Wisconsin Crop Manager newsletter

Author:	WCM Staff	Created:	4/21/2006 11:13 AM
Dig it. Articles concerning crop fertility and soils in Wisconsin.

Soil Sampling Strategies for Flooded Fields

By WCM Staff on 9/18/2008 11:34 AM

What happens when a soil is completely flooded for periods of a week or more? There are a few simple guidelines that we would recommend that you follow to determine if the fields should be retested following flooding.

Late Summer Planting Legumes to Produce Nitrogen Credits for Next Year

By WCM Staff on 8/6/2008 10:55 AM

The high price of nitrogen fertilizer has increased interest in planting a legume crop after wheat or canning crop harvest as a green manure to provide some nitrogen credits for next year’s crop. This practice can provide some nitrogen and organic matter as well as increase ground cover to reduce erosion from fields.

Potential for Nitrogen Loss from Heavy Rainfalls

By WCM Staff on 6/12/2008 12:33 PM

How much nitrogen (N) loss should I expect from denitrification or leaching and what should I do about it? This article will discuss how to evaluate the potential for N loss and corrective measures that may be taken.

Late-Planted and Replanted Corn Likely to Respond to Starter Fertilizer

By WCM Staff on 5/8/2008 10:40 AM

Where corn planting has been delayed due to wet soils or where replanting is necessary due to poor stand establishment, use of starter fertilizer is important to increase yields and profits with these plantings. The increased probability of economic response to starter applies even on soils with excessively high P and K soil test levels.

Fertilizer Management Considerations for 2008

By WCM Staff on 3/25/2008 10:35 AM

An article by Carrie Laboski, Dept. of Soil Science, UW-Madison

Project to look at nutrient stratification in Wisconsin’s agricultural soils

By WCM Staff on 3/13/2008 2:47 PM

Soil samplers are needed throughout Wisconsin this spring to help answer these questions. They are requested to take part in a project to measure the extent of nutrient stratification in common agricultural soils under different tillage systems. The primary objective of the study is to assess cropland P stratification by soil group and by tillage system for the Wisconsin P Index, but information on potassium stratification will also be collected.

Carbon credits available for no-till and strip-till crop production

By WCM Staff on 3/13/2008 12:05 PM

The issue of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to address global warming is offering an opportunity to Wisconsin farmers. Farmers can now be paid a soil carbon offset (credit) by enrolling acres in a program that pays them to sequester carbon in crop residues by practicing no-tillage or strip-tillage.

Do I Need to Be a Certified Applicator to Apply N-Serve?

By WCM Staff on 2/14/2008 5:48 PM

After consulting with WDATCP’s pesticide regulatory section, the simple answer is: no. Well, maybe simple is “oversimplified” – here’s the reason why...

Proceedings Posted for 2008 Wisconsin Fertilizer, Aglime, and Pest Management Conference

By WCM Staff on 2/13/2008 4:00 PM

Presentations and Proceedings papers for the 2008 Wisconsin Fertilizer, Aglime, and Pest Management Conference are now available online in a searchable format. You can find these files as pdf documents at: http://www.soils.wisc.edu/extension/wfapmc/

Comments on Ken Ferrie’s Corn/Soy Expo Nitrogen Management Presentation

By WCM Staff on 2/13/2008 3:55 PM

Commenbs on an interesting presentation by Mr. Ken Ferrie on nitrogen management. The Corn/Soy Expo presentation covered a number of issues and suggested several practices that are not part of Wisconsin’s nitrogen management recommendations.

Supplemental Nitrogen to Corn Price Ratio Table

By WCM Staff on 12/13/2007 1:25 PM

In fall 2005 UWEX began using the Maximum Return to N (MRTN) approach to make N rate suggestions for corn. Since that time, both corn and N prices have fluctuated. Currently N prices are high and may continue to move upward as we approach spring. Several of our clientele have asked for an expanded N:corn price ratio chart to reflect current and potential prices. Well, we listened and here it is.

Manage traffic on wet soils to limit soil compaction

By WCM Staff on 11/14/2007 3:03 PM

Soils are at or near their field capacity water content, which is the point were maximum compaction is possible. The easy, armchair quarterback advice is to stay off these wet soils, but in reality that may not happen. So how much compaction really may occur when heavy equipment is driven on wet soils?

Revised Soil Testing Basics Publication Now Available

By WCM Staff on 10/29/2007 6:13 AM

The popular publication Soil Testing Basics has recently been revised by the Nutrient and Pest Management (NPM) Program. Soil Testing Basics is a useful one-page reference resource for individuals involved in nutrient management planning. This publication includes information on why, when, and how to collect soil samples, as well as information on how to complete the soil information sheet that should accompany any samples sent to a lab.

Managing Soil Compaction Following the Heavy Rains of 2007

By WCM Staff on 9/6/2007 3:17 PM

Portions of southwestern and southern Wisconsin received in excess of twelve inches of rain in early August of 2007. These storms not only saturated soils in the regions, but in many cases floodwater deposited sediment on crop fields. This event brings into sight a potential for soil compaction from subsequent vehicular traffic used for agricultural operations.