Agriculture : News
DATE: June 27, 2010
HARDIN COUNTY COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE
201 Peterson Drive
Elizabethtown, Kentucky 42701-9370
BY: Doug Shepherd
County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources
Crazy Top in Corn:
Heavy rain over the weekend of April 30-May 2 led to flooding of some corn fields, which raises the risk of crazy top showing up in some fields over the next few weeks. This disease is favored by flooding early in crop development according to Dr. Paul Vincelli, UK Extension Plant Pathologist.
Infection Process: Flooding of corn between emergence and the 4-5 leaf stage for 24-48 hours allows swimming zoospores of the crazy top fungus to enter the whorl and infect the growing point of corn. If infection occurs, the plant will produce numerous tillers, a leafy tassel ("crazy top"), and no ears.
Occurrence: The organism that causes crazy top occurs in Kentucky and surrounding states, but it is not a widespread problem. Since the early 1980's, we have diagnosed less than a dozen cases in the state, and only one case was anything approaching an economic level of loss. The organism also infects wheat, several turfgrasses, and certain wild grasses, but is rarely important on other grass crops.
Current Outlook: Given that flooding has occurred early in crop development in some corn fields, we may see a few cases of crazy top this year. Most, if not all, cases are likely to be minor. Serious economic loss from crazy top is uncommon throughout the Midwest. It is important to note that serious loss can happen. Indeed, it may happen somewhere in Kentucky this year. However, many times in the past Kentucky corn producers have experienced serious flooding episodes of corn that would have allowed crazy top infection, yet serious cases are almost non-existent. This suggests that inoculum levels are generally very low.
RyzUP “Smartgrass”?!?!
Sounds like a command from some superpower in some science-fiction flick, instead of a new plant growth regulator! You may have heard about this product locally this spring, it’s called RyzUp SmartGrass. It is being marketed to increase grass pasture production during late fall and early spring. The product is a formulation of gibberellic acid (often called GA). GA is a naturally occurring plant growth regulator that causes cell elongation in all plants and therefore is essential for plant growth. Which makes this product pretty exciting since it’s organic. Applications of GA have been used for years in the horticulture industry to increase fruit size. For example, GA is very important in the production of seedless grapes and seedless watermelons. Without seeds these crops do not produce enough natural GA and fruit size is very small. Simply by spraying a small concentration on the plants the cells elongate in the fruit producing the large size that you the consumer desires.
This article is not about fruit production. The question is whether the new GA formulation called RyzUp SmartGrass is effective in increasing pasture growth as advertised. The product has been sold for some time in New Zealand and Australia to increase pasture growth in the cooler months of the year (temperatures between 40 and 60 degrees). The University of Kentucky has been working with Valent BioSciences since 2008 to test this product in Kentucky. Our initial trials on tall fescue growth in the fall gave mixed results with Ryzup sometimes increasing growth and other times there was no difference in growth.
Results in 2009 in other states were more promising. This past spring UK tested the product on orchardgrass at the UK Lexington Research Farm and several county agents across the state conducted on farm demonstration tests. Three farms in the Rineyville area tested the product this spring and the results were rather amazing. In coming news columns we will update you on the results of these trials and on the trials we have planned for this fall. We also hope to highlight this product at our county fall beef tour.
Dairy Environmental Meetings Scheduled:
The UK College of Agriculture and Cooperative Extension Service have two dairy meetings scheduled on July 21 at the Woodford County Extension Office and on July 22 at the Metcalfe County Extension Office aimed at environmental management. That subject continues to be a hot and important topic for consumers, dairy farms, and regulatory agencies. This meeting will provide information to help you today’s modern dairy farmer better understand this critical issue. Both meetings will begin at 10:00 AM local time and conclude at 2:00 PM.
Topics to be presented and discussed include: Ag Water Quality Act Overview, Permitting and Corrective Measures, Nutrient Management and Farmstead Planning, Feeding to Reduce Nitrogen and Phosphorus Output, Waste Water Management, Streamside/Riparian Grazing, and On-Farm Composting of Dead Animals.
For more information and to register contact Dr. Jeffrey Bewley, UK Extension Dairy Specialist, 859-257-7543 or jbewley@uky.edu.
DARS:
Speaking of Dead Animal Removal...we have just been notified that DARS, the company that has a contract with the county (to pick up dead animals from farms) through the end of this month, has been sold to another company which is not planning to continue the contract with Hardin County. According to officials at the County Judge/Executive’s office, they expect dead animal pickup to continue through July 16. We’ll keep you posted on the future of this very important program.
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