…well maybe not just yet. But this video demonstrates how new technology can provide scientists with new ways for exploring and presenting data. The content of the video also touches on issue that are related to crop production and soil science. We live in world that has become wealthier and healthier in the past half decade. This is in part due to improved crop and soil management. However, with this increase in wealth and health comes an increase in food demand. As we move forward, the great challenge for agricultural and soil scientists’ is contained within that interactive graph. We must produce food sustainably in order to keep the world population from reverting back to the poor and unhealthy section of the graph.
Cover crops discussed at 2010 Agronomy/Soils Field Day
At the 2010 Agronomy/Soils Field Day at Arlington, WI, I conducted a field talk on the value of different cover crop species. Specifically, cereal rye, berseem clover and tillage radish. Cereal rye establishes quickly and provides ground cover, but does not function as a green manure (i.e. supplies nitrogen to the subsequent crop). Berseem clover takes longer to establish, but will provide a nitrogen credit if well established. The benefits of tillage radish are less known. The tillage radish performs a type of “bio-tillage” and may scavenge excess available nitrogen from the soils system. The field slides can be viewed here.
RuarkLab meeting well attended
March Lab Meeting
It may have been the promise of coffee and bagels, but the RuarkLab meeting was well attended. The 2010 field season is upon us!
Long winter days
January is Extension Month for the Ruark Lab!
This January was especially busy with presentations give at the following events.
- Wisconsin Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Growers
- IPM Scout School
- UW-Extension Webinar Series
- Wisconsin Crop Management Conference
- Wisconsin Cranberry School
- Heathly Grown Potato Conference
- Biomass Opportunities for Southern Wisconsin
- Nutrient Management Workshop - Green County
Follow the links to check out the events. Also check out the link to the Wisconsin Crop Management to see all of the topics covered at the 2010 event.
2009 Area Soil, Water & Nutrient Management Meetings
The 2009 Area Soil, Water & Nutrient Management Meetings are underway! This year’s topics include:
- Update of water quality research findings from Discovery Farms
- Soil mapping in Karst topography
- Wisconsin nutrient management update (DATCP)
- What you need to know about gypsum
- Nitrogen and soybean: application to and credit from
- The “Big Laboski” Hour - research updates from Dr. Laboski’s research program
For more info on the Area Meetings click here
The economics of soil testing
Soil testing is the only tool we have to evaluate the pH, phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) status of the soil. Knowing this information allows growers to make economically optimum applications of lime and phosphorus and potash fertilizer. In these times of economic uncertainty, managing input costs is an important component of farm sustainability. Many growers have opted to cut costs by eliminating soil testing as part of their management program. This is not a recommended strategy. There are two main misconceptions about soil testing:
MISCONCEPTION #1: Soil testing is expensive.
FACT: Routine soil testing costs less than 40 cents per acre. University of Wisconsin soil testing recommendations are to analyze one composite sample per 5 acres and to soil test at least once every four years. Using a standard rate of $7.00 per analysis, this averages out to $0.35 per acre per year. Most, if not all, certified laboratories will also provide fertilizer recommendations based on University of Wisconsin recommendations along with the soil test values. Some laboratories may have slightly higher prices or may charge shipping costs.
MISCONCEPTION #2: Maintenance applications of P and K are good enough.
FACT: Soils testing in the very low to low range for P and K require additional inputs beyond removal rates to optimize yield.
FACT: Soils testing in the high to excessive range require less than removal rates to optimize yield.
In either case, money is lost from either reduced yields or over application of P and K. When soils tests indicate the soil is in the very low to low category, this suggests that there is a very high likelihood that yields will increase due to application of fertilizer. However, it also indicates that the crop would benefit from building the “fertility” of the soil through additional P and K inputs over time.
For more information on soil testing, please visit our website www.soils.wisc.edu/extension/soilsampling.php.
Frontiers of Soil Science Workshop
A publication from the National Academies of Science was released from the 2005 Frontiers of Soil Science Workshop. This was an excellent workshop that covered all aspects of soil science research as well as the future and importance of soil science research. There were five graduate students invited to attend:
Amy Brock, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Daniel Clune, Cornell University
Josh Heitman, Iowa State University
DeAnn Ricks Presley, Kansas State University
Matt Ruark, Purdue University
It was a great experience for all of us. And we have had a lot of success since then. Check out the great research these other scientists are conducting!
The passing of Norman Borlaug
Dr. Norman Borlaug passed away September 12, 2009 at the age of 95. As a young scientist, I looked up to Dr. Borlaug, not only for the scientifc advancements he initiated, but also because of his ability take these advancements from test plots to entire continents, regarless of the polictical issue of the time. I spent 6 years working in Borlaug Hall at the University of Minnesota and got to shake his hand once when he visited Purdue University. As we reflect on the life and achievements of Dr. Borlaug, we must also think about this century’s challenges as it relates to food production and environmental sustatinability.
For more information and interesting articles about Dr. Borlaug, check out the following links:
Juneau-Adams-Marquette County Field Day - September 3rd
Wednesday, September 3rd 2009 - Juneau-Adams-Marquette County Corn & Soybean Grower Field Day.
Located at the Cenex Answer plots. Dr. Joe Lauer, Dr. Chris Boermoom, and Dr. Matt Ruark will be presenting information and leading discussions on improving productivity and agronomic efficiency in the Central Sands Region of Wisconsin.
See brouchure for more info
Organic Field Day @ Arlington Ag Research Station
Wednesday, August 26th - Organic Field Day. Highlighting new discoveries and endevors in organic ag management. For more information click here.