KOCHIA RESISTANCE IN NORTH DAKOTA
Focus in recent years on glyphosate resistance has drawn
attention to several weeds, kochia included. According to
Kirk Howatt, NDSU Weed Scientist a couple years ago, a
kochia collection from central Dickey County provided
variable response to glyphosate. However, the plants were
controlled by field use rates in NDSU greenhouse trials. The
tide has turned with kochia collections from two locations (northcentral
Stutsman and central Pierce Counties) that were tested in
February for response to glyphosate. These collections
varied from 4x to 8x in the amount of glyphosate required to
provide similar control to the included susceptible
collection. Kochia response to glyphosate was barely notable
on these suspect collections with glyphosate at a typical
full label rate (22 fl oz/A of Monsanto formulations or 1
qt/A of generic formulations). Several plants survived a 2x
rate and new branch growth was visible by 14 days after
application. Some of the plants even survived 96 oz ae/A = 6
pounds of glyphosate acid, a full 2 gallons of generic 3
lb/gal formulations or nearly 1.4 gallons of the Monsanto
4.5 lb K-salt formulations. This makes management more
important than ever to address alternative control measures
in the battle against this weed biotype. Please consider
other non-herbicide control practices as possible and
consult the ND Weed Control Guide for herbicide options in
your cropping system.
EARLY SEASON TAN SPOT ALREADY OBSERVED
Tan spot fungal leaf infections have been
observed already in some winter wheat fields (reported by
John Lukach, Langdon REC and Ducks Unlimited). Recent rain
showers will favor development of the tan spot fungus in
wheat residue and favor sporulation and infection. Producers
who have wheat planted into wheat residue and who have had
recent rains may need to think of early season fungicide use
for protection against tan spot.
A number of fungicide products are registered
for tan spot control, including products in the strobilurin
class of fungicides, products in the triazole class of
fungicides, or combination products of both strobilurin and
triazole. Fungicides for this purpose are rated for efficacy
(not price) in the 2012 Wheat Fungicide Efficacy table found
in a link (right hand column of page) at: http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/extplantpath/.
Keep in mind:
Fungicides for this use generally are applied at ½
full label rate in mixture with herbicides applied at the
3-5 leaf stage; if fungicide is applied with herbicide, an
additional adjuvant for the fungicide should NOT be
included; some product combinations have been shown to cause
leaf burn, especially if temperatures drop near freezing
after application or if temperatures soar into high 80s F
after application. In my opinion, the application of
herbicides or herbicides plus fungicides at really cold
temperatures are never a good idea, the crop is already
stressed and isn’t actively metabolizing when cold.
County Agent News
Dan Folske
March 26, 2012
Don’t Fertilize Your Lawn Too Early
The unusually warm weather has been much
appreciated but don’t get in too big of a hurry on your yard
work. I’ve seen the television ads for Scott’s Turf Builder
and other lawn fertilizers encouraging you to get your lawn
fertilized so it greens up and looks as good as your
neighbors but if you really want a healthy lawn rather than
just a green one you will wait.
Early spring lawn fertilization will cause a
quicker green up and more top growth but doesn’t help a
lawns root system which is so important for long term lawn
health. If ;you fertilize now your lawn may turn green
quicker but all you will really accomplish is being able to
mow it more often for the next several weeks. If
temperatures in June and July soar above normal like the
temps of the past few weeks the root system of your lawn
will be weaker and less able to withstand hot dry spells.
Waiting until late May to fertilize will provide more long
term benefit to your lawn.
I’ve had several recent calls about transplanting small
trees. Although we may yet have some cold weather and snow
the warm temperatures we’ve had are causing the buds to
swell and prepare to leaf out. If you need to move a few
trees I would recommend doing it as quickly as soil
conditions permit. Once small trees leaf out for the season
it is difficult for them to survive the stress of
transplanting.
March 21, 2012
New App Helps Identify Cost-effective Heating Fuel
A new app can help homeowners compare heating fuel costs.
Heating Fuel Comparison, a new mobile device application the
North Dakota State University Extension Service developed,
can help people determine the most cost-effective fuel
source when selecting new heating appliances.
“The app allows users to compare costs of various heating
fuel sources,” says Carl Pedersen, NDSU Extension energy
educator. “You simply choose the fuel types you are
considering and the efficiency of the heating appliance you
are looking to purchase, and the app will provide relative
costs of each fuel source.”
For example, electric baseboard heating at 10 cents per
kilowatt-hour is equivalent in price to heating with propane
in a high-efficiency furnace at propane prices of $2.48 per
gallon. If propane prices are below $2.48, then using
propane heat would be more cost-effective.
If a consumer has more than one heating system, the app will
allow them to determine which might be less expensive to use
as well.
“Some buildings have multiple heating sources,” Pedersen
says. “As fuel prices fluctuate, the app will allow people
to choose the fuel that will be the least expensive at a
given time.”
The app is intended to provide general comparisons based on
fuel costs. You have more costs to consider when choosing
which fuel source would be best to provide the desired heat.
They include the initial purchase and installation costs of
heating equipment, as well as delivery or service charges.
In addition to providing information on fuel sources, the
app also includes information on ways to reduce energy use
in buildings. For example, the better the structure is
air-sealed and insulated, the longer heat will stay in the
building.
The app is available for Android and Apple-compatible
devices.
March 14, 2012
Get the Most From Your Business Networks
Small-business owners have found that networking is a
productive use of their time.
Networking effectively lets others know you are in business
and keeps customers and potential customers updated on
changes in the business, as well as new products and
services, It also helps the business owner find answers to
questions and new resources. Finally, it provides an early
warning system of upcoming changes that might impact his or
her business.
Research suggests that networking is one of the most
effective marketing tools because it has little cost, other
than time, and offers one of the best returns on the
investment.
Networking occurs in many different ways and takes many
different shapes. For many small-business owners, it begins
with belonging to the local Chamber of Commerce. Networking
opportunities occur in other business meetings as well.
Networking also can be done in almost any social settings
and includes simple efforts such as stopping by the store
next door on your way to get the mail.
Yet given all of the positives that can come from
networking, many business owners are not actively involved
in networking in some form. Other owners are doing
networking but are not getting everything they can out of
the efforts they make.
So why don’t business owners network?
They have not found it to be an effective tool for them,
according to Glenn Muske, the North Dakota State University
Extension Service’s rural and agribusiness enterprise
development specialist.
“After trying it for a while, the owner has become
discouraged and has lost his or her passion or enthusiasm
for continuing the effort,” says Muske. “At that point,
business owners just do not see the reason for putting more
time and effort into in this marketing option.
“It is important to remember that the business owner is
extremely busy and he or she is trying to get the most out
of every minute of every day,” Muske continued. “The owner
is busy with day-to-day activities and is just trying to
keep up with the daily grind of work, bills, ordering, etc.,
as well as trying to maintain some level of work-life
balance.”
Here are some suggestions for helping business owners not
involved in networking:
* The first and easiest may be to simply continue to invite
them to networking events. And don’t stop at inviting them;
be their mentor. Not only help make introductions but also
help them see the effectiveness of networking.
* Remind business owners that they need to stay optimistic.
Many of the networking efforts they make will bear few
results. That is OK and should be expected. If you walk away
from a networking event with one or two good contacts, it
was a good event.
* Next, do not give up. Just because someone is not
interested in networking today does not mean he or she will
feel the same way tomorrow. Through time, we change, life
changes, the outside world changes. With those changes,
owners may become interested in networking.
* Lastly, remind them and yourself that this networking
effort can lead to some new opportunities for both of you.
If you know a business you think would be a good fit with
your business, work with the business owner to help him or
her build that network. As you go about that effort, you are
building a relationship that can have a payoff for both of
you.
Networking is part of a business’s growth process. It takes
time. As businesses grow, the business owner often will
realize he or she needs to spend more time working “on the
business” and perhaps less time working “in the business.”
For more information and tips about business networking,
contact your local Extension Service office at 377-2927 or
dan.folske@ndsu.edu.
Also visit NDSU’s small-business support website at
www.ag.ndsu.edu/smallbusiness
and sign up for the monthly newsletter, or visit
www.eXtension.org/entrepreneurship. Federal and state
resources such as the Small Business Administration and
Small Business Development Centers also are prepared to
help.
For more Burke County news, visit
www.cndnews.com
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