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      County Agent News    



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.

 

 

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Last Updated on 05/07/2012