Given the recent weather pattern........

I thought I would copy and paste an article from the May 23rd NDSU Crop and Pest Report.  This article was written by Joel Ransom, NDSU's Extension Agronomist for Cereal Crops, and addressed the issue of waterlogged soils and plant establishment/development.

Joel writes; "The recent rainfall has curtailed planting at a critical time as the last planting date approaches for many crops and regions of the state. In many areas, excessive rainfall has caused localized flooding, ponding and saturated soils. For fields previously planted, excessive moisture can be damaging to the germination process and to plant development. Waterlogging (flooded/ponded/saturated soils) affects a number of biological and chemical processes in plants and soils that can impact crop growth in both the short and long term. Waterlogging deprives plants of oxygen. Plants need oxygen for cell division, growth and the uptake and transport of nutrients. Since oxygen diffuses through undisturbed water much more slowly than a well-drained soil, oxygen requirements rapidly exceed that which is available when soils are saturated. The rate of oxygen depletion in a saturated soil is impacted by temperature and the rate of biological activity in the soil. Moisture is required for germination. Once the seed has absorbed enough water to start germination, however, excessive water in the soil can deprive the emerging seedling of oxygen and kill it before it can emerge from the soil. Germinating seeds/emerging seedlings are very sensitive to waterlogging as their level of metabolism is high.
The cooler temperatures that have been associated with the recent wet weather will help delay the adverse effects of waterlogging on any emerged crops. Generally, the oxygen level in a saturated soil reaches the point that is harmful to plant growth after about 48-96 hours (longer when temperatures are cooler). In an effort to survive, tissues growing under reduced oxygen levels use alternate metabolic pathways that produce by-products, some of which are toxic at elevated levels. Crops like small grains and corn tend to be more sensitive to waterlogging when their growing point is still below the surface of the soil (before the 5-6 leaf stage). With the exception of winter wheat, all of the small grain and corn crops in the state are still in these sensitive stages (if planted at all) and can be killed if soils are saturated beyond 48 hours when soil temperatures exceed 65 degrees.
Crops can differ in their tolerance to waterlogging. Data from differing sources suggest a possible ranking of waterlogging tolerance as follows (most tolerant to most susceptible): rice, soybean, oats, wheat, corn, barley, canola, peas, dry beans and lentils.
Waterlogged conditions also reduce root growth and can predispose the plant to root rots, so the ultimate effect of excess moisture may not be known until late in the season. It is common to observe plants that have experienced waterlogging to be especially sensitive to hot temperatures and display nitrogen and phosphorus deficiencies later in the season due to restricted root development. Yield losses can occur even if these obvious visible symptoms are not observed.
Waterlogging can also indirectly impact cereal growth by affecting the availability of nitrogen in the soil. Excessive water can leach nitrate nitrogen beyond the rooting zone of the developing plant, particularly in well-drained lighter textured soils. In heavier soils, nitrate nitrogen can be lost through denitrification. The amount of loss depends on the amount of nitrate in the soil, soil temperature, and the length of time that the soil is saturated. Losses of up to 75% of the soil applied N have been reported when soils are saturated for 5 days and soil temperatures are 75 to 80 F."

Need help balancing your ration(s)

Recently, many Extension Agents across Montana received training on the Beef Ration and Nutrition Decisions Software (BRANDS), developed by the Iowa Beef Center.  The BRANDS software allows cattle producers to enter information into a database specific to his or her operation and receive a printout of his or her total ration.  This fairly intensive program will help balance rations for cows, heifers, breeding bulls, growing bulls, feedyards and stockers.  Many Extension Offices around the state have purchased the software and Agents are ready to help assist you in learning more about where there might be holes in your rations or where you might save money and time by cutting back.  For more information, contact your local Extension Agent.

Field work/planting in full swing in Richland County

Just some observations from the road as I traveled around various regions of the county this week.

• It appears as though the Western edge of the county received a little more moisture than other parts.  Ditches and creeks between Lambert and Richey seemed to have a little more water in them than did other areas.
• Winter wheat looks to be coming along alright for the most part.  Granted this was observed through the window of a pickup (going the speed limit, of course) but the fields of winter wheat that I saw looked pretty good.
• Spring tillage and seeding is definitely in full swing.  Such has been the case for the past two weeks now but I did not see too many fields that weren't at least tilled.
• Rangeland in the area is progressing nicely as well.  Pastures and CRP ground is really starting to green up.

These are just a few of the observations that I made.  I would love to hear from others as to what they are seeing/doing and whether or not they agree with what I've seen.

Once crops begin to sprout, monitoring for cutworms may be a necessity

A recent post on the Montana Ag Alert website referenced the increase in activity of cutworms in Yellowstone County.  This may be something to be on the lookout for.  Here is what the Ag Alert had to say;

"Cutworms have been active in cropland in Yellowstone County and infested acreage is significantly higher compared to 2012.  The adult moth stage of the two common species in Montana, army cutworm (AC) and pale western cutworm (PWC), are monitored every August by collaborating county agents and producers. Catches of both species were low during August of 2012, suggesting region-wide risk from cutworms should remain low for the spring of 2013. However,early cutworm activity in Yellowstone County suggests that last fall’s mild temperatures may have enabled high survival rates of the caterpillars over the winter. MSU extension entomology recommends scouting for cutworm activity and damage as spring temperatures continue to warm up.

Army and pale western cutworms lay their eggs during the fall season. AC hatch and begin feeding in the fall while most PWC hatch in the spring. AC feeds above ground on the leaves at night or on overcast days–watch for damaged leaves. PWC feeds below ground on the crown and stem–watch for dead or wilted plants that appear to be cut resulting in stand reduction.  Both cutworms are nocturnal. Look for the caterpillars by lightly scraping the soil surface during the day in areas where rows have been thinned.

Cutworms can damage a variety of crops in addition to small grains. For more information please refer to the MontGuide titled “Pale Western and Army Cutworms in Montana”.  Also see pest notes posted on the High Plains IPM Guide:http://wiki.bugwood.org/HPIPM.

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