Area farmers recently gathered in Wellborn and Ft. White, Florida to discuss The Why, When, and How of Cotton Defoliation. Many of our mid-April planted fields are at 70-80% open bolls, and later planted fields are rapidly approaching that point. We recently spent time to discuss several techniques for timing of defoliation including the following: …
Many area corn growers have struggled through a difficult harvest this season. Every season we expect difficulties with equipment, labor, trucking, weather, and dozens of other complications that farmers must work through. However this season we are seeing the additional challenge of harvesting corn fields that are as much as 100% lodged or blown down. Please …
Continue reading ‘Harvesting Lodged Corn Part 1: Observations (Video)’ »
Many area corn growers have struggled through a difficult harvest this season. Every season we expect difficulties with equipment, labor, trucking, weather, and dozens of other complications that farmers must work through. However this season we are seeing the additional challenge of harvesting corn fields that are as much as 100% lodged or blown down. Please …
Continue reading ‘Harvesting Lodged Corn Part 2: Harvesting (Video)’ »
Corn harvest is in full swing here in the area. Farmers are reporting good yields and good harvest weather over the last several weeks. Many are drying corn in their facilities from 25% moisture or less before hauling to the end users or merchandisers who are buying the corn to resell. Corn acreage was up about …
The 2013 Peanut Harvest has begun in Levy County, according to UF/IFAS Extension Agent Anthony Drew. He shared video footage from “35 Farms” where yields are reportedly good with good grades. They are harvesting Virugard and Bailey cultivars currently. Other area farms have started digging Georgia 06’s planted in late March. Daily showers have slowed picking, but the …
One of our area farms believes that grain sorghum or milo as some call it, has an excellent fit as a rotation crop in our area. There are excellent local markets available using the grain as bird seed and livestock feed. It is a crop that is well adapted to our growing conditions and our …
Continue reading ‘National Sorghum Producers Yield and Management Contest (Video)’ »
I have been working with the Roosevelt & Travis Dicks Farm here in Columbia County to get their tobacco out of the field and they are helping me to collect yield and quality data for a dozen released varieties. Things are going well on the farm and they are harvesting a high quality crop. However, I am hearing and …
We have been dealing with white mold of peanuts here in Columbia County for several weeks, particularly in early planted peanuts. Dr. Nicholas Dufault, Extension Plant Pathologist recently reported ” We can expect to see more disease with the current environmental conditions throughout Florida. Growers should continue recommended white mold fungicide applications.” Additionally, Dr. Dufault …
Continue reading ‘White Mold and Leaf Spot in Peanuts (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 …