Agriculture : News
DATE: June 08, 2010
HARDIN COUNTY COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE
201 Peterson Drive
Elizabethtown, Kentucky 42701-9370
BY: Doug Shepherd
County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources
Another Wet Spring - Consider the Presidedress Nitrate Test (PSNT) for Corn
Like 2009, this spring has been wetter than normal. Wet conditions cause concern about loss of nitrogen from soil. When the soil is wet, particularly in low lying areas, denitrification can be significant. Denitrification causes nitrogen loss as anaerobic microbes use nitrate nitrogen. Nitrate is converted to nitrogen gas which is lost to the atmosphere.
The presidedress nitrate test (PSNT ) can be used to check soil nitrogen levels. It is designed to determine nitrate levels in soil when growing corn and helps producers determine if any sidedress nitrogen needs to be applied. Soil is sampled at 0 to 12 inch depth when corn is about knee high. The soil is sampled at a deeper depth than normal soil testing at 0 to 6 inches. The deeper depth is required because nitrate moves through the soil profile more than other plant nutrients such as phosphorus and potassium.
After taking a sample, it is very important to air-dry the soil promptly to avoid further nitrogen loss which may not represent field conditions. Nitrogen levels in soil changes dramatically from one week to the next. That is why a PSNT only works if soil is sampled at the time when corn needs nitrogen the most.
Kentucky State University Field Day:
The Kentucky State University Sustainable Farms and Families Field Day will be July 15, 2010, at the KSU Research Farm and Center for the Sustainability of Farms and Families in Frankfort,
KY. To date, there are 70 presentations, numerous demonstrations, and displays covering agriculture, apiculture (bee-keeping), aquaculture, home and commercial horticulture, youth educational programs, Family and Consumer Science programs, and health screenings.
Registration opens at 9 a.m. (no charge), the workshops commence at 10 a.m. and continue through 5:45 p.m. The Plenary Session, 12 noon – 1:45 p.m., includes the welcomes,
presentations by Mr. James Hill (Southern SARE), Mr. William “Bill” Buchanan (USDA-Risk Management Agency), Dr. Jill Auburn (Invited, USDA REE program), song and dance by the KSU International students from Central America, samples of their native foods, and lunch. For directions and more information visit http://organic.kysu.edu/index.shtml or contact Marion Simon (marion.simon@kysu.edu).
Soybean Rust Update:
Soybean rust continues to be a no-show on both kudzu and soybean in the US.
However, there are reports of active soybean rust in extreme northeast Mexico, so the likelihood is very high that soybean rust will soon be detected in the southern-most part of Texas. This area of Texas grows 5000+ acres of soybean and they have been getting some rain. In addition, parts of the Midsouth that had been very dry (e.g., Louisiana) are now getting significant rain. So, the writing is on the wall that soybean rust will soon be found somewhere along the Gulf. But for now, all is quiet and the soybean rust risk for northern production areas, including Kentucky, is EXTREMELY LOW.
Educational programs of the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, or disability.
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