We have been aggressively fighting Palmer amaranth (pigweed) in the cotton fields of Columbia County. Most of our farmers are planting varieties tolerant to Liberty herbicide, which is no silver bullet, but has at least been a crutch. Our recent efforts have been to apply glyphosate + metolachlor where pigweeds haven’t emerged, and Liberty + metolachlor where we …
Continue reading ‘Palmer Amaranth Control a Challenge in Cotton (Part 1)’ »
While we appear to be winning the battle. I can see we are missing weeds with multiple methods of control, and we need better control to win the war in the long term. One thing I will say, I wish we had some straw or residue on these fields to shade the soil and prevent emergence …
Continue reading ‘Palmer Amaranth a Challenge in Cotton (Part 2)’ »
B&L Farms of Live Oak, FL have kicked off wheat harvest here in North Florida. This was these young farmers first year growing wheat after their interest was piqued by a farm tour hosted by William Birdsong, Extension Specialist with Alabama Cooperative Extension Service (ACES). William hosted a tour to the Myron Johnson Farm in Headland Alabama where …
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 …
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 …
In North Florida we start planting corn as early as February some years. This year has seen a later start, and for some, an abrupt finish. The mantra lately has been “cotton is going up, corn is going down.” Cool soils and freezing temperatures have kept a lot of seed corn in the bag until recently, …