Cover crops and no-till – a physical defense against soil-borne disease
You may often think of cover crops as a way to prevent erosion and add diversity to your rotation, but they have another less obvious but very tangible benefit – they can create a physical barrier against soil insects and diseases. Foliar diseases in corn can be greatly reduced where cover crops and no-till/reduced tillage practices are…
Annual Clovers for the South
Winter annual clovers have a great advantage in the realms of cover cropping and forage – they grow more high quality forage and fix more nitrogen than perennials in a shorter time span. All of them are high in protein. Annual clovers grow faster and contribute unique advantages to the rotation. Remember to inoculate any untreated seed with clover…
Finance Programs 2016-2017
Our Pre-Pay Program kicks off in September with 8% credit for all prepay. 8% continues through October and then drops by one percentage point each month through February. Contact your local dealer today to learn more about our Pre-Pay Programs. PROGRAM PERIOD CASH DISCOUNT SEPTEMBER 1 – OCTOBER 31 8% NOVEMBER 1 – NOVEMBER 30…
BMR: How a gene mutation became a breakthrough in digestibility
Over the course of the last decade, Brown Midrib, or BMR forages have become widely familiar as the elite of summer annual forages. The “cream of the crop,” these corn hybrids, sorghums, and pearl millets are distinguished by a genetic makeup that reduces their lignin content and can be visually evident as a light to…
Regulating the Sugar Intake of Horses on Pasture
Q: I am an equine conservationist in Maryland. I am working to promote rotational grazing for small horse property owners. I would really like to see some information about record keeping options for small property owners (5-20 acres) and grass combinations for horses with insulin resistance and varieties that would allow for longer grazing times. …
Seeing the Pasture for the Trees
Shaded pastures are among the more challenging conditions faced by anyone trying to establish a productive pasture. This scenario varies but often involves a grazier who wants to set up a very intentional form of silvopasture, managing both trees and forage to balance the productivity of both. To be clear, there is no forage crop…
Grass Vs. Legume Expression in Soil Builder Plus
What’s in your soil matters more than you think. Three different spots in a field of Soil Builder Plus. Nitrogen carryover varied for each spot from uneven manure application (too much in some spots and too little in others), which meant the mix looked quite different, depending where you stood. More nitrogen in a spot…
Illegally bagged seed: more pain than gain
From American Agriculturist, May 10, 2017 ‘Brown baggers’ more pain than gain Buying cheaper seed isn’t worth the aggravation that follows — especially if it’s illegal. That’s why state ag secretaries and commissioners warn against buying and selling “brown bag” seed almost every spring. If it’s not tested for purity and germination and doesn’t carry your state’s…
Small Quick Tips to Prevent Big Trips
By Paige Smart, Southeast AgriSeeds 80% of your success depends on the actions you take the day you plant. Set yourself up for success and read through these brief planting tips before getting that summer annual in the ground! BURN DOWN THE EXISTING STAND It can be very tempting to drill summer annuals straight into…
Why you shouldn’t plow down your cover crop too early…
What a difference a month makes! This organic corn field in Trumansburg, NY was interseeded last July with a crimson clover and annual ryegrass cover crop. This was the field on April 15: Here’s the same field only a little more than a month later – May 24… The moral of the story? Give your…
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