Fertilizers in no-till operations

Fertilizer usage and placement in no-till operations is different than the methods used in conventional tillage. Some of the key nutrients to monitor in both tillage operations include nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

Below are graphs showing the amount of the nutrient the plant uses, in relation to which part of the plant the nutrient is going to and when during the growing stages the plant is using the nutrient. This example, from Jerry Wilhm’s presentation on Fertilizer Application Options for No-Till and Strip-Till at the National No-Tillage Conference looks at corn and the nutrients that are shown include nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

Source: Fertilizer Application Options for No-Till and Strip-Till

Source: Fertilizer Application Options for No-Till and Strip-Till

Source: Fertilizer Application Options for No-Till and Strip-Till

Knowing when a plant will utilize nutrients and which part of the plant will use the nutrients can help you determine when it will be most beneficial to apply fertilizers.

Why are fertilizers used differently with no-till?

Since the soil is less mobile in no-till farming, the placement of fertilizers requires more analysis to determine how and where to apply fertilizer. The limited mobility also influences the way fertilizer is applied in no-till operations.

Soil testing is a key practice to help with fertilizer analysis in your fields

From the Purdue University publication 12 Do’s for Successful No-till Corn Following Soybeans, [link to article] it is recommended that alternative sampling methods for P and K are needed to address the stratification of fertilizer. Take a sample for the upper four inches and a sample for the lower four inches of the old plow layer. Average the samples and compare the result with the recommended amount for the full eight inches to determine your fertilizer needs. If the lower soil sample shows low levels of the nutrients, it may be necessary to use a deeper fertility placement technique or minimal tillage.

The Purdue publication also makes a recommendation when testing the soil pH level. Since the use of nitrogen can lower the soil pH, it is important to test the top two inch layer of soil and make the necessary adjustments to correct any problems.

Proper testing and management is important to prepare for any weather conditions the growing season may bring. In drought years, the plants will grow longer roots in an effort to use the nutrients that are deeper in the soils.

Depending on how some of your test results make out, you may need to consider a different type of application to best utilize your fertilizers. For instance, a broadcast application is best for even top layer distribution; however, if your soil is in need of more intense nutrient development, you may need to consider more intense applications.

Look out for this year's weeds and insects

Problems resulting from last year’s drought are far from over, and farmers will need to take necessary precautionary steps to stay on top of weed and insect management.  If you haven’t already started planning your management program for this year, now is the time to start.

One of the hardest challenges you will encounter with weeds is your application timing. Depending on the weather this spring, it may be too windy or rainy to be out in the fields when you want to be. Last year’s drought has caused a variety of concerns related to what we can expect this year.

Source: http://bulletin.ipm.illinois.edu/article.php?id=432

 Palmer Amaranth, a glyphosate resistant broadleaf weed, is expected to be a concern for this season due to its high water efficiency and its competitiveness among other pigweed species, according to Vince Davis, a weed scientist from the University of Wisconsin in the article Weed management concerns germinate post-drought.

According to Dr. Kevin Bradley from the University of Missouri, 18 states are currently dealing with glyphosate resistance in Palmer Amaranth.

Davis suggests using an early preplant application as part of your weed management plan to overcome weed problems in your fields.

Recalling last spring, Davis points out that weeds were able to get a jump start on growth with the early spring weather. This was paired with dry, dusty conditions that made spray conditions difficult in many areas. Together, this has created a great situation for weeds to take over.

2013 Field crop insect concerns

Insect problems in the field vary from year to year, and it is necessary to monitor all of your fields for insect pests that can damage your crops.

According to the 2013 Insect Control Recommendations for Field Crops, provided by the University of Tennessee, certain production practices can greatly hurt your crops and should be avoided while others can help your crops.  Destruction of weeds and cover crops by tillage or herbicide three or more weeks before planting will reduce the risk for cutworm infestations.

Some of the more common insecticide resistance problems are related to managing the tobacco budworm in cotton, cutworms which are mostly found in reduced tillage or legume cover crops and bean leaf beetles on soybeans.

As with any pest management plan, early detection is important to keeping the problem from spreading. While some of the insects you find can be detrimental to your crops, others such as lady beetles, brown lacewings, and assassin bugs can be beneficial as well. It is important to implement regular scouting in the fields and to be able to properly identify insects. This will help you develop your pest management plan.

Source: http://www.ianrpubs.unl.edu/epublic/live/ec1579/build/ec1579.pdf

What to look for on your chemical labels

Before heading out to the fields this spring, here is a quick review on how to read chemical labels and some of the things to look out for. Handling and using chemicals properly will help prevent dangerous situations for yourself and the environment.

Understand label contents

All chemical labels will contain a variety of information including the chemical trade name, chemical common name, chemical name and the application rate. The trade name is the name the product is sold under. The common name identifies the active ingredients that are found in the chemical, and the chemical name describes the active ingredients.

Chemical rates can be given in terms of active ingredient per acre. To calculate the active ingredient per acre, look at the example below. The product formulation represents the amount in pounds of active ingredient per gallon of chemical. Multiply the product formulation by the amount of product per acre to find the amount of active ingredient per acre.

The product formulation is calculated a little differently depending on whether you are using liquid or dry chemicals. For dry chemicals, divide the pounds per acre of active ingredient by its concentration in the product.

For example, if 2 pounds of active ingredients are needed per acre and the product is a 75 percent powder, you will divide 2 by.75 to get 2.67 pounds. This is the amount of powder needed per acre.

Liquid chemical labels, on the other hand, may give the concentration in the acid equivalent. Divide the pounds per acre of acid equivalent that is needed by the pounds per gallon the product contains.

Chemical purpose and how it works

Some of the terms you should be familiar with when working around chemicals include the active ingredient, other ingredients, mode of action and mechanism of action. Chemical labels will typically contain these types of information that can help you with your plan of action.

Active ingredient dictates the amount of non-acid chemical in the formulation. The active ingredient in an herbicide is the part of the chemical that kills weeds and normally makes up a small portion of the whole chemical.

Other ingredients typically serve some function other than what the active ingredient does. For example, the other ingredients may increase shelf-life or help spread the product more evenly on plant surfaces.

 A chemical’s mode of action describes which plant processes will be affected by the application. Some examples of these processes include absorption, translocation and metabolism.

The mechanism of action, also known as the site of action, refers to the biochemical site within a plant where the herbicide directly interacts.

Chemical safety

It is important to follow safety guidelines when working with chemicals and to use personal protective equipment. This will help protect you from coming in direct contact with harmful chemicals that can be hazardous to your health.

It is important to always read the chemical label before each use and to ensure the chemical is appropriate for your application. Using the right chemical is not enough though, it is equally as important to use the recommended amount of chemical for each application. Working outside of the label and manufacturer recommendations can cause injury to the plants and can be harmful to yourself.

What’s next with chemical labels?

The Environmental Protection Agency is currently pushing for a web-distributed labeling system as part of an initiative to improve pesticide labeling. According to the EPA’s website, the new approach would largely replace the paper-based system and relies on the applicator to contact an official pesticide labeling website or call a toll-free number to obtain proper instructions for the chemical’s use.

Crop insurance deadline approaching

March 15 marks the last day to sign up for most federal crop insurance protection options. Last year’s drought makes for a solid argument as to why crop insurance is an important piece of any grower’s risk management plan. 

Source: http://www.iruhl.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/crops_insurance.jpg

 

Without crop insurance, a bad growing season due to weather can wipe out a great deal of an operation’s finances. If disaster strikes, you will be glad for your crop insurance protection. Among the many coverage options growers have to choose from, it is essential to know the differences between them. 

Insurance plans can provide different coverage depending on the option you select, can be based on the following:

•        Actual production history 
•        Actual revenue history 
•        Revenue protection 
•        Revenue protection with harvest price exclusion 
•       Yield protection

The USDA Risk Management Agency’s Actual Production History (APH) coverage is designed to protect growers against natural disasters, and growers select the amount of coverage based on average yield. 

Similar to APH, the Actual Revenue History (ARH) insurance plan is available to protect against losses from low yields and prices and is based on historical production history of that farm. 

Another option, the Revenue Protection Plan, provides coverage for yield losses from natural causes with prices calculated by the change in actual harvest prices compared to projected prices. The other Revenue Protection Plan with Harvest Price Exclusion, is designed to provide the same type of coverage but uses only the projected price and not the harvest price to calculate losses. 

Also, a yield protection plan is available that provides the same type of coverage as the APH plan, but the yield protection plan uses a projected price to calculate insurance coverage. 

To learn about these programs or the many others that are available, check out the USDA Risk Management Agency website.   

Before making the decision for crop insurance, it is important to talk with your insurance agent to find which option is best for your operation. 

According to the AgWeb.com article Farmers Tweak, Up CropInsurance Coverage, there is a clear trend heading into 2013. 

Tim Copeland, the vice president for Great American Insurance Group, said in the article, “We are seeing farmers take more coverage than in previous years.”  Copeland feels that some of the deciding factors for farmers include rising crop values and last year’s drought.  

Drought continues to carryover more problems than dry soil

Many farmers suffered from the drought last year, and now they will continue to with the potential for herbicide carryover in the new planting season. Dry soil mixed with low moisture accumulation created an ideal setting for chemicals to remain in the soil and not breakdown in the off season. The biggest concern with herbicide carryover is the potential for lingering chemicals from last year to cause crop injury to this year’s plants. 

The factors that contribute to herbicide carryover include:

•          Soil characteristics 
•          Precipitation 
•          Chemicals applied 
•          Microorganisms

Soil Characteristics

The pH level, type of soil and organic matter relate to the soil’s level of potential for herbicide carryover. According to Aaron Hager, in his article Be Aware of the Potential for Herbicide Carryover, soil pH determines the level of herbicide for plant use and for how quickly the herbicide is broken down in the soil. This process is slowed down with a higher pH level.

Soil types can be categorized by the varying amounts of sand, silt and clay that the soil contains. Clay soil, which is noted for its low drainage capabilities, is more susceptible to herbicide carryover than coarse-textured soil.

The amount of organic matter in the soil will also play into the potential for herbicide carryover. Higher levels of organic matter in the soil will slow down the chemical degradation process. Organic matter is more likely to hold higher levels of herbicide in the soil, making it unusable for plants and harder for microorganisms to break the herbicides down. 

Precipitation

Both the amount of precipitation and the distribution throughout the year are contributing factors to herbicide carryover. Lower levels of precipitation, such as this past year, decrease soil moisture and limit the soil’s ability to dilute the herbicides. There is less concern for herbicide carryover in areas that received rain in the fall.

Chemicals applied

Depending on what type of chemicals you applied to your fields last year, you may be more at risk for herbicide carryover. The half-life of the chemical used paired with the rate of the application will help you evaluate what your risk for carryover is.

Check out Iowa State University’s list of herbicides that are ranked from slight risk to high risk for herbicide carryover this spring. 

Soil Microorganisms

Herbicides are broken down in the soil by microorganisms, and these microorganisms determine how quickly the chemicals are degraded.  Hager also discussed how a microorganism’s species and abundance greatly influences the rate at which herbicide degradation occurs. In soils with adequate moisture, this process occurs much more rapidly than in extremely dry conditions, which explains why herbicide carryover is such a concern following a drought year. 

2013 Plan of action

 

Planting season will be upon us before we know it making it essential to plan ahead with your herbicide management. It is important to take proactive measures to protect this year’s crops from last year’s chemicals. 

Collecting a soil sample or conducting a bioassay can help you confirm if there is herbicide carryover. Here is a video from the University of Arkansas on how to properly perform a soil sample.

For more information on proper procedure for a bioassay, check out this article by the University of Nebraska. If you are going to use one of these options for analyzing your soil, you should plan to do so early spring before planting. 

If you are concerned about herbicide carryover in your fields, take last year’s application dates and application rates into consideration when planning out planting dates for this year. 

According to Clarke McGrath, Iowa State University extension field agronomist, in a Farm World article, “The best management practices from start to finish are good residue and soil management; optimal seedbed conditions; proper seeding depth; optimum plant populations and spacing; sound soil fertility programs; and integrated pest management can minimize the effects of herbicide carryover.”

Top five things to complete your Apache sprayer spring start up

Glimpses of warmer weather are starting to sneak up across the country, and it is time to start thinking about getting back out in the fields. Before you can get that first fertilizer application on the ground, you should remember these five important spring start up steps for your sprayer. 

    

    1. Check fluid levels and tire pressure

Oil and Fluid Levels Levels

Check your engine oil, hydraulic oil, differential oil and planetary or dropbox oil and change as needed. Your engine requires 15w40 oil, while your hydraulic and differential systems use universal hydraulic oil and your planetary or dropbox needs 80/90 oil.

Accumulators

Proper inspection of the accumulator nitrogen levels, including the boom wing, front strut, brake, back rack and rear suspension, can help prevent boom damage. Your dealer has the necessary tools, including nitrogen, to check and charge your Apache’s accumulators if they are low. 

Tire Pressure

Depending on the model of tires, your air pressure will vary; however, typically we recommend 35 PSI on the front tires and 49 PSI on the rear tires for standard tires. For narrow tires, we recommend setting them at 41 PSI on the front and 78 PSI on the rear. Keeping tires at the recommended PSI will prevent excessive compaction in the field.

    2. Cycle the rear suspension

Cycling the rear suspension lubricates the cylinder rod and seal on the cylinders. It also prevents the eyelets on the cylinders from breaking when the axle pivots. To cycle the rear suspension on your Apache, start the machine and unhook the leveling rods at the ball joints. Then hold the switch arm up until the cylinder stops. Once completed, hold the switch down until the machine lowers all the way and then connect the rod and the machine will go back to normal height. Repeat on the other side. 

    

    3. Grease the entire machine

Taking the time to grease all the components will prevent parts from wearing out too quickly. It is necessary to grease your steering components including the tie end rods on the cylinders since a lack of regular attention to this area can lead to erratic steering. 

Not to leave the driveline out, greasing this part will prevent premature wear on the driveshaft that leads to chatter. Greasing the booms should include the rack lift parallel bars, boom fold pivots, sway pivots and cylinder flag pins. 

    4. Inspect the wet system and booms

Put 100 gallons of water in the product and rinse tanks to check for leaks in the wet system. After adjusting the booms, pressurize them and inspect the hoses for any leaks. If any of your hoses are damaged, this is a good time to replace them, before they become a hazard. Install your nozzles and check them with a spray calibrator. To retighten the product tank straps, fill the tank with 250 gallons of water and tighten the straps until secured. 

    5. Verify field computer calibrations

This includes the boom, meter and speed calibrations. Always verify the correct controller calibration values are entered in your machine. It is important to make sure nothing has been changed in the calibrations. 

Performing regular maintenance checks on your Apache sprayer will help you prevent mechanical issues later on. For more information on your Apache upkeep, consult your owner’s manual or check out the daily, weekly, monthly and yearly checklists.

Apache Maintenance: Yearly Checklist

In addition to your daily, weekly and monthly Apache maintenance, there are also parts that need to be checked or replaced on a yearly basis. This checklist is designed for the 20 Series Apache models. 

Adjust steering toe-in

The steering toe-in will rarely need an adjustment, but it is a good idea to check this component once a year because it is possible that after a year of wear on the system, it will require an adjustment. A toe-in adjustment can help improve driving and prevent tire wear.

Before making any adjustments to the toe-in, re-phase the steering on adjustable axles. Re-phasing the steering will ensure that your tires are lined up and that air is out of the system. To adjust the steering toe-in you will need to turn the tie rod or tie rod ends. The toe-in should be set at ¼ inch inward.

Replace engine air filters and cab filters

If you are following the other checklists, you have already inspected your engine air filters, but they should be replaced yearly. You should always get the proper filters from your dealer. The cab filters that need replaced include both the charcoal and recirculation filters. 

Inspect front struts

When checking the front struts, make sure there is at least 4 inches of travel on the cylinder when the booms are in spray position. We recommend letting a dealer do any necessary repairs on the struts should the cylinders need service. Low cylinders could indicate low hydraulic fluid levels or a low nitrogen charge. 

Check nitrogen in accumulators

Accumulators are important to your Apache’s ride, but they are also important for protecting the boom. An empty accumulator can cause the boom to break. Your dealer will have the tools needed and the nitrogen to keep your accumulators operating properly. Check all of the accumulators including the boom wing accumulators, front strut accumulators, brake accumulators, back rack accumulators and rear suspension accumulators.

Change engine oil and filter

Always use a 15w40 oil when changing your engine’s oil. We recommend always using Fleetguard, the OEM filter. After the first 100 hours, the in-line engine fuel filter will need replaced; then it will need replaced on a yearly basis. 

Change transmission oil and filter

When filling the transmission, universal hydraulic fluid can be used; however, you need to be careful not to overfill or underfill the transmission. You should refer to your operator’s manual for fluid capacities.  Also, it is very important to clean the sump strainer on the transmission. With the AS1020 and the AS1220 models, you will need to go through the calibration procedure as outlined in your owner’s manual but this is not necessary with the AS720 because it has a different transmission. While the ZF transmission in the AS1020 and the AS1220 is completely automatic, it does require you to warm the transmission before starting the calibration procedure.

Replace planetary oil and dropbox oil

The planetaries and the dropbox are the only places on your sprayer where you will use 80/90 oil. It is common to find some metal debris in the planetaries when draining oil; however, if you find chunks of gears, the planetaries should be further inspected. 

Inspect and pack front hub bearings

Since the Apache sprayer travels at faster rates of speed down the road than a pull type sprayer, you will need to inspect and repack the front hub bearings every year. 

If you are working with an older Apache model, additional or different maintenance will be required.