Email Ag Alerts
As we get into spring and timing becomes more critical on the farm, I would like to offer emailed ‘Ag Alerts’ each week. On Monday mornings from mid may to mid August I will email short timely articles on insects, diseases, weeds, etc. to those of you who are interested. If you are interested on being included in this mailing list please call the Extension office and let either Jen or myself know. If you desire a paper copy of the Ag Alerts that can also be arranged.
NDSU Juneberry Search
North Dakota State University’s search continues for Juneberry plants that could be the start of new commercial varieties.
NDSU plant researchers began last year to look for individual plants that are consistent producers of abundant, good-tasting fruit. Other characteristics that ideal plants should have include easy-to-pick berries, dense branching on short (less than 16 feet tall) plants and resistance to insects and diseases. The researchers plan to concentrate their search in western North Dakota this year.
The researchers are hoping to develop U.S.-based varieties that can be sold commercially because most of the varieties on the market come from Canada.
The researchers say they hope to find a minimum of five plants from western North Dakota to put through the propagation and test plot evaluation, but more would be great.
The researchers are looking for the public’s help because people who have picked Juneberries for several years sometimes find plants that are much better than average. The researchers encourage people to report such plants growing on property belonging to them or a friend, as well as on public land.
Any plant that meets the criteria could become the basis for a new release as long as it’s not already a named cultivar.
If a plant eventually is released as a commercial variety, the people who identified it will be able to help name the cultivar. They’ll also receive a reward, such as a percentage of the royalties from the variety’s sales.
For more information, or to submit plants contact Harlene Hatterman-Valenti at (701) 231-8536 or h.hatterman.valenti@ndsu.edu, Jim Walla at (701) 231-7069 or j.walla@ndsu.edu or Joe Zeleznik at (701) 231-8143 or joseph.zeleznik@ndsu.edu.
PROJECT SAFE SEND COLLECTIONS SLATED AT 16 SITES
Project Safe Send, North Dakota’s annual collection of unusable pesticides, will be conducted at 16 locations in July. 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
8, West Fargo.
Wednesday, July 9, Grafton.
Thursday, July 10, Grand Forks.
Friday, July 11, Finley.
Monday, July 14, Wahpeton.
Tuesday, July 15, Lisbon.
Tuesday, July 15, Bismarck.
Wednesday, July 16, Ellendale.
Wednesday, July 16, Bowman.
Thursday, July 17, Jamestown.
Thursday, July 17, Belfield.
Friday, July 18, Watford City
Monday, July 21, Kenmare.
Tuesday, July 22, Velva.
Wednesday, July 23, Harvey.
Thursday, July 24, Cando.
More information about Project Safe Send can be found on NDDA’s website, www.agdepartment.com (click on “Hot Topics”).
Authorized by the North Dakota Legislature, Project Safe Send is funded through the fees paid by pesticide manufacturers to register their products in North Dakota.
Since 1992, more than 2 million pounds of waste pesticides have been collected through Project Safe Send.
Producers and Pesticide Applicators Need to be Patient With Each Other
With the potential for good returns on crops, producers will no longer be reluctant to apply relatively costly pesticides, as they have in the past.
High commodity prices have radically changed the economics of pesticide and fungicide use, says a North Dakota State University Extension Service pesticide program specialist.
“With the potential for good returns on crops, producers will no longer be reluctant to apply relatively costly pesticides, as they have in the past,” says Andrew Thostenson, NDSU Department of Plant Sciences. “For example, a few years ago, producers used to agonize about getting a high enough yield and quality boost to justify the expense of applying fungicides to control scab on small grains. Those days are gone. With crop prices this high, every pesticide application that can show even a modest return will be made.”
Pesticide prices are on the rise, but not to the same degree as crop prices. This year, producers will have a great deal of money tied up in their crops. Crops that do not perform well because of poor techniques used by an applicator could result in a serious financial dispute between a producer and applicator.
“High commodity prices and high input prices for seed, fertilizer and pesticides mean that farmers who sustain losses from a misapplication or drift could be seeking damages,” Thostenson says. “Damages could be sought from custom applicators or even neighbors in amounts that exceed $100 per acre and could range as high as $1,000 per acre, depending on the commodity, price or yield potential of the crop.”
With every pesticide being applied that can be applied, there will be shortages of preferred products and equipment.
“Planning ahead is essential,” Thostenson says. “Producers need to consider what the alternative is if they can’t get the preferred pesticide.”
Thostenson has these tips for producers:
· Have realistic expectations when hiring a custom applicator. The applicator may be very busy and may not be able to accept the job.
· There will be shortages of trained and experienced manpower to apply products in a timely manner. Be careful about hiring fly-by-night operators who promise good service and cheap prices, but have little or no experience dealing with the products the producer wants applied.
· With all the pesticides being applied, there will be a shortage of good spray days (winds of 3 to 10 miles per hour in a steady direction and without an inversion). This means that some pesticides will be applied during unfavorable weather conditions, so drift may be a greater problem this year than in a typical year.
Thostenson also has advice for applicators:
· There will be no shortage of work during the spraying season, so consider turning down jobs that are high-risk or involve people who have unrealistic expectations.
· Do not overpromise. When expectations are not met, misunderstandings can arise.
· People will be under stress to get pesticides applied in a timely manner. This means people will be more physically tired or rundown than usual. This is when mistakes in judgment occur and application equipment has a tendency to fail.
· Plan, prepare and be patient. To do otherwise could lead to serious misapplication problems. The temptation will be great, but do not take unnecessary risks.
“Producers and custom applicators will be under intense pressure, which could lead to short tempers,” Thostenson says. “Be mindful of this and exercise extreme prudence when interacting with people. A failure to do so may result in misunderstandings and disputes that lead to complaints being filed with the North Dakota Department of Agriculture or someone may seek out a law firm.”
Western 4-H Camp
As summer roles around its time to start thinking about summer activities for kids, as well as for you. One option for kids camping opportunities is Western 4-H camp in Washburn. Western Camp is open to all youth, not just 4-H members, and includes camps from “survivor camp” to horse camps. I was also notified today that for the first 10 enrolled in the “tractor safety” camp John Deere has sponsored $50 scholarships. For more information on the camping opportunities available through Western 4-H Camp, call the Extension office or visit www.western4hcamp.com
Horse Clinics Coming to Glendive
Mr. Don Knapp of Sulfur OK, will be in Glendive June 6-13th, to put on 3 natural horsemanship clinics. The first clinic is a beginner natural horsemanship clinic, the second is an advanced natural horsemanship clinic. Each of these 2 clinics are 3 days long. The third clinic is a kids clinic in natural horsemanship and is 2 days long. Auditors are welcome for clinics. All three clinics will be held at the J&A arena west of Glendive. For more information, please check out Mr. Knapp’s website, www.donknappsavvy.com. For information specific to these clinics contact Sherry Sportsman at 406-377-8542.