The New Agriculture Network's on-line newsletter with seasonal advice for field crop and vegetable growers interested in organic agriculture.
Next issue will be posted May 10. Read previous issues through our calendar of issues.
Soybean rust update for spring 2006
Daniel S. Egel,
Extension Plant Pathologist,
Southwest Purdue Agricultural Center
As organic soybean growers go about the business of getting ready for the 2006 season, some thought should be given to the possibility of soybean rust (SBR) causing problems for Midwest growers. While worrying is not advised, there are a few items that growers should accomplish prior to the arrival of SBR season:
- Arrange to have on hand an organically labeled fungicide, just in case.
- Know the details for applying fungicides to soybeans, i.e., the appropriate spray pressure, nozzle type, etc.
- Be prepared to scout fields, i.e., know what the symptoms look like and how to scout for SBR.
- Find a way to keep abreast of where SBR is in relation to the Midwest . One might read newsletters or watch the Internet (some likely websites will be discussed below).
You will find more details on these items below. First, let's review the 2005 season briefly. Our story really starts with November 2004, when SBR was found for the first time in the continental U.S. By January 2005, SBR had been found in nine states. Since SBR cannot survive without green plant tissue of soybean or a close relative, winter freezes caused SBR to die out except for a few kudzu patches in Florida and in protected areas elsewhere in the southeast.
Above, Kudzu vines cover a ravine and many nearby trees. The fungus that causes soybean rust will only survive in green tissue of soybean, kudzu or a few other related plants. Therefore, kudzu is important in survival and spread of soybean rust. Except for in parts of Florida and in protected areas in the southeastern United States , Kudzu will freeze back to woody parts and loose all the green tissue in the winter months. A kudzu leaf is shown in detail in the inset.
As the 2005 season progressed, SBR finds increased until a total of 138 counties and nine states were confirmed with SBR (Figure 2). (To watch this spread on an animated map, f ol low this link: http://www.ceal.psu.edu/sbr05.htm ). Note that the general direction of spread was north through the Car ol inas and west toward Texas . The number of both counties and states that have been confirmed with soybean rust in 2006 is considerably higher than at the same time in 2005 (Figure 2). This may be because SBR spread sufficiently during the 2005 season so there are many more places from which SBR can begin to spread in the 2006 season.
The increased rate of SBR finds in the 2006 season compared to the 2005 season should convince growers in the Midwest to be vigilant. The final SBR map (Figure 3) shows that SBR did come as far north as Caldwell County ( Princeton , Ky ). SBR has also been reported in Mexico . So there will be no lack of SBR spores to blow around should the winds turn toward the Midwest.
Let's go over the four points listed above with more detail.
Fungicides
There are no varieties of soybeans resistant to SBR. Thus, if SBR shows up, it will be necessary to apply fungicides to avoid severe losses. To my knowledge, the only organic fungicide labeled for SBR is Ballad (AgraQuest, Inc.). Soybean growers may choose to purchase a fungicide prior to the arrival of SBR or make arrangements to purchase the fungicide from a dealer when and if SBR shows up. In either case, don't wait until the arrival of SBR before making arrangements.
Fungicide application technology
Most soybean producers do not apply fungicides regularly. Therefore, growers may need to acquire the proper equipment and learn about application methods before SBR arrives. A brief description of proper fungicide application methods f ol lows. An effective fungicide application will deposit spray onto the lower leaves of the canopy where the disease is most likely to develop first. Spray droplets should be in the medium range (220 microns). Ground applications should use 15 to 20 gallons per acre. The boom should remain about one foot above the canopy of the soybeans. More detailed information can be found at:
http://ohioline.osu.edu/aex-fact/pdf/0526.pdf
http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/SoyRust/index.htm
Scouting for SBR
Riding past one's soybean fields at 40 mph with the windows down will not be sufficient to scout for SBR. The initial symptoms of soybean rust will occur on the lower leaves where dew will remain the longest (several hours of dew at temperatures from 59 to 82 degrees F are sufficient to allow SBR to get started). So, to observe SBR one must wade out into a field and, using a yardstick, move the plants apart, bend over and look at the lower leaves. A 15-20X ocular will be helpful. More on symptoms and scouting tips can be found at:
http://www.ppdl.purdue.edu/PPDL/pubs/soybean_rust_symptoms_web.pdf
http://ncipmc.org/alerts/soybeanrust/index.cfm
http://www.ppdl.purdue.edu/PPDL/SBR/SBR_IN_update.html
Tracking SBR
No SBR management program will be complete without a plan for keeping up on the movements of SBR. We know that SBR overwinters only on green tissue. Therefore, SBR spends the winter lurking in kudzu patches in Florida . As the weather warms up, SBR migrates north with the greening of kudzu patches and the planting of soybean acres.
This movement will be tracked by plant path ol ogists in states from Florida to Michigan , from North Car ol ina to Iowa . In each state, so called sentinel plots of soybeans will be planted and observed by specialists trained to recognize SBR. If SBR is found and confirmed, this information will be posted on this USDA website: http://www.sbrusa.net/ . Most states will issue advisories on when fungicides should be applied. As a general rule, it will be wise to begin fungicide applications when SBR is observed in a state south of the producer.
The timing of the fungicide application is critical. If the fungicide is applied too soon, additional applications may be necessary before the disease actually shows up in one's field (most data show that fungicide applications in the absence of SBR do not pay for themselves). If the application is made too late, no amount of fungicide will provide economic contr ol . The best application is made when the disease is in close proximity, yet not actually in one's own field. Remember that if you find one lesion in your soybean field, more lesions are present at the microscopic stage and will be visible soon.
SBR is not likely to be a pest of Midwest soybean producers every year. However, SBR will arrive in Midwest soybean fields eventually. It will pay dividends to learn more about this important disease.
General links
http://www.ces.purdue.edu/extmedia/ID/ID-324.pdf
http://www.ppdl.purdue.edu/PPDL/soybean_rust.html
http://www.plantpath.iastate.edu/soybeanrust/
USDA funding research into fighting Asian soybean rust on organic crops
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is awarding a $480,000 two-year grant to a team of researchers and Extension staff members from Iowa State University , Michigan State University, the University of Florida and the Rodale Institute in Kutztown , Pa. to examine strategies for controlling soybean rust on organic soybean crops.
Since 2002, the USDA has been working toward strategies to combat soybean rust. The agency predicts $7.2 billion in losses if soybean rust spreads throughout the United States . This research effort is working to develop a biological method to control the spread of soybean rust on organic crops.
"Organic soybeans are the money-making crop for organic farmers in Michigan -- that is why we need to be proactive in addressing this potential pest problem," MSU's Dale Mutch says. "Right now we're going to test what biofungicides are currently available. If something new comes up, we'll test that, also."
Mutch will be sharing findings from this work with the New Agriculture Network and other resources.
Indiana 's preparations for soybean rust 2006
Daniel S. Egel,
Extension Plant Pathologist,
Southwest Purdue Agricultural Center
Soybean growers in Indiana will continue to have opportunities to keep up with soybean rust (SBR) information in 2006. Many growers took advantage of the educational programs offered this past winter and spring about SBR. Other opportunities are listed below:
- As in 2005, several soybean sentinel plots will be hosted across the state so that Purdue University specialists, Extension educators and seed company personnel will be able to look for SBR.
- Soybean producers will be able to check the USDA website http://www.sbrusa.net/ to keep track of SBR progress across the nation. Purdue University Professor Dr. Greg Shaner will update specific Indiana information on this website.
- The Plant, Pest and Diagnostic Laboratory (PPDL) maintains a website with a variety of information about soybean rust http://www.ppdl.purdue.edu/PPDL/soybean_rust.html . This site is constantly changing, so growers should keep checking back.
- Indiana samples suspected of being SBR will have the usual $11 fee paid by the Indiana Soybean Board. The PPDL website above has more information about this program.
The above information is just a sketch of the programs Purdue University has to offer regarding SBR. One may contact his or her county educator for more information.
MSU student organic farm apprenticeship program
David Conner,
C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems,
Michigan State University
It's finally here! Organic farming apprenticeship and course work for university credit.
Where:
Student Organic Farm, Michigan State University , East Lansing , Mich.
What:
* One year (40 credits) of course work and experience operating a certified organic, 10-acre four-season farm.
* Seven acres of field production, 10,000 sq. ft. of unheated greenhouses and 4000 sq. ft. of heated greenhouses.
* Production of fresh vegetables, fruit, herbs and flowers for 50 membership 48-week CSA and a summer farm stand.
* Management of two-thirds acre permaculture (native, edible forest garden) plot.
* Honey bees and free-range laying hens on site.
The certificate program is administered through the Horticulture Department and the Agriculture Techn ol ogy Institute. Housing is available in Spartan Sustainable Village apartments on campus. Financial aid and health care are available.
When:
Starting January 2007 for one year on campus, plus an on-farm or community-garden-based internship.
Who:
A group of 10-15 students who are passionate about organic farming and food systems, taking classes and working together as a team. From this program, graduates will prepare themselves for a future career in organic farming, food security projects, farm to scho ol , organic agriculture education, community garden projects, the Peace Corps and more!
How:
Contact Corie Pierce at piercee@msu.edu. Call 517-355-5191 then dial 1 and ext. 411 for an application or more information.
Ask about the availability of on-line courses that you may be able to take for credit while still at your current scho ol . Visit the student organic farm at: www.msuorganicfarm.com
New MSU organic vegetable and field crop specialist
Vicki Morrone,
Michigan State University,
517-353-3542
sorrone@msu.edu
The C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems at Michigan State University (MSU) announces a new position, established January 1, 2006 , to serve Michigan 's organic vegetable and crop farmers. Vicki Morrone is MSU's new Organic Vegetable and Field Crop Specialist. She is charged to work with MSU Extension educators and researchers to create and bridge resources that support organic vegetable and crop farmers. Her work will establish and enhance partnerships between organic farmers and MSU, developing new to ol s to enhance organic production systems.
Morrone's applied and academic background in integrated pest management (IPM), plant path ol ogy, plant science and Extension education equips her to assist organic growers with their production and pest management challenges. She will also facilitate development of c ol laborative research programs serving Michigan organic and transition field crop and vegetables farmers and has joined the organizational team for the New Agriculture Network.
Already established is a listserv for organic farmers and those considering transition to organic. It provides an avenue for farmers, researchers and educators to share information. Anyone can join by sending an email to: listserv@list.msu.edu . In the body of the message write "subscribe MICH-ORGANIC." Subscribers will be notified of new organic resources and opportunities and provided a place to ask questions. Resources from MSU and beyond will be offered via the list. Also being developed are fact sheets to target areas of concern for organic farmers. One of the first fact sheets will deal with organic inputs to build soils, based on soil test results. Her information will be tied into the New Agriculture Network.
Morrone hopes to connect growers with MSU researchers and Extension educators through on-farm research and demonstrations dealing with innovative cover crop systems, sustainable and organic integrated pest management, building soils for organic systems, and outreach to transitioning farmers. She welcomes ideas and input from all who are interested in organic farming. Please email comments and suggestions to her at sorrone@msu.edu or telephone her at 517-353-3542.
Illinois
South Central Illinois - Floyd Johnson
We have missed several rains, although we are getting more field work done and in dry enough conditions. Some of our oats are suffering. The first patch I was racing to get in before rain, so I planted shallow; it didn't rain. The next patch we set deeper thinking there was no way we could miss too many rains; it didn't rain. The last patch we set even deeper and I haven't checked this planting yet.
The first batch of chickens that went out to pasture on April 6 has been struggling. I think it was just too early for our situation. The new heater in brooder house has lowered attrition rates in brooder house significantly. I look forward to see how much better they do on pasture with this start. I am also thinking of better ways to raise chickens. We have been concrete blocking our pasture pens any time there is a chance of thunderstorms, but this is a lot of work and worry. Since we are moving into a pasture situation instead of a backyard, I have been considering different aspects of day ranging, such as more sturdy buildings that are able to handle more drastic weather than our pasture pens. But I just don't like manure distribution with day ranging, but maybe this can be solved.
We finished sowing oats last Friday, April 21. We made a trip to Chicago on Saturday to deliver eggs and meet with chefs about chickens coming up. We even had a few minutes to ride bike paths along Lake Michigan with my daughter. Yesterday I was working flat ground for corn. I'm farm r ol ling ground and to do tillage for organics we strip crop in 120' strips. One field will be alternately stripped in corn and small grains, and other field will be stripped in soybeans and legumes. I hate to tear up corn strips until oats are at least started. This system works much better when we get wheat planted in fall.
In the next two weeks we will be sowing red clover in oats and we have some nutrients to get on, too. I hope to plant corn the first week of May, so we'll be preparing ground for corn, and if time allows, I will crack open ground for soybeans and get a flush of weeds killed.
Questions
What are other producers doing to work around weather with pastured chickens?
Is anyone else working on cooperative distribution of organic foods?
West Central Illinois - Anne Patterson
Weather conditions have not prevented me from getting things done; however, the lack of rain is slowing down germination and growth of recently planted peas, onions and carrots.
Transplanting c ol e crops is completed. Planting of potatoes, lettuce, arugula and beets is done. Daily harvesting of asparagus and twice weekly cutting of spinach, mesclun and rhubarb are ongoing.
More blueberries will go in this week along with potting up tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, flowers and herbs. Winter cover crop has been mowed but it needs tilling in. During the next couple of weeks, melons and cantaloupe plants must be started, beans will be seeded and more weeding of asparagus and hazelnuts will occur.
Questions
Wondering if people are seeing more weed growth and bugs earlier than usual this spring?
Central Illinois - Dave Bishop
Weather has been ideal over the past week for field operations. Moisture is good and soil temperatures are at or above 60 degrees F. Current farming practices are mostly primary tillage and grazing operations. In the next two weeks we plan to plant field crops and vegetables.
Northern Illinois - Dave Campbell
We are a little dry, but so far no problems with any weather-related issues.
We sowed oats and hay-seeding two weeks ago. We have disked last year's corn ground, which will be planted to soybeans.
In the next two weeks we will field cultivate ground that will be planted to corn next month. Most of the ground was seeded down to a red clover cover crop last crop season, and was chisel-plowed late last fall. We will also field cultivate a few thistle patches in a rye field that will be planted to soybeans.
West Suburban Chicago - Steve Tiwald
Less than one-inch of rain has fallen in the past two weeks. That dryness, coupled with the period of unseasonably warm weather (high 70s and low 80s), is not good for the crops I have in the field-onions, leeks, garlic, peas, potatoes and spinach. We need more rain.
Current farming practices include tilling under the cover crop to make way for vegetables; transplanting into the field the brassicas including kale, kohlrabi, cabbage, brocc ol i and cauliflower; and seeding trays of lettuce and Asian greens. Over the next two weeks we will be doing more of the same. Depending on the frost forecast, we may start transplanting tomatoes, eggplants and peppers into the field two weeks from now.
Indiana
South Central Indiana - Dale Rhoads
Two weeks ago we were at the end of a week of high temperatures in the 80s. This allowed us to get sort of "caught up" on the tilling in areas where we didn't get our rye cover crop last fall and the chickweed had taken over, making spring tilling hard. It inv ol ved lots of hand labor to get chickweed clumps out for good seed bed preparation. I am barely keeping ahead of tilling requirements as we are planting salad greens and cilantro outside, but I'm ahead of it now having areas tilled and germinating weeds for sterile seedbed weed kill. All lettuce is transplanted and growing well.
Currently we are experiencing highs in the 60s and 70s and lows in the 40s and 50s. We seem to be getting ample rain nicely spaced every five to six days. Since it warmed up we have had no frosts until tonight, and it is only forecast for tonight.
Asian pears, European pears, Japanese plums, European plums and peaches have all set fruit. Apples are half fruit set and cherries are in bloom. We will see if or how tonight's frost affects fruit (fingers crossed!) Last year the Asian pears got frosted on the tree and still grew fine.
We transplanted all the co ol weather crops and then debated whether to put heavy row covers on them due to hot weather. We decided to put them on and all plants have really grown. We have been doing salad greens at about 30 percent production from greenhouses and will start into full production this week with outside under row covers greens beds ready for harvest.
We've been planting unprotected salad greens outside and getting good germination. I tilled all day yesterday to get ahead of the rain expected this afternoon.
The Asian pears got through fireblight season fine with strep sprays. About three to four days left for apple blossoms to remain open. All other fruit except cherries has gotten first cover of Surround and Sulphur .
During the next two weeks we will start weeding lettuce and get areas ready for squash, basil and corn. This year we will try some different cover crop scenarios for squash and corn. We'll be keeping up with tilling/seed bed preparation for salad greens and short season crops and keeping up with fruit sprays.
Michigan
South Central Michigan - Anthony Cinzoni
Dry weather has delayed plastic laying and some planting. Currently we are potting herbs and vegetables in the greenhouse, planting mums in the field and harvesting greens out of greenhouses. In the next two weeks we will lay plastic, plant tomatoes and more c ol e crops, finish onion planting and seed squash in the greenhouse.
Central East Michigan - Ivan Morley
We have had normal rainfall and temperatures so far this year. Sugar beets in this area are planted, some conventional corn is planted.
I just finished seeding red clover and alfalfa in my wheat and spelt. I have also worked some ground for corn that was seeded with clover. In the next two weeks I will possibly plant some corn and fertilize wheat and spelt with liquid fish.
East Michigan - John Simmons
Weather conditions always affect cropping systems, but most recently frequent rains (every three to four days) have limited field work to very well-drained fields. The rains and accompanying warm weather have spurred growth of winter grains, clover, alfalfa and pasture fields. Weed seedlings usually seen later in the season are emerging as well.
Currently, we are preparing well-drained fields and planting oats and clover. During the next two weeks we'll continue planting oats and clover, interseed/incorporate clover in small grain fields, and first time over tillage for fields planned for corn/soybean/sunflower.
Questions
Will crimson clover nodulate adequately from native rhizobia strains? Is inoculation essential?
Michigan 's "Thumb" region - Gene Vogel
It is been dry and cool. We have seeded oats for cover. We haven't done much tillage; cover crops are a little small yet. In the next two weeks we will work down cover crops and start planting corn and soybeans.
Iowa
Northwest Iowa - Paul Mugge
The weather has been relatively wet here with few days suitable for field work. It seems days come in two types-absolutely beautiful or absolutely horrible (cold, wind, rain).
I have finished drilling the small grains. They included oats, flax and some triticale cover crop on my ridges which will be planted to soybeans. I have done some tillage of last year's red clover cover crop which wasn't supposed to survive winter. It is solid and about 8 inches tall. I also had a problem drilling flax on a field that was triticale last year. A lot of volunteer triticale overwintered and became very soddy when rain kept me from tilling it. You can't allow that stuff to go through the winter or it can become very unmanageable.
I will be doing pre-plant tillage for corn, hauling manure and spreading compost during the next two weeks.
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