{"id":8169,"date":"2026-04-26T20:22:07","date_gmt":"2026-04-27T00:22:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/?p=8169"},"modified":"2026-04-26T20:22:07","modified_gmt":"2026-04-27T00:22:07","slug":"colquitt-county-ag-update-april-26-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/2026\/04\/colquitt-county-ag-update-april-26-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Colquitt County Ag Update! April 26, 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/iqnmMv3D95o?feature=oembed\"><\/a>Over the last couple days rainfall have ranged from 0 to approximately 1 inch. The Colquitt County area is in dire need of rain as planting season is here.&nbsp; Cattle producers are running out of hay and pastures are nonexistent. Pam Knox, UGA Climatologist, hosted a drought webinar last Friday and if you are interested in viewing it please go to the link below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"knox drought update 4 24 2026\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/iqnmMv3D95o?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>I have been getting questions about how dry it has been and when it was last this dry. It seems that the rain shut off last August. When you compare rainfall data for the period from August to March each year, the past eight months have been very dry for the Colquitt County area. This dataset goes back to 1895. This information is from the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, <em>Climate at a Glance: County Time Series<\/em>, published April 2026 and retrieved on April 26, 2026, from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncei.noaa.gov\/access\/monitoring\/climate-at-a-glance\/county\/time-series\">https:\/\/www.ncei.noaa.gov\/access\/monitoring\/climate-at-a-glance\/county\/time-series<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/files\/2026\/04\/image-32.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"586\" src=\"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/files\/2026\/04\/image-32-1024x586.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8174\" srcset=\"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/files\/2026\/04\/image-32-1024x586.png 1024w, https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/files\/2026\/04\/image-32-300x172.png 300w, https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/files\/2026\/04\/image-32-768x440.png 768w, https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/files\/2026\/04\/image-32.png 1450w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>New USDA publication on drought and forage in the Southeast<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The USDA has recently released a new publication on drought and forage production in the Southeast. It is authored by Dr. Lisa Baxter, UGA forage specialist, and contains information about how to prepare for droughts, handle them when they occur, and what you can do to prepare for the next drought. You can find the publication at <a href=\"https:\/\/research.fs.usda.gov\/download\/treesearch\/80488.pdf\">https:\/\/research.fs.usda.gov\/download\/treesearch\/80488.pdf<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>I am out of hay! When can I start feeding my oat baleage?&nbsp; <\/strong>Baleage can be fed any time after wrapping but requires at least 4 weeks to achieve a stable pH from fermentation. Well-fermented baleage will be more stable (less likely to be microbially degraded) when fed. Opening up an in-line tube of bales before it has reached a stable pH will increase losses because the end bales have been re-exposed to oxygen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/files\/2026\/04\/image-31.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"975\" height=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/files\/2026\/04\/image-31.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8171\" srcset=\"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/files\/2026\/04\/image-31.png 975w, https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/files\/2026\/04\/image-31-293x300.png 293w, https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/files\/2026\/04\/image-31-768x788.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 975px) 100vw, 975px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Valor and direx plantback for cotton.&nbsp; <\/strong>This has been the topic of the week.&nbsp; According to the UGA Pest Management Handbook, a Section 24c Georgia Special Local Need Label allows reduced plantback intervals for Valor. Outflank, Panther, and Rowel have been tested and perform similarly to Valor but do not have the following use patterns:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>In strip-till cotton<\/strong> where the strip till rig (including a ripper shank running at least 12&#8243; deep) is run after application and before planting,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Valor plant-back intervals are as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>1) &gt;30% ground cover = 7 days<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>2) 10\u201330% ground cover = 14 days plus 0.5&#8243; rain\/irrigation<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>3) &lt;10% ground cover or tillage = 21 days plus 1&#8243; rain\/irrigation<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>In no-tillage production or when the strip is implemented prior to application.<\/strong> Valor plant-back interval should be a minimum of 28 days, AND 0.5&#8243; (&gt;10% ground cover) or 1&#8243; (&lt;10% ground cover) rainfall is required. If Reflex (or generic) will be applied PRE, data suggest adding an additional 7 days to planting intervals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>What about for diuron?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>&nbsp; <\/em>Per the 2026 UGA Pest Management Handbook, the state label described below expired in 2025, efforts to get the label back for 2026 are going well at time of editing but check with your extension agent to ensure the label is in place before following uses defined for the state. <strong><em>A Section 24(c) Georgia Special Local Need Label allows Direx to be applied without a plant back interval as long as a striptill rig with a ripper shank is run after application and before planting.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>If Direx is applied and a strip-till implement is not run then the plant back interval is 7 days. <\/em><\/strong><strong><em>Other labeled diuron formulations require application 15\u201345 days ahead of planting<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Do I need a peanut inoculant this year?&nbsp; <\/strong>According to the <a href=\"https:\/\/secure.caes.uga.edu\/extension\/publications\/files\/pdf\/B%201146_2.PDF\">UGA Peanut Production Guide<\/a> \u201c<em>Research in Georgia has shown a tendency for yields to be slightly higher (up to 200 lb\/A) when commercially prepared inoculants are used in standard rotations, and significantly larger (as much as 1,500 lb\/A) yield improvements when peanuts have never been grown in a field. Evaluate the responses to inoculation and compare the cost of the material and application with potential returns when deciding whether to inoculate peanuts that is planted in a field that grow peanut within the last five years. Also consider weather extremes that may have influenced Bradyrhizobia survival since the last time peanut was grown.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What do you know about grain sorghum?  <\/strong>Sorghum has the ability to withstand short periods of drought yet responds well to additional rainfall or irrigation. The actual total water required for sorghum to reach its yield potential will vary with environment from 18 to 28 inches. A good rule of thumb in any given environment is that<br>sorghum will require 70 percent of the water used by corn to obtain maximum yield. However, a single<br>timely irrigation can significantly boost sorghum yield.  Below is a Georgia Quick guide that contains good production information on grain sorghum production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/files\/2018\/04\/Georgia-Grain-Sorghum-Production-Quick-Guide.pdf\">Georgia Grain Sorghum Production Quick Guide<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Tissue sampling agronomic crops<\/strong>!  I had a couple of questions about tissue sampling agronomic crops last week.  Below is table from the UGA Plant Analysis Handbook informing us on the appropriate stage of growth, plant part to sample and how many plants or leaves to sample for 6 agronomic crops.  If it ever rains again maybe we can start doing this.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/files\/2026\/04\/image-33.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"563\" src=\"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/files\/2026\/04\/image-33-1024x563.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8176\" srcset=\"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/files\/2026\/04\/image-33-1024x563.png 1024w, https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/files\/2026\/04\/image-33-300x165.png 300w, https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/files\/2026\/04\/image-33-768x422.png 768w, https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/files\/2026\/04\/image-33.png 1519w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>I have been involved with a project evaluating the potential of applying a fungicide in the side\u2011dress nitrogen on corn at the Sunbelt Ag Expo. The corn was 26 days after planting and had accumulated 484 GDD, or was approximately at the V5 growth stage, at the time of application.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I had a question or two about GDD and how it compares with other years. Below is a chart from the AgroClimate website, showing the average GDD for corn during the period from March 26 to April 25, 2026. <a href=\"https:\/\/agroclimate.org\/tools\/growing-degree-days-calculator\/\">http:\/\/agroclimate.org\/tools\/growing-degree-days-calculator\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/files\/2026\/04\/image-35.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"616\" src=\"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/files\/2026\/04\/image-35-1024x616.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8179\" srcset=\"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/files\/2026\/04\/image-35-1024x616.png 1024w, https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/files\/2026\/04\/image-35-300x181.png 300w, https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/files\/2026\/04\/image-35-768x462.png 768w, https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/files\/2026\/04\/image-35.png 1416w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/files\/2026\/04\/image-34.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/files\/2026\/04\/image-34-768x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8178\" srcset=\"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/files\/2026\/04\/image-34-768x1024.png 768w, https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/files\/2026\/04\/image-34-225x300.png 225w, https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/files\/2026\/04\/image-34-1152x1536.png 1152w, https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/files\/2026\/04\/image-34.png 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Applying fungicide to test plot at Sunbelt Expo last week<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have any questions please contact your local county Extension agent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Have a great week,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Jeremy M. Kichler<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Colquitt County Extension Coordinator<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension does not endorse or guarantee the performance any products mentioned in this update.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Over the last couple days rainfall have ranged from 0 to approximately 1 inch. The Colquitt County area is in dire need of rain as planting season is here.&nbsp; Cattle producers are running out of hay and pastures are nonexistent. Pam Knox, UGA Climatologist, hosted a drought webinar last Friday and if you are interested [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":67,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35,22,4,10,24,9,38],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8169","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-beef-cattle","category-corn","category-cotton","category-hay-forages","category-irrigation","category-peanuts","category-weed-managment"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8169","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/67"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8169"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8169\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8182,"href":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8169\/revisions\/8182"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8169"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8169"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8169"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}