Clemson Lab Offers Soil Analysis
Products Use Notice for “Choose Results” Advertisement for Roundup Ready® Xtend Crop System Bayer is a member of Excellence Through Stewardship® (ETS). Bayer products are commercialized in accordance with ETS Product Launch Stewardship Guidance, and in compliance with Bayer’s Policy for Commercialization of BiotechnologyDerived Plant Products in Commodity Crops. Commercialized products have been approved for import into key export markets with functioning regulatory systems. Any crop or material produced from this product can only be exported to, or used, processed or sold in countries where all necessary regulatory approvals have been granted. It is a violation of national and international law to move material containing biotech traits across boundaries into nations where import is not permitted. Growers should talk to their grain handler or product purchaser to confirm their buying position for this product. Excellence Through Stewardship® is a registered trademark of Excellence Through Stewardship. ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. It is a violation of federal and state law to use any pesticide product other than in accordance with its labeling. NOT ALL formulations of dicamba, glyphosate or glufosinate are approved for in-crop use with products with XtendFlex® Technology. ONLY USE FORMULATIONS THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY LABELED FOR SUCH USES AND APPROVED FOR SUCH USE IN THE STATE OF APPLICATION. Contact the U.S. EPA and your state pesticide regulatory agency with any questions about the approval status of dicamba herbicide products for in-crop use with Roundup Ready 2 Xtend® soybeans or products with XtendFlex® Technology. may not yet be B.t. products registered in all states. Check with your seed brand representative for the registration status in your state. Roundup Technology® includes glyphosate-based herbicide technologies. Performance may vary, from location to location and from year to year, as local growing, soil and weather conditions may vary. Growers should evaluate data from multiple locations and years whenever possible and should consider the impacts of these conditions on the grower’s fields. Products with XtendFlex® Technology contains genes that confer tolerance to glyphosate, glufosinate and dicamba. Glyphosate will kill crops that are not tolerant to glyphosate. Dicamba will kill crops that are not tolerant to dicamba. Glufosinate will kill crops that are not tolerant to glufosinate. Contact your seed brand dealer or refer to the Bayer Technology Use Guide for recommended weed control programs.
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COTTON FARMING | DECEMBER 2020
BY DENISE ATTAWAY CLEMSON UNIVERSITY
C
lemson University experts say pictures growers should focus on now are those that give a clearer vision of their soils’ health. Soil tests can help by providing snapshots of soil fertility. These tests are available from the Clemson Agricultural Service Laboratory. “Fall and winter are the best times for growers to have their soils tested,” says Shannon Alford, Ag Service Laboratory director. “Testing now gives growers plenty of time to get their soils ready for spring planting.” Soil tests cost $6 per sample. The basic soil test provides information regarding soil pH, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and more. Growers who test now have plenty of time to apply lime, fertilizer and other nutrients needed to grow profitable crops in the spring. “Each soil report is tailored to the specific crop and soil results,” Alford says. “When growers have their soils tested, they will be given crop-specific recommendations to assist them in making fertility decisions for optimal crop yields.” Separate soil samples should be collected for areas cropped or fertilized differently or those with different soil types or textures. For large areas, one soil sample should represent 10 acres or less. For home gardens, lawns or ornamental beds, just one sample is required per uniform area. To collect soil samples: Use a soil auger, spade or shovel. Samples from cultivated areas should be taken from the surface to a depth of 6 to 8 inches. Samples from pasture or turf should be taken only 2 to 4 inches deep. Soil cores should be about the same size throughout their depth. No adjustments are needed if using a soil probe. If using a spade or shovel, take a thin slice from the side of a V-shaped hole. Take sub-samples from at least 12 locations within the sample area. Place the subsample in a clean plastic bucket and mix thoroughly.
Fall and winter are the best times to test soil and get it ready for spring planting. Do not heat a moist soil sample to dry. Spread soil out on newspaper and let air dry overnight. Crumble and mix before it hardens. Label or number each soil bag. Fill bag to fill line (the equivalent of 1-2 cups). Do not use the same number for more than one sample. A soil analysis form should accompany each sample. These forms can be found at https://bit.ly/2IN02vq. Samples, payments and completed forms can be sent to the Ag Service Lab by any of the following methods: Ship samples to 171 Old Cherry Road, Clemson, SC 29634, via the U.S. Postal Service, United Parcel Service or FedEx. Contact the local County Cooperative Extension Office to see if it is open and available for dropoffs. Leave samples in the dropbox on the lab’s loading dock at 171 Old Cherry Road, Clemson, SC 29634. Forms for all sample types are available at the dropbox. Leave samples and payment. The dropbox is checked multiple times per day. Ring the doorbell during regular business hours to alert someone to check for your dropoff. Order a soil sample mailer kit online, one per sample. This mailer is recommended for one or two samples only, and only for soil. The mailer includes a form, instructions, soil sample bag and postage-paid envelope for return. Instructions for ordering a soil sample mailer kit are available at: https:// bit.ly/3kGCQMh. Once clients receive their reports, they can call the local Cooperative Extension Service county office for consultation. To reach the Ag Service Lab, call 864-6562068 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, or email agsrvlb@clemson.edu. COTTONFARMING.COM
