May/June 2015
Steve Okonek, Agricultural Agent
Email: [email protected]
(715) 538-2311, ext. 376
There are some interesting developments in the popular press regarding conservation so I will attempt
to summarize them and give a Trempealeau County twist to them.
Minnesota stream side buffers: Minnesota law requires a 50 foot wide buffer strip along the side of
a stream and a 16.5 foot wide buffer along the side of a drainage ditch. This law had very little enforcement in the past. Now there is more urgency in the enforcement of this law. The amount of land
idled could be large. One size fits all regulation seldom solves any problems.
Des Moines, Iowa law suit: Des Moines Water Works is going to court to turn drainage districts in
three northern counties into point source polluters under the Clean Water Act. The suit alleges these
drainage districts are transporting nitrates at four times the safe drinking water level to the Raccoon
River. Des Moines gets its drinking water from the Raccoon River and the city is spending upwards of
$7,000 per day to remove nitrates from the drinking water. This litigation would be ground breaking
and could turn agriculture on its heels if Des Moines prevails. So far, field run off and erosion has
been treated as non-point source pollution under the clean water act.
So what is the Trempealeau County twist to the Minnesota buffer law and the Des Moines law suit?
Would a city or village facing large costs to dredge their mill pond look to land owners up stream to
recoup costs? Of course the big dead fish in the room is the hypoxia zone in the Gulf of Mexico.
Could Gulf States sue states up river for run off and erosion that is destroying the fishery in the gulf?
How much money is lost to commercial fishing and tourism in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas from
the hypoxia? How many billions of dollars could a law suit involve? I hope these two scenarios do not
come to pass but it is something to think about. If a lawsuit came to pass, a settlement would most
likely involve mandatory conservation practices. The Minnesota law may be easy to comply with compared to court mandated practices. Courts are highly unpredictable and usually don’t have an understanding of common agricultural practices.
I hope I am not predicting future actions or giving anyone an idea. Instead I’d like to think I am being
proactive and getting you to think. Strategically applying buffer and filter strips to areas of your operation, use of cover crops, crop rotations, residue management, and proper use of tillage can help protect water quality and maintain your soils profitability for generations to come. Erosion is a real cost
and threat to your long term viability as a business. If you maintain your soil and your businesses ability to compete, you will solve the other problems associated with erosion in the process.
The following link is an interesting video about a project in Iowa regarding conservation buffers. It
should get you thinking about an alternative way of managing some of the more fragile acres in your
operation. http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/news/strips-video
Conservation Buffers
Conservation buffers are small areas or strips of land in permanent vegetation, designed to intercept
pollutants and manage other environmental concerns. Buffers include: riparian buffers, filter strips,
grassed waterways, shelterbelts, windbreaks, living snow fences, contour grass strips, cross-wind trap
strips, and shallow water areas for wildlife, field borders, alley cropping, herbaceous wind barriers, and
vegetative barriers.
Strategically placed buffer strips in the agricultural landscape can effectively mitigate the movement of
sediment, nutrients, and pesticides within farm fields and from farm fields. When coupled with appropriate upland treatments, including crop residue management, nutrient management, and integrated pest
management, winter cover crops, and similar management practices and technologies, buffer strips
should allow farmers to achieve a measure of economic and environmental sustainability in their operations. Buffer strips can also enhance wildlife habitat and protect biodiversity.
Benefits of Buffers
Conservation buffers slow water runoff, trap sediment, and enhance infiltration within the buffer. Buffers
also trap fertilizers, pesticides, pathogens, and heavy metals, and they help trap snow and cut down on
blowing soil in areas with strong winds. In addition, they protect livestock and wildlife from harsh weather and buildings from wind damage. If properly installed and maintained, they have the capacity to:
Remove up to 50 percent or more of nutrients and pesticides.
Remove up to 60 percent or more of certain pathogens.
Remove up to 75 percent or more of sediment.
Conservation buffers reduce noise and odor. They are a source of food, nesting cover, and shelter for
many wildlife species. Buffers also provide connecting corridors that enable wildlife to move safely from
one habitat area to another.
Conservation buffers help stabilize a stream and reduce its water temperature. Buffers also offer a setback distance for agricultural chemical use from water sources.
Like the trim on a house makes the house look better, well-planned conservation buffers improve the
appearance of a farm or ranch. If used as part of a comprehensive conservation system, buffers will
make good use of areas that often should not be cropped.
Key Messages
1. Conservation buffers work environmentally because they:
Control soil erosion by both wind and water.
Improve soil quality.
Improve water quality by removing sediment, fertilizers, pesticides, pathogens, and other potential contaminants from runoff.
Enhance fish and wildlife habitat.
Reduce flooding.
Conserve energy.
Protect buildings, roads, and livestock.
Conserve biodiversity.
2. Conservation buffers work economically because of financial incentives available through USDA conservation programs--the continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) sign-up, Environmental Quality Incentives Program(EQIP), Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP), general CRP, Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP), and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP).
3. Conservation buffers may help you meet Federal, state, or local pollution control requirements.
4. Many state and local governments--and even some private organizations--offer additional financial incentives to install conservation buffers.
5. Conservation buffers are a visual demonstration of your commitment to land stewardship.
The preceding article was copied from the following website:
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/national/newsroom/features/?cid=nrcs143_023568
Weed Resistance Management
Weed resistance is a problem that we need to deal with proactively rather than reactively. The loss in
yield that can occur due to resistant weeds can be very serious. Dealing with weed resistance reactively
can cost up to $40 per acre. Getting in front of the issue by using other herbicides and crop rotation will
delay or prevent the issue from impacting your farm operation.
Water hemp and palmer amaranth have been receiving a lot of press because of the devastating impact
they have had on southern cotton and soybean fields. These weeds are now moving into Wisconsin.
There are many products that will keep these weeds at bay if they are used in an integrated system. Harness, Harness Extra, Dual II Magnum, Lariat, Atrazine, and dicamba are all effective against pig weed
species if used correctly. Pig weed species were not a problem in the past because these products were
usually part of most peoples control strategies.
“Switching up the different types of herbicides is the number one recommendation, but it’s about diversity
in the system,” Vince Davis, former UW weed scientist said. “Anytime we increase diversity, including crop
rotation, will help slow the process of herbicide resistance development.” Rotation is most effective when
a crop with a different growth cycle is included. Corn and soybean are both warm season crops so they
are less effective at breaking the weed’s life cycle. Including a perennial such as alfalfa or a biannual like
winter wheat would be more effective than soybean in breaking a weed’s life cycle.
Another weed that could be a major problem this year is volunteer corn. With the late harvest and some
corn left standing over winter, corn could be a major weed. There are a few options to clean this “weed”
out of crops this year. One option would be to plant soybean and use an ACcase product like Poast or
Select to clean up the corn. Another option is Liberty Link corn if last year’s corn was Roundup Ready.
Of course you can seed alfalfa and use Poast or Select in that crop. Cutting and harvesting the corn with
the first cutting of alfalfa will control it as well.
Giant ragweed is increasing in population around the county. This pest can be the first weed and the last
weed germinating in fields. Because it comes from a large seed, giant ragweed can emerge from deep in
the soil, often below any herbicide barrier. Late emerging weeds will not be controlled because the herbicide has either been applied and missed the weeds or the residual chemical has dispersed and is no longer at an effective rate in the soil. Multiple applications will need to be made if giant ragweed is a problem
in your fields. Do not make multiple applications of the same product. Glyphosate resistant giant ragweed can quickly develop resistance to other chemistries.
University of Wisconsin publication A3646, Pest Management in Wisconsin Field Crops, pages 23-35 has
options for control of giant ragweed and covers all application methods from pre-plant incorporated to post
emerge. A3646 also outlines strategies to fend off resistance development to other pesticides as well as
herbicides. To access A3646 use the following link http://learningstore.uwex.edu/assets/pdfs/A3646.PDF.
Spring Alfalfa Management
How did your alfalfa and other hay fields survive winter and spring weather? Be sure to evaluate your
fields once growth reaches six inches on alfalfa. Waiting longer than this makes evaluation difficult and
sooner means you may have to evaluate twice to be sure you have kept fields that will be productive.
The first step is to look to see if there are a lot of dead plants and if the growth from the crowns is even or
not. Uneven growth from the crowns is evidence of winter injury. Next, count stems per square foot. The
recommended way to do this is to make a square out of PVC pipe that measures 17 inches by 17 inches.
This will be two square foot. Toss the square like a Frisbee and count the stems, divide by 2 to get stems
per square foot. You want 55 stems or more per square foot for best yield and a minimum of 40 per
square foot. Get five or more counts per field and average them. Less than 40 stems per square foot indicate the field should be terminated. The stem count recommendation is for pure alfalfa stands. If you
have stands mixed with grass you can have fewer stems per square foot and maintain a viable yield.
The last step is to dig some plants and evaluate the health of the roots. Alfalfa tap roots should be white
and appear like string cheese. There can be a slight amount of brown staining near the top of the crown
or a slight discoloration in the middle of the root. The browner the root, the more injured the plant. If the
root is entirely brown and ropey then the plant is dead. Fields with uneven growth and discolored roots
should be evaluated again because weakened plants may die later, leaving a low yielding and unproductive stand.
Didn’t get your fall tillage done?
Don’t sweat not doing tillage last fall. In fact, that can be a good thing. With the economic challenges facing crop production this year you may
want to skip tillage all together. The
chart below shows that no-till or strip
till can be an advantage to most crop
production enterprises. The planter
used for no-till in the trial shown below
did not have row cleaners or a wavy
coulter; it was only a straight blade
coulter in front of the double disc
openers. Using a planter with a wavy
coulter or row cleaners would push
the crop performance closer to that of
strip till. Rotation still gives the biggest yield bump compared to continuous corn. If you rotate corn and soybean, why till at all?
Container Gardening
From: Judt Haase-Hardie
Container gardening is a wonderful alternative to gardening a small plot of land. The options for types of
containers are unlimited and for some it offers an opportunity to remain in contact with the soil. One may
choose to garden in containers for many reasons. One’s yard may be too small or too shady. A person
may have limited free time or poor health but yearns to have some fresh vegetables and herbs. Growing
a small container garden may entice a child’s involvement and ownership of a project, which may require
regular watering reminders but is not as demanding as caring for a pet. For my mom, who grew up in a
large family on a farm and who raised me and my siblings on a farm, container gardening helped her to
remain in touch with the land while living in a second floor apartment in a city. She was proud of her balcony tomatoes and flowers.
Containers: One may purchase expensive signature containers from a garden center or one may conduct
a container hunt around the farm or in one’s garage, basement, or storage unit. So far I have done a
mental hunt on our farm and have come up with several types of pails, a cracked, 150 gallon livestock
water tank, rotting tree stumps and the bottom of a grill. Containers are made of many materials: clay, terra cotta, cast concrete, plastic and fiberglass. One may build a container out of pressure treated/rot resistant wood (caution: creosote is toxic to plants). Each type of material has its pluses and minuses. You,
by trial and error, will determine what is best for you.
Keep in mind several factors when choosing containers for gardening:
Drainage: Containers should have drainage holes; waterlogged soil may cause the plants to die. If you
fancy a certain container without holes, make some or use the container as a cover for an unattractive
pot.
Size: A gardener may think of the plant’s root system and rate of growth to select a container, or one may
select a container and then determine what to plant in it. A larger container can hold more soil, retain
more moisture, and be less affected by rapid temperature changes. However, is this container going to be
parked indefinitely or is it going to be moved frequently?
Steps in preparing a container: A layer of newspaper or paper towel placed over the drainage holes will
prevent the soil from washing out of the container. To lessen the amount of soil required for a deep pot,
one may place gravel or Styrofoam at the bottom keeping in mind whether or not the pot is going to be
moved. Depending on the size of the pot, garden soil may be too dense for container plants; one may
want to purchase a commercial planting mix or make one. Plant plants in the containers as you would in
the garden; water thoroughly. Do not over fill the containers; leave room for watering. I have used
chopped straw, old hay, dry grass, and dry haylage to mulch around the plants.
Selecting container plants and caring for them: Be daring and have fun! The old saying goes, “Nothing
ventured, nothing gained.” This is more than likely going to be small scale; one will not lose lots of money
and waste a huge amount of time. To find plants that grow well in containers, browse seed catalogues.
Some plants may include dwarf tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, scallions, loose head lettuce and many
herbs. Water plants thoroughly and regularly not allowing the soil to completely dry. The frequency of watering will be determined by weather, type of plant, size of plant, and size of container. It is important to
feed container plants. Some suggestions are compost tea, diluted fish emulsion, seaweed extract, and
slow release fertilizers (read the labels). Remember, this is your project—experiment; you won’t blow it up
but you may dig it up.
Pasture walk season is upon us! Mark your calendar!
May 21, Noon Jim Litscher Farm, W450 Buehler Valley Road, Fountain City
June 18, Harvey Menn Farm, Cashton
July 16, Nate Kling Farm, Taylor
August, Jerry Wagner Farm, Black River Falls
September 17, Joshua Wolf Farm, Waumandee
October 15, Steve & Pat Kling Farm, Taylor
Everyone is invited to join us in this farmer driven, informal learning environment! Post cards will be sent out for each pasture walk including date,
time, and location.
Dairy newsletter
Enclosed is a copy of the El Companero/Dairy Partner newsletter. Please read this and share it with your Hispanic employees.
This newsletter has informative topics and seasonal items that can help you manage your dairy and your farm workers.
Topics throughout the year include dairy herd health, proper dressing for cold weather and winter driving just to name a few.
IF YOU ARE ABLE TO RECEIVE THE AG NEWSLETTER BY EMAIL,
PLEASE SEND ME YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS AT
[email protected]
This will help us with printing and mailing expenses
COME JOIN US…………
May 21, Noon—Pasture Walk, Jim Litscher farm, W450 Buehler Valley Road,
Fountain City
June 5, Last day for fair paper entries!! They should be mailed to:
Trempealeau County Fair Entries, PO Box 206, Galesville, WI 54630
June 13, Trempealeau County Dairy Breakfast, New City Dairy, Independence
June 18, Pasture Walk, Harvey Menn farm, 25593 County Rd T, Norwalk
June 19, Last day for online fair entries!!
July 2, Skid Steer Safety, Mondovi 10:00am to Noon or 1:30pm to 3:30pm
July 7, Skid Steer Safety, Black River Falls 10:00am to Noon or 1:30 to
3:30pm
July 8, Skid Steer Safety, Chippewa Falls 10:00am to Noon or 1:30pm to
3:30pm
For questions or to register for any of the programs outlined here please call the Extension Office at
715-538-2311 ext. 208 or email [email protected].
THANK YOU!
This Trempealeau County Extension
Newsletter is sponsored by these
Trempealeau County
Community Agricultural Banks:
Bank of Galesville: 608-582-2233
Independence State Bank: 715-985-3197
Pigeon Falls State Bank: 715-983-2295
State Bank of Arcadia: 608-323-3331
Union Bank of Blair: 608-989-2541
United Bank: 715-597-3136
Waumandee State Bank: 608-323-3555