CRP Opened for Haying and Forage

On May 27^th Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer authorized the opening of certain CRP acreage for haying and forage.  The forage may be harvested after the primary nesting season of grass nesting birds.  In addition only certain acres will be available for forage, and a reserve will need to be left for wildlife habitat.  A $75 fee will be charged to process the contract modification, however no rental payment reduction will be charged.  For more information or to sign up contact the FSA office. 

Email Ag Alerts

Email Ag Alerts started going out on Monday May 19^th.  If you are on the list and have not received an Ag Alert, please let me know.  Also, if you would still like to be added to the list let the office know.  Paper copies are also available by stopping in at the office or calling.

Project Safe Send Reminder

As you are getting in the field this spring you may run across some old pesticides that you no longer need and or use in your buildings.  This is a reminder that Project Safe Send is again being offered this year.  I have included the information and location of the sites nearest to us.  For complete listing of sites go to www.agdepartment.com and look under “Hot Topics”.

The collections are scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (local time) at the following dates and sites. All collection sites are at North Dakota Department of Transportation (DOT) maintenance facilities, except the collection in West Fargo, which will be held at the county highway shop.

Tuesday, July 15, Bismarck.
Wednesday, July 16, Bowman.
Thursday, July 17, Belfield.
Friday, July 18, Watford City

NDAWN Update

The Golden Valley County NDAWN station is one of 70 in the state that provides up to date weather information.  Each station will report accurate information for an approximate 20 mile radius.  Information available from the site include growing degree days (GDD), soil temps, and disease forecasting models.  The Golden Valley Station is located 9 miles south of Beach.  The site is sponsored by the Golva Co-op Elevator and the Golden Valley Ag Improvement Association.  For current weather averages for the last 10 minutes, the station can be reached by telephone at 872-3016, please press * when you are finished listening to the report. 

Crop Management Field School Set in Carrington

A Crop management field school is scheduled for June 19^th at the Carrington REC.  This field school will provide hands on training in crop, pest and soil management.  Specific field sessions include:

· Weed identification - identify more than 60 living weed exhibits and review biology and control

· Herbicide mode of action - identify herbicide classes by examining crop and weed injury symptoms

· Wheat disease management - review disease forecasting and fungicide use strategies

· Insect management - review current insect concerns in grass and oilseed crops

· Corn and soybean – learn about plant nutrition

· Soil - explore below-ground factors affecting crop growth using a soil pit

For further details and preregistration information, contact the Carrington center at (701) 652-2951 or go to http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/carringt/. A completed preregistration form and $50 fee is requested by June 16 ($75 after June 16). A total of 50 participants will be accepted on a first-come/first-served basis.

An application has been submitted to the certified crop adviser program to provide participants with 4.5 integrated pest management, 0.5 soil and water management and 0.5 nutrient management continuing education units.

COLD TEMPERATURES DELAY ALFALFA WEEVIL EMERGENCE

Janet Knodel

Extension Entomology

janet.knodel@ndsu.edu

Last year, the southern half of North Dakota had accumulated enough degree day (DD) units, 300 weevil DDs (base 48 F), to start field scouting for alfalfa weevil activity by May 22, 2007. In contrast, this year the DD accumulations are much lower and range between 100- 142 weevil DDs in the southern half.  Alfalfa weevil infestations have been increasing in incidence and severity over the last several years. However, it is difficult to predict if weevil populations will be higher again this year. Alfalfa weevils overwinter as adults in plant debris, woodlots, and ditches. As temperatures warms up adults migrate to alfalfa field to lay eggs. By using degree days with a base of 48F, the life stages and development of alfalfa weevil can be predicted (see degree day table). Go to the insect section in the NDAWN website: http://ndawn.ndsu.nodak.edu/insectdd-form.html and select the degree day base of 48F to determine the accumulated degree days for your location. As of 6/2/08 Golden Valley County was reporting 228 GGD.

WHEAT STREAK MOSAIC CONFIRMED IN WINTER WHEAT

Marcia McMullen

Extension Plant Pathologist

marcia.mcmullen@ndsu.edu

A sample of winter wheat from south central ND was confirmed on May 23 to have wheat streak mosaic virus

(WSMV), with a positive ELISA test done by the NDSU Diagnostic Lab. The leaves tested had the yellow mottling and streaking pattern characteristic of WSMV (see figures). However, pictures of this field indicated that symptomatic leaves were a small percentage of the field and, overall, the plants across the field looked green and healthy. Because of the overall appearance of the field, and limited moisture for a new crop, I advised that this field should not be torn up and replanted. This kind of decision is always difficult and has to be made on a field by field basis, based on extent and severity of the disease and replanting options.

HIGH PLAINS VIRUS

A field infected with High Plains Virus (HPV) has been detected in Hettinger County.  High Plains Virus is much like Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus (WSMV), and is also spread by the Wheat Curl Mite.  High Plains Virus will also affect corn more so than WSMV does and will cause severe stunting in corn and wheat.  Control and management of HPV is the same as that for WSMV.

NDSU Offering Water Quality Tests at Field Days

The North Dakota State University Extension Service will offer water quality testing during NDSU Research Extension Centers’ annual field day events this year.

“If you have a private well or question the quality of your livestock water, this would be a great opportunity to have it tested by Extension water quality specialists at no charge,” says Roxanne Johnson, NDSU Extension water quality associate.

Samples should be collected in any clean plastic bottle capable of holding 15 to 20 ounces.

To obtain your sample, you should allow the water run for 30 seconds and then rinse the bottle three times before filling, according to Johnson.

Substances that Extension specialists will test for on site include nitrates and total dissolved solids. They’ll also test for pH (acidity or alkalinity) and hardness. This is a screening only.

The New Ulm, Minn.-based Minnesota Valley Testing Laboratories also is offering to test water for a coliform group of microorganisms that includes E. coli. The cost for this test is $7. Johnson will accept samples for testing and deliver them to the Minnesota Valley Testing’s laboratory in Bismarck.

Johnson says the sample for this test must be collected in a sterile bottle. To obtain a bottle, contact your local county Extension office. This container may contain a chlorine inhibitor, so do not rinse the container prior to use.

Here are the steps to follow when collecting a sample:

· Remove the aerator from your faucet if it has one.

· Sterilize the end of the faucet with a flame.

· Remove the bottle cap, taking care not to touch the inside of the cap or container.

· Run the water for 30 seconds to remove stagnant water from the system.

· Fill the bottle to the line indicated or near the top.

Immediately replace the bottle cap and refrigerate.

Specimens should be analyzed within 48 hours, so collect your sample close to the time you leave for the field day.

Bacteriological results will be sent to you from NDSU as soon as possible.

Here are the dates and field day locations where you can get your water tested:

· June 26 - Central Grasslands Research Extension Center, Streeter

· July 8 - Hettinger REC July 9 - Dickinson REC

· July 10 - Williston REC July 14 - Agronomy Seed Farm, Casselton

· July 15 - Carrington REC July 16 - North Central REC, Minot

· July 17 - Langdon REC July 29 - Oakes Irrigation Research Center

If you have any questions about water testing, contact Johnson at (701) 231-8926

Ignorance of Livestock Importation Rules No Excuse

Severe drought conditions in parts of North Dakota are causing livestock producers to consider sending their cattle to pasture in another state.  Those cattle will need to comply with the other state’s livestock importation regulations before they can cross state lines, according to NDSU Extension Service veterinarian Charlie Stoltenow.

For information on the regulations in each state and U.S. territory, go to the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s Veterinary Services Web site at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/sregs/.

When producers are ready to bring their cattle back home, those animals also will have to comply with North Dakota’s livestock importation regulations, Stoltenow says.

In addition, North Dakota landowners planning to rent pasture to out-of-state cattle producers are responsible for making sure the out-of-state livestock meet North Dakota’s importation requirements.  North Dakota’s regulations are available on the USDA Veterinary Services’ Web site. More information also is available on the North Dakota State Board of Animal Health’s Web site at http://www.agdepartment.com/Programs/Livestock/BOAH/AnimalImportation.htm or from Susan Keller, state veterinarian, at (701) 328-2655.

Stoltenow reminds producers who plan to transport their livestock across state lines that they need to remember three things:

· Each state controls its own livestock importation rules.

· Producers are responsible for learning about and complying with those rules.

· Ignorance of those rules is not an excuse for violating them.

Board Training to be offered in Beach

Do you ever wonder if the boards you are on are doing things correctly?  Training is coming to Beach to help you answer these questions.  The training is being offered through the NDSU Extension Service, Horizons, and the North Dakota League of Cities.  For more information refer to the insert included.  Citizens of Beach (a Horizon’s community) will qualify for a 50% registration discount.  There will also be some other registration scholarships and partial scholarships available to citizens of Golden Valley County.  For more information on these opportunities or on the training contact the Extension Office.

Save the Date

The annual Golden Valley / Wibaux County Crop tour has been set for July 28^th.  More details to come!

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