Ramsey County Ag Column

By Bill Hodous

February 24, 2008

Howdy!!!

This spring will bring many interesting planting decisions.  Markets, fertilizers and equipment will dictate what many of us intend to plant this spring.  The North Dakota Bean convention held in Fargo had many conversations about shifting acreage from crops to crops.  Soybeans, with strong markets, should be a big player this year because of the reduced need for Nitrogen.  With corn prices and soybeans prices as they are, the shift might be even more evident this spring to reduce costs.  There are many good varieties of RoundUp and Conventional soybeans on the Market.

Soybean Day in Edmore!!! 

Talking about Soybeans, Melissa Johnson (KNDK, Langdon) and myself have put together a very nice educational soybean day to be held in Edmore on March 11.  There will be booths along with educational speakers to enhance the full day of festivities.  There will be speakers about Cost production along with costs of CRP recovery, crop production and the market place.  There will be a noon lunch sponsored by the North Dakota Soybean Council and Viking feeders of Edmore.  So, remember Tuesday, March 11 in Edmore at the Edmore auditorium.

Glyphosate resistance found in Minnesota. 

Red River Farm Network reported, on their weekly ag report, that Giant Ragweed and water hemp have been found to show resistance to Glyphosate.  According to  Syngenta Crop Protection Herbicide Resistance Technical Brand Manager Chuck Foresman growers need to consider other modes of action, including pre-emergence weed control.  The price of Glyphosate has been relatively inexpensive but has gone up with the high demand of the product for many different crops.  This upwards price movement may prompt growers to consider alternative products or use cut rates to control your weed infestations.  In the article provided by Red River Farm Network Foresman was quoted as saying he welcomes the move to other modes of action to reduce weed resistance but, as Foresman quotes “One concern he has is the price of Glyphosate going up, “I hope producers don’t succumb to the temptation of taking the glyphosate rate down: that is exactly the wrong thing to do: that will only promore the quicker development of resistacne”.

It seems all the crops we grow with the exception of wheat has a product available that is RoundUp Ready.  I do agree with Foresman statement.  RoundUp has made our chemical applicaton process to easy and even though it is a very good product we do need to mix our modes of action up.  I have seen resistance kochia in the state.  I pulled the plants that I found and these plants aren’t just resistant to RoundUp but also other herbicides that many of us are used to using.  I know it is very difficult to use other modes when RoundUp is so easy but be careful in planning your herbicide rotation along with your planting rotation.  There are many good varieties out there and some with a yield advantage that are not RoundUp ready.

Calendar!!!

                        March     4                   Ramsey County Shooting Sports (Archery)

                        March     11                Edmore Soybean Day

                        March    17                  Private Pesticide, Starkweather 9-am

                        March    26                  Private Pesticide, Devils Lake 9-am

                        March    26                  Private Pesticide, Devils Lake 6- pm

524 4th Ave #5, 2nd Floor Ramsey County Courthouse
Devils Lake  ND  58301
701-662-7027
email - ramsey@ndsuext.nodak.edu