November 2, 2007 |
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As the days of November come and go the requirements of wheat to be planted changes. As time passes by, the planting rate will increase, the depth of seed will decrease, and the development of the plant will be reduced. I have seen many acres where land preparation practices were very poor and the survival of volunteer plants was high. We can expect some disease problems to result from this. Special concerns include Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus and Barley Yellow Dwarf.
Is there a great disadvantage to planting in dry soil and waiting on rain later? The main challenge is getting the seed placed at the proper depth. For this time of year the target is 1.25 to 1.5 inches deep in dry soil. This is a good planting depth if the rain does not cause a lot of buildup of soil above the seed. A hard rain could compact the soil requiring the producer to breakup a crust. Otherwise, dry planting at this time should work just fine.
Producers should keep a watchful eye on the developing broadleaf weeds. When weed size becomes a concern the producers need to follow the label closely. Most of the labels on 2,4-D herbicides indicate that the wheat needs to be past the tillering stage before applying the herbicide. You may need to switch over to some other class of herbicide. Linked is a copy of the 2006 Small Grain Weed Control Guide to help you answer the weed questions that you may get.
Grazing of wheat should be delayed until the secondary root system has developed enough to anchor the plant. If producers start the grazing process too early the livestock will pull the wheat plant up by the roots and reduce the plant population. Producers should examine the wheat plant and determine if the secondary root system has adequately developed before livestock are allowed to graze.
For the last five years we have had to sign an agreement with AgriPro for the use of their wheat seed in variety test plots. Linked is this years form that you need to get your cooperator to sign and then you can send it back to me. To make this easy, just list everything you are planting in the test plot; that way you know it is covered. Agripro Wheat Demo Seed Distribution Agreement
Hopefully, when you picked up your small grain seed for result demonstration tests from Abilene Ag, you thanked Dub Vinson for handling the separation and storage of the seed until you were ready to plant. His assistance reduces the need to travel to San Angelo to obtain your small grain seed.
Cotton harvest aid tests provide producers with the information they need to select the best product combination for their farm. Linked is information from harvest aid tests conducted this year in Howard, Nolan, Runnels and Tom Green Counties (http://sanangelo.tamu.edu/agronomy/newsltr/2007HarvestAidTest.htm).
The ginning date for District 6 and 7 has been set for November 27 and 28. If you can assist in ginning cotton this year please let me know soon. We usually need four people to get this done. It would be helpful to know the number of cotton samples to be ginned. Please let me know ASAP. Linked is a blank gin sheet that will need to be filled out and sent with your cotton samples. The seven digit sample number is a combination of three numbers; the county number is the first three digits, the producer or plot number is digits 4 and 5, and the sample is assigned a number between 01 and 99 which makes up digits 6 and 7. By using this code it helps to keep samples from getting lost. Try to have your gin samples between 600 and 650 grams. Thanks.
Don't forget to send me your cooperators information. Attached is the information I need to help in writing up the result demonstration reports. It provides the information needed for the methods and materials section of the report. You should already have this completed; if not try to get the information when you are harvesting the plot.
On November 6 a six hour CEU course will be held at the Schleicher County Civic Center. Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. and the program starts at 9:00. Cost of the program is $5 which covers the cost of the meal. The way you earn six CEUs is unique: (1) You may stay for the morning sessions only and get 3 CEUs, (2) you may come in at 11:00 and get one laws and regulations CEU, (3) you may come for the afternoon sessions and get three CEUs or you can come and stay all day and get 6 CEUs. For more information call Corey Stevens at (325) 853-2132.
On November 12, there will be a training conducted at Abilene for producers needing to obtain a Private Applicators license. For more details and to register for the meeting, call Gary Bomar at (325) 672-6048.
On December 5, a SPCB/TDA Conference will be held at the Abilene Civic Center. This training is being hosted by the City of Abilene, Texas Cooperative Extension, and the Texas Department of Agriculture. The target audience is Landscape/Turf. For more details and to register for the meeting call Melissa Clifton at (325) 672-6048.
On December 13, a five-hour CEU course will be held at the Taylor County Extension Office. This training is being hosted by Texas Cooperative Extension and the Texas Department of Agriculture. The target audiences are ag producers and home owners. For more details and to register for the meeting call Gary Bomar at (325) 672-6048.
November 5, District Office, Office Conference
November 5, Taylor County, Gold Star Banquet
November 6, Schleicher County, Drift Minimization
November 6, Comanche County, Maximizing Small Grain Forage Production
November 13 & 14, Dallas County, Texas Weed Information Group meeting
November 27 or 28, Lubbock County, Gin Cotton Samples
December 3, District Office, Office Conference
December 3, Tom Green County, Friends of Extension Luncheon
December 4 & 5, Brown County, Professional Organizations Board Meeting
December 5, Taylor County, Drift Minimization
December 7, District Office, Southern Rolling Plains Cotton Growers
December 13, Taylor County, Drift Minimization
December 24 - 31, Potter, Randall, & Deaf Smith Counties, Christmas Holiday
| Sincerely,
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