Planting….And Replanting….Cotton

Here in Columbia County I  have been working with a  farmers to setup cotton planters and make adjustments. We are setting up this KMC Strip-till rig and John Deere planter to plant about 2.25 seeds per foot, or about 5.5 inches apart in optimum moisture and temperature conditions. This farmer was adjusting vacuum settings trying not to …

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Observations and Ramblings-Corn Crop

I will begin by saying this has been the most stressful corn crop I have dealt with here in North Florida. This is not really because of the conditions, but because the Industry: academia, extension, media, sales, marketing, and the farmers have bought into the idea of 300 bushel corn across the board. I don’t know if my …

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Peanut Seed Size and Seeding Rates

Peanut seeding rates is an interesting topic. However, it becomes rather complicated because  farmers often call other “good” farmers and get their recommendations. For example,  I know one “good” farmer who routinely plants 90 lbs of seed per acre, and I  know another “good” farmer that recommended using 205 lbs of seed per acre for some large seeded cultivars …

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County Agent Gives the Go-Ahead for Peanut Planting

County Agent Gives the Go-Ahead for Peanut Planting Originally published in the Lake City Reporter. May 2, 2013. Area farmers are saying that March came in like a lamb and went out like a lion, contrary to the old saying. So far, they have patiently awaited the beginning of their peanut season. Area farmers reported …

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Watermelon Disease, Update from UGA

This was in my inbox today. We have had similar reports in Florida, throughout the Suwannee Valley as well as in the Tri-County Agricultural Area. Still cool and wet here.  Thanks to Dr. David Langston, Associate Professor of Plant Pathology, and  Matt Roberts at UGA Colquitt County Extension for the update.   1.      Some of you may …

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Paraquat/Fomesafen Mixing Recommendations (Revised)

Area farmers are putting out pre-emerge herbicides behind the cotton planters this week. I have recommended using a herbicide program for resistant Palmer Amaranth including the use of fomesafen (Reflex, Dawn, etc). Many farmers are including a paraquat herbicide as a tank mix to kill any existing weeds behind the planter. It has come to my …

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“Text of the Week”

Farmer: We are pulling leaf samples at 40, 50, and 60 days after planting Farmer: Here is a field at day 50 Farmer:             County Agent: That might make 100 bushels Farmer: You never know “Text of the Week” may or may not be actual text messages transmitted or received …

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Strip Tilling Cotton (Video)

B&L Farms in Live Oak Strip tilling cotton on April 25, 2013. Soil was a little slick, with 2″ of rain 4 days ago. Weather refuses to get “April-like,” with highs barely in the 80s. We have recieved consistent rains all spring, and we are a little worried weather is more Midwest-like this year. Up …

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Tissue Testing in Corn

There is a lot of talk this year about high yield corn programs and the need to assess plant nutrient levels in-season. Regardless of the interest in higher yield corn production systems, my premise has been that we should use tissue testing as part of an economically sustainable production system, whether we are aiming for …

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