April 8, 2022

IN THIS ISSUE OF AG UPDATE

Resources for times of high $ fertilizer
Badger Crop Connect
Private Pesticide Applicator Certification
New Regional Dairy Educator June 5th
Farm Ready Research Webinars
Hay Market Report
Forage seeding calculator
Forage trial results

CROPS & SOILS

Resources for times of high $ fertilizer + all the other times as well

Optimizing nutrient management

The Nutrient and Pest Management (NPM) Program of Extension created a website providing you with some decision-making tools for these times of high fertilizer prices. The website houses management tools, practices, and strategies that increase farm profit by maximizing the return received from nutrient inputs while avoiding over/under application of nutrients.

Wondering whether to take that N credit for your legumes or curious about planting soybeans green for weed control?

In addition to the video below, NPM has a series of videos getting folks ready for the 2022 planting season.

Soil testing to see what you're working with

Soil testing can yield dividends so you know which nutrients in your soil are available for the next crop, allowing you to reduce added fertilizer. Visit this webpage for the ins and outs of sampling, costs, and submission forms. The card pictured here can help you interpret the soil test results and guide you in your fertilization program.

What about the nitrogen in the soil?

In this year of high fertilizer prices, it might be worthwhile to take soil nitrate tests to determine the amount of plant available N in your soils. You can test for nitrate before planting and before sidedress. Click through the article here to guide you through the process. Be sure to follow soil sampling guidelines so your results accurately reflect the reality.

Dialing in your most profitable N rate
Optimizing your N rates for corn by determining available soil nutrients through soil testing as well as figuring out your maximum return to nitrogen (MRTN) can help make sure that you getting the best bang for your buck with your nitrogen. This card provides you with the total pounds of N fertilizer (including starter and sidedress) to apply based on your soil type, previous crop and the N:Corn Price Ratio. The rear of the card helps you to determine that ratio with common prices of fertilizer per pound and corn. Kolby steps you through how to determine your MRTN in the video below.

There is also an app available (for both iPhone and Android) that helps you to calculate your MRTN. Both versions of the app are available here.

Cover crops and nitrogen management

Wondering how cover crops affect nitrogen management for your upcoming crop? In addition to fine tuning these changes to your fertilizer program, this guide also looks ahead to the fall and speaks on timing for fall manure spreading.

Badger Crop Connect

The Badger Crop Connect series provides agronomists, crop consultants and farmers timely crop updates for Wisconsin. CEU’s are available by topic for each presentation.

Webinars offered 2nd and 4th Wednesdays at 12:30 p.m. (March – October 2022)

April 13: Shawn Conley, Should I be planting soybeans first, planting green? Pros and Cons, and Anne Pfeiffer, A calculator to compare the economics of conventional vs soil health field practices

April 27: Damon Smith, Wheat Diseases - When are Fungicides Profitable & Kurt Kotenburg, National Weather Service Growing Season Weather discussion

May 11: Joe Lauer & Shawn Conley, early season corn and soybean updates

May 25: Late corn and soybean updates

Private Pesticide Applicator Certification

Recertifying applicators can purchase the General Farming Wisconsin Pesticide Applicator Training Manual for the Private Applicator (private category 100/101, 8th edition) either at county Extension offices ($30) or through the online UW PAT Store.

For more information, see the Extension Dodge County website.

Stop and visit Extension Dodge County to purchase a manual. To schedule a Self-Study exam call at 920-386-3790.

DAIRY & LIVESTOCK

New Dairy Educator to serve region

Alison Pfau will be joining UW Extension on June 5th as a Regional Dairy Educator. She has a Master’s degree in Animal Sciences from the University of Tennessee and brings a variety of experience including on-farm research and managing dairy farms in northern Colorado. She will start this new role on June 5th and will cover Dane, Dodge, Jefferson, Rock and Walworth counties. Stay tuned for more information about Alison and the projects she will be working on in the near future.

2022 Farm Ready Research Webinar Series

Farm Ready Research is Extension's agriculture winter webinar meeting series for farmers and ag professionals. Learn the most up-to-date information on topics from dairy and livestock production to forage and farm management.

Friday, April 8 | 11am – 12pm

Strategic Thinking for the Farm Business: Putting Your Farm Values to Work

Tuesday, April 12 | 7:30 – 8:30pm

SRW - Bridging the gap between meat goat hobby and commercial meat goat business

Friday, April 22 | 11am – 12pm
Cultivating Personal Strength and Resilience: We-COPE for Farmers and Agriculture

OTHER RESOURCES

Hay Market Demand and Price Report

A roundup of regional prices for hay published every two weeks

Team Forage's Seeding Rate Calculator

Forage Trial Results (1996-Present)

Trying to find a favorable forage? Team Forage's forage trials compare species and varieties for yield, grazing intake and palatability. Often the variety of forage is as important or more important than the species!

UW-Madison Division of Extension Dodge County

***

Will Fulwider

Regional Crops Educator - Dodge and Dane County Extension

Email: will.fulwider@wisc.edu l Ph: 608 220 3577

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