The New Agriculture Network's on-line newsletter with seasonal advice for field crop and vegetable growers interested in organic agriculture.
Vol. 1, No. 8 - July 29, 2004
In this issue
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Books on biological control in Midwestern field crops and in the garden |
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Reports from organic growers |
Editor's note: We've hit the summer doldrums and do not have feature articles this week. Our next issue is published August 12 and will include a reader survey - hope to hear from you via the survey.
Books on biological control in Midwestern field crops and in the garden
Joy N. Landis, MSU IPM Program
MSU Extension has available two books about biological control that may interest organic growers. Natural Enemies in Field Crops: A Guide to Biological Control tells how to use predators, parasites, and pathogens to help control insects, weeds, and diseases. This 66-page handbook includes in-depth profiles of 30-plus natural enemies to use against specific pests. The book also encourages experimentation and adaptation to fit your situation and highlights important information to consider when implementing biological controls on your farm.
A similar publication, Natural Enemies in Your Garden: A Homeowner's Guide to Biological Control, looks at biocontrol options in the yard and garden. The 64-page book helps identify predators, parasitoids and beneficial pathogens and discusses how to protect and use them. An easy-to-use table provides an illustration of each pest, lists its natural enemies, and directs the reader to helpful information: history, life cycle, what you will see and how to encourage these beneficial organisms.
The content of both books was derived from articles published in the Midwest Biological Control News (see http://www.entomology.wisc.edu/mbcn/mbcn.html). The articles were written by various university research and extension experts from throughout the Midwest. The soft-bound books can be order through MSU Extension at: http://www.emdc.msue.msu.edu. The price of the field crops publication (inventory number E2721) is $9 and the garden book (inventory number E2719) costs $6.25.
Reports from organic growers
Iowa
As of today Ron Rosmann (West Central iowa) reports having finished with barley and oat harvest, which is quite an accomplishment given the continuing wet conditions. The oat yields are good, around 80 bu/acre. The barley is not nearly as good going between 40 and 50 bu/acre. They had 10 percent hail damage on the barley this year. Also, because of very wet conditions when they planted the barley they did not get good soil-to-seed contact and the stand was quite poor. Next year Ron plans to use the culti-packer no matter how wet it is. This year, it turned off hot and dry in early April after planting. We had 60 acres of barley and 25 acres of conventional oats and 9 acres of hull-less oats, which we grew for the first time. It will be used strictly in baby pig rations because of its feeding value and better digestibility. It proved to be a challenge to combine as it is easy to blow out of the combine. They reduced the air blast by nearly 50 percent. It appears to have worked.
The alfalfa stand in the oats and barley are the best Ron has ever seen. It was like a hay crop in its height and they are baling all of the straw. It will make good feed. They will also get a cutting before fall. They feed their barley straw to their stock cows in the winter combining it with good alfalfa hay and stubble hay by tub grinding it and mixing it all together -- works very well.
They still have to square bale the oat straw for hog bedding. After that, they will have the first field-crop break since March. (We need it!) The third crop of hay will not be cut until later in August. Now they will be dealing with mowing weeds and staying ahead of thistles in the cattle pastures. They are also going to start fall-calving 34 cows in the next few days and are farrowing 16 sows right now. The incentive for organic hogs is tremendous right now with very good prices.
Illinois
Dave Campbell notes that Northern Illinois has been very dry and cool lately. They have gone from 13.4 inches of rain during a six-week span covering the last three weeks of May and the first three weeks of June, to 1.6 inches of rain the past five weeks. Corn is growing rapidly, but has yet to tassel. Beans are very clean due to late planting but are in need of warmer temperatures and some generous rains. They range anywhere from 5 to 12 inches tall. Dave just finished combining wheat. Due to scab, the yields have been fair to poor and had a low test weight (52 lbs/bu). Current farming practices include tillage work in wheat fields, planting a cover crop in these fields and cultivating beans a second time. Dave is interested in sources of certified organic, soft red winter wheat seed.
Michigan
Rob Malcomnson (Southeastern Michigan) reports that alfalfa fields are finally getting a deep green color after being yellowed by excess moisture. They were finally able to cultivate last weekend; first time since early July. His corn is still stunted and yellow. Their fields received 1.2 inches of rain on Tuesday, July 27.
Rob is starting second cutting of hay and hopes to start rye and wheat harvest this week. Currently he is involved in more cultivation and machine repair. They plan to harvest vegetables for the Flint Farm Market and some food coops over the next two weeks.
Questions: Has anyone tested forages and has the weather affected quality such as energy or mineral uptake or protein?
Matt Wiley (Southwest Michigan) has harvested his speltz, however, he had lower yields this year. The good news is his red clover crop that was frost-seeded into the speltz is over 30 inches tall. Matt asked Ron Rossman and Paul Mugge (from Iowa) about a source for cultivator mirrors. Answer: Klingler Mgt., New Ulm, MN, ph. 507-359-9849.
Matt's fields received 1.5 inches of rain about a week ago, which has really helped his soybeans.
