Although it’s still summer, now is the time to think about fall feed. Exceptionally hot and dry weather this season has really put the pinch on pastures and stored feed. To fill in the gaps, consider planting cool season annuals. These annual forages can provide grazing options into late fall and/or can be harvested for …
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Persistent dry weather has led to poor establishment of many new forage seeding throughout the region. Many farmers are wondering what to do with these failed or very poor stands? The first step is to complete a thorough assessment of the field to see how much of the area did not establish. If the stand …
On the first official day of summer, a crowd gathered in the barnyard of Rogers Farmstead in Berlin, Vermont. The topic was to learn the ins and outs of small grain growing and processing from beginning farmers Nate and Jessie Rogers. This event was the first in a series on grain production offered in collaboration …
Continue reading “Getting Started in Grains: Recap of Field Day at Rogers Farmstead”
As winter grains are heading out and flowering, it’s time to start scouting your fields for loose smut (Ustilago nuda, Ustilago avenae, and Ustilago tritici). Loose smut is found in winter and spring spelt, barley, and wheat, as well as oats. Spelt and barley are particularly susceptible to infection. Loose smut is one of the …
The corn has been growing and, in spite of a brief cold spell, is about to begin its rapid growth phase and peak in its demand for nitrogen! A high yielding corn silage crop can easily require 150 pounds of nitrogen per acre. Much of the required nitrogen will come from manure applications, crop residues, …
Continue reading “Planning Your Mid-Season Corn Fertility Boost”
Planning for the “summer slump?” Now is the time to consider planting summer annuals to maintain forage production during this period of the grazing season when recovery periods slow for cool season pasture perennials, such as timothy, orchardgrass, and clover. Summer annuals are warm-season grasses typically planted in early June (now!) and can be grazed …
Our morning Cover Crops webinar series is in full swing! Thus far, we have held three webinars featuring Bill Curran, PennState Extension; Heather Darby, UVM Extension Northwest Crops and Soils Program; and Kirsten Workman, UVM Extension Champlain Valley Crops, Soils, & Pasture Program. Don’t worry if you missed the live broadcasts of these webinars; recordings …
UPDATE – Coffee Break for Cover Crops Webinar Series Wednesdays: 4/27, 5/4, 5/11, 5/18 & 5/25 We apologize for including an incorrect list of the topics with the dates in the first posting. Following is the correct topics for each webinar date. 4/27: Cover crops and your corn herbicide program. Bill Curran, Penn State University. …
Coffee Break for Cover Crops Webinar Series Wednesdays: 4/27, 5/4, 5/11, 5/18 & 5/25 Take your morning coffee break with us as you learn practical tips about cover cropping. Based on the most current research and on-farm experiences, our UVM Extension Northwest Crops & Soils team will provide you with cover crop tips you can …
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Please Die Rye (reposting from May 8, 2015) Over these past summer-like days, undoubtedly you’ve seen some rye growth! So now is definitely the time to be thinking about termination. Killing the rye through plow down or herbicides are your options right now. Incorporating a winter rye cover crop in its vegetative stage will result …
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