Caldwell County Agline

Burley Tobacco Field Day on July 30, 2008 at the Upper Piedmont Research Station in Reidsville, NC.  The Field Day will start with registration at 2:30 pm and end with a meal at 6:00 pm.  I don't have a schedule yet, but Loren Fisher will be heading up the program.  Please let me know if you are interested in attending . . . Seth (seth_nagy@ncsu.edu)

The 2008 wheat variety recommendations are now available!  This is the latest and great NC Extension has to offer wheat growers.  As in the past, we are recommending growers select an above average yielding variety for better fields and plant three varieties.  Of the three varieties only one should be early heading.  Early heading varieties are more susceptible to late spring freezes.  The full report can be found at www.smallgrains.ncsu.edu.

The Mountain Horticultural Crops Research Station in Fletcher, NC is having a field day August 12, 2008.  Registration begins at 12:30 and the program runs 1:00 - 4:00.  The field day will highlight NC State University Faculty's research on bloom tillers; thinning; apple rootstock/replant; peach cultivar evaluations, P fertilization and Gala apple quality; disease, weed and insect management studies.

For more information, contact Jim Walgenbach, 828.684.3562 or jim_walgenbach@ncsu.edu.

The Center for Environmental Farming Systems in collaboration with the National Center for Appropriate Technology will be hosting two back-to-back full day workshops on on-farm energy conservation and use. The first (July 10) will explore on farm energy use and conservation, renewable energy options, enhancing energy efficiency on the farm, the latest in carbon credits, and potential funding sources for on-farm energy projects.  Workshop participants will have the opportunity to construct a solar heating system to supplement the propane heat used in greenhouses. Larry Shirley, The Director of the State Energy Office, will provide the keynote. 

The second workshop (July 11) will be a hands-on workshop led by Matt Rudolf of Piedmont Biofuels teaching on-farm production of biofuels from seed crushing to end-product.    For more details and registration information, go to:  http://www.cefs.ncsu.edu

Major funding is provided by the USDA Risk Management Agency.

Below is the proposed agenda for the Specialty Crops Field Day on June 25 at the Upper Mountain Research Station.

9:30am Registration

10:00am Welcome: Dr Tom Melton, Administration-Extension Service, Assistant
Director and Associate State Program Leader ANR/CRD, Les Miller, Superintendent,
Upper Mountain Research Station and other Dignitaries.

10:30 am Program

• Dr. Barclay Poling, Extension Specialist, Horticulture Science: Albion and Seascape day-neutral strawberry trials at the Upper Mountain Research Station
• Bill Jester, Extension Associate, Horticulture Science and Specialty Crops Coordinator and Brad Taylor, Agriculture Research Technician: Golden Leaf Foundation sponsored Lettuce adaptation trials and research in the NC Mountains.
• Dr. Chris Gunter, Extension Specialist, Horticulture Science, Jose Garzon, Research Technician, Horticulture Science and Dr. Brian Whipker, Extension Specialist,Horticulture Science : Identifying Macro and Micronutrient Deficiencies in RomaineLettuce.
• Nick Augostini, Marketing Specialist NCDA&CS: The Importance of Proper Packagingto Successful Produce Marketing.
• Dr. Jeanine Davis, Extension Specialist, Horticulture Science and Richard Boylan, Area Specialized Agent: Growing Heirloom and Heirloom-Type Hybrid Tomatoes in an Organic Production System.
• Dr. Gina Fernandez, Extension Specialist, Horticulture Science: Bramble activities at Upper Mountain Research Station and beyond...
  

12:00 -1:30PM: Luncheon sponsored by Dole Foods

1:30PM -3:00PM: Program

3:00PM: Adjourn

With recent temperatures topping 100 degrees, non-irrigated turfgrasses are showing signs of heat and drought stress. The initial visual symptom looks like dark spots in the lawn. This is due to leaf curling. The symptoms are most pronounced during the heat of the day. Often the plant will re-hydrate overnight. At some point, if the turfgrass plant is not able to re-hydrate, the leaves will turn brown and result in thinning of the turfgrass. But, just because the turf turns brown does not mean it is dead. This is the plant's protection mechanism.

It does not matter if the grass is tall fescue or zoysiagrass, the response is very similar. If allowed to go into summer dormancy, tall fescue can survive for an extended period of time despite its brown appearance. In one experiment conducted during last summer's intense heat and drought, all of our tall fescue cultivars tested recovered after 40 days without any water and most survived 48 days without water. The grasses then grew back from their crown when watering resumed. This is why we suggest dormant lawns are watered every three to four weeks with about ½ inch of water to keep the turf crowns hydration.

Soybeans, like many other plant species, cannot translocate enough water to keep up with the evapotranspiration demand that temperatures over about 95 degrees creates. So with temperatures over 95, soybeans will wilt in the heat of the day regardless of how much water is available to them. They close their stomates to dramatically reduce water loss from the leaf, but this also closes the stomates to carbon dioxide getting into the leaf, so little or no photosynthesis takes place while the stomates are closed.

If water is available to the soybean roots, the plants will tend to recover significantly when temperatures drop down into the 80s, and may well look pretty normal before nightfall. If water is not available to the roots, however, it will take them longer to recover. It's possible to kill soybean plants with a combination of little moisture in the root zone with high daytime temperatures, but soybeans can tolerate more of this situation than many other plant species can.

If soybeans have not started blooming, there is probably little long term effect other than having lost a few potential growing days. If soybean are blooming, or past blooming, they will tend to abort whatever reproductive structure is being developed at the time (e.g. flowers, pods, or seeds), which won't necessarily be too serious, if they have time to put on more flowers/pods/seeds.

Whether to plant with the current temperatures or not is not an easy call. If the soil has enough moisture that I expect to be able to get a crop up, I would be concerned about the soil temperature, and the expected daytime highs several days out. I'd be inclined to delay planting if soil temperatures are in the 90s at 2 inches depth, or if I expect the daytime highs to be above 95 when the plants emerge. If soil temperatures are in the 80s or below, and the daytime highs when the soybeans emerge are expected to be below 95, I'd probably go ahead and plant.

farmers, farm organizations, and community groups for farm enterprises, which demonstrate new ways to generate income on the farm. RAFI-USA\u2019s Tobacco Communities Reinvestment Fund will award cost-share support of up to $10,000 to individual producers and support of up to $20,000 to collaborative farmer efforts.  Demonstration grants will be awarded through a competitive selection process.  Grants will be awarded to innovative projects which show farmers a new direction or opportunity.  Priority will be given to projects that benefit farmers who had income from tobacco and to projects that create income opportunities for a new generation of farmers.    

Deadline for applications is October 1, 2008.  Funds will be available to farmers in December 2008. For complete eligibility requirements and guidelines, visit RAFI-USA\u2019s website at www.rafiusa.org.  For application materials, more information, or to discuss potential project ideas contact:

Jason Roehrig
919-621-0534
jason@rafiusa.org

Pisgah National Forest, NC… Over the past 15 years, and in direct relation to a growing population, WNC has seen an increase in wildland-urban interface issues, including fire danger and invasive plant and animal species.  Approximately three-fourths of all forestland in NC is owned by nonindustrial private woodlot owners and this course is designed to offer educational opportunities on diverse land management goals to these landowners, especially those owning 20 acres or less. 

Landowners interested in learning more about managing their land in Western North Carolina are invited to participate in a unique educational event scheduled for this summer. A team of land management experts from federal and state agencies, universities, and the private sector are coordinating efforts to offer the annual Woodland Steward Series through the Biltmore Forest School.  

48 hours over 4 one and a half day sessions will be provided with opportunities to engage with natural resource and land management specialists. Sessions include both hands-on opportunities in the field and instruction in the classroom. Introductory information on a wide variety of land management topics will be discussed. 

Workshop Schedule:

Discovering Your Land: Basic Land Management Skills (July 11 & 12)--How to set property management goals and objectives while considering the role of your land in the big picture of Southern Appalachian ecosystems.  A basic introduction to some local native wildlife and how to manage your land with wildlife in mind.  Learn to use basic tools such as plant ID, soil sampling, using maps and compasses, and GIS information to manage your land. 

Woodscaping Your Woodlands & Firewise Management (July 25 & 26)--A general overview of managing your forest land–how topography and soil affect the forest type and an overview of harvesting methods.  Basic information on forest insects and diseases, pasture management, and how to grow native woodland medicinals and ramps.  Reducing the risk of wildfire loss by becoming “Firewise” in your backyard. 

Native Landscaping & Water Management (August 8 & 9)--A general overview of creating a base map of your property and designing with native plants.  Care of urban trees and basic information on invasive plants.  View stormwater best management practices and erosion control measures.  Basic information on planning and locating ponds and managing streamside riparian zones.  

Stewardship, Recreation, & Liability (August 22 & 23)--Planning trails and roads on your property, plus the basics of land ownership liability and conservation easements.  Explore management practices in the field and apply your new knowledge and skills. Finalize your goals and objectives.  Graduation ceremony and lunch will follow on Saturday for those who have attended at least three of the four workshops.

Registration

      The cost is $50.00 per person per session, with spouse or other family member at $25.00.  Registration includes lunch and snacks on the first workshop day as well as workshop-related materials.  Reserve your spot for the whole course by registering early! Registration deadline is one week prior to the session desired. Credit toward NC Environmental Education Certification is available, as well as CEU credits. Workshops also count as electives toward the Asheville Board of Realtors ECO Certification.  For more information and registration materials, visit www.cradleofforestry.org or contact Amy Garascia, Program Coordinator, at amysworkshopinfo@aol.com or 828-884-5713 ex. 26. 

      The course is sponsored by: the Cradle of Forestry Interpretive Association, North Carolina Division of Forest Resources, NC Cooperative Extension Service, USDA Forest Service Cradle of Forestry in America, NC Arboretum, NCWoodlands, Soil and Water Environmental Technology Center, and Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy.

RALEIGH – The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services secured a $136,155 Specialty Crops Block Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to support the continuation and development of four statewide agriculture programs.

The grant will be split between the Good Agricultural Practices Certification Cost Share, Farm to School and Specialty Crops programs, as well as a program to increase demand for the state’s green industry crops.

“Our farmers work very hard to provide some of the highest-quality fruits, vegetables and plants available for purchase,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “The programs supported by the Specialty Crops Block Grant will make our agriculture industry stronger and more competitive.”

The four programs meet the grant’s requirements that these funds enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in North Carolina, according to Ross Williams, assistant director of marketing for the NCDA&CS. The grant will be distributed between the four projects:

• The GAP Certification Cost Share program, which began in 2007, has helped 30 farmers adhere to industry food safety standards known as Good Agricultural Practices and Good Handling Practices. The grant will provide up to $600 for a grower’s cost for an audit of the farm’s food safety program to decrease the risk of microbial contamination and increase buyer demand.
• The Farm to School initiative serves to increase the number of North Carolina schools purchasing locally grown produce. A new program will be implemented with the grant money to supply schools with N.C. food products.
• New varieties of honeydew, Asian melon, asparagus, lettuce for processing and medicinal herbs are just some of the crops the Specialty Crops partnership with N.C. State University has created to provide new sources of income for farmers. Grant money will fund marketing projects to promote new specialty crops.
• The green industry marketing campaign will promote N.C. plants through targeted advertising and public relations efforts in conjunction with the Water-Wise Works! conservation program. For more information on the Water-Wise Works! program, visit its Web site at www.tarheelgardening.com.

For additional information on the grant or the programs it will support, contact Ross Williams, NCDCA&S Marketing Division, at (919) 733-7887, ext. 237, or by e-mail at ross.williams@ncmail.net.

To:  Beef Cattle Producers

Re:  Beef Quality Assurance Feeder Calf Sale, August 14 

Thanks for your interest in the BQA Feeder Calf Sale scheduled for August 14 at Harward Brothers Livestock Market in Turnersburg, NC.  This letter is to provide information on sale requirements and deadlines so you can make a decision on whether or not to participate.  You may contact our office at any time if you have questions.  The consignment deadline is June 14.

Requirements ? only farm raised calves that are less than one year of age as of August 14, 2008.  No bulls will be accepted, only steers and heifers.  All other rules of the regular graded sales will apply.  Extension and NCDA&CS personnel and the market owner will make decisions on grouping cattle to form trailer load lots if that potential exists with the cattle on hand.  No consignor will have a no sale privilege.

Sale Requirements

? Producers must have a current BQA (Beef Quality Assurance) certification.

? Farm must have a premise identification number.

? Calves will be source and age verified according to USDA specifications. Contact Bruce Shankle, NCDA&CS at 919-733-7912, ext. 251 or 704-826-8848 for information and procedures.

? Calves must be weaned and bunk broke at  least 45 days before sale.

? Final vaccinations (2^nd set of shots) must be given at least 3 weeks before the sale and no more than 6 weeks before the sale.

? 1^st set of shots should be given 2 to 4 weeks before Final Vaccinations.

? Vaccination records, dates and products must be maintained and provided to the market operator.

? Cattle will be graded, weighed and penned according to grade, weight, breed and sex. Over filled cattle will not be graded. Cattle will be graded and sold in truckload lots whenever possible.

? Sire ID recommended, but not required.

Health Requirements

The 2008 health protocol requires that all BQA Sale cattle follow a vac45 program

? The Intervet Beef Calf Health Management Protocol has been selected for this program and all consignors must use this program for their calves.

 

For more information on the specific requirements of this program contact your local livestock extension agent.

 

Health Requirements

?  Two (2) doses of modified live respiratory vaccine (Vista Once and Vista 5)

? Two (2) doses of clostridial/blackleg vaccine (Vision 7 and Vision 7 With Somnus)

? One (1) dose of pasteurella vaccine (already contained in Vista Once)

This dose can be administered in combination products in order to reduce the number of injection sites.

? One (1) dose of Haemophilus Somnus vaccine (already contained in Vision 7 Somnus)

This dose can be administered in combination products in order to reduce the number of sites.

? Parasite Control ( Safe-Guard Drench)

The last date to wean calves for this sale is July 1.  The first series of shots can be given no earlier than June 5.  Final vaccinations can be given no later than July 24.  Refer to all other health requirements above when determining when you wean and vaccinate calves to meet all requirements.

Lextron Animal Health will provide all animal health products and Lutz Farm and Garden in Catawba County has been selected to provide these products for your use.  They can be reached at (704) 462-1227. 

Mike Miller     Jeff Carpenter

Agricultural Ext. Agent   Area Specialized Agent, Livestock 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Return this consignment form to the Catawba County Extension Office no later than June 14. 

I plan to deliver _____ steers and _____ heifers to the Turnersburg Area BQA Sale on Thursday, August 14.

Delivery times will be 7 AM til 4 PM. 
 

_______________________________


(Producer)    


 

____________________

(Date) 

Return to:  Catawba County Cooperative Extension Service

            c/o Jeff Carpenter, Area Specialized Agent, Livestock

             P. O. Box 389

            Newton, NC  28658

                      (828) 465-8240

Soybean rust is viable in parts of Florida and Texas at this time. Rust was found fairly far north in Mississippi on kudzu, but was under water for sometime and though the kudzu may recover from flooding, the rust will have to reach this site again to initiate new infections. Rust may be active in Mexico onvolunteer soybean growing in corn on a limited acreage, but there is a good chance that these volunteer soybean have since been killed with herbicides.Though we have yet to receive reports of soybean rust on jicama (yambean, a crop grown in Mexico on as much as 100,000 acres) there is a good possibility that it may be developing there since yam bean has been planted andthe rainy season has or should start soon. Planting of sentinel plots in Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi has been completed, though some sites mayhave to be replanted because of excessive rainfall. Some early maturing soybeanin Mississippi and Louisiana are now flowering and conditions are good for rust development, but planting delays may inhibit development of rust in these locations.

Another Host for Soybean Rust

A new host for soybean rust in the US is Coral Bean, grown in many areas especially along the East coast. Pictures of this plant can be found at  http://www.floridata.com/ref/E/erythrin.cfm.Coral bean is most likely to serve as an additional over wintering host for soybean rust in the gulf coast states, and its contributions to the epidemiology of have not been assessed at this time.

Soybean Rust Summary for North Carolina - Reflections on 2005-2007

Soybean rust has been detected in North Carolina every year since 2005. Rust was found in 17, 44, and 6 counties in 2005, 2006, and 2007 respectively. For the most part it has not required fungicide sprays. Only in 2006 was it recommended that fungicides be sprayed in the southeastern counties on late planted late maturity soybean. Yield increases in these areas were on the order of 4 to 5 bushels per acre.

Resources for Soybean Rust in 2008

Soybean rust sentinel plots will be planted inthe next 30 days in most locations. In addition, we have a teletip phone number 1-800-662-7301 (the same number as for the cottoninsect update) with a message updated as necessary.

There are more resources for information on Asiatic soybean rust available this year than in many years in the past. Soybean Rust Management in the Mid-AtlanticRegion can be found at the SSDW web site http://cipm.ncsu.edu/ent/SSDW/, as well as the Soybean Disease Atlas. The Fungicide Manual is available as a PDF version from http://oardc.osu.edu/soyrust/. This Fungicide Manual actually contains more information than most growers are likely to need.

Some sources for more detailed information are listedbelow:

• The USDA soybean rust web site http://www.sbrusa.net/cgi-bin/sbr/public.cgi
• The North Carolina Crop Protection Manual http://ipm.ncsu.edu/agchem/6-9.pdf
• Fungicide Manual http://oardc.osu.edu/soyrust/

Just want to make everyone aware of the Livestock Compensation Program. This is a USDA program offered though the Farm Service Agency. Our local office is in Morganton. My understanding is this program is fairly simple and payments are timely. Basically USDA is helping livestock owners from last year's drought. The beef rates are: $10.66 per head for cows and bulls and $8.00 per head for non-adults animals weighing 500 lbs or more.

To learn more about this program contact the Farm service Agency in Morganton at 828.439.9727.

• Do strobilurin fungicides (like Quadris or Headline) increase yield when diseases are not present?
• At high wheat prices, shouldn't our spray thresholds be lower?
• At high wheat prices, shouldn't fungicides be applied routinely to all our wheat?
• Have the University recommendations been updated anytime in the last few years?
• Why is the University not encouraging more fungicide use?

To help answer these questions, Randy Weisz - NC Small Grains Extension Specialist compiled the latest information from his research and colleagues from around the Southeast.  I think for Caldwell County growers variety selection can be a very useful tool and the most cost effective.  We do not have a high disease pressure like is present in the eastern part of the State.

RALEIGH --- North Carolina farmers reeling from drought can obtain help under a program unveiled Tuesday in Raleigh. The program will cover 75 percent of the cost of restoring drought-damaged pastureland and providing additional water supply for livestock and crops.

The N.C. Agricultural Drought Recovery Program will be administered statewide through local Soil and Water Conservation district offices beginning May 1. It was made possible by a $6 million grant from the N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission.

"This grant makes it possible for more than 1,000 farmers and farm operations to restore some of the damage from last summer's severe drought and to prepare, so the next long, hot and dry summer doesn't do as much damage," said Billy Ray Hall, president of the N.C. Rural Economic Development Center.

The Rural Center worked with the General Assembly's Joint Select Committee on Agriculture Drought Response, the Tobacco Trust Fund Commission, several state agencies and other agricultural interests to design the program and arrange funding. The Division of Soil and Water Conservation, which will administer the program, is part of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Others participating in the program design were the N.C. Department of Agriculture, North Carolina Grange, N.C. Farm Bureau, N.C. State University Agricultural Extension Service, N.C. Foundation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, U.S. Department of Agriculture, N.C. Soil and Water Conservation Commission and Agricultural Advancement Consortium.

Rep. Ray Rapp, co-chairman of the legislative committee, said a bill seeking an additional $6 million to extend the program to more farmers will be submitted to the General Assembly in May.

"We recognized that any proposal we made to the legislature could not go into effect before July at the earliest, too late to save many of our farmers," Rapp said. "Fortunately, the friends of agriculture in North Carolina are not limited to members of the General Assembly. Money from the Tobacco Trust Fund lets us put this project into effect immediately."

The U.S. Department of Agriculture last year designated 85 of North Carolina's 100 counties as natural disaster areas. As of April 8, 80 counties remained under drought conditions with the other 20 considered abnormally dry.

Farmers affected by the drought may apply to one of the state's 96 Soil and Water Conservation district offices for help with several types of projects. These include pasture renovation, drilling and redrilling wells, pond construction and renovation, converting closed lagoons to fresh water ponds, and upgrading existing irrigation systems to more efficient models. The program is open to farmers with a total adjusted gross income of less than $250,000 or those who derive 75 percent of their income from farming operations.

"North Carolina farmers lost a half billion dollars in crops last year because of this drought -- that's 17 percent of total crop revenue in a typical year," said Sen. Charlie Albertson, also a committee co-chair. "The damage wasn't merely in lost harvest. Pastureland needs to be renovated and reseeded before livestock can graze again, and we're still in this drought. Farmers really need our help to go forward."

Current Status of Soybean Rust in North America

As of April 8, 2008, soybean rust is viable in parts of Florida, southern Alabama (Mobile area on kudzu), and Louisiana. Rust was found overwintering fairly far north in Mississippi on kudzu, but this site is now under water. Rust is active in Mexico on volunteer soybean growing in corn at this time on a limited acreage, but no soybean rust has been found on jicama (yam bean, a crop grown in Mexico on as much as 100,000 acres) because their rainy season has not started yet. Planting of sentinel plots in Florida is nearly complete, and many have been planted in Mississippi. Sentinel plot planting in Mississippi is currently on hold because many fields are under water and many if not all of their sentinel plots may have to be replanted.

Soybean Rust Summary for North Carolina: Reflections on 2005-2007

Soybean rust has been detected in North Carolina every year since 2005. Rust was found in 17, 44, and 6 counties in 2005, 2006, and 2007 respectively. For the most part it has not required fungicide sprays. Only in 2006 was it recommended that fungicides be sprayed in the southeastern counties on late planted late maturity soybean. Yield increases in these areas were on the order of 4 to 5 bushels per acre.

Soybean rust generally moves from south to north from Florida to Georgia and finally to North Carolina and Virginia. Much of this movement is by local spread which is relatively slow. Tropical systems that moved through the state from the south have resulted in either delivery of spores or provided an environment conducive for rust to develop. In 2005 this was Ophelia and in 2006 tropical storm Ernesto coincided with development of rust in North Carolina. There was some concern in 2007 when a tropical storm moved through in June which could have brought spores from Florida. This did not happen because Florida and South Georgia were extremely dry and if there was any spore production in Florida prior to this time it was very minor. You have to have spores for a transport event (movement from one location to another).

In general we will likely need a wet spring and a summer with lots of ?gray days? to have an epidemic that requires fungicide sprays over large areas of the state. This can be expected about one year in five to one year in ten in North Carolina. We will continue to maintain a network of communication with county Extension agents, CCAs, and consultants to provide warnings about the need to spray for rust. Sentinel plots will be planted in the next 30 days in most locations. In addition, have a Teletip phone number, 1-800-662-7301 (the same number as for the cotton insect update), with a message updated as necessary.

Soybean Rust Prospects for 2008

The potential for soybean rust to negatively affect North Carolina soybean production in 2008 appears greater than in the three previous years (2005-2007) ?at this time.?  I emphasize ?at this time,? since my crystal ball is no better than most, and this is mostly speculation for April 2008. 
Factors that may make soybean rust more of a problem in 2008 are as follows:

1. It seems that the La Nina effect that was at least partially responsible for the 2007 drought is breaking up, thus the chances for at least average rainfall or greater are improved.
2. Projected soybean plantings for 2008 to the south of us, Georgia and Alabama may well double in 2008.  Increased wheat plantings this year make it likely that more soybeans will be planted double crop to the south of us this year. This of course is partially dependent on soybean seed supply.
3. Some crop protection specialists are concerned that fungicide supply in 2008 may be limited because of increased use on the small grains this spring. There are reports that some wheat growers are already planning on two fungicide applications on wheat this spring (2008).
4. The large North Carolina wheat crop is likely to mean increased double-cropped soybean in 2008 which may be at greater risk to soybean rust. This again depends on the supply of seed.
   

Obviously, this is only speculation on our part. The transport of rust to North Carolina is dependent on numerous environmental factors, including weather to the south of us and environment during the growing season. Still greater vigilance seems warranted at this time.

Resources for Soybean Rust in 2008

There are more resources for information on Asiatic soybean rust available this year than in many years in the past. Some sources for more detailed information are available on the web at:

USDA soybean rust web site:
http://www.sbrusa.net/cgi-bin/sbr/public.cgi

North Carolina Agricultural Chemicals Manual soybean disease control recommendations:
http://ipm.ncsu.edu/agchem/6-9.pdf

NC Cooperative Extension Corn Specialist, Ron Heininger was recently interviewed by the Southeast Farm Press.  Dr. Heininger talked about how much nitrogen it will take to make a corn crop.  This is the same material that he presented at the Iredell County Corn and Soybean Meeting on February 21.

I was at the meeting in Iredell, but it never hurts to hear new messages more than once.  Read the article at (southeastfarmpress.com/grains/corn-fertilization-0327/).

This is our first soybean rust update for 2008, and is being sent now both to catch you up to date on the status of rust in the continental US, and to be sure we’re still getting to everyone we intended to reach, before rust becomes more active. If you know of any Extension soybean agents, CCAs, licensed consultants, regional NCDA&CS agronomists, research station superintendents, or CPAs who did not receive this update, please let Jim Dunphy (919/515-5813) or Steve Koenning (919/515-3905) know.

Florida has rust on kudzu in south Florida (Tampa and below), and in the Jacksonville area, but not in the panhandle area. They have had rust on kudzu in the panhandle until the past two weeks.

Georgia has some kudzu greening up, but no rust has been detected yet.

Alabama has rust on kudzu in Mobile. They have 2-3 week old soybeans growing in the Baldwin area . (Both cities are on the coast.)

Mississippi has found no rust yet this winter, and has 20 sentinel plots planted.

Louisiana has green kudzu on the coast, but has found no rust. 2 of their sentinel plots have been planted.

Texas has kudzu and Texas Bluebonnet up and growing , but no rust has been found yet.

Mexico had rust on soybeans 2 weeks ago, and we presume still does.

We (NC State University) plan to have sentinel plots this year in Bertie, Camden, Carteret, Cherokee, Cleveland, Columbus (2), Edgecombe, Gates, Granville, Henderson, Hyde, Johnston, Lenoir, Montgomery, New Hanover, Pasquotank, Rowan, Sampson, Scotland, Stanly, Union, Washington, and Wayne counties, all with a very early maturing variety and a mid-season variety.

For More Information:

• Soybean Rust Forecast
• Soybean Rust Fact Sheet
• Soybean Rust - USDA

Due to extreme weather conditions across North Carolina over the past year, it had been expected there might be potential shortages of seed for the 2008 season.  The primary purpose of this communication is to share general information related to the seed supply that will be helpful in your discussions with our state's farmers.

Soybean seed production, in general, has been greatly affected by the extreme drought conditions last year resulting in reduced yields and a slight decline in overall seed quality.  It is expected there will be an increase in soybean acreage for this season, further impacting the potential availability of seed for planting.  As a result, the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Plant Industry Division has received multiple inquiries from farmers expressing concerns related to seed supply issues, specifically for soybeans.  Producers that might have booked their seed order early are receiving information on potential allocations from seed dealers.  Others that have not booked or do not have existing agreements with dealers may be turned away.

To assess the potential seed shortage, NCDA&CS convened a cross-section of individuals representing the N.C. Seedsman's Association, North Carolina Crop Improvement Association, and multiple private industry partners to discuss the current conditions.  From this group, it was determined the certified seed growers here in North Carolina are still in the process of conditioning seed for the 2008 planting season.  As such, they do not yet have final bag counts.

There may be some potential relief for seed supplies.  It was determined that a limited amount of seed of lesser quality are held "on reserve" in the state for use if needed.  However, supplies of lower quality seed are limited and would likely be utilized only in extreme emergencies.  It is expected that the price for these seed would likely be reduced.  Some companies have already lowered their germinations for certain varieties to 75%.  Lower germination levels are legally acceptable, down to 70% for soybeans, sold in North Carolina.  Many producers may not be able to plant their preferred soybean varieties and/or maturity groups.  In consultation with N.C. State University, producers may need to review or re-assess overall seeding rates.

Drs. Spears and Dunphy, NCSU Crop Science, recommend that if soybean seed are labeled at 80% germination or higher, no adjustments from normal seeding rates are recommended.  If soybean seed are labeled at 70-79% germination, seeding rates should be increased by 10% for full season (e.g. May) plantings, or by 5% for double-crop (e.g. June) plantings.  Be sure to account for seed size (as reflected in the number seeds per pound), since this may be variable this season.  There is also concern that the lower germinating seed may well be accompanied by lower vigor, which would be more serious with the cooler May planting dates than with the warmer June plantings.

The industry partner group is expected to continue to track the seed supply issue over the next few weeks and will reconvene to jointly share information.  Based on this information, NCDA&CS will assess the need for further actions.

Should you have information related to this issue, please contact Eddie Martin, NCDA&CS Seed Administrator by email: Eddie.Martin@ncmail.net or phone: 919-733-3933 ext. 226.

I've listed a few local classes that should have some broad appeal to certified pest applicators.  A full list of continuing education classes is available at the North Carolina Department of Agriculture's Pesticide Section web site.

• 3/25/2008 - Charlotte, NC   1 hr credit A N D X, Aquatic Weed Mangement, Contact: Jim Monroe - (704) 336-4006
• 3/27/2008 - Fletcher, NC   3 hr credit A B G H I K L M N O T D X, Saving Money by Calibrating Sprayers, Contact: Amanda Stone - (828) 255-5522
• 3/28/2008 - Laurel Springs, NC   3 hr credit N O D X, Mountain Forage Field Day, Contact: Callie Birdsell - (828) 264-3061

Some farmers are asking about Cerone. In general, we have not recommended using Cerone in NC, but there are cases where it can be beneficial. If you are concerned about lodging, Cerone maybe something to consider.  However, it may do more harm than good if applied improperly.  What follows is information from Randy Weisz, NCSU Small Grain Extension Specialist.

Cerone is a plant growth regulator that can be used to shorten the distance between nodes (where each leaf attaches to the main stem) in small grains. By shortening internode length, plant height is reduced. This helps reduce the likelihood of lodging during grain-fill and ripening. Cerone must be applied at the correct growth stage or yield losses can occur. Late application, can significantly reduce yields. Also, keep in mind that Cerone cannot increase yield potential, but only minimize yield loss due to lodging problems.

Cerone is very beneficial in reducing yield losses from lodging in fields that traditionally have problems with lodging. Cerone should be applied only on fields that are frequently scouted to determine growth stage.

Situations that favor consideration of Cerone are as follows:

• Wheat with high nitrogen (N) application rates.
  
• Heavily manured ground.
  
• Wheat coming into the spring with excessive growth and at risk to lodging.
  
• Small grains are between Feekes Growth Stage 8 (flag leaf is visible but rolled up, the head is starting to swell inside the stem) and Feekes Growth Stage 9 (early boot, ligule of flag leaf is visible).

   Cerone should not be used in the following situations:

• Before Feekes growth stage 8.
  
• After the boot has split, or anytime the heads are exposed.
  
• In fields that are not frequently scouted for growth stage development.
  
• When temperatures are higher than 90 degrees.
  
• When small grains are drought stressed.
• When small grains have fungal disease present and a fungicide is not applied.
  
• Rainfall is anticipated within 4 hours.
• Small grains have already lodged.
  

If your situation indicates a need for Cerone, read and understand the label. Because of the economic consequences of misapplication, understand the limitations and restrictions on when it can be applied.

More information about small grain production can be found at www.smallgrains.ncsu.edu

Event

Date

Location

Weed Science Society of NC Annual Meeting	March 6, 2008	NCSU JC Raulston Arboretum. Ruby McSwain Education Center, Raleigh, NC
Cooperative Council of North Carolina	March 6-7, 2008	Embassy Suites, Greensboro, NC
NC State Beekeepers Association Spring Conference	March 7-8, 2008	Burlington, NC
Plant Pathology Society of North Carolina Annual Meeting	March 13, 2008	Bartlett Tree Research Lab, Charlotte, NC
27th Annual NC Watermelon Association Annual Convention	March 14-15, 2008	Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort, Wrightsville Beach, NC
NC Potato Association Meeting (80th)	May 19, 2008	Pines Golf Club, Elizabeth City, NC
Southeast Greenhouse Conference & Trade Show	June 19-21, 2008	Greenville Convention Center, Greenville, NC
NC State Beekeepers Association Summer Meeting	July 10-12, 2008	Southern Pines
Crop Protection Association of NC Meeting (Summer)	July 24-26, 2008	Marriot, Myrtle Beach, SC
NC Seedsmen's Association	July 27-29, 2008	Grove Park Inn, Ashville, NC
Summer Green Show & Power Expo	August 12-15, 2008	Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, NC
Carolinas Golf Course Superintendents Annual Meeting	November 10-13, 2008	Myrtle Beach Convention Center, Myrtle Beach, SC
NC Agricultural Consultants Association Meeting (Fall)	December 2-3, 2008	Blue Ridge Ramada Inn, Raleigh, NC
Crop Protection Association of NC (Winter)	December 16, 2008	McKimmon Center, Raleigh, NC