Farm & Ranch
Weather forecasts could become seeding forecasts
By: Kay Ledbetter
Texas A&M AgriLife studies planting rates based on anticipated moisture
Writer: Kay Ledbetter, 806-677-5608, [email protected]
Contact: Dr. Ronnie Schnell, 979-845-2935, [email protected]
COLLEGE STATION – A Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Servicestate cropping system specialist hopes producers can use the weather forecast for not only deciding how to dress, but to alter management practices based on expected conditions.
The research project, “Optimizing Grain Sorghum Seeding Rates for Anticipated Hydrologic Conditions,” is led by Dr. Ronnie Schnell, AgriLife Extension specialist in the Texas A&M University soil and crop sciences department.
Joining Schnell in the research are Ryan Collet, AgriLife Extension agent in Hill County; Dr. Tony Provin, AgriLife Extension soil chemist, College Station; Russell Sutton, Texas A&M AgriLife Research associate research scientist, Commerce; and Jon Gersbach, AgriLife Extension agent for Milam County. This work was supported by the Texas Sorghum Producers.
“What we are trying to do with this project is determine: If we have an idea what the weather is going to be and the seasonal rainfall outlook, can we alter our management practices based on those long range forecasts?” Schnell said.
If the forecast can be utilized, he said, this could give producers an opportunity to reduce seeding rates significantly if drier than normal conditions are expected, as well as other yield-based inputs such as nitrogen to match anticipated moisture conditions.
“Excessive plant populations can exacerbate soil moisture limitations and result in lower yields, stalk rot diseases and lodging in grain sorghum,” Schnell said.
He said finding the optimum seeding rate is complicated by the variability of pre-season soil moisture and in-season precipitation.
In its first year, this study evaluated grain sorghum yield in response to increasing seeding rates and contrasting soil moisture conditions in the central and northern Blacklands of Texas.
The trials were imposed at five locations in the central and northern Blacklands. April and May precipitation was slightly below normal, while June precipitation was well above normal. Over the three months, precipitation was in line with foretasted conditions. Winter precipitation, although variable, had been sufficient to recharge the soil profile before planting.
“We looked at seeding rates and we wanted to know if we could identify optimum population rates for given hydrological conditions and then if we could use some of the long-term forecast to adjust our seeding rates,” Schnell said.
This year at planting time, precipitation was not expected to be above or below normal, so no adjustment to normal seeding rates would be justified.
“But, what we did see in June as the crop reached critical growth stages and water use started to peak was depletion of profile soil moisture,” he said. “This year we also had above-normal precipitation in June, so we had the water to replenish that profile. But we know the soil moisture was rapidly depleted during later growth stages, possibly resulting in brief periods of moisture stress at all locations.”
Without timely rainfall, moisture stress would have intensified and higher plant populations may not have been successful, Schnell said.
He said in this first year of testing, the optimum population rate for the sites was near what the normal recommendation would be because of the predicted moisture.
“We have to keep in mind that for this year we had a full profileat planting and had some very timely heavy rainfalls during the growth stages, so this year will represent a year where higher seeding rates would be successful,” Schnell said.
“However, there are other years that we suspect if we did not get normal rainfall, it would certainly justify reductions to those seeding rates and that would help to maintain and reduce some of the secondary issues you come up with when moisture is limited.”
Schnell said they will try to continue the study at some level next year and have a broader range of moisture-level conditions to compare.
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By: Rayford Pullen
Fall is here which means winter is closing in on us and before we officially get into winter, we need to make sure our factories are either producing or will be producing in a few months.
We have been pregnancy testing our cows this fall and if they are not bred or nursing a calf, we are bidding them adios. With annual costs somewhere between $900.00 and $1,000.00 per cow, those cows not producing a live weaned calf are costing us quite a bit.
To read more, pick up a copy of the November edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
By: Martha Crump
Most cattle producers can tell you quite a lot about balancing cattle diets for energy, protein, vitamins, and minerals based on the specific needs for their herd and type of operation.
A key factor, and one that is often overlooked, is that how your animals perform is also directly affected by their water intake.
Now many of you may already be thinking “well of course water is necessary, anybody knows that!”
In many years, as September marches into October, we are beginning to experience some return of rainfall. But as many of us know, that is not always the case. Often we are still experiencing hot and dry weather, and water supplies are dwindling.
When we find ourselves experiencing those types of fall conditions, it is critical to not only understand the daily water requirements for cattle, but also the impact that the quality of water can have on herd health and development.
To read more, pick up a copy of the October edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
By: Tony Dean
Since their introduction to the U.S. in the early 1900s, Old World Bluestems such as King Ranch bluestem and Dahl bluestem have become established on farms and ranches from the Rio Grande to Nebraska. With such a wide range of adaptability, these species are subjected to a wide range of management, depending on location and the goals of the rancher.
Due to the aggressive nature of OWBs, producers in far South Texas have been trying to find a way to eradicate OWBs in their pastures. Texas AgriLife Extension bulletin “Introduced Bluestem Grasses: Management on Native Lands” describes several methods being used in the effort to rid pastures of OWBs. In 2016, one project involved using chemicals, plowing, mowing, reseeding, summer burning, and combinations of these practices.
To read the about the researchers findings and hear Tony’s take, pick up a copy of the October edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
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