AgAlerts 2004 From Griggs County
By John Swenson, Griggs County Extension Agent

Issue # 1, April 27, 2004

Zinc Products With Corn Seed

    Dave Franzen, NDSU Soils Specialist, has been receiving a lot of questions concerning zinc products applied with corn seed.  There could be some germination problems when applying ammoniated zinc products along with the seed.  

1.  Zinc chelates and ammoniated zincs are more efficient than broadcast zinc sulfate.  Because of particle size, i might take 10 - 30 lb/acre of zinc sulfate to give a similar yield increase as 1 qt of 10% chelate or 1 pt to 1 pt of ammoniated zinc.
2.  Chelates an ammoniated zinc at those rates will not increase soil test levels and need to be used each year that a zinc sensitive crop is seeded.
3.  Ammoniated zinc contains free ammonia.  If you don't believe it, take a whiff of the jug when you open it.  This is NOT RECOMMENDED.  For that reason, limit application with the corn seed to a mazimum of 1 qt/acre and back this down to 1 pt/acre in dry, sandy soil.
4.  Chelates at 1 -2 qt/acre are safer to the seed compared with ammoniated zincs, but don't go overboard with rates.  They can injure germination sometimes too.
5.  Germination risks are hugely reduce with seed and fertilizer band separation.  That is always the first recommendation.

Skunk Remedy

    Now is the time skunks are most likely to come into contact with pets.  The following mixture is a good way in which to treat pets that have been sprayed by a skunk.

Here's the potion:
        1 quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide (from a Pharmacy)
        1/4 cup baking soda
        1 teaspoon liquid soap
Mix together and wash, keeping the mixture out of the animal's eyes, nose and mouth.  Follow with a thorough tap water rinse.
Source:  Countryside & Small Stock Journal (Farm Show, Vol. 19 #4, 1995) 

ND 2004 County Rents & Values

    The North Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service has released it's annual publication on county rents and land values for 2004.  This publication is available on their web site.  Click on the following web address to view this publication.   http://www.nass.usda.gov/nd/crents04.pdf

Minimum Soil Temperatures For Germination

Crop                Temp.                Crop                Temp.
Wheat                40                    Durum                 40
Barley                40                    Oats                    40
Canola               40                    Sunflower            45
Flax                   48                    Corn                    50
Soybeans           50                    Dry Beans            52

Weeds
Early Emerging (35-40 degrees)
Kochia        Milkweed        Wild Mustard        Cocklebur        Wild Oats        Wild Buckwheat        Frenchweed
Russian Thistle        Canada Thistle        Tansy Mustard        Shepherdspurse        Absinth Wormwood
Common Lambsquarter    Quackgrass

Late Emerging (50 degrees or higher)
Redroot Pigweed        Wild Sunflower        Volunteer Sunflower        Field Bindweed        Nightshades    
Lanceleaf Sage        Foxtails (pigeongrass)        Ragweeds

 

Please Contact Our Office For Additional Information
E-mail: john.swenson@ndsu.edu
Go to the 2003 AgAlert Index Page