Calendar of Events

HEFTY, from pg. 9

Roundup, it looks like supplies will be adequate to do all the pest management that we need to do. However, there may be individual products that sell out this year. And this could mean some farmers may need to go to their second or third option The other challenge farmers are seeing is that prices on some products are up considerably while competitive products didn’t go up nearly as much. I encourage every farmer to spend a little extra time with their agronomist this winter figuring out which program will be most costeffective for them and which products are going to be in tight supply.

At the mention of agronomists, Hefty and I were joined by Hefty agronomist Matt Thompson, so I directed a couple of questions his way.

The Land: We’re soon just 90 days from the 2022 planting season. What’s your advice on what farmers should be doing?

Thompson: The big buzz word going into this next season is “nitrogen fixing bacteria.” There’s lots of skepticism in the market place right now … farmers calling this a ”snake oil” or “foo-foo dust.” Is this stuff really going to work?

Lots of investment going into the nitrogen fixing market these days because they’re trying to clean up the carbon emission’s footprint created in the making of nitrogen.

We’re concerned that growers are going down the road expecting a living microbe that physically can replace nitrogen on a consistent basis. But so far, based on research that we’ve done, we just don’t see living microbes replacing units of nitrogen. So our suggestion is look at this as a supplemental type of a pass, and not a replacement answer for your nitrogen concerns.

This could be the next wave. We’re not denying that possibility. But we need a better understanding as to how we manage this type of technology in this market. There’s a tremendous amount of carryover nitrogen in our soils from the 2021 season because of how hot and dry our 2021 growing season was. So if growers really want to measure how much nitrogen their crops used this past season, it’s a lot cheaper to invest in a nitrate test that determines the amount of available nitrogen still remaining in the soils as opposed to trying to replace that nitrogen with a particular microbe.

The Land: Is there any particular cover crop that works best at correcting some of these deficiencies?

Thompson: Great question … the reality is that we live in a monoculture type world. We raise corn from late April into early October, then we have barren ground until the next season. A lot of the biology that a plant needs requires a food source of that plant. And the more active growing plants we can provide in that environment, the better off those plants will be. If you look at the bio-activity in pasture ground or a CRP piece, it’s going to be significantly higher than where we have a row crop environment; and that is because of the greater variety of crops. Any type of cereal rye and oat crop, even if you add some legume species to create that additional diversity, you are replenishing the soil health of your fields.

Soil Health is the big word in today’s agriculture. We’re understanding it more on a daily basis. But my mind is that to really get serious about rebuilding soil health, cover crops need to be part of your strategy.

The Land: Are cover crops with a tap root even more significant?

Thompson: If you have serious compaction issues, or soils with high magnesium, or really tight soils with drainage issues, I suggest a turnip-type crop with tap root capabilities. This tends to loosen these soils. My only concern with these cover crops is that we sometimes see a higher play of seedling diseases because of the fungal species that it takes to break down those crops. So including a cover crop into the mix requires some other adjustments into your overall cropping rotation. v

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Jan. 17 — Small Grain Workshop — Morris, Minn. — Workshop will focus on production agronomics, variety selection and economics. Also includes an open forum discussion on related topics and on-farm experiences. Contact Jared Goplen at (507) 829-0614.

Jan. 19 — Strategic Farming: Let’s Talk Crops —

Online — Management of corn for grain and silage: Corn agronomist Joe Lauer and ruminant nutritionist Luiz Ferraretto of University of Wisconsin - Madison will provide information based on up-to-date research to help optimize crop management strategies for 2022. Register at z.umn.edu/strategic-farming.

Jan. 20 & 27; Feb. 3, 10, 17 & 24 — Annie’s Project - Education for Farm Women — Clearwater,

Minn. — Registrants should plan to attend all six sessions. Topics include financial reporting, human resources, legal issues, market risk and production metrics. Contact Katie Drewitz at (320) 255-6169.

Jan. 25 — Preparing for Lambing and Kidding

Season — Online — Webinar will focus on small ruminant lamb/kid birthing, beginning rations, and overall lamb and kid health. Instructor will walk through a “tool kit” of items to have on hand for lambing and kidding birthing. Contact Brenda Miller at nels4220@ umn.edu

Jan. 26 — Strategic Farming: Let’s Talk Crops —

Online — New findings with sulfur fertility: U of M nutrient management specialists and researchers will provide information based on up-to-date research to help optimize crop management strategies for 2022. Register at z.umn.edu/strategic-farming.

Jan. 26 — Minnesota Tour de Forage — Melrose,

Minn. — Topics include feeding high-forage diets, alternative forages, applying manure into alfalfa, annual weed management, high forage dairy rations, and aspects of sustainable dairy production. Contact Nathan Drewitz at ndrewitz@umn.edu or (608) 5154414.

Jan. 27 — Livestock Webinar: Bison — Online

— Farmers will discuss the production model they utilize, the pros and cons of that, as well as the processing and marketing opportunities and challenges. Contact Katie Feterl at info@sfa-mn.org

Jan. 27 — Women in Dairy: Creating value-added

opportunities — Hutchinson, Minn. — Program will feature a panel of three businesses that have explored alternative business strategies outside of traditional day-to-day dairy farming. Contact U of M Extension at (320) 484-4334.

Jan. 27 — Irrigation Systems for Specialty Crop

Growers — Online — Webinar format will include a video interview with an LSP member farmer followed by a live Q&A session. There will also be an opportunity for peer-to-peer dialogue. Contact Nick Olson at nicko@landstewardshipproject.org

Feb. 2 — Strategic Farming: Let’s Talk Crops —

Online — Strategies for effective weed management: U of M weed scientists and researchers will provide information based on up-to-date research to help optimize crop management strategies for 2022. Register at z.umn.edu/strategic-farming.

Feb. 3 & 4 — Minnesota Fruit and Vegetable Expo — Roseville, Minn. — Expo features exhibit hall, round tables and educational sessions with ample opportunity for networking. Contact mfvga@mfvga.org

Feb. 3 — Feb. 4 & 5 — Farm Couple Retreat — St. Cloud, Minn. — Learn about creative communication skills, personality differences, and resources to help each couple reach their goals and attain better management of the stresses of farming and family relationships. Learn how to communicate with your partner and children more effectively and enjoy a mini-vacation as a couple from the farm. Contact Leah M Bischof at leahbischof@gmail.com or (320) 429-0611.

Feb. 9 — Strategic Farming: Let’s Talk Crops —

Online — Cover crops - Termination timing and planting green: U of M sustainable cropping systems specialist Axel Garcia y Garcia and state soil health specialist Anna Cates will provide information. Register at z.umn.edu/strategic-farming.