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Understanding the role of carbon in agriculture Kurt Thelen Michigan State University, Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences Old McDonald had some…carbon? Just about everyone is familiar with the Old McDonald nursery rhyme. History tells us that the lyrics derive from an old folk song prevalent in the British Isles and North America hundreds of years ago. Flash forward to 2021 and carbon capture and storage is now being touted as a potential new role for old McDonald’s farm. For some time now, the popular press has covered the ongoing debate about climate change. Some articles point to agricultural as a primary contributor to the problem. Currently, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates agriculture and forestry together account for 10.5% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions (0.7 million metric tons). Transportation and industry are estimated to account for about 60% of emissions (4.0 million metric tons). However, what really sets agriculture apart is its potential to remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and sequester it in soil. Science is now demonstrating that agriculture can be a primary solution to
the problem of greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. As a result, farmers are now hearing terms like carbon credits, carbon financing and carbon payments. Why all the buzz now about farms being considered part of the solution to climate change? Conceptually it is quite simple—once you understand the basics of how carbon is cycled in the environment. The issue of climate change revolves primarily around the main atmospheric form of carbon, CO2. In fact, CO2 is the metric, or currency in which changes in atmospheric radiative forcing (i.e., global warming) are measured. What does all this have to do with farming? As it turns out, the most effective way to reduce atmospheric CO2 levels is through Mother Nature’s own process of photosynthesis. A few simple, back of the envelope calculations demonstrate agriculture’s ability to assimilate CO2, which can potentially lead to carbon capture and storage. Let’s use corn, the nation’s top crop, as an example. Corn will contain, on a whole plant basis, approximately 43% carbon (C) by weight. Additionally, the amount of C deposited by roots will be approximately 29% of the shoot biomass carbon. Using the above ballpark figures and assuming a typical mid-
Michigan corn grain yield of 180 bushels per acre, we can calculate the amount of atmospheric CO2 corn will potentially assimilate during the growing season to be a whopping 34,679 pounds per acre! The 2020 national corn growing champion 476-bushel yield, which happened to be grown in Michigan by Don Stall of Charlotte, Michigan, would have assimilated 91,707 pounds per acre CO2! Of course, this figure represents the total amount of C assimilated in the corn crop, not the amount of C “sequestered” in the soil. Much of the assimilated C is naturally recycled back to the atmosphere when an animal respires CO2 while metabolizing corn grain in its feed or soil microbes metabolize stover remaining in the field. The key to “sequestering” or successfully capturing and storing some of the assimilated carbon into the soil depends upon the farmer’s use of C-smart best management practices including minimal or no-till systems and the use of cover crops. Carbon dynamics in the soil are complex, but these best management practices help to move and maintain soil C into a more stable form in the soil. Soil C exists primarily in organic form as soil organic
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Bales of wheat straw are scattered throughout the field. (Kurt Thelen/MSU)
matter, which is comprised of forms that decompose at different rates, the most stable of which can persist for thousands of years. With proper management, over time the C level of the soil can be raised to a new equilibrium level. Carbon capture and storage; is it like trying to catch lightening in a bottle? The naturally occurring annual microbial decomposition of crop residue such as corn stover remaining in the field results in the respiration of about 80% of the C addition of the stover and root residue plus an incrementally decreasing portion of the previous years’ plant material not decomposed in its first year. By implementing C-smart best management practices such as no-till and cover crops, most estimates for long term stable annual CO2 retention hover in the 300 to 1,000 pounds per acre per year range, which varies significantly based
on local soil and climate conditions. Furthermore, the C accumulation factor for a given best management practice is generally considered valid for a period of about 50 years, after which the soil will reach a new equilibrium level of C and further increases in soil C attributable to that particular management practice would not be likely. Thus, it takes a long time to effectively sequester appreciable amounts of C in the soil. However, some of the emerging markets are willing to pay in the range of $10 to $15 per acre, or about one credit (one ton of CO2 equivalent) to a farmer for implementing a practice such as no-till or cover crops. Perhaps more important to the farmer and society are the well documented agronomic and environmental advantages of increasing soil carbon such as: decreasing soil erosion, increasing water permeability, improving soil structure, increasing the rate of spring soil warm up, etc. We’ll continue the discussion on the
ecosystem services provided by C-smart best management practices in Part 3 of this series on carbon. For perspective, consider the atmospheric emissions of C from fuel combustion. For each gallon of gasoline combusted, 19.4 pounds of CO2 are released into the atmosphere. Nationally, the U.S. consumes approximately 140 billion gallons of gasoline per year, effectively pumping 2.7 trillion pounds of CO2 into the atmosphere annually. On average, crude oil being consumed today, represents C from plant material that was sequestered below the surface of the earth some 300 million years ago. Therefore, the annual U.S. 2.7 trillion pounds CO2 fuel emissions constitute new carbon, or at least carbon that has not been in the atmosphere for over 300 million years! Therein lies the basis of the growing climate change challenge. On a national basis, the U.S. typically grows about 92 million acres of corn. Collectively, assuming the 300 to 1,000 pounds per acre CO2
sequestration rate, no-tilling all the nations corn crop would potentially sequester about 28 to 92 billion pounds of CO2. A respectable amount to be sure, but unfortunately, it only amounts to 1 to 3.5% of the CO2 emitted from our gasoline cars on an annual basis! Obviously, we’re not catching much lightening in our bottles as long as we continue to pump 2.7 trillion pounds of CO2 into the atmosphere annually from gasoline consumption. However, the real power of agriculture in the C capture and storage scenario lies in the coupling of renewable fuel production from agriculturally grown feedstocks with carbon capture and storage. In other words, by using renewable energy to displace fossil fuels, we can effectively ratchet down our current 2.7 trillion pound CO2 gasoline emissions. Unlike gasoline and other fossil fuels, the CO2 emitted from bioethanol is simply carbon recycled back to the atmosphere from where it originated a year or so previous. The U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) conservatively estimates conventionally grown corn grain ethanol to be a 21% direct impact reduction in carbon footprint relative to gasoline. When cellulosic feedstocks from perennial grasses like switchgrass are used for biofuel, research at MSU and other universities has shown the reduction in carbon footprint compared to gasoline jumps to over 100%! In the future, a combination of electric and biofuel vehicles all powered from renewable feedstocks could potentially wipe out the annual 2.7 trillion pounds CO2 emission from gasoline and provide a net gain of C sequestered into our soils where it can provide environmental and agronomic advantages. Now that’s catching some real lightening in a bottle! This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https:// extension.msu.edu. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/ experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).
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Selecting corn hybrids for silage based on quality measures Phil Durst MSU Extension When corn is growing in the field, we all become spectators of the crop. We look at fields along our travels and compare them to those at home. Not only do we look at corn fields, but also to a certain extent, we judge them on how tall the crop is, how big the ears look as we drive by and even how dark green is the color. Those windshield evaluations really don’t get to the heart of the issue. Corn silage is not grown as a commodity, it is primarily grown for feeding the cattle you have. Therefore, the feed quality is the heart of the issue when we evaluate corn for silage and should be a primary basis for seed selection. It cannot be evaluated from windshields or even from field inspections. What we need to know is how a hybrid is going to feed? How are cows going to milk or grow on it? What will it do to the cost of the ration? For Michigan State University Extension Dairy educators, those are key questions. Michigan State University Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences conducts hybrid trials each year for various crops including corn silage. The data they collect provides some answers to those questions about quality and is valuable information for farmers to use in planning. In 2020, a total of 304 hybrids from 24 brand names
comprised 464 entries that were evaluated. The corn silage hybrids were planted at eight locations in four maturity zones based on growing degree days. Corn silage is analyzed differently than corn for grain, with six quality factors measured and two calculated. The quality factors can be grouped as two component measures (crude protein and starch), two fiber measures (NDF and ADF) and two digestibility measures (in vitro digestibility and NDF digestibility - NDFd). The two calculated measures are milk per ton and milk per acre. Those measures are recorded for each hybrid at each growing location, allowing comparison between hybrids and highlighting that even hybrids that look similar can differ markedly in feed value. All hybrids were in replicated plots and treated the same. MSU Extension educator Christian Tollini and I examined the data from corn silage variety trial plots at Double B Dairy in Whittemore, MI, a Zone 4 location, and discussed differences in quality measures in an MSU Extension Dairy Team video. No matter the year, zone, location or number of hybrids, there are important lessons to be learned from evaluating the quality measures. The 2020 field results show ranges in each of the measures among 17 silage hybrids (97 day and earlier maturity) at this location. Whether for those hybrids, or from a location within your
growing zone, you can compare hybrids across quality measures and analyze the impact of the differential between hybrids at either end of the range. At the Iosco County site in 2020, there was a 1.1 percentage point range in crude protein across the entered hybrids: 8.0 to 9.1%. While that may not seem like much of a difference, it adds up for dairy cows fed a high corn silage ration (60 pounds as fed daily for this example). The one percentage point difference can be translated to the amount of additional soybean meal (SBM) necessary to make up for the difference. In this example, the difference in SBM needed was calculated to be about 120 pounds per day for a pen or group of 250 cows. Over the period of a year, that adds up to almost 22 tons of SBM for that barn or group of 250 cows to feed the same amount of protein as the higher CP corn silage. While protein is important, fiber is the biggest reason we feed corn silage. The balance between fiber amount, fiber digestibility and dry matter intake is critical in feeding cows, and there were differences among the 17 hybrids at this site. Neutral detergent fiber (NDF) had a range of seven percentage points and the digestibility of that fiber (NDFd) had a 3. 9 percentage point difference. Those differences will impact the dry matter intake and therefore, milk production by cows. There is a general rule useful for selecting hybrids based on fiber level.
When the land base for planting corn for silage is limiting or when supplementation cost is low, we want to feed a higher fiber silage to get the fiber we need for the cows. The inverse is also true; when land base is not the limiting factor or when supplementation cost is high, we want to feed a lower fiber hybrid. You should also look at the calculated measures of milk per (dry) ton of corn silage and milk per acre. In 2020, the range in milk per ton at this site, among these 17 hybrids, was 248 pounds of milk. If that group of cows was fed a diet with 62 pounds as fed of silage per day (at 35% dry matter), each cow would eat around an average of four tons of corn silage per year. Therefore, the MILK 2006 model predicts that they would produce around 1000 pounds of milk per year more than cows fed the hybrid at the other end of the range in milk per ton. Selecting corn hybrids for silage is a feed decision. At the rates we feed corn silage today, that is a critical decision that will impact milk production and ration cost for a year. For more information, download MSU “Corn Hybrids Compared” at vartietytrials. msu.edu and be selective in your selection to produce forage that milks. This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https:// extension.msu.edu.
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Water up and irrigate in Lyndon Kelley Michigan State University Extension Aggressive cover crop growth and sometimes lack of timely spring rain may leave fields lacking moisture for optimum planting or seedling germination. Achieving the maximum uniform germination and emergence can often be improved through proper early season water management. Irrigating fields prior to or just after planting can keep the planter moving and still meet the “plant into moisture” requirement if rainfall is lacking in your area. Late spring tillage and the delays in killing cover crops are two reasons we see drier than normal planting conditions in some fields. Late spring planting of some seed and vegetable crops may result in a greater need for early season irrigation for developing crops as we enter the typical drier weather of summer. Irrigation water applied at 0.5 to 0.75 inches will moisten dry soil down to 6 inches to replace water lost to tillage or a cover crop. An inch of irrigation will often be needed in a field that has not received rainfall since the cover crop was destroyed. Heavier soil will take a slightly larger application to wet soil down to the 6-inch level. Monitoring newly emerged crops that were “irrigated up” is essential. It is important to water enough to keep roots growing down into the moisture. In most years, rainfall is plentiful enough to replenish water lost to tillage or a cover crop, but a dry layer 6 to 8 inches deep can greatly hinder crop development and needs to be replenished by rain or irrigation. Some producers fear irrigation water may contribute to imbibitional
chilling injury, a condition that may happen when seeds are exposed to cold soil and water temperatures during the initial 24 hours for soybeans to 36 hours for corn as seedlings begin the germination process when the seeds imbibe water and potentially rupture during the swelling process. Most agronomists believe that soil temperatures at seed depth below 50 degrees Fahrenheit may result in imbibitional chilling injury. Since most irrigation water is within a few degrees of 50 F, consider soil temperature and weather forecasts before making irrigation applications at germination. Soil temperature in the mid50s or higher should temper a 0.5-inch irrigation application, resulting in minimal risk. For more information about cold injury and seedling germination, see “Cold Soils & Risk of Imbibitional Chilling Injury in Corn” by R.L. (Bob) Nielsen, Purdue University. Early season irrigation can be the cause and solution to soil crusting and emergence problems. Depending on soil type, crop residue and irrigation application equipment, early season irrigation can create some soil crusting, which can be accelerated by rapid surface drying. Small applications of water 0.2 to 0.3 inches may help to allow emergence of seed through the crust. Planting after harvested forage like wheat hay or cereal rye silage has the double crop advantage, but rainfall or irrigation is required to replace the depleted soil moisture. Newly emerged corn and soybeans use less than 0.5 inches of water per week, but many annuals like wheat and rye will dry the soil to a depth of 2 to 3 feet, leaving the crop dependent on timely
Irrigation can be the difference between failure and success some years. (MSUE/Courtesy Photo)
rain or irrigation. Unless the forecast promises a significant chance of rain, 1 to 1.5 inches of irrigation is needed to create the moist soil crops need to successfully develop. Many herbicide options can be assisted by a timely rain or irrigation. Applications of 0.3 to 0.5 inches of water will move activated soil-applied herbicides if rainfall does not occur within two days after herbicide application. Many soil-applied herbicide labels contain information on improving effectiveness by timely rains or irrigation. Irrigating to activate herbicides can also create the problem of different levels of weed control between the dry corners and the irrigated portion of the field. Timely and directed scouting for weeds in dry corners will be needed later in the season. Early season irrigation can be more accurately scheduled for monitoring soil moisture in the root zone rather than using a checkbook irrigation scheduling system for newly emerged crops. Later in the season, checkbook irrigation scheduling will show its advantages over scheduling by soil moisture in the root zone alone. To learn more about checkbook irrigation scheduling, see the Soil Water Balance Sheet or Irrigation
Scheduling Tools by Purdue University Extension and Michigan State University Extension. Delayed planting and slow root growth may increase the need for monitoring soil
moisture and early season irrigation. Soil probing below the developing root is a good indication of the need for early season irrigation. Soil below the roots should still be able to form and hold a ball when squeezed if adequate moisture is present. The USDA offers an easy-to-use guide on handfeel method of soil moisture monitoring. For more information on irrigating, contact me at 269535-0343. This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https:// extension.msu.edu. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/ experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).
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Cultivating local farm economies Brad Neumann Michigan State University Extension
numerous such farm stands and farm markets. Some might even take things to the scale of value-added processing Farm viability requires through canning, freezing, flexibility, innovation in dehydrating, fermenting, local government planning brewing, and more. and zoning to allow for farm A related market income diversification. opportunity for Michigan Fundamentally, farmers are farmers is expanding the farm entrepreneurs. With the rising market to a scale that might sun, farmers greet each day be considered an agritourism knowing they have products operation. The Michigan and services that must be of Agritourism Association sufficient quality and quantity defines agritourism as the to meet a market demand. places where agriculture and The thing is, markets change tourism connect – “Anytime and farmers, like any business a farming operation opens owner, must adapt to the its doors to the public and changing markets globally, invites visitors to enjoy their nationally, and even locally. products and services – that’s Increasingly, Michigan agritourism.” According to farmers have seen and The Economic Contributions explored market opportunities of Agricultural Tourism in beyond commodity Michigan, it is estimated production. Many specialty there are more than 4,000 crop producers are adding agritourism operations value to their raw products and statewide. Farmers are selling those refined products continually innovating to meet directly to consumers. Travel the demand for agritourism any Michigan rural county and farm-based experiences. This has led farmers to grow road and you’ll likely pass
programs like on-farm dining experiences, farm-based lodging and recreation and educational opportunities. While all of the aforementioned market opportunities suggest that Michigan farmers have ample entrepreneurial pursuits, it must be recognized that in Michigan, local governments write the majority of rules that either allow or don’t allow these economic opportunities throughout a given jurisdiction. The news media is replete with stories of Michigan farmers pursuing one or more of the above farm diversification opportunities only to receive cease and desist notices from local zoning administrators or face a costly court battle. From the local government’s point of view, processing of farm products is not covered by Michigan’s Right to Farm Act (Public Act 93 of 1981, as amended) and such operations can present noise, odor, and other nuisance concerns. Or an
agritourism operation might explore evening activities on the farm, such as a barn wedding, that can have another set of health, safety, and public welfare considerations for local officials. Further, on-farm renewable energy development can result in a landscape change that is in conflict with the pastoral and natural sense of place enjoyed in a community by many residents. Michigan State University Extension will present a four-part webinar series entitled Cultivating Local Farm Economies: Planning, Zoning and Emerging Issues in Agritourism to educate both farmers and local government officials on these economic opportunities and help find common ground between the two perspectives. Local government officials, farmers, and other interested community members are invited to join MSU Extension educators and community partners to learn about the trends
in Michigan’s agritourism markets and how to tailor local regulations that allow for on-farm diversification while addressing health, safety, and public welfare concerns. The webinar series runs Mondays in June, noon to 1 p.m., covering the following topics: June 7 - Introduction to Agritourism and Local Planning and Zoning June 14 - Understanding Local Zoning, RTF, and Farm Market GAAMPS June 21 - Agritourism and Value-Added Processing June 28 - Emerging Issues in Agritourism The cost to register for the webinar series is $25. Additional information and registration are available at: https://events.anr.msu.edu/ CLFE_Agritourism This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https:// extension.msu.edu.
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Do Farmers Worry About Their Mental Health? It is often thought that rural counties have a tranquil setting, and nothing can disrupt the peacefulness of cows mooing off in the distance and tractors heading out to the fields. A recent study conducted by the American Farm Bureau Federation said otherwise. Of rural adults surveyed, 75% said mental health is very important, and 45% of them said stress and mental health have become more of a problem in their community in the past year during COVID-19. In addition, in Michigan’s four-county Thumb region there were 41 deaths by suicide in 2018. Men made up 90% of those suicides, according to Michigan Department of Health and Human Services vital records. Considering these findings, it is easy to see that people in rural areas, especially men, should be seeking help for their mental health challenges. However, farmers and farmworkers who took part in the AFBF survey say the obstacles to receiving mental health treatment have increased since April 2019. Challenges including stigma, and a lack of availability and accessibility of mental health treatment were the major barriers farmers and farmworkers identified. Approximately 87% of those farmers and farmworkers say it is important to reduce stigma about mental health in the agriculture community, including 59% who say it is very important. That’s why the Thumb Community Health Partnership is launching Man Therapy, a campaign to decrease the stigma around mental health concerns and let men know that it’s okay to seek help. The campaign is focused on informing men about mantherapy.org, a website with local resources and tips for dealing with depression and other mental health issues. The campaign and the website uses “guy” humor to cut through
stigma and tackle issues like depression, divorce and even suicidal thoughts head on. Man Therapy is an evidencebased program designed to help men understand that it’s ok if they’re struggling with their mental health, and that steps can be taken to relieve their stress and improve their mood. They can see at mantherapy. org that they’re not alone and that other men, men just like them, face these kinds of issues too. ManTherapy.org offers tools to help, from simple strategies that allow men to take action in small, concrete steps- such as sleeping and eating well, to ways for men to access counselling and therapy, some of which can be provided without even needing to leave t home. “52% of Farmers/ farmworkers say stress and mental health have become more of a problem in their community in the past year, and 65% of them have experienced feeling nervous, anxious or on edge during the pandemic,” said Kari White, TCHP Project Coordinator. “Now is a good time for men in our area, and particularly those in the farming industry, to check out the resources on mantherapy. org. to discover ways they can improve their mood and relieve their stress.” For more information about Man Therapy or to help get the word out about it, call Kari White at 810-895-2918, or email tchpmore@gmail.com. The Thumb Community Health Partnership was formed in 2019, and encompasses Huron, Lapeer, Sanilac, Tuscola. The partnership’s mMission is to provide an integrated approach to identify key issues and establish a coordinated response to regional community needs, thereby providing a cohesive regional effort to identify, plan for, and provide interventions that will lead to a healthier community.
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Michigan vegetable crop report as of April 28, 2021 By Michigan State University Extension Weather To-date weather and forecast Growing degree day totals are several to two weeks ahead of normal for most of the state. We are starting the season with a 2-4-inch rainfall deficit, or about one month’s worth of rainfall. Evaporative demand, which is driven by warm temperatures, sunny days and low relative humidities, has also been higher than normal for spring. As a result, about 57% of the state has moderate drought conditions with
dry soils. Precipitation totals of 0.25 to over 1 inch are forecast for today, April 28, through May 5, with higher totals to the south. Showers and thunderstorms are likely to occur on Thursday, especially in southern Michigan. Fair, dry weather is forecast for Friday and Saturday. The next best chance of significant, widespread precipitation will occur late Sunday into Monday. High temperatures are forecast from the 40s north to the upper 70s south Wednesday, falling back to the 50s by Friday. Lows are forecast in the 30s north to the low 50s south Thursday, cooling
Bushey Farm Tiling Caseville, mi Owner and Operator Jed Bushey – 3rd generation
to the 30s by Saturday. By Sunday and Monday, highs should be back into the 60s and 70s. Scattered frost is possible Saturday morning. However, lows are not expected to go below the low to mid-30s. The medium- and long-range guidance suggests warmer- and wetter-than-normal weather for the first week of May and beyond. MSU weather stations and pest predictions near you Michigan State University’s network of over 100 weather stations can be accessed at MSU Enviroweather There are several pest prediction models based on temperature accumulations, including seedcorn maggot, cabbage maggot, European corn borer and squash vine borer. Click on any of those pests to be taken to the model. Once there, change the region and station to one
nearest you. General crop management notes Field work for main season vegetables was fully underway this week across the region. Several crops have been seeded. Rye strips windbreaks were up to knee high, but plastic had not yet been laid for tomatoes, peppers and melons. Irrigation has already been pumping on early-season lettuce, and other crops may need some attention during this dry spring. Don’t permanently remove frost cloth from warm season vegetables yet. There is another threat of frost coming Friday night / Saturday morning. For greenhouse pest management of pests on flowers, see the greenhouse disease and insect management recommendations for 2021.
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Let’s be honest, managing the health of flowers is the first step in managing the health of the vegetable transplants that are often grown around or underneath them. Be sure to check labels for pesticide use on vegetable transplants. For this season, the Soil and Plant Nutrient Lab and the Plant & Pest Diagnostics Lab are still accepting mailed in samples. You may want to call ahead. Soil and Plant Nutrient Lab Email: spnlab@msu.edu Phone: 517-355-0218 Plant & Pest Diagnostics Lab Email: pestid@msu.edu Phone: 517-355-4536 Crop updates Asparagus Asparagus harvest had not begun as of Monday, April 26, in Oceana County. West central growers were finishing their final mowing of rye after herbicide application. Spears started to pop this week but the cool weather will likely delay widespread harvest until next week. What can you do if your rye cover crop escapes control with glyphosate? One option is apply a grass killer to clean up escapes (all have a one-day preharvest interval, or PHI). These include: Fusilade (active ingredient fluazifop-P, use with non-ionic surfactant or crop oil) Poast (active ingredient sethoxydim, use with crop oil) Select Max (active ingredient clethodim, use with a non-ionic surfactant) Weed control is on growers’
michigansthumb.com minds as herbicide application wraps up. A complete list of asparagus herbicides can be found in the E433 - 2021 Weed Control Guide for Vegetable Crops, and is also available via the mobilefriendly Midwest Vegetable Guide. Past articles on weed control include, “Plan now for season-long weed control in asparagus” and “Complete weed control is critical for maximum asparagus yields.” White cutworm can feed on asparagus tips in early spring, though this sporadic pest is usually well-controlled by chlorpyrifos applications. Permethrin (one-day PHI) can provide control during the harvest season. Use the cool weather for a quick refresher on common asparagus beetle biology.
chlorpyrifos applications, when and where chlorpyrifos isn’t pulling its weight. Row coversplaced over hoops or a lightweight floating style-are highly effective.
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Sweet corn
The earliest planting of sweet corn went in the ground in March in Genesee County, and was up by April 6. Early seedings under plastic in Bay County were at 3 Herbs inches on April 26. The main Dill in Bay County was at the season plantings were fully rabbit ear stage. Dill, cilantro underway starting around April 23 and parsley were sown in Lapeer across the region. County, and the parsley is up. It is time to select preemergence Lettuce and other greens herbicides to be applied in Lettuce transplanting in Lapeer sweetcorn. The best way to County started April 23, and direct effectively control weeds is by sown-lettuce in Bay County was at applying residual, preemergence the first leaf stage as of April 26 herbicides with multiple effective sites of action. Several Onions and garlic preemergence herbicides (Aatrex, Dual Magnum, Surpass, Outlook, Onion planting in Lapeer Prowl H2O, Zidua, Sharpen and County started March 28 and the Callisto) are labeled in sweet corn nurse crops are still up. Sweet and could be considered. Visit onion transplanting in Bay County E433 - 2021 Weed Control Guide Carrot, parsnips started April 23 on baresoil, and for Vegetable Crops for details. and celery root plasticulture sweet onions in Tomatoes, peppers and Tuscola County were in by April eggplants Carrot planting in Lapeer 10. Onions were up in Ottawa First tomatoes were being County started April 6 and the County as of last week. Some transplanted under frost cloth in nurse crops are still up. farms had been irrigating muck Bay County April 27. soils to keep them from blowing. Celery Greenhouse tomato and pepper The GoalTender Section 24c transplants may have a dense label has been renewed for onions canopy at this time. Bacterial spot The new supplemental label at the first true leaf growth stage. of Prowl H2O has been issued disease can become established Garlic was damaged by last for celery grown on muck. Up on both tomatoes and peppers but week’s frost and just started to two applications are allowed occurs most commonly on tomato. showing symptoms yesterday in starting one or more days after Bacterial spot symptoms can transplanting (60-day PHI). Prowl the 80s degree Fahrenheit. vary widely in their appearance Potatoes H2O is an effective preemergence and it is recommended that any The first plantings of potatoes in spotting be considered suspect herbicide and provides control Bay County are in. of most annual grasses, pigweed and a sample be sent into a Other root crops (beets and species, common purslane and diagnostic laboratory. Bacterial sweet potatoes) common lambsquarters. spot on tomato is best handled Beets are on their second or Cole crops—heading, leafy and preventively. Once symptoms third planting in Bay County. rooting develop, the diseased plants The GoalTender Section 24c cannot be cured and all efforts Strawberries label was renewed for cole crops, become focused on limiting allowing for postemergence spread to healthy plants. application. Strawberry buds that we were MSU recommendations Cabbage maggot fly activity able to inspect in Bay County have included the use of copper likely started over the past two made it through the frost. The beginning at the first true leaf weeks based on degree-days at trusses were up about an inch with repeated applications some Enviroweather stations. above the crown as of April 26. In occurring every three to seven There are some alternatives to southwest Michigan, there was days depending on the situation. chlorpyrifos available for control. some sporadic damage to buds. Nordox 75 WG and Kocide O can Tray-drenches of Verimark have In southwest Michigan, flower be used in alternation when an shown efficacy for cabbage maggot trusses are emerging from the interval shorter than seven days is control in transplanted brassicas crown in early varieties. At this needed. Please note that sprays of and also provide early-season stage, the buds are sensitive to Kocide O require a long re-entry caterpillar control. temperatures below 22 F. Several period for workers. It is also In direct-sown root crops, areas in southwest Michigan recommended that Agrimycin be weekly applications of saw temperatures in the low to tank-mixed with one of the copper Mustang Maxx-starting at mid-20s last week on Wednesday sprays and be applied weekly. fly emergence-have reduced and Thursday morning. A small Cultural strategies that limit damage in trials. These could be number of growers are reporting bacterial disease and also fungal a useful compliment to at-plant damage to the emerging flowers. disease on tomato transplants
include limiting watering and running the plants on the drier side. Good ventilation to avoid pockets of high relative humidity is very important. Water the plants at a time of day when the foliage can dry rapidly. Should bacterial spot symptoms develop among the tomato transplants, diseased plants should be disposed of including healthy-appearing plants that are immediately adjacent to those that are showing symptoms. Tomato spotted wilt virus and impatiens necrotic spot virus may impact vegetable transplants when greenhouse flower crops are grown in the same greenhouse or in a nearby greenhouse. These viruses are transmitted by western flower thrips. Thrips are not easy to detect and manage and should be monitored using sticky cards placed within the plant canopy. Flowers should be scouted for ringspot symptoms or other spotting that are common symptoms of impatiens necrotic spot virus and tomato spotted wilt virus. These viruses can infect a wide range of flower and vegetable transplants. Some especially susceptible flowers include begonia, impatiens, and dahlia. Tomato and pepper transplants that become infected with the virus in the greenhouse will not perform well in the field. In the field, virus infected tomato transplants may develop a general necrosis or bronzing with mottled fruit once in the field. Pepper transplants infected with virus while in the greenhouse typically do not grow in the field and appear stunted and do not
produce fruit. Samples of peppers with tomato spotted wilt virus have been submitted to the diagnostics lab already. Events May 5, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Vegetable Beet! Urban Farm Water Access (1 RUP for live listeners, also available for later listens via podcast) May 5, 12 p.m. Chestnut Chat webinar series May 6, 7-7:30 a.m. Field Crops Virtual Breakfast: Rhizoctonia Management with Daniel Bublitz (1 RUP for live listeners) Food safety Need your water tested for the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)? Check out the Michigan Ag Water Lab Map. On-Farm Readiness Reviews are designed to help fresh produce growers feel prepared and ready for a full implementation of the FSMA. They allow growers to walk through their operation with a small team of food-safety experts and discuss how to meet the new FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirements. Sign up for an onfarm readiness review. Farm Supervisor Produce Safety Courses are being hosted through the MSU Online Learning Portal - D2L. They are self-paced and free. It will be available for farm supervisors starting July 19. Register here. This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/ experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).
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SATURDAY, MAY 08, 2021
Thumb Farmer
michigansthumb.com
Smart lake gardening: Planning your nearshore garden Extending your lakefront garden into the water opens an exciting new opportunity to enhance your property’s beauty and function. Erick Elgin Michigan State University Extension
Extending your lakefront garden into the water opens an exciting new opportunity to enhance your property’s beauty and function. Elegant bulrush with pondweeds growing below create interest while providing safe shelter for many of the lakes’ fish, birds and other animals. Placing logs that extend from the shoreline edge out into the lake improves habitat further while also providing an attractive feature from both land and water. The water in front of your shoreline does not need to end your gardening; in fact, it might be one of your most important gardens. The near shore or “littoral zone” is the area of a lake that can support rooted aquatic plants. This zone is typically found around the edge of a lake but can also be found wherever water is shallow. The littoral zone provides habitat to a variety of lake wildlife from dragonflies to fish to turtles. In addition, aquatic plants can help reduce shoreline erosion by absorbing and reducing energy from waves before they reach the shoreline. When gardening in the littoral zone, consider whether your desired features will support what is best for the lake. Removing native plants, installing seawalls and building sandy beaches destroys the natural features that protect the lake. Therefore, protect the plants you already have on your shoreline and enhance where you can. Plants for your nearshore garden Lakes are held in public trust and therefore protected by the laws of the state of Michigan. As a result, there are rules that need to be followed if you want to garden in the lake. One important rule requires using native plants for all plantings in the littoral zone of lakes. Native plants are very beneficial to lakes, so be sure you select and plant Michigan native plants. Native plants that live in the littoral zone of lakes are lumped into three broad categories: emergent, submergent and floating-leaf.
Emergent plants, those that extend above the water like hardstem bulrush and pickerelweed, can live in deep water but are best suited for a water depth around 0 to 18 inches. Floatingleaf such as white water lily and submersed plants, those under water like pondweeds, typically grow best between 1.5 feet and 15 feet of water. Plant species within each of these groups can bring wonderful texture and color to your lake garden. If you also want to help fish and wildlife, focus on plant species that attract desirable species. For example, you may be able to see northern pike spawning in the spring if you plant hardstem bulrush on which these fish deposit their eggs. Of the three categories of plants, native emergent species are the easiest to find at local native plant nurseries. Native floating-leaf and submersed species are typically hard to come by. Beware of exotic and invasive aquatic plant species at plant nurseries that are sold for other purposes. Remember, only native plants can be used in lakes. If in doubt, ask an expert before you buy. Luckily, you may not need to plant because native aquatic plants may naturally colonize your lakefront garden if you create the right conditions for them to grow. Logs add a beneficial and artistic touch Placing logs next to the shoreline in the lake can add a great focal point and will protect newly planted or newly colonizing aquatic plants. Historically, Michigan lakes contained many downed trees that fell into the lake through time. These partially submerged logs provided wonderful refuge to fish and resting spots for turtles. The logs also helped slow shoreline erosion and improved conditions for plant growth. Unfortunately, as people built structures along the shoreline, many removed logs from the water. Placing logs back into the water as part of your garden design will benefit the lake and your new plantings. You will need a permit to place a log into the lake along your shoreline. In that permit, there are a few things
A turtle basks in the sunlight on a log. (Rebecca Finneran/MSU Extension)
that need to be planned out including how you will attach the log to your shoreline so that it does not move around. Fortunately, there are many installation designs you can choose from and state agency staff and professionals can help. Michigan EGLE. Permits: What do I need to know? Plan ahead to apply for permits. The Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, 1994 PA 451, as amended (NREPA) protects Michigan’s environment and natural resources by regulating discharges into the environment, and use and development of certain lands and waters. NREPA also protects peoples’ right to hunt and fish, and general use of Michigan’s natural resources. Michigan law requires that you
receive a permit from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) before conducting certain activities in inland lakes and streams. These activities include dredging, filling, constructing or placing a structure on bottomlands, constructing or reconfiguring a marina, interfering with the natural flow of water, or connecting a ditch or similar waterway to an inland lake or stream. For more information on a wide variety of Smart Gardening topics, visit www.migarden.msu.edu or call MSU’s Lawn and Garden hotline at 1-888-678-3464. This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https:// extension.msu.edu.
michigansthumb.com
Thumb Farmer
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2020
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Smart waterfront plants to enhance your shoreline Erick Elgin Michigan State University Extension
garden When landscaping around water, it is important to balance your needs with the protection Living near water offers of the waterbody. A wellmoments of serenity and designed waterfront landscape beauty inspired by all aspects will maintain access, views and of the water’s edge. Imagine enjoying the dappled sunlight of aesthetics along with stabilizing soil, protecting water quality a lake shoreline with towering aromatic white pine trees above and enhancing habitat for fish and wildlife. When choosing with delicious blueberries and native plants for your waterfront sparse Pennsylvania sedge garden consider: (1) how high below. These plants together with the sounds and cool breeze does it grow, (2) how much will from the lake can bring a breath it spread, and (3) when will it bloom. of relaxation that Michigan It is also critical to plant trees, lakes offer. But these plants do a shrubs, flowers, grasses and whole lot more than just dazzle our senses. They also protect the sedges in areas where they will have the greatest success. There water and land. is often a gradual change in Plants that grow in, along, wetness along creek, lake, and and just outside water play an pond shorelines. Typically, there important role in protecting is an aquatic zone that is almost water quality and providing always under water, a transition habitat for many water loving zone with consistently moist critters. This is especially true soil and an upland zone that is of native plant species. Native mostly dry. It is very important plants have extensive root to plant the right species in systems that have adapted to the right location so that your living in and around water. plants survive. The roots and stems minimize For example, plants that erosion and buffer the water from pollutants like phosphorus grow well in the aquatic zone will typically not do well in dry and nitrogen that may runoff conditions. When putting the yards. Importantly, they also right plant in the right place, provide necessary habitat for a variety of animals. For example, you can better assure beautiful blooms and a hardy root mass common arrowhead, a popular that slows erosion. and beautiful shoreline plant, Planting and maintaining provides a high-energy food for a lawn along the water’s edge migrating waterfowl and small fish may use big arrowhead beds can be uninspiring and more importantly damaging to your as shelter. lake or stream. The root system Native plants along water: of lawn species are not deep Hold soil in place with either deep or laterally extensive roots or dense enough to protect the soil from the erosive nature systems of moving water. In addition, Absorb and lessen energy from waves created by wind and fertilizers and pesticides commonly used on lawns may boats Slow down water runoff from enter the waterbody causing damage to fish and wildlife. a sloping yard or landscape Keep in mind, it is important to allow pollutants such as sediments and contaminants to balance your needs with to absorb before they reach the protecting the waterbody. water Replacing lawn along your Absorb nutrient runoff which water’s edge with a native helps keep the water clear of plant garden is a great way to algae accomplish this. Any addition of Provide key habitat for fish a native tree, flowering shrub, and wildlife or a handful of wildflowers can Planning your waterfront make a difference. Already have
Plants that grow in, along, and just outside water play an important role in protecting water quality and providing habitat for many water loving critters. (Mark Bugnaski Photography/via MSUE)
some landscaping that isn’t native? No need to remove it, just incorporate native species when you can. For more information on waterfront landscaping design and plant species best suited
for each zone of a waterfront, check out the Michigan Natural Shoreline Partnership. For more information on a wide variety of Smart Gardening topics, visit Gardening in Michigan or call MSU’s Lawn
and Garden hotline at 1-888678-3464. This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https:// extension.msu.edu.
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