring, the
NOAA long-term Palmer drought severity index shows that much of eastern New Mexico
and Colorado, along with parts of western Kansas and Nebraska, are in moderate
to extreme drought. The remainder of the region is near normal, with the Rio
Grande Valley being extremely moist. Of course, with sufficient rainfall before
planting, these conditions can change dramatically. Nevertheless, growers should
keep in mind that complete and balanced fertility is important in maximizing
water use efficiency, regardless of soil moisture content.
As spring planting plans are being made, producers and advisers should keep
in mind the potential benefits of starter fertilizer. Phosphorus, potassium,
and other nutrients placed in a concentrated band near the seed at planting
often result in early season response that translates to yield increases and
greater profit in the production of corn, grain sorghum, and other crops. A
few of the potential benefits of starter are accelerated early plant development
resulting in increased competition with weeds, decreased erosion due to quicker
soil cover, reduced grain moisture at harvest, improved nutrient and water
use efficiency, and increased yield and profit.
Southeast
Soil moisture was adequate to surplus in much of the Southeast region, until
about the first week in August. Since then, many crops have wilted under the
scorching sun and heat. Farmers and their advisers were reporting problems with
shallow root systems in many fields, which aggravated the damage associated with
the onset of dry conditions. Still, the general crop condition looks fair to
good across the region.
Fescue hay harvests have been delayed and summer perennial and annual grass
hay harvest have been challenging because of relatively frequent rains in early
summer. Livestock producers and hay purchasers will want to consider forage
nutritive analyses to ensure that the total and digestible nutrient levels
are in the desirable range. High hay yields will require attention to appropriate
fertilizer rates to replace harvested nutrients.
In some states, cotton is ahead of normal because
of the favorable moisture and heat unit accumulation (e.g. bootheel of Missouri).
In parts of the Midsouth where rains and clouds persisted, some fruit shed
occurred, and resulted in “fruiting
gaps” and will cause a delayed harvest. We have received a number of
calls asking about actions to correct nitrogen, potassium, and sulfur deficiencies
in cotton. Leaching rains and increased dry matter production surfaced a number
of nutrient imbalances
Early maturity (Group 3 and 4) soybeans were close to harvest, or being harvested
in parts of Mississippi and Arkansas the first week in August. Pod development
and seed filling was at or slightly above the five-year average in virtually
all southeastern region states.
Corn and sorghum harvest has just beginning in Louisiana and Mississippi.
Other states like North Carolina are a short time away from corn harvest, since
the corn is predominantly in the dent stage. The harvest in Georgia is 10%
complete.
Rice yields (first harvest) were disappointing in Louisiana, where rains exacted
a larger toll than expected on the 38 percent of the acreage that has been
harvested so far. Fields are starting to be drained in Arkansas and Mississippi
in preparation for dry down and harvest.
Peanuts were looking generally good in the southeast.
With the drier conditions, many fields are being irrigated in Georgia. The
crop prospect appears to be similar to last year’s harvest.
Temperatures hit record lows in parts of Arkansas
the last half of July, they rebounded again, followed by another brief period
of relief, and then recoiled into the high 90’s again. The crops may
be as confused as the farmers!
The coastal areas of North Carolina and South Carolina were being impacted
by hurricane/tropical storm Alex. High humidity and very hot temperatures followed.
The majority of the peaches have been harvested in Georgia and South Carolina.
It was difficult to protect melons from pests this year because of frequent
rains. The weather caused some farmers to miss their targeted harvest and market
dates, and significant economic losses were reported by some. Disease pressure
is reportedly high in remaining vegetable and fruit fields.
Sugarcane is in mostly good to excellent condition in Louisiana.
Some concerns have been received about the availability of potash for fall
applications. There have been some reports that deliveries may not occur until
November because of reduced inventory and transportation challenges.
West
Many parts of the West are fortunate to have a variety of crops available for
planting. A warm and sunny growing season provides excellent conditions for high
yields of superior-quality crops, especially where irrigation water is available.
Although every growing season has its ups and downs, certain production trends
are evident from all over the region this past year:
• Western growers are among the most efficient
producers in the world. It seems like yield levels continue to rise every
year. For example, average wheat yields were higher in Oregon and Washington
this past year than they have been for several years. Hay and forage productivity
(tons per acre) rose again for the entire region. High-yielding potato production
was also common through much of the West.
• Greater crop removal places an ever-increasing
drain on the soil resource to meet the nutrient needs of rapidly growing
crops. Ignoring the nutrients required for maximum economic production is
a recipe for certain failure. One long-neglected nutrient is potassium. Removal
of high-yielding crops for many years has depleted many western soils of
their once-abundant nutrient supply.
• Water availability and efficiency will
continue to dominate discussions regarding the future of western agriculture.
As we watch the winter storms pass through, consider what you can do to improve
the way you use water for the next growing season. This might include reducing
the number of tillage operations, improving irrigation systems to avoid unnecessary
losses, and more closely monitoring crop water use to optimize irrigation
scheduling.
• The importance of forage production continues
to increase as dairy cattle numbers grow in the western region. The key to
profitable alfalfa production is to maximize the yield of high-quality hay.
Short-cuts taken during the establishment of the first-year stand will cause
major problems in the subsequent years. Get off to a good stand by establishing
adequate fertility before you plant and follow up with proper weed control
practices.
• The application of plant nutrients through
drip and sprinkler irrigation systems continues to rapidly increase. This
trend will likely intensify since it generally results in higher yields and
superior quality crops. Fertigation offers a boost in both water and fertilizer
efficiency by simultaneously placing both moisture and nutrients directly
in the rootzone where they are most needed.
• Closer scrutiny is being placed on the
quality of water leaving agricultural fields. For example, the California
Water Resources Board is presently finalizing regulations for monitoring
the composition of water discharge from all agricultural land, whether this
results from irrigation or from rainfall. This discharge monitoring has the
potential to have an impact on a variety of production practices, as well
require a significant investment in monitoring costs and educational training.
Plan ahead for how you can minimize loss of sediment, chemicals, nutrients,
and water from your farming operation.
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