Some New Production Guides and Pecan Calendar Poster
2021 Cotton Production Guides
We’ve got in the Cook Extension office. The Cotton Gin and Lenox Peanut have some too. Also available to download at THIS LINK.
2021 Corn Production Guides
Also in Cook Extension Office. And on line at THIS LINK.
Pecan Management Calendars
Also in Cook Extension Office. Only 15 left. These are big calendars made from a plastic type material so they are very durable.
We’ll have more production guides available as soon as they are made available to us.
2020 Cook Peanut Fungicide Trial Summary
This is great local data for Cook Peanut Producers – credit to Everett Franks and UGA Extension Peanut Team. Please call me for more info on this trial or results – Tucker 507-8862.
Tift/Worth Watermelon Production Mtg (virtual) Recording
This meeting on Feb 8 was recorded and is available on youtube in sections according to speakers.
Nematodes – Dr. Abi Hajihassani. CLICK HERE TO WATCH
Weed Management – Dr. Stanley Culpepper. CLICK HERE TO WATCH
Disease Management – Dr. Bhabesh Dutta. CLICK HERE TO WATCH.
Varieties, Irrigation – Dr. Andre da Silva. CLICK HERE TO WATCH.
Thimet and Peanut Leaf Spot Control
Comments from Dr. Bob Kemerait – We have long known the following about Thimet: it is an excellent thrips control product. It is the only thrips control product on peanut that also reduces risk to Tomato spotted wilt. The benefit from Thimet on Tomato spotted wilt is not related to its ability to kill thrips (though thrips vector the Tomato spotted wilt virus) but because in addition to killing thrips, Thimet activates a defense mechanism in the peanut plant, helping to fight the virus. At-plant, in-furrow use of Thimet also offers some early-season benefits in control of leaf spot. Thimet used in-furrow seems to suppress the development of leaf spot very early in the season. This does not mean a grower can “skip a spray” but does mean that Thimet will contribute to leaf spot control provided by a standard program. I think of it like a box of Cracker Jacks. Thrips control is like the caramel-coated popcorn. Tomato spotted wilt control is like the peanuts. Leaf spot control is like the prize in the box. You don’t buy the Cracker Jacks for the prize, but you are glad it is in the box anyway.
Some Reminders Before Field Corn Planting – Dr. Eric Prostko
Based upon my 22 years of experience in Georgia, here are 3 things that I know will happen somewhere in a patch of field corn in 2021:
1) Herbicide carryover will be blamed for corn injury but low soil pH is the real problem (Figure 1). Favorable average soil test results and/or “grid-sampling” do not guarantee that there are no areas of low soil pH in a field.
2) Herbicide carry-over will be blamed for corn injury but nematodes are the real problem (Figure 2). In my opinion, nematodes are much more of a problem than is currently perceived by many.
3) Valor (flumioxazin) injury, from either sprayer contamination (i.e. improper cleanout) or drift will occur (Figure 3). Good news is that depending upon rate and stage of growth, field corn has some tolerance to Valor (Figures 4 and 5).
Two Important Settings that Needs your Attention on Spinner-Disc Spreaders – Simerjeet Virk
Spinner-disc spreaders are common application equipment for broadcasting lime and dry fertilizer. Both pull-behind and large self-propelled spreaders are widely used by growers and co-ops in Georgia. One of the most common issues we always hear about them is the lack of uniform fertilizer distribution, which is hard to miss when you see streaked fields or pastures. Generally, most applicators do a good job of selecting the proper settings (gate height and conveyor speed through press wheel or rate controller) to apply the target application rate but more often overlook the settings that affects fertilizer distribution across the swath. The graph below illustrates that as an example where the mean rate (342 lbs/ac) for this fertilizer application is pretty close to the target application rate (350 lbs/ac) but the fertilizer distribution uniformity across the (70 feet) spread width is considerably poor (showed as solid blue line). This is also called a typical “W” pattern with a heavy center directly behind the spreader and two peaks towards the end of the swath.
So, two spreader settings that needs your attention and can be adjusted to correct fertilizer distribution issues:
Flow Divider Position: A flow divider is located at the end of the conveyor chain/belt and above the spinner-discs. Its function is to split the material evenly and control the material placement (location) onto the spinner-discs. The fertilizer distribution across the spread width is most sensitive to the position of the flow divider as a small change in flow divider position can result in a significant change in spread pattern i.e. a small change can make an undesirable spread pattern desirable or vice-versa. The flow divider position depends on the material being spread. The recommended setting in the spreader operator’s manual is usually a good place to start with but a spread pattern testing is highly recommended to adjust and determine the flow divider position that provides a more uniform fertilizer distribution behind the spreader.
Spinner Speed: Speed (rotations per minute) of the spinner-discs controls how far the fertilizer is being spread out (single pass spread width), which is used to determine the effective spread width (the actual application width). Low to medium spinner-disc speeds (600 – 700 rpm) are generally recommended for more uniform fertilizer distribution across the swath. However, application at higher spinner-disc speeds are also common among the applicators to spread wider and cover more acres. This results in non-uniform distribution as fertilizer properties (particle size and weight) impacts how it is being distributed behind the spreader i.e. larger and heavier particles travel farther whereas the smaller and light particles are mostly distributed close to or directly behind the spreader. This is one of the primary reasons for fertilizer segregation during broadcast application of blended fertilizers. Additionally, larger but fragile fertilizer particles breaks easily on contact with spinner-discs rotating at higher speeds and create lot of fines directly behind the spreader. Most of these issues (related to uneven distribution and segregation) can be easily corrected by operating spinner-discs at recommended lower speeds. A quick calibration procedure to verify the actual spinner-disc speed (using a handheld tach) and the desired effective spread width (through spread pattern testing) is again advised to attain a more uniform fertilizer distribution.
While consideration to other spreader settings and spreader operation is also important for uniform fertilizer application, in my opinion these two settings are on the top of the list to check and make any necessary adjustments.