Ag PhD Field Day Set Up

So last week was the Ag PhD Field Day at the Hefty Seed Company HQ near Baltic, SD.  It is a big opportunity to interact with growers from all over the country who come to see all the exhibits.  Set up day is a chore, but must be done.  Look at one of the signs by an entrance.  Well it isn't exactly all "our" field day, but glad for the recognition.

Zouheir and I drove from Michigan to bring some show stuff...and we found plenty more laying on the ground ready for assembly when we got there.

 But before tackling that, I got to go to the Ag PhD Morton studio to be on the radio show with Brian and Darren Hefty.  First time in the studio for that.

 Assembling the AgroLiquid display.  Somehow it got put up and ready for guests the next day.

 Galynn and Troy visit the Hefty's planter which was behind one of the tents by ours.  It's the one shown on the Ag PhD TV show (Tuesday nights, 8 pm EDT on RFD TV).  Glad to see that it still has the Pro-Germinator and Sure-K fertilizer stickers.

 Dr. Zouheir Massri had his soil pit ready for the show, along with research posters from his experiments at the NCRS.  He is discussing soil aspects with Hefy agronomist Rob Fritz, who was very interested in the findings.

A good night's sleep and ready to go tomorrow.  For more go to @DrJerryCropDoc on Facebook.  It's public, so no sign-up required.

From NCRS Interns to Ag Professionals

So at the NCRS we have been fortunate to have had some great interns over the years who provided valuable assistance to the research operations.  (And we still do today.)  But who could forget 2011 when we had these two outstanding Spartans working on the farm. That's Amanda and Jeff on June 27, 2011 in between tasks.

 And here they are almost exactly seven years later at the same NCRS, again in between tasks.  Only  they are no longer interns, but Ag Professionals.  Amanda is now an agronomist with Mycogen Seed and of course, Jeff is a Research Specialist here at the NCRS.  And Jeff is still taller.

We have some Mycogen corn planted as part of the AgroExpo seed plots, and she and her district sales manager came by for a look the other day.  So of course I had to arrange for a trip down memory lane.  I am proud of them for their advancement into the professional world of food production, and am certain that some of what they learned as interns stayed with them.  I haven't seen Amanda in several years and am glad that she is doing well.  And of course I am also glad we were able to get Jeff back to the NCRS several years ago.  Now get back to work!

NCRS Wheat Harvest

So wheat harvest got going this week.  It has been hot and dry so the plots are ready.  You've seen this many times before where the scaled cart follows the combine from plot to plot.  

 The yields have been very good, over 100 bushel dryland.  But recall we had a wet spring that was of benefit to growth and development.  So after all the tests are harvested we will summarize the data and learn of our success.  (I'm always an optimist).

 But the hot and dry part that's good for wheat harvest is not so good for dryland corn on light ground.  This is our organic fertilizer corn test.  Always hope for rain when it's dry, but would like to have this one turn out as it's our most complete organic test ever.

But you can't control the weather, just complain about it.  So I'm doing that.  At least I haven't had to mow my yard for several weeks.  See, that's an optimistic view.

Kentucky Corn Looking Great with AgroLiquid

So last week, Senior Sales Manager Galynn, SAM Rob and I went down to Hopkinsville, KY to visit the Security Seed & Chemical Research Farm.  It is a large facility where fertilizer plots are established each year to test different program, both old and new.  Fertilizer Agronomist Lang French met us at the plots to show us around.  AgroLiquid has been a standard program there for quite a few years now.  But that is challenged each year.  They do have really good looking corn down there.

 The corn is in the silking stage now.  Here is a plot that received a preplant application of dry fertilizer (9-23-30).

 And right next to it is a plot that instead received a planter application of Pro-Germinator + Micro 500.  Notice that the silks are turning brown indicating that it is farther along in maturity.

Lang said that they often see tassel emergence at least seven days earlier with AgroLiquid compared to dry treatments.  One of the many features explaining the high performance of AgroLiquid.  Go to their upcoming field day if you are in the neighborhood.
And if you want to see a video discussion of these plots (and who doesn't?) go to @DrJerryCropDoc on Facebook.

Fast-Growing Corn

So how fast does corn grow anyway?  I recently read an article in a Pioneer update that told about spraying a stalk with paint and then checking it the next day.  I shared this my friend Chris Cook who farms in SE Wyoming and thought it would be a good project for his young boys Brady and Matt.

And it was!  I got this pic right back from them showing the amount of growth overnight.  Pretty phenomenal.  Of course this corn had the advantage of using AgroLiquid.  But I'm pretty corn with other fertilizer would grow at least some in the same test.  Maybe.

Getting a Wheat Crop to Harvest Isn't Easy

So one more post from the Palouse in SE Washington.  We have a field trial with a grower and Eric and I walked it last Wednesday.  This is soft white winter wheat and it is looking good.

 The heads are filling grain now, and grain protein is being made now too.  Yield and protein determine payment to the grower.  Outside of weather, one thing that can affect yield is insects like aphids. 

 And here they are.  I believe these are Russian Wheat aphids.  (Someone will tell me if they are not.) I just happened to get this picture that is interesting.  I believe that larger brown one is what is referred to as a mummy, having been stung by a parasitic wasp that laid eggs inside.  The insect world isn't pretty.  These aphids are sucking leaf juices and can cause the leaf to turn yellow.  And this is the flag leaf, the energy leaf of the plant.

So there is a threshold.  It is an average of 20 aphids per plant at this stage.  This according to his crop scout.  So this field wasn't there.  (I read where other experts say as many as 50 is threshold before damage exceeds cost of control.)  But the grower was nervous about not spraying.  Then there is the cost of the product (Dimethoate) and a plane.  A good yield is on the line, but wheat prices aren't the best.  The field was pretty slick with aphid juice.  Too bad the wasps didn't do more.  Not sure what he ended up doing.  No one said farming is easy.  And if they did, they are wrong.

All About Nitrogen Fertlizer: We will learn!

So I have showed pictures of Dr. Zouheir and his various nutrient capture studies.  Of particular interest is the nitrogen experiments where he captured ammonia as it volatilized off the soil surface from different N treatments.  Well all of those were practice leading up to this big one.  After surface applications of different sources and "stabilizers", he will measure volatility, plus leaching, soil persistence and crop uptake.  We did this on Friday, and there are Zouheir and MSU MSU intern Jenna getting the passive capture devices all set.  

It was hot Friday, but nothing like this weekend's oppressive conditions.  But Zouheir will be out there to collect samples for a 24 hour measurement.

Also, I know you are questioning our planting corn at the end of June  Well we had hoped to start earlier but work and weather caused delays.  And he is the only one qualified for this type of work.  We will mainly focus on corn uptake of nitrogen as it grows.  We certainly won't be able to harvest this.  But these same treatments have been applied for yield over the years at the NCRS anyway.  I don't usually like to expound on tests before the outcome is determined.  But I'm confident!  And this is high tech such that there is no other work like this anywhere.

Steptoe Butte: Spectacular!

So I have been to the Palouse Region of the Pacific Northwest numerous times.  It is made of rolling hills that contains fertile soil for growing a variety of crops, but mostly Winter and Spring wheat, peas and lentils.  It is in SE Washington, W Central Idaho and down to NE Oregon. It is home to several AgroLiquid Retail Partners as well as some research trials.  But I had never been to Steptoe Butte.  It rises 3600 feet above the farmland, and is made of quartzite that is over 400 million years old.  The underlying rock of the surrounding land is Columbia River basalt that is only (!) 7 to 15 million years old.  So it's been there a while.

I was with SAM Eric and he hadn't been up there for a while.  I'm always anxious to see the sights.  I didn't think it looked that high up from below.  But I changed my mind as we went up, and it took a while.  From the top, the views were spectacular. 

 There used to be a hotel on top in the late 1800's.  I couldn't imagine going up there by horse and wagon.  The builder hoped to increase tourism, but after a few years it had to close as the people just didn't come.  It is a long ways from anywhere, other than the good farmland.

 About halfway up there was the edge of a wheat field.  I thought it would be scary farming on those lower hills, but this is ridiculous.  I would be too scared to look around driving a tractor or combine on this slope. 

So that was fun.  We continued up to Spokane and I came home.

By the way, be sure to check out the research facebook page: @DrJerryTheCropDoc.  You don't have to be a facebooker to visit.

Oregon Grass Research

So when you think of farming, there are usually images of corn and wheat that come to mind.  But all of the produce that is used across the world comes from a farmer.  And that includes grass seed.  Imagine trying to plant a yard or football field and there was no grass seed!  Well farmers grow that too, and most of the cool-season grass seed is grown in the Pacific NorthWest, mostly in the Williamette Valley South of Portland.  There are all sorts of fields growing seed for planting.  One issue in it's production is keeping it standing.  A Plant Growth Regulator (PGR) is commonly used to keep the stems erect during pollination especially, and then still keep the grass from laying flat on the ground after pollination to enable a better seed harvest.  But PGR is expensive and some grower try to cut back.  Here is a field of Perennial Ryegrass seed that is laying pretty flat several weeks now before harvest.

 Contract researchers are businesses that will do replicated plot research for a variety of agricultural clients, like fertilizer producers.  Hal Lewis is one of the first of these with Precision Ag Research in Amity, OR.  Hal mostly concentrates on grass seed production plots and has a variety of tests in place.  Here is SAM Eric and Hal on Wednesday reviewing our test plots.

 Here is a view across several plots.  The objective is to keep the grass more or less upright.  It will fall over as the seed head develops.  But you don't want it flat to the ground, as that is, well, just not acceptable  We are encouraged by the addition of a certain potassium product at the time of PGR application.  That's all I'll say till after harvest.

 There are also plots with Tall Fescue grass.  I must say that I have never been to a research facility that is so dedicated to one crop like grass seed production. Hal knows his stuff and it is an impressive layout.

 A PGR application is part of Tall Fescue production as well.  Here is a plot with a favorite K product looking just fine.

So harvest is just a few weeks off and I am waiting with a worm on my tongue (bated breath, thanks Mork) to see how they turn out.  If you hear from me later on this, then the results were good!

See a video post on the research Facebook: @DrJerryCropDoc.  See that and more cool stuff.

High Water in Montana

So the joke is that you get average weather data by averaging last year's drought and this year's flood.  Such is the case in Montana this year.  When I was there last week there was plenty of water everywhere.  Glad I brought my rubber boots.

Not for wading in the rivers, but for walking in fields like this one here.

 Water was looking for places to go. 

Sometimes finding other types of low ground, like this basement.

But it looks like he is prepared.  No doubt an expert after weeks of this.  It's been wet over a large part of the country.  But Mother Nature likes balance, and there are still areas looking for rain.  Like Western Oklahoma.  But Mother Nature is still a maaaad scientist!

Montana Wheat Plots

So last week I was in Montana on a fertilizer mission.  First on the list was to visit our spring wheat research plots near Billings.  These were conducted by long-time collaborator Neal Fehringer.  Neal is a well known crop consultant and has conducted research trials at his home farm for a number of years.  Below we see Neal talking with retail partner Mike Kilzer and SAM Bruce Keck.

We are testing a number of things this year including Primagro N and foliar applications.  The plots look good this year as there has been plenty of moisture.  In addition to yield, the all important "% grain protein" will be measured for determination of treatment effects.  

Neal has worked with AgroLiquid for a number of years now, and recommends their use to growers he works with.

Hear what he had to say on the Research Facebook page @DrJerryCropDoc.  Lot's of other stuff there too.  And you don't have to be a Facebook person to visit the page.  I too was a skeptic till recently.  Check it out.

AgroExpo Plots Shaping Up!

So it seems that there is always something to do here at the NCRS.  From our own research plots to those of the AgroExpo.  Last Thursday I assisted a vendor establish some plots in the AgroExpo plot area.  (What a nice guy!)  This vendor is new to the AgroExpo and has new formulations of plant nutrition that they hope is the fertilizer of the future, while using inputs that have been in existence for some time.  Below I am applying a sidedress nitrogen formulation to corn.

 There are also demonstrations with garden vegetables.  Looks nice.

You can get the whole lowdown on what this is at the AgroExpo.  Yikes!  It's only 2 months away!

(You can also follow video updates on the NCRS Learning Center plots at the NCRS Facebood page.  And don't forget to check out the library of short videos at Dr Jerry Crop Doc Facebook.)  That is all.

Good Luck Bob!

So time marches on.  And eventually milestones are reached.  No avoiding them.  Today AgroLiquid saw the retirement of a long-time employee and all-around great guy: Mr. Bob Baxter.  Bob is currently the Regional Sales Manager for the Northeast Region.  (Although that also includes Iowa and Minnesota.  Bob evidently likes to travel.)  Bob has been with AgroLiquid for 18 years, starting as an Area Manager, then Sales Account Manager and then up to Regional Sales Manager.  So I have known Bob for all of his time here, and like everyone else, I have the utmost respect for the guy.  You will always get an honest answer from him and he has had some great input in the growth of AgroLiquid over the years.  Troy and Jill Bancroft make an acknowledgement of his service to the company as well as to growers over a very wide area.

 A warm embrace as the crowd goes wild.  The room was actually full of AgroLiquid corporate office employees (plus the NCRS) as well as fellow Regional Managers and Sales Account Managers of the NE Region.  There were a couple of other tributes as well, and then a great homemade meal.

Bob still has a couple more weeks on the job, so this is no time to rest on his laurels.  There is still fertilizer to be sold!  But he will be missed by all.  If you are reading this and don't know Bob, well you would be better off if you did.  And if you are ever in Blanchard, MI, stop by and say "Hi."  Good luck Bob!

What Is The Blogger-World Coming To?

So it has finally happened.  I have never been on the Facebook, being solely devoted to the Land of Liquid Blog.  But some of our crack Marketing staff thought I should branch out as the Facebook reaches far more people.  What?  Well I finally relented and gave it a try, going kicking and screaming into the twentieth century.  It started last week and I am still getting the hang of it.  But I can post short videos, pictures and comments of what is happening at that time in research.  Check it out and tell your friends.  Here is a snapshot of the Homepage with the name on it.  I didn't choose it, but it's growing on me.  (Like a rash).

That picture?  It's me spraying quackgrass (Agropyron repens) at the NCRS in the spring of 1994.

The videos are fun, and short.  That's my favorite part so far.

Now Stephanie also posts on the NCRS Facebook.  We're not in competition (I hope.)  Just a different slant, and this one will follow me around the country when I do actually go someplace.

So give it a look and you'll be hooked.

Asparagus Time

So did you know that May is National Asparagus Month?  Sorry for the late notice.  Hopefully you've been enjoying it all month.  Although there is only one day left in May, it is perfectly acceptable to continue eating it in June.

 Whenever I think of asparagus I recall the fun trip over to Retail Partner Todd Greiner Farms over in the Hart of asparagus country.  That being Hart, Michigan.  Greiner Farms grows and processes asparagus for sale to stores all over the country, and it tastes best because it gets AgroLiquid.  SAM Burt, Troy and intern Katherine and I went over for a visit almost exactly a year ago.  They were introducing a new item: microwavable asparagus.  They only had one sample in their office and Katherine and I got into a tug-of-aspargus.  She won it as I must have gotten the slippery end.  Anyway it was a fun visit to the fields and processing buildings.  You can read all about it in the in the exciting two-part Land of Liquid blogs of May 30 and 31, 2017.

So what ever happened to Katherine anyway?  Well it turns out she just graduated from OSU.  Well not my OSU (Oklahoma State U) but from that other state starting with O just to the South of Michigan.  We used to have quite a few discussions on who is the top O.  Her degree was in Plant Pathology and she was helpful at the NCRS in her knowledge of crop diseases.  Anyway, she just started as a sales agronomist for one of AgroLiquid's Retail Partners: Carrollton Farmers Exchange in Carrollton, OH.  So that is great for them as well as for AgroLiquid.  We all wish her well and look forward to seeing her at future functions.  Like the AgroExpo at which I look forward to seeing all, or maybe many, of the loyal blog readers.  

Now That's A Week

So sorry for the onslaught of blogs this weekend.  But as I've actually been working every day at the NCRS, I'm tired at night.  And that is blog time, so it had to wait till now.  Anyway, things are growing as this pic of the orchard shows.  The apple trees are now in bloom.  Jay and Renae have been keeping up with the fertilizer, herbicide and fungicide applications.    

 Wheat is really growing now with an occasional warm and sunny day.

 Production and plot corn is all planted and coming up to varied weather for sure.  It has been warm and sunny then cold and rainy.

Albert happened to stop by the NCRS on Friday.  Well he should know that if you stop by, you are going to be put to work.  Come on, get that bag of soybeans loaded!

 Yes, with the corn all in, it was time to shift to soybeans.  Here is Quinten at the fertilizer wagon waiting to load the next treatment into the planter.  This is really quite a job to keep up with the correct mix and correct treatment number.  But Quinten is a pro at this after several summers of work.

 And off Tim goes on this no-till soybean plot on Farm 6.

Dr. Zouheir had a busy week as we've seen.  Now here he is taking soil samples while Tim and Quinten get ready to start planting.  This is an interesting plot as he will determine what effects may have carried over from PrimAgro applied the previous year.  And will it compound with more application this year?  

So many questions....but that's our job.