Newsletter published monthly by Crop Quest, Inc. Volume No. 11, Issue No.

7, July, 2002

PERSPECTIVES
Official Publication of Crop Quest Agronomic Services, Inc.

Take advantage of your precision ag resources

As a Crop Quest client, you already recieve a complete list of agronomic services as part of an intensive service package. But, also consider the resources available through Crop Quests Precision Services Division to which you and your agronomist have full access. The core of Crop Quests precision services began with grid sampling, yield maps and creation of management zones. Then, with the purchase of laptop computers, agronomists now use SST FieldBook software to collect day-to-day crop production data. Having this data in digital form means better organization and more effective use of it in the future. With FieldBook, most of you are already receiving printed field reports (fig. 1). These specialized reports are just one example of how Crop Quest strives to add value to its agronomic service year in and year out. The list of Crop Quests services continues to grow with each crop season and has expanded to include a host of other options, such as: Digitized soil type maps Whole farm maps Digital ortho quad photos Field perimeter maps Yield by soil type analysis reports Yield by variety analysis reports Statistical analysis of yield data Variable rate fertility recommendations Interpretation of data from numerous formats As precision agriculture becomes more mainstream, an increasing number of producers are implementing some form of this technology into their management practices. Providing these options helps make Crop Quest clients better managers, because the information from which you base your decisions is detailed, yet practical and useful. Crop Quests specialists have the ability to cater to clients specific needs because of in-house resources, including a certified SST Information Lab which houses a number of specialized software programs used to interpret crop production data. Crop Quest agronomists spend countless hours gathering information on new technology, seed varieties, ag chemicals, equipment and a host of other farming components. Such information lays the foundation for helping you discuss and compare your options. Combined with the use of precisionspecific information, you have the tools to be more confident in how you utilize your crop inputs. Making careful, calculated decisions is key to surviving in the farming industry. Your agronomist can help you do this by taking advantage of the detailed and accurate information that precision agriculture can provide. Its a matter of seeking the opportunity and then working together to implement a game plan.

Fig. 1. Examples of various reports generated by agronomists using SST FieldBook software. (Information for demo purposes only.)

MISSION STATEMENT
Crop Quest is an employee-owned company dedicated to providing the highest quality agricultural services for each customer. The quest of our network of professionals is to practice integrity and innovation to ensure our services are economically and environmentally sound.

By Rollie Stukenholtz, CEO

Member, American Society of Agricultural Consultants Certified Professional Agronomist

Agriculture not the only subsidized industry

It seems everyone who writes for the public media has an opinion on the recently enacted farm program. You would think from all the non-farm media articles that agriculture was the only American industry that was the beneficiary of a government subsidy. It seems we must somehow tie the sorry farm price situation to the September 11 terrorist attack to justify the support of an industry that is critical to our domestic safety. There was very little said of the huge subsidy the travel and tour industry received after the terrorist attack. Seldom do any of these critics write about the huge amount of money we spend to protect our oil industry. Food to most Americans is not considered essential because we have such an abundant supply, and only the impoverished have ever experienced hunger. While we have tried to decipher the details of the new farm program, it appears it may require the intellect of a rocket scientist to figure out the best strategy. Unless something is done to help those suffering the disaster of severe drought, the Farm Program will fall far short of preserving this critical industry. I have personally traveled a good portion of the Western Plains, and it has been a long time since I have seen such limited vegetation to support our essential livestock industry. Now, we are hearing all kinds of criticism from our foreign competitors. I visited several farms in Australia two years ago, and that was always one of the questions the Aussie farmers raised. It sure makes one aware of the complications of developing a farm program that can save our efficient system of agricultural production in America.

Water is even more critical

Many of the producers we work with have already used 30 to 40 percent of their annual water allocation by mid-June. You can never hang your hat on weather forecasts or patterns. But, unless Mother Nature decides to play catch up during the next 90 days, there is no way most of our producers will be able to stay even close to their water allocations and produce a profitable crop. We already know that many will be short of their allocation because of the dwindling aquifer under their land. For our producers who water from surface supplies, the supply is even more critical.

With drought comes questions about use of different crops

During times like these, we always have a lot of producers projecting the potential for different crops. With such low grain prices and such a severe shortage of roughage, we get a lot of inquires about different forage crops. In many cases, the crop which producers want help with is one that some of our younger agronomists have not had experience. Soybeans, for example, were used as a forage crop long before they became a popular oilseed and meal crop. Sudan has always been a popular forage, but with the advent of grain-Sudan crosses and hybrids, the high production of these crops replaced a lot of the old stand-by crops such as cowpeas. I think I have heard the question of whether someone has worked with a particular crop more times this year than any other time in the past. I can usually answer that I have had some limited experience with the crop in question, but have to dig through my vast file of resources to jog my memory. It is times like these when so many new problems and questions arise that we are really able to measure the benefit of our network of professional agronomists.

Crop Quest Agronomic Services, Inc. Main Office: Phone 620.225.2233 Fax 620.225.3199 Internet: www.cropquest.com cqoffice@cropquest.com Crop Quest Board of Directors Chief Executive Officer: President: Regional Vice President: Regional Vice President: Financial Vice President: Manager, Garden City Div.: Rollie Stukenholtz Ron OHanlon Jim Gleason Dwight Koops Dave Wetmore Cort Minor

Newsletter Editor: Tania Wood, twood@cropquest.com

A few key points will help improve glyphosate efficacy

By Ron OHanlon, president

Roundup Ready crops are having an impact in weed management decisions. The effectiveness of the various glyphosate products (Roundup, Touchdown and generics) is changing herbicide programs. However, in order to maintain that effectiveness, it is important to keep a few points in mind when treating with glyphosate herbicides. In a recent article in Dealer & Applicator magazine, Bob Klein, Extension cropping systems specialist, University of Nebraska, offers these 10 tips: 1. Watch the Weather: A three to 10 mile-per-hour wind away from susceptible crops is more ideal than deadcalm conditions, or even light winds less than three miles per hour. Conditions less than three miles per hour may contribute to inversion conditions, whereby spray droplets suspend in the air and drift aimlessly. 2. Watch the Clock: Research indicates the most effective time of application is between 8:00 am and 6:00 p.m. Control tends to decrease at the same rate outside this time range. 3. Watch the Weeds: Even though you may get 100 percent weed control, the crop may still suffer due to weed competition if not controlled at the proper time. 4. Consider a Pre-Emergent: The time of weed emergence in relation to crop emergence can be altered with the use of a pre-emergent herbicide. 5. Keep Low: Next to the wind, boom height is the second biggest factor in drift management of the glyphosate herbicide. Adjust the boom height based on the crop or weed canopy height. 6. Overlap 100 Percent: Ideally, the spray pattern should overlap 100 percent at the target weed height in order to spray the weed from two directions. 7. Angle Nozzles Back: Angling the nozzles back 10 to 20 degrees allows a lower boom height to achieve 100 percent overlap. Angling also aids in getting to the weeds that are hidden underneath the crop canopy. 8. Watch Your Speed: More dust is kicked up at higher speeds. Optimum maximum speed is seven to eight miles per hour. Higher speeds also require higher pressure to apply the same rate, which may contribute to drifting. 9. Tune-Up Your Suspension: You may get erratic control due to spray pattern distortion from a bouncing boom. Lessen the bouncing with a proper suspension. 10. Use Ammonium Sulfate: The ammonium sulfate binds up the cations (calcium and magnesium) first in hard water prior to tank-mixing the herbicide. Herbicide efficacy is greatly affected without the use of ammonium sulfate.

Glyphosate herbicides have been wonderful weed management products, especially for some really toughto-control weeds. However, to maintain the expected efficacy of the products, keep these 10 tips in mind.

Where does the water go?

By Rollie Stukenholtz, CEO

After a prolonged drought period when the ground is bone dry, it is a common misconception that the soil should soak up water like a sponge. When it doesnt, many people are baffled. Some soils actually repel moisture when they are in a bone-dry condition, as has been evident this spring in so many fields. Runoff has been common and areas in many fields remained dry after rainfall, or several inches of water was applied. It almost seems like a mystery that the water can disappear like it does. When it all ends up in the low spots, it is evident that the soil has shed water like a ducks back, and it has run off. In other cases where the soil is very rough and cloddy, it seems to just disappear. In some soils, the extremely dry conditions have caused subsoil clay to form wide, deep cracks. The water finds its way to those cracks, and may actually end up several feet below the surface, or in some cases even go back into the water table. Many soils soak up water much better after they are wet than when they are dry. That is why agronomists commonly encourage producers with flood irrigation to run some water through, then pull off for a few days before re-watering, to get water penetration. Fields under sprinkler irrigation may require several waterings before the subsoil clay gets wet enough to expand and close the cracks. Once the crop is planted, any tillage that might tend to move soil and organic matter into the cracks is limited. This is one of the serious aftereffects of prolonged dry periods that many areas of the country have been experiencing the past few years.

Employee-Owned & Customer Driven

By Ron OHanlon, President

Member, National Alliance of Independent Crop Consultants CPCC-I Certified

Several factors contribute to greensnap susceptibility

he western High Plains experienced several storms last week where wind speeds exceeded 50 miles per hour for a short period of time. The corn crop is approaching a susceptible growth stage where greensnap may be a concern (fig. 1). Greensnap is a relative rating of the stalks ability to remain unbroken during high winds, normally between the eight leaf stage and tasseling. Besides the high winds, there are a number of other factors that may contribute to a corn plants susceptibility to greensnap. Growth regulator herbicides (such as 2,4-D, Dicamba, and so on) may increase stalk brittleness, especially if used prior to the period of rapid growth beginning with the eight leaf stage. High fertility and highly productive soil types may increase the rate of plant growth, which can increase the plants susceptibility to greensnap. The plants genetics are also a factor in how a corn plant withstands the forces of Mother Nature.

Understanding the factors that contribute to a plants brittleness can help prevent or lessen a plants susceptibility to greensnap.

Fig. 1. Greensnap in corn near Dodge City, Kansas.

1204 Frontview P.O. Box 1715 Dodge City, KS 67801

Employee- Owned & Customer Driven
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