Winter rye has been seeded at different times where the soybeans and field corn were growing. The younger winter rye has a reddish color called "color banding" due to the cooler nights. Eventually the plant will turn green. The sprouting from the base of a winter rye plant or from the axils of its lower leaves is called tillering. If the rye is left alone to grow into the following spring it can be used as "longstraw" for bedding for farm animals or the rye can be harvested as a grain. Farmers don't like wildlife (geese in particular) on their winter rye because they constantly eat it through the fall and winter season. The rye does grow back.
The soybeans that were planted later this year have yet to be harvested. The moisture content needs to be around 14% for harvesting. A heavy dew or rainfall will increase the moisture content. Since most farmers are harvesting their soybeans at the same time of year (now) there can be logistical problems of having a truck for harvesting, or even waiting in a truck line for hours to have your harvested shipment accepted.
The alfalfa field has been cut short for winter, and will not be harvested again until next May. Several netting sweeps of the alfalfa field contained grasshoppers, leafhoppers, aphids and a plant bug. Alfalfa is a leguminous plant (as are soybeans) used for hay and forage. It is high in protein. Alfalfa likes a higher soil pH. Alfalfa and soybeans are nitrogen-fixing plants, but alfalfa provides more nitrogen. Using proper crop rotation every year, a farmer will need less nitrogen if corn is planted on the previous year's alfalfa or soybean field.
The demonstration plots are winding down for the year. The pumpkins, millet and broomcorn were harvested and moved up next to the pole barn as a display to be viewed and enjoyed by the crowd each Saturday at the farmers market. A few of the demonstration plots will be seeded next week with the cover crop winter wheat.
Notes compiled by John Siemanowski.
Sunday, October 18, 2015
Monday, October 5, 2015
IPM Notes from October 1, 2015
The winter rye is sprouting where the field corn was harvested.
The soybeans are drying down, but with the approaching wet weather and strong winds the next few days there is concern the wind will split the bean pod off the plant, or knock the plant over resulting in many plants lodging on the ground.
The insect traps were also removed today.
A pH soil test of each of the 10 demonstration plots was recently performed by Rob Mazza. The results are below.
Plot 1 – Bell Pepper – 6.35
Plot 2 – Pollinator – 6.60
Plot 3 – Hops – 6.50
Plot 4 – Blueberry – 6.12
Plot 5 – Strawberry – 6.2
Plot 6 – Hot Pepper – 6.35
Plot 7 – Compost – 6.40
Plot 8 – Broomcorn - 5.93
Plot 9 – Pumpkin – 5.99
Plot 10 – Tomato / Millet – 6.30
As in the past, additional sulfur will be added to the blueberry plot to lower the pH to make it more acidic. Lime will be added to the broomcorn and pumpkin plots to raise the pH to make it less acidic.
Below is the weekly summary for the insects caught in the four insect traps at the BCCAC in Moorestown.
Trap 1 (Black Cut Worm) – 1 each black cut worm and spider
Trap 2 (European Corn Borer) - 1 each spider and grasshopper.
Trap 3 (Fall Army Worm) - 1 each fall army worm, stink bug, katydid.
Trap 4 (Corn Ear Worm) – 1 stinkbug.
Trap 5 (Stink Bug) – None.
Compiled by John Siemanowski
The soybeans are drying down, but with the approaching wet weather and strong winds the next few days there is concern the wind will split the bean pod off the plant, or knock the plant over resulting in many plants lodging on the ground.
The insect traps were also removed today.
A pH soil test of each of the 10 demonstration plots was recently performed by Rob Mazza. The results are below.
Plot 1 – Bell Pepper – 6.35
Plot 2 – Pollinator – 6.60
Plot 3 – Hops – 6.50
Plot 4 – Blueberry – 6.12
Plot 5 – Strawberry – 6.2
Plot 6 – Hot Pepper – 6.35
Plot 7 – Compost – 6.40
Plot 8 – Broomcorn - 5.93
Plot 9 – Pumpkin – 5.99
Plot 10 – Tomato / Millet – 6.30
As in the past, additional sulfur will be added to the blueberry plot to lower the pH to make it more acidic. Lime will be added to the broomcorn and pumpkin plots to raise the pH to make it less acidic.
Below is the weekly summary for the insects caught in the four insect traps at the BCCAC in Moorestown.
Trap 1 (Black Cut Worm) – 1 each black cut worm and spider
Trap 2 (European Corn Borer) - 1 each spider and grasshopper.
Trap 3 (Fall Army Worm) - 1 each fall army worm, stink bug, katydid.
Trap 4 (Corn Ear Worm) – 1 stinkbug.
Trap 5 (Stink Bug) – None.
Compiled by John Siemanowski
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)