Green and Growing

Keeping plant pests out of lawns requires care, patience

When our lawns green up, weeds also ily that behave better, such as lawn grasses, they are considered unsightly. appear. Canterbury Bells. All these plants are difficult to remove by hand

Dandelions feed pollinators, meaning Individual crabgrass plants were means and bees and butterflies, because these plants apparently named because of their any tiny are rich in pollen and nectar, so some resemblance to crabs. While it technically bit of root gardeners allow them to grow. However, has a flowering stalk, it is the wide left in the one website stated that dandelions are spreading green leaves that are most ground the second choice for pollinators to visit. GREEN AND noticeable and objectionable in a lawn. may grow In other words, pollinators will land on GROWING Like other weeds, it may be removed by to produce dandelions only if better sources of food are not available. The dandelion’s bright By Linda G. Tenneson hand and as an annual will not return in the same year, but it is less labor-intena new plant. yellow color and serrated leaves stick out on our sive to apply a pre-emergent chemical in the spring Repeated lawns and most of us prefer to grow other flowers to to prevent it from getting started in the first place. hand digfeed pollinators. Digging dandelions up with a garden knife will remove their tops and slow these plants down, but unless their long tap roots are removed, they will return. White clover spreads by Quack grass is another pest that spreads by underground rhizomes that can grow six to eight feet long. Neither crabgrass nor quack grass have noticeable blooms in the lawn; but because the width of their leaves are so different from the usual ging, covering the ground with a tarp for several weeks to kill all vegetation or a chemical application are required to eradicate these irritants. Quack grass above ground If herbicides are used to eradicate them, gardenrunners and is ers must by law read the chemical container labels sometimes for both the correct application method and the grown to feed safety directions. Gloves, long sleeves and pants; livestock. It plus closed heel and toe shoes will help keep these does provide chemicals from becoming skin irritants. Sprayed some food for chemicals should be applied on days with no wind pollinators, to prevent damage to desired plants. blooming all summer long. While white White clover Crabgrass Linda G. Tenneson is a University of Minnesota master gardener and tree care advisor. v clover can be removed by hand pulling Farmfest canceled for 2020 the plants, the seeds will survive, so new plants must be removed each year. Maintaining a healthy, wellfertilized lawn will help the IDEAg Group LLC, owned by American Farm Bureau Federation, has canceled the Farmfest farm show for 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. “We announce this decision with great disappointment but the well-being of our exhibitors, attendees, staff, volunteers and their families is paramount,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “We understand the impact this has on the ag community, but simply put, it is the right decision to make in these uncertain times.” in Mitchell, S.D. Dakotafest, which was scheduled for Aug. 18-20, has also been cancelled. It is scheduled to return in 2021 from Aug. 17-19. Visit Farmfest.com and Dakotafest.com for more information about 2020 virtual event activities as well as information about the 2021 shows. This article was submitted by IDEAg. v desired grass Farmfest, scheduled for Aug. 4-6 in Redwood to crowd out County, Minne., has served farmers and the agriculwhite clover. Creeping bellflower ture community for 38 years.

Creeping IDEAg management confirms that aspects of each The Land office will be closed Charlie is a low growing plant with little round leaves and tiny purple flowers in the spring and likes moist shaded areas. Some gardeners tolerate it and others intensely dislike it. It does not contain much nectar or pollen to feed pollinators. show will be made available to attendees virtually this year, including the Farmfest political forums. “The Farmfest Political Forums are a highly anticipated part of our annual event, especially for the state’s ag industry and in this important election EARLY DEADLINES for The Land on July 10 on July 3rd Creeping bellflower is a plant that will grow a foot or more tall with lilac colored blooms that hang downward. At first glance it appears to be nice to year,” said Melissa Sanders Carroll, executive director, IDEAg. “Providing people a virtual opportunity to learn about and participate in the issues that DISPLAY ADS - Ad copy due Wednesday, July 1st look at. However, I made the mistake of letting it grow and now regret it. Creeping bellflower spreads directly impact their farms, lives and families is essential to us.” CLASSIFIED LINE ADS - Ad copy due by underground rhizomes. Even if it is mowed regularly and not allowed to bloom, it still spreads. Its wide leaves are very noticeable in a lawn. There are other kinds of bellflowers from the Campanula famNext year’s show dates have been set. Farmfest will be Aug. 3-5, 2021. IDEAg also presents Dakotafest which takes place Thursday, July 2nd at Noon

Dicamba ruling provides more questions than answers

LAND MINDS, from pg. 2

ruling, as it was not part of the 2018, two-year registration for Engenia, FeXapan, and XtendiMax. As a result, this is still an option for DT soybeans,” Extension said. “Group 9 (e.g. glyphosate), Group 2 (e.g. FirstRate, Pursuit), and Group 14 (e.g. Flexstar, Cobra, Ultra Blazer) herbicides are also options to use postemergence on DT soybeans. The key with all of these products is to make applications to small weeds, targeting weeds no more than four inches in height.”

North Dakota State University Extension weed scientist Joe Ikley and agronomist Tom Peters developed recommendations for controlling certain problematic weeds. They report:

“It is safe to assume that any waterhemp is resistant to ALS-inhibiting (Group 2) herbicides. Glyphosate-resistance is also present on most acres, though not all plants will be resistant. Glyphosate is most effective on waterhemp up to two leaves when applied at labeled rates with adjuvants. The best remaining options would be PPO-inhibiting (Group 14) herbicides, although resistance to this family is prevalent in Minnesota as well. Flexstar (fomesafen), Cobra, or Ultra Blazer could all be used on small waterhemp. The addition of oil adjuvants will be important for weed control.”

“Glyphosate has historically provided variable control of common lambsquarters. Harmony (thifensulfuron) will be one of our best options left for the Xtend acres.”

“Glyphosate, FirstRate, and Flexstar are the best remaining options for ragweed control. We do have populations of giant and common ragweed that are resistant to glyphosate and FirstRate, so do not expect control with either product on those populations.”

“It is important to remember some of the best practices for applying these alternate options. For instance, Group 14 herbicides are contact herbicides that work better with higher carrier volumes and smaller droplets. Flexstar can also have carryover issues for rotational crops like corn (10 month rotational restrictions) and sugarbeet (18 month rotational restrictions). Basagran is another herbicide option that can help control these weeds. However,

we must reset weed control expectations compared to dicamba and target weeds smaller than 1 inch. Many weeds we are hoping to control may already be larger than 1 inch, so inconsistent control could be expected.”

U of M Extension also states, “Timely cultivation is also an option to include regardless of which herbicides have been applied. Where soybeans are planted in 30-inch rows, this can be a viable option. Research conducted at the Southern Research and Outreach Center in Waseca (2018-2019) shows that cultivation combined with a layered residual approach provides effective waterhemp control. In this study, residual herbicides were applied at planting and again 30 days after planting. Cultivation combined with a POST residual herbicide resulted in the best control of waterhemp.”

“Cultivation can also be a good option when weeds have exceeded target application heights or when emergency weed control is needed. It may not be feasible from a labor and timeliness standpoint to cultivate all your soybean acres, but targeting the weediest fields is a strategy to consider.”

Letters to the editor are always welcome. Send your letters to: Editor, The Land

P.O. Box 3169, Mankato, MN 56002 e-mail: editor@thelandonline.com

All letters must be signed and accompanied by a phone number (not for publication) to verify authenticity.

In February, The Land Staff Writer Kristin Kveno wrote a feature on SwineTech’s SmartGuard technology which is designed to limit piglet mortalities. It was recently announced by National Hog Farmer SwineTech was chosen as the 2020 Producer’s Choice winner

Matthew Rooda, SwineTech CEO and president, stated, “I am very proud of the SwineTech team and thankful for the support that we have received from our customers in the U.S. and Canada. It means a lot to receive this award, however our work doesn’t stop here. We are con- tinuing to build innovative tools to improve the way we approach sow farm management. “

But the waters became muddier when the Minnesota Department of Agriculture released this statement on June 8: “Upon further review of state law and while awaiting guidance from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on the ruling of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals regarding dicamba products, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture will continue operating under existing pesticide program authorities. According to Minnesota law, an unregistered pesticide previously registered in the state may be used following the cancellation of the registration of the pesticide. “At this time Minnesota farmers can use XtendiMax with VaporGrip Technology (EPA Reg. No. 524-617), Engenia Herbicide (EPA Reg. No. 7969-345), and DuPont FeXapan with VaporGrip Technology (EPA Reg. No. 352-913) while following all federal and Minnesota label requirements. (Tavium Plus VaporGrip Technology (EPA Reg. No. 100-1623) was not part of the two-year federal registration and can still be used according to the label). The Department does not anticipate taking enforcement action against those who continue to appropriately use these products. This may change at any time pending additional guidance from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.” At this stage (to paraphrase “Dirty Harry” Callahan) “Do you feel lucky, punk?” Will there be a market for soybeans grown using illegal herbicides? Does a grower have a leg to stand on if slapped with a dicamba drift complaint? In case you thought the 2020 growing season was off to a smooth start, you might want to lawyer up. Paul Malchow is the managing editor of The Land. He may be reached at editor@TheLandOnline. SwineTech SmartGuard garners award

com. v SmartGuard was one of nine products featured during the New Product Tour portion of the 2020 Global Hog Industry Virtual Conference which took place in late May. “It means a lot (earning Producer›s Choice) because it is difficult bringing something new to market. It›s not just about saving the piglets, it›s about the sow welfare and the people taking care of them,» Rooda says. «It›s about making the lives of people working in the farms better and more efficient. We›re just trying to figure out how we can use technology to improve the overall experience of working in a sow farm, allowing caregivers to offer the very best care to the pigs.” v

Minnesota state FFA officers announced

President - Ben Olander, Staples-Motley FFA

“Never give up on your dreams no matter how big or small they are because you never know when that dream could become real.” He is excited to “serve FFA by building connections and strengthening agriculture for the future.”

Vice President - Emilee Xayanourom, Mountain Lake FFA

Emilee loves that “there is something for everyone in FFA!” She shares that members should talk to your advisor because “they’re in there to help you. They are in that role for a reason so don’t be afraid to ask for help or some advice!”

Provided by JULEAH TOLOSKY

Executive Director, Minnesota FFA

Secretary - Noah

Richert, Springfield FFA

“During my junior high years, I remember seeing people walking around the halls in their national blue corduroy jackets. I always thought it was so cool and wanted to be just like them; I could not wait for the day when I could finally be a part of what they stood for,”

Treasurer - Elaina Knott, Thief River Falls FFA

Elaina is most excited “to make connections with FFA members this next coming year and see their growth and progress through this extraordinary organization.” She advises, “Take ALL the opportunities that are offered through this organization. They are worth your time!”

Reporter - Anna Euerle, Litchfield FFA

Anna is excited “to be able to take a unique opportunity to connect with students virtually! This allows for so many students to have opportunities they wouldn’t have previously been able to have.”

Sentinel - Laney Swiers, Mahnomen FFA

“I am most excited to serve the incredible members and continuing advocating for agriculture, education, and FFA! My advice would be to always be your genuine, beautiful self. You are your most amazing self when you are sticking true to who you are!”

Managing agricultural PPE needs when supplies are short

WORTHINGTON, Minn. — Personal protective equipment, or PPE, is necessary to protect farmers and other agricultural workers from pesticides, grain dust, mold and other hazards. The Covid-19 global pandemic has stressed PPE supplies. There are some considerations for farmers facing a shortage of protective equipment.

For pesticide applications, a longsleeve shirt, long pants, shoes and socks are typically the minimum required PPE when mixing, loading and applying a product. Protective eyewear including goggles or a face shield, chemical-resistant gloves, additional clothing such as a chemical-resistant apron or coveralls, and/or a respirator may also be listed on the label.

Always check the pesticide label for specific PPE requirements. The label lists what is required to lawfully use a particular product and restrictions exist for personal health and safety. Note, the label will list the minimum level of PPE required. You can always wear a higher level of protection.

Respirators are one of the PPE items most likely to be in short supply at this time. They can be required for numerous agricultural activities, including when working with grain, livestock, hay, manure pits, silos and certain pesticides.

The following resources summarize the types of respirators needed for various activities: Agriculture respirator selection guide: http://umash.umn. edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/respirator-options-guide-8x11-june-2017. pdf; respirator worksheet: http:// umash.umn.edu/wp-content/ uploads/2020/03/Website-August-2018- Respirator-Worksheet.pdf .

With current demand being extremely high for N95 masks, masks that provide a higher filtering capacity (e.g. N99 or N100) may be easier to find, even if they might be more expensive. A half-mask respirator with a cartridge or a full-face respirator are options to consider as well and they may be easier to find since they are less likely to be used in the medical field.

Ensure all respiratory protection is marked NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) approved with the filtering capacity it provides.

When a tight fit is required when wearing a respirator, a fit test is needed to ensure you are getting the proper protection. For more information on fit testing and sites that offer this service, see https://blog-crop-news.extension. umn.edu/2018/05/where-can-i-get-fittested-to-wear.html.

If you can’t find the level of PPE that’s required for your planned activ

Join The Land Online! Facebook.com/TheLandOnline • Twitter.com/TheLandOnline Instagram@thelandmagazineonline

ity, consider selecting an alternative product or method. Another possible option is to hire someone who has the proper PPE to do the needed task. Do not skimp on PPE if you cannot find what is needed for a particular activity – your health and safety depends on it.

For more information, consider the National Pesticide Safety Education Center Respirator Decision Tree: https://npsec.us/wp-content/ uploads/200420-2-Respirator-Infographic.pdf; UMASH: http://umash. umn.edu/respirator-q-and-a/; Four steps to choosing the right respirator and wearing it safely: https://extension.umn.edu/pesticide-safety-and-certification/four-steps-choosing-right-respirator-and-wearing-it-safely; Laundering pesticide contaminated work clothes: https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/ publications/crops/laundering-pesticide-contaminated-work-clothes/ ps1778.pdf.

This article was submitted by Lizabeth Stahl, University of Minnesota Extension. v

Test plots will tell the tale as Minnesota grows hemp

By DICK HAGEN

The Land Staff Writer Emeritus

OLIVIA, Minn. — There’s an old crop called hemp now breathing some new energy into Olivia and Renville County. Hemp has some previous history right here in Renville County dating back to the 1940s. The United States war machine needed hemp to make rope and other products for use in WW II. Processing plants operated in both Bird Island and Lake Lillian. Farmers were licensed by the government to raise what was improperly termed “Indian Hemp” according to records at the Renville County Historical Society.

Now, 80 years later, entrepreneurs of this ‘new energy’ source are brothers Tim and Paul Seehusen, who have launched PrairiePROducers

Flies are a natural part of keeping horses. Filth flies, like stable and house flies, are one of the main concerns in Minnesota, along with aquatic biting flies. Understanding what these pests are and how they live and breed can help horse owners limit their fly pest problems.

Filth flies develop in moist organic debris including aging feces, soiled animal bedding and rotting feed debris. Biting stable flies cause horses and other livestock to swish their tails, twitch their flanks and stamp their feet. House flies don’t bite animals, but can spread fecal bacteria. House flies will feed at horses’ eyes, body orifices and fresh manure.

Control filth flies around your barn by managing debris. Long term, preventing debris will be more effective than chemical control. Keep feed dry. Avoid ground feeding. Disk, spread or compost waste. Clean up manure at least two times per week. Spread or compost. Replace bedding weekly. Wood shavings and sawdust produce fewer flies than straw. Place waterers in well-drained areas and away from where you feed horses. Keep in good repair.

Always carefully read and precisely follow label instructions when using chemical insecticides. Keep in mind insecticides are much less effective if debris is not managed. Pyrethrum fogs and space sprays kill adult flies indoors, but only provide temporary relief. Owners can apply longer-lived pyrethroid and organophosphate residual premise sprays indoors and outdoors. These are most effective when applied to fly perching areas. Stable and house flies ‘perch’ on solid surfaces where they won’t get disturbed — often above head height. Owners can identify perching sites by fly specks. Residual premise sprays may be effective for up to three weeks. Longevity depends on the cleanliness of the site sprayed. Poor debris management or off-site fly sources can limit the efficacy of fly traps. Sticky traps and ultraviolet electrocutor traps will catch and kill stable and house flies. Baited traps will attract and kill house flies, but not stable flies. Stingless parasitic wasps are small, ant-like insects that kill filth fly pupae. They occur naturally around animal premises, can provide natural biological control of filth flies, and are harmless to people and aniLLC to process locally grown industrial hemp into the fibers, biomass and grain. Hemp can Paul Seehusen, left, and br other Tim Seehusen provide the ‘raw materials’ for literally hundreds of consumer products ranging from clothing, biodegradable bottles, hempcrete building blocks, high-oil proSome facts about hemp… • Hemp has the longest and strongest plant fiber in the world. tein health oils, even moldable plastic for 3-D print• Hemp has many environmental benefits even producing ing units use. more oxygen than trees.

Paul, 56, PrairiePROducers’ CEO, comments, • Hemp grows rapidly, competes well with weeds, and needs “We’re blown away by the many uses already being minimal pesticides. talked about. And the more raw material products made available to the incredible thinkers in this rapidly expanding new world of hemp utilization amazes us. At this stage we are but neophytes in this new • Hemp is a high-yield tant to abrasion. crop producing durable fibers resis–The National Hemp Association industrial hemp world.” Brother Tim, 54, serves as the company’s chief operating officer. ”You bet we’re excited,” he said. “We’re confident that as more farmers take interest in hemp, they too will begin to realize the full potential of this crop.”

Both Seehusens acknowledge the skills of area farmers, “They are professionals. They know exactly how to nourish their land, their crops.

Mike Marks and Joe Dollerschell, our key staff guys (field supervisor and genetics department manager) will assist with agronomics and variety choices. But our growers will also be huge help as we figure out the mechanical challenges, rotation sequences, the handling of the harvested crop, even the delivery to our processing center here at Olivia this fall.”

On May 6 Marks and Dollerschell planted

PrairiePROducers’ hemp research plot. A twoacre plot with four different varieties of industrial hemp was drill planted in 6-inch rows behind their facility on the west edge of Olivia.

There will be two additional plantings to get some idea on importance of planting dates. Also three populations: 25, 35 and 45 pounds per acre.

The 45-pound rate equates to about 1 million seeds per acre. That May 6 planting generated 15 test plots. They’ll have 45 plots when finished with the third planting.

Dollerschell, a veteran of seed corn plot research who recently retired from Monsanto/Bayer at their Olivia location admits he and Mike are on a steep learning curve this first year. Dollerschell acknowledges they’ll need a few more years to really establish the agronomic tendencies of the hemp crop here in western Minnesota. “Environment is always a factor when you are doing genetic evaluations. And every year is different. This year a good start but it’s

U of M offers tips for controlling flies around horses

See HEMP, pg. 11

mals. Female wasps lay eggs inside fly pupae and the wasp larvae kill the developing fly pupae. Owners can purchase and release parasitic wasps to supplement natural populations. Success is inconsistent among studies. It likely depends on the amount of fly breeding media and the number of fly pupae they must kill.

Hanging plastic bags of water around buildings has no evidence showing it repels house flies. Additionally, hydrated lime or calcium hydroxide (commonly sold as barn lime) reduces moisture and can reduce ammonia odor in barn stalls. It can increase soil pH if you use it in large amounts. The amount (usually minimal) of barn lime used in horse facilities likely isn’t good for fly control. Fly maggots tolerate a wide range of pH, and using too much lime in pastures can stop some plant growth.

In a recent University of Minnesota study, researchers found that a citronella spray reduced tail swishes and shoulder twitches, while leggings and leg bands reduced head-backs and hoof stomps. However, no one treatment reduced all of these behaviors in horses.

This article was submitted by Roger Moon, PhD, University of Minnesota. v

MDA has licensed 8,500 acres this year for hemp production

HEMP, from pg. 19

staying cooler. Sure, just a couple days of 80-plus degree temps can jump start any crop and I’m certain hemp will be much the same. Every day will be a learning experience. Yes, we’ll likely have a couple of ‘plot days’ when our growers and potential growers can get an up-close look at what the genetics of these four varieties are teaching us.” hemp research plot.

At a Feb. 27 meeting in Olivia, approximately 80 farmers showed up to learn more about growing hemp. Speakers included representatives from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Minnesota’s Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI) organization, hemp seed providers and experienced growers.

AURI Project Development Director Harold Stanislawski brought a piece of hemp wood made from hemp fiber by the Kentucky firm Fiber Ogee. “This is a bio-composite product made into hemp board for flooring, or even higher end products like cabinet doors. Hemp fiber strengthens cabinet doors considerably. It can be stained and treated many different ways to give a variety of looks and design.

“Even building products such as Hemp Crete blocks for structural walls in homes and commercial buildings. There’s a Fargo company using hemp resins to make things such as coffee cups, tooth brushes, even eye glass frames. A Minnesota packaging company is using hemp fibers for stronger

30 COLORS

26-29 GAUGE

Standard all round durability

30 COLORS 26-29 GAUGE

Standing seam architecture look for half the price

On May 6 field supervisor Mike Marks (secnd from right) and genetics department manager Joe Dollerschell (far right) supervised the planting of PrairiePROducers’

Photos by Dick Hagen cardboard boxes. And now the Minnesota Department of Transportation is considering hemp mats to replace rubber erosion control mats in new road construction because hemp mats would simply last much longer. That could be a huge new market for hemp fiber.

“I commend the Seehusens for their ambition in developing a hemp industry right here in this innovative agricultural area of Minnesota. This crop, centuries old around the world, is rapidly gaining new attention as scientists, researchers, and creative thinker keep tinkering with new ideas, new

See HEMP, pg. 13

30 COLORS 26-29 GAUGE

Residential and round roof applications

10 COLORS

26 GAUGE