We wanted to share these guidelines for corn silage harvest success in case they are helpful! View them here – https://bit.ly/4gjNg2M
Receive information on DM/Moisture, Packing, Length to Chop, Cover, and other considerations. Also includes information on Cover Cropping.
Sclerotinia white mold (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum) is a fungal pathogen that affects a wide range of crops including dry beans. It infects the flowers on the dry bean plant. White mold thrives in cool, moist conditions, such as those associated with the end of the growing season here in the northeast. Now is the time when you may start to notice signs of white mold infection in your dry bean or soybean fields.
The symptoms associated with white mold infection are bleached, brown lesions, and white cotton-like mycelia (Fig 1). Symptoms can appear on the stems and pods of the dry bean plant. It does not affect the leaves directly, although while scouting your field you may notice a ‘flag leaf’ or singular wilted, yellow leaf indicating white mold infection lower down on the plant under the canopy. The pathogen survives as sclerotia (compact masses of hardened fungal mycelium; Fig 2) in the soil for several years. Sclerotia can reproduce either by the production and release of airborne spores that come into contact with the plant or by direct contact with the plant with the fungal growth in soil or neighboring plant.
Fungicide applications can be useful for preventing infection of the dry bean flowers if you have a field with a history of white mold. But the applications must be done at the time of flowering. Once white mold symptoms develop, any applications at this point can only protect the further developing flowers and will not cure the current infection. Dr. Sarah Pethybridge shared a lot of helpful information about dry bean diseases including white mold and the use of fungicides (organic and conventional) in our Beans for Lunch webinar series (click to view recording).
To reduce the risk of future white mold infection, it is important to rotate your dry bean crop with non-host crops such as corn and cereals. Crop residue management is also very important. Do not leave white mold infected residue on the soil surface. If possible, cover up the plant residue with soil to promote degradation. Other ways to reduce the risk of white mold infection is by increasing airflow to the plants. This can be done by reducing seeding rate or increasing row spacing. Additionally, reducing weed pressure can be beneficial. Many broad-leaf weed species such as lambsquarters, ragweed, pigweed, and velvet leaf, act as hosts to white mold.
If you’re in need of some more feed, want to extend your grazing season, or want to get a jump on seeding new perennial stands for next year, now is a great time to do it. This time of year, can be challenging for new seedings if we have hot dry weather. But with ample soil moisture and cooler temperatures, conditions are ideal for seeds to germinate quickly and establish well ahead of frost.
Late Summer Seeding of Perennial Forages
Timing and conditions are key with seeding perennials in late summer. Often, we experience hot dry weather this time of year which can reduce germination, slow emergence, and allow annual weeds to take over. Luckily this year we have received adequate moisture in August with more projected in the coming weeks. These new forage stands need 6-8 weeks before a killing frost to establish sufficiently to survive the winter. Although the timing of frost in our region has been variable, this typically means planting by mid-to-late August. Remember not to plant these forage seeds too deep, so aim to plant between ¼ to ½ inch. Be cautious if the soil is soft and you are planting with a grain drill, it may plant deeper than you realize. Also be aware of any herbicides residual that may prevent germination especially of sensitive species like clover. Finally, don’t forget fertility. Although conditions may be favorable for getting these seeded soon, taking the time to amend the soil if it is needed is also important and shouldn’t be overlooked in the favor of time.
Fall Annual Forages
Planting cool season annuals such as annual ryegrass, small grains, peas, and brassicas, can enhance the diversity of nutritional feed sources for your herd. Utilizing these annuals can help stretch feed supplies, by extending the grazing season or adding to stored feed supplies. The addition of cool season annual forages can extend the grazing season well into October or later depending on the year. The sooner you plant cool season annuals, the more time they will have to establish and produce biomass! Continue reading to learn specifics about a few different options for cool season annuals in the Northeast.
Annual Ryegrass
Annual ryegrass is a fantastic fall forage. It establishes quickly and most varieties are very palatable for grazing. Annual ryegrass can produce about 1000 to 2000 lbs of dry matter per acre in our region if sown by late August. The seed is typically quite inexpensive compared to winter cereal grains or brassicas making it an affordable way to boost fall grazing and/or feed stores. Annual ryegrass can be drilled at a rate of 20 to 30 lbs per acre at a depth of ¼ to ½ inch.
Brassicas
Forage brassicas, such as turnips, kales, and radishes, can provide plenty of high-quality fall forage for grazing. They may be seeded alone or in combination with other annuals and can yield 1500 to 2000 lbs of dry matter per acre. Brassicas are highly digestible and therefore need to be grazed with caution to avoid herd health issues. Animals should only be allowed to graze brassicas for short periods of time and given adequate supplemental fiber. Overall, brassicas should constitute less than 30% of an animal’s overall dry matter intake. Remember, brassica forage can lead to off-flavors in milk and this factor should be considered especially with direct to consumer sales. Brassicas can be drilled at a rate of about 6 lbs per acre at a depth of ¼ to ½ inch.
Small Grains
Small grains are also great options for fall forage. There are spring and winter grains that can be planted to produce late season forage. Winter triticale, wheat, and rye can produce decent quantities of biomass in the fall prior to going into dormancy for the winter. These winter grains are typically grazed in the fall and left to provide soil cover over the winter months. Spring regrowth can also provide early season grazing. Spring grains such as oats, triticale, wheat, and barley can also be used; however, they will only produce forage in the fall as they will winterkill in northern New England. Oats are very fast growing and produce about 2000 to 3500 lbs of dry matter per acre. There are forage-specific oat and triticale varieties that bred for wider leaves and higher nutrition. Select these varieties if available for maximum yield and forage value. Forage peas pair well with small grains, especially oats, as their more upright stature provides structure for the peas to vine up. Combining forage peas and small grains can provide a highly digestible forage.
Small grains may be seeded with a grain drill at a rate of 100 to 125 pounds to a depth of 1 to 2 inches. Peas are generally added to the mix at a rate of 50 lbs of seed per acre. Broadcasting the seed followed by light incorporation can also be successful. Plant spring grains and peas from mid to late August to maximize the fall biomass. Winter grains can be planted from early to mid-September to achieve acceptable biomass for grazing in the late fall.
For current information and research on using cool season annual forages, check out these sources:
Grain head diseases in cereal crops are critical to pay attention to as they can cause significant yield loss and lower the quality of the seed. Some pathogens, including Fusarium head blight (FHB) and ergot, are also highly toxic to both humans and livestock.
Many of the head diseases covered in this blog are also known as seed-borne pathogens. Seed-borne pathogens can survive on or within the seed. This infection can cause disease in the seed itself or the developing plant and potentially lead to further infection in the field. If these diseases are not managed properly infection can compound each year if environmental conditions are favorable. This is especially important to be aware of if you are practicing seed saving strategies.
Common Head Diseases of Grain
Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) aka Scab, Pathogen: Fusarium graminearum
Affected crops: Wheat, barley, oats, rye, triticale, and grasses
FHB is one of the most problematic diseases in the Northeast. Not only does the pathogen cause both yield and quality loss, but under favorable conditions it can cause a mycotoxin called deoxynivalenol (DON). Consumer grains contaminated with 1 ppm or higher can pose a significant human health risk and are restricted from use in food products. High rates of DON can also affect livestock health as well.
Fusarium spores can survive on plant material, soil, and seed, as well as be carried on air currents or by rain splash. The pathogen prefers wet, humid, and warm weather. Wheat is more susceptible at flowering, while barley is more susceptible at heading.
Symptoms in the field can include bleaching on the grain spike while the plant is still green, around the milky ripe stage and salmon-colored spores may be visible on infected spikelets. Infected seeds appear shriveled with a tint of pink. A seed lot sample should be tested as fusarium infection has little correlation to DON infection and could still be over the threshold even if little is seen. Mixed management practices are needed to reduce potential infection. There are some resistant varieties, rotate crops and avoid planting where host crops were the previous year (corn and small grains). Tilling and burying residue can reduce the spore population, along with staggering planting dates which can help minimize a widespread infection.
Ergot, Pathogen: Claviceps purpurea
Affected crops: All cereal and a wide range of grasses, but most serious in rye
Ergot is an easily identifiable disease on grain as the overwintering structures, known as sclerotia, replace the kernel with a large, up to 2 cm, black sclerotium. Ergot is not a true seed-borne pathogen, but it can be spread through a contaminated seed lot or sclerotia that fell off into the field during the previous grain harvest. Spores can be carried in the wind and infect spikelets during flowering. Sclerotia can survive for 1 year on the soil surface so rotating out of a susceptible host is recommended for that time as well as purchasing certified clean seed.
Ergot can be toxic to humans and livestock, causing vomiting, hallucinations, gangrene, muscle spasms, restricted blood flow, loss of extremities, and in some cases can be fatal. Rye crops should always be tested before consumption.
Loose Smut, Pathogen: Ustilago spp.
Affected crops: Wheat, barley, oats
Loose smut can be a devastating seed-borne pathogen causing significant yield loss if widespread. The Northeast is highly susceptible to this disease as it prefers cool, damp conditions and is easily dispersed through the wind. The pathogen resides within the seed and is not visible to the naked eye. At head or spike emergence, diseased heads will emerge slightly earlier than non-infected plants. The heads will appear as a dark brown mass which is covered by a thin membrane. Once healthy plants begin flowering, the membrane ruptures and the spores are blown onto heathy plants to cause further infection. Smutted head has little to no grain.
Planting certified disease-free seed can reduce the risk of loose smut. Research is currently underway to test the efficacy of aerated steam and ozone to control disease in organic systems.
Black Point, Pathogen: Bipolaris sorokiana
Affected crops: All cereal grains, wheat and barley are most affected.
Bipolaris sorokiana is a fungal pathogen that can cause multiple diseases. Mycelium and spores can survive on soil and crop residue. Associated diseases with this pathogen include common root rot, spot blotch on leaves, and black point on grain heads. Black point can occur when rain or excessively humid events occur at grain fill and drying, as this weather allows for the fungal spore to penetrate the grain head and kernels. Black point causes the tip of the grain kernels to become discolored and blacken, unfortunately it is only noticeable after harvest. This disease can affect milling quality and may lead to poor flour, poor bran color and possible rejection. It is recommended to plant clean, disease-free seed as well as rotating out of a field that had a high incidence the year before. Choosing varieties that are adapted to the geographic area could help to limit infection and there are some varieties that show resistance.
Glume Blotch, Pathogen: Parastagonospora nodorum
Affected crops: Wheat, barley, rye
Glume Blotch can become a more serious disease in years with heavy rain fall and warm temperatures that accompany extended humidity. The pathogen can overwinter on seeds, stubble, crop debris, wild grasses, autumn-sown crops, and volunteer plants. When environmental conditions are favorable infection occurs at flowering, grain heads will become bleached accompanied by a brown/purple discoloration. Once developed the grain heads can shrivel, which decreases the grains test weight. It is important to use certified disease-free seed and clean equipment to minimize contamination. Rotating crops to a non-host crop can help to mitigate the risk of infection if it was noticed in your crop.
UVM Extension NWCS: Looking for organic grain samples for disease survey
UVM Extension Northwest Crops and Soils Program is conducting a multi-state grain disease survey to better understand the presence of seed-borne diseases in U.S. grain. If you are interested in submitting a sample to help this research effort and to learn more about what is affecting your crops, please read our Organic Seed Health Survey Letter and to submit a sample click here for the form. If you have any questions, please reach out to Heather Darby (Heather.Darby@uvm.edu) or Kellie Damann (Kellie.Damann@uvm.edu) for more details.
Resources
E.E. Cummings Crop Testing Lab
FDA Deoxynivalenol (DON) Guidelines
Beginning in the 2023 growing season, the Northwest Crops and Soils team (NWCST) embarked on a three year USDA CARE grant entitled Hemp Fiber: Building Farmer Capacity to Meet the Opportunities and Challenges of a new Market. The grant features 5 research trials on the Borderview Research Farm in Alburgh and one trial at our partner farm owned by bast fiber researcher, artist, and educator Andrea Myklebust of Danby, VT. Last week, NWCST research specialist Laura Sullivan visited Andrea to check in on the trials and collect emergence data in the satellite plots. In partnership with this grant, Andrea will be observing the effects of Harvest Timing on two varieties, while also conducting her own grant-funded research on hemp and flax characteristics.
The plants were roughly two weeks old and 8in tall, with healthy thick stands. Laura and Andrea recorded emergence populations by counting the number of plants in a one foot section of a row, as many as ten times in each plot. All were thriving at the time of data collection, but have since suffered some lodging due to the heavy and persistent rains.
Pictured on left is Andrea’s 2024 fiber research plots. Hemp is situated on the left with flax shown on the right. Pictured on the right are two-week old Tiborszallasi fiber hemp plants growing densely in Danby, VT, June 2024.
They also spent some time processing fiber and ruminating on the impacts of various methods of retting on fiber. The fiber shown below was left out exposed to the elements for the duration of winter, giving a softness not yet seen by the pair in their years of research-grown samples.
Fiber that had been grown in the 2023 season and stored unretted caught the attention of Laura for its golden colored stalks. Many say that fiber, when allowed to sit for months between harvest and processing, will yield a nicer, finer fiber than stalks processed right away. This is something that we will continue to study as the seasons turn and we are able to accumulate material for post-harvest processing experimentation.
On the left Laura holds notably soft fiber that was retted in a combination of ways involving both winter retting and water retting. On the right is Andrea standing with her unretted and dried fiber grown in the 2023 season.
Also grabbing attention was this netted bag (picture shown above), constructed by Andrea’s daughter Tansy. Tansy utilized hemp from Andrea’s 2023 crop for the netting. Andrea has devoted many years to her craft as a textile expert and educator as well as a bast fiber researcher. Laura was impressed with her ingenuity for creating her own tools from found objects to accomplish her objectives. The photos below shows a makeshift distaff (tool used for spinning long bast fibers) made from a pitchfork mounted in an umbrella stand. When in use, a spinner pulls fiber from the distaff and feeds it into the spinning wheel (picture on left), and a spinning wheel crafted from a bike tire (picture on right).
Andrea shared that she was inspired to make this spinning wheel when she grew tired of hearing folks who would come to watch her spin at events say things like, “this is how they used to make yarn”. Using a modern material in the spinning wheel has the ability to shatter the perception that no one is doing things like this anymore, or that they don’t have any modern value. Laura and Andrea have been working together to create an archive of handspun samples from each of the various treatments represented in the USDA CARE grant trials. So far they have a complete set from the 2023 Seeding Rate and Harvest Date Trials, making for a one-of-a-kind record of data that will be utilized in determining agronomic best practices for hemo fiber farmers going forward.
If you would like to learn more, don’t miss our upcoming field Day at the Borderview Research Farm in Alburgh on Thursday July 25th 2024. Laura and Andrea are expected to be present and ready to answer all your hemp fiber-related questions. Online registration is at https://go.uvm.edu/2024annualfieldday.
Pictured on the right are yarn samples of each treatment in the 2023 Hemp Fiber Seeding Rate Trial at the Borderview Research Farm in Alburgh, VT. On the left are Laura Sullivan and Andrea Myklebust checking in on the two week old hemp plots at Mountain Heart Farm in Danby Vt. June 2024.
Prevention of the spread of livestock disease is the responsibility of anyone who works with or on farms. Be prepared to take the appropriate measures to protect the farms you visit and minimize the risk of introducing disease.
When visiting any livestock farm:
or sanitize boots upon entering the farm premise and when leaving with approved chemicals EPA’s Registered Antimicrobial Products Effective Against Avian Influenza [List M] | US EPA. There are many locations these products can be found including Amazon.com, https://farmerboyag.com, and farm supply stores.
or wear disposable coveralls or change clothing between visits
When planning for and facilitating on farm events or workshops:
Additional farm biosecurity resources, training and information:
Home – Healthy Farms Healthy Agriculture
Dairy-Cattle-Biosecurity-Recommendations-Influenza-V1.1.pdf (nmpf.org)
It’s no secret that dairy production and management are constantly evolving systems. The day-to-day chores of milking, feeding, cleaning and the fixing of all things that break may sometimes feel redundant. The long term and big picture of these tasks is that we can always do better – make improvements to save money, save time, save labor, improve cow health, increase milk production and quality – make progress. Sometimes challenging aspects of the business are projects that are easy to spot and prioritize. Sometimes the list is long and it’s impossible to find a starting point. We can help.
NOVUS International is an animal nutrition company with the mission to “inspire every animal producer and owner on the planet. As relentless advocates for intelligent nutrition, [they] deliver advanced technology, rooted in scientific research designed to help their animals reach their full potential.” If you are a dairy producer in the Northeast (and beyond) working with a nutritionist to feed your cows, it is likely that you feed one of the NOVUS mineral products developed to enhance immune function, reproductive performance, milk yield and components, or hoof health. Including NOVUS mineral packages in your ration makes you eligible for the NOVUS C.O.W.S. Program.
The C.O.W.S. Program began as a grad student project and has evolved into a detailed farm assessment done by a highly skilled team of technicians with access to a database of benchmark information collected from thousands of dairy operations and all the relevant research.
How it works: The team conducts a detailed on-farm evaluation which includes completing a questionnaire with the farm manager to help identify areas of concern, collects cow side data, records observations, and takes facility measurements. Evaluations may include:
After processing all the information, the team builds a customized report for the farm which includes benchmark comparisons to similar operations according to location, size, production and facility type. The NOVUS team then coordinates an in-person meeting to review the report with the farm’s team – managers, owners, stockholders, veterinarians, nutritionists, hoof trimmers, and technical assistance providers. Anyone who is invested in the farm’s success can be at the table. The meeting is a conversation that produces an action plan of do-able solutions and identifies short- and long-term goals.
The NOVUS C.O.W.S. Program is available free of charge to eligible farms. If this sounds like the next right step for your operation, inquire with your nutritionist or reach out to UVM Extension Northwest Crops and Soils Dairy Research Specialist Amber Machia (amber.machia@uvm.edu or 802-355-2653).
More information about the NOVUS C.O.W.S. program is available on their website C.O.W.S. Program | Novus International, Inc. or https://www.novusint.com/services/cows/
Foliar diseases in cereal grains are important to pay attention to as they can suppress photosynthetic mechanisms which are needed to produce a healthy grain head. Foliar diseases can lead to reduced vigor, growth, and yield. If your grain is infected earlier in the season there is a greater chance of yield loss, if favorable conditions remain.
Common Foliar Diseases of Grain
Septoria Leaf Blotch (SLB)
Affected Crops: Wheat, Barley, Rye
Septoria Leaf Blotch (Parastagonospora nodorum) infects mature leaves starting at the midrib. Symptoms appear as small necrotic spots and coalesce into brown oval lesions, surrounded by a yellow halo. As the lesion develops black pin-head structures (Pycnidia) can be seen which hold white to pinkish asexual spores. SLB infection increases as temperatures raise between 68-80 F and high humidity holds for long periods of time. Rain is essential for spore dispersal. Infection which occurs on the ear can lead to Glume blotch and cause infection to kernels.
Tan Spot
Affected Crops: Wheat, Barley, Rye
Tan Spot (Pyrenophora tritici-repentis) can be confused with SLB infection, spore identification is needed for the correct diagnosis. Tan Spot lesions develop in the mid to upper canopy and form lens-shaped necrotic lesions with a yellow halo. Once wet, the lesion darkens and produces olive-brown spores. The disease develops in a wide range of temperatures but prefers 60-82 F with long periods of moisture. Late season infection can cause bleaching on the grain spikes, along with the browning of glumes and kernels turning a red to pink hue.
Barley Yellow Dwarf (BYD)
Affected Crops: Wheat, Barley, Oats, Rye, Triticale
BYD is a viral disease which is transmitted by aphid feeding. The tips of leaves tend to have a yellow or red discoloration, which can resemble a flame. Plants infected with BYD may be stunted. This virus is usually seen in patches among a field, but the size and distribution are dependent on the aphid’s activity. Be sure to monitor your fields for aphids to reduce the risk of having BYD transmitted to your crop.
Powdery Mildew (PM)
Affected Crops: Wheat, Barley, Oats, Rye, Triticale
Powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis) prefers cooler conditions between 60-72 F with high humidity, 80% or higher. White, cottony fungal growth can be noticed on the upper surface of the leaf while the underside is yellow. As it matures, dark reproductive structures will form on the leaf surface. Plants can be more susceptible at times of rapid growth or after nitrogen application.
Leaf Rust
Affected Crops: Most common wheat, but can affect barley, rye, and triticale
Leaf rust (Puccinia triticina) appears as small, orange-brown or reddish-brown lesions on the leaf surface, it can be found on the leaf sheath during periods of high infection. Leaf rust is common and can occur more frequently when temperatures are mild, between 59-77 F. Most often, leaf rust can overwinter on early drilled crops or previously infected volunteer plants.
Management
It is important to scout fields for signs of diseases or insects often, so you can manage risk properly. For many of these diseases managing a good crop rotation with non-host crops, weed and volunteer control, and not overapplying nitrogen may help reduce the risk of an outbreak.
For more information and resources check out UVM Extension NW Crops and Soils Program- Grain Information
All photo credits: Bugwood.org
Aroostook Hops, Westfield, ME
Project Summary (full report available at www.aroostookhops.com)
The purpose of this project was to determine if a broad-spectrum OMRI-certified insecticide can be used to control major pests of hops (including leafhoppers) to increase hop productivity without creating other pest management challenges or a reduction in beneficial arthropods. We used pyrethrin treatment in a one- and three-acre hopyard in several different regimes culminating in a final year of complete pyrethrin coverage. We sampled arthropods, plant biomass and yield, and hopperburn to determine if spray regime or location (edge versus interior) impacted measures of hop production and management. There was evidence from all three measures that pyrethrin positively impacted management of hops pests and improved yield in hops, without resulting in other pest management issues. Thus, we will continue to use and evaluation pyrethrin to target pest populations and we advise other farmers to consider this approach. However, there is evidence that leafhoppers are able to rapidly repopulate small hopyards and potential evidence of selection for resistance to pyrethrin treatment. Thus, this approach should utilize arthropod sampling or scouting to monitor effectiveness.
Summary of Important Findings
This material is based upon work supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, through the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program under subaward number FNE21-977. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Rolling and crimping cereal rye is a strategy for cover crop termination in no-till systems, but the timing of rolling and crimping is crucial for success. Now is a good time to monitor the grow stage of your cereal rye. Rye should be rolled when plants reach anthesis (flowering). At this point the rye plants are mature enough that the stems will be “crimped” when flattened to the soil surface, crushing the cell walls of the stems. Rolling the rye too soon, prior to anthesis, will not kill the immature plants and the rye can “pop back up” and continue to grow. In Alburgh, VT, cereal rye planted in mid to late September will typically reach anthesis around the end of May or early June depending on weather conditions.
To learn more about roller crimping, check out the Roller Crimping Cover Crops in Vermont: Benefits and Risks factsheet.
For more information about no-till cropping systems, read our Guide to Implementing No-till Cropping Systems in the Northeast.
As part of the 2020 Grain Growers Webinar Series, Dr. Erin Silva of the University of Wisconsin, Plant Pathology, gave a presentation on Cover Crop Based No-Till and Interseeding Techniques. View the recording of that webinar here to learn more about roller crimping cereal rye for no-till production systems.
You must be logged in to post a comment.