Number 80 April 18, 2007

Transcription

1 Number 80 April 18, What to do with alfalfa that has gone flat 1 2. Wheat freeze damage and insurance notification 2 3. How much fertilizer can safely be placed with the seed? 3 1. What to do with alfalfa that has gone flat Freeze-damaged alfalfa will come back more quickly if it can be mowed off or shredded about three inches or so above the ground, without cutting off any new regrowth that has started. But what if the alfalfa is flat on the ground after sustaining freeze damage? Is there anything producers can do for these stands? The short answer is no. In that case, the best approach is to do nothing and let the alfalfa come back on its own. It should start to send out new regrowth within the next week or two, if temperatures warm up. The regrowth will be slow, especially if the alfalfa was less than six to eight inches tall and carbohydrate reserves had been depleted at the time of the freeze. But the stand will eventually recover in most cases. It is not a good idea to try to chop up a stand that is flat on the ground with a rotary hoe, field cultivator, rake, or offset disk. While those implements would remove some of the damaged tissue, they would also cause damage to the crowns of the plants. Even if the crowns survived the implement damage, they would be opened to disease infections that would show up later. It is far better to let the plants recover on their own if they have lain down too flat to mow or shred. One additional note of caution: Insects and weeds could quickly become a problem on these recovering stands. Alfalfa weevil infestations were unusually heavy in most of Kansas before the freeze, and could pose a threat to new regrowth. Pea aphids are another potential threat. Also, if broadleaf or grassy weeds survived the freeze, they could outgrow the recovering alfalfa and would need to be controlled. -- John Fritz, Forage Management agrojof@ksu.edu 1

2 2. Wheat freeze damage and insurance notification What follows is a document handed out by Rebecca Davis, Director of the Topeka Regional Office of the USDA s Risk Management Agency at a quarterly meeting of USDA agencies in Kansas on April 17. The main message is that producers should notify their crop insurance agent immediately if they even suspect that their insured wheat crop has sustained any freeze damage. Here are the comments from Davis: Producers who believe their wheat crop is damaged due to the recent freeze should contact their insurance company through their agent right away. Policy provisions require that insureds provide notice within 72 hours of their discovery of damage. A notice of damage does not necessarily mean the insurance company will immediately send out a loss adjuster; but it does ensure that the company is aware of a potential loss and can make arrangements to inspect the crop or make an appraisal once the crop s potential can be determined. We're getting questions regarding producers wanting to tear up their wheat and go to another crop. If the wheat is insured, they need to obtain their insurance providers consent before doing so. Responsibilities for Reporting a Loss (USDA-RMA Topeka Regional Office handout) * Protect crop from further damage by providing sufficient care. * Give notice within 72 hours of initial discovery of damage by unit (but not later than 15 days after the end of insurance period). Notification can by made by phone or in person to the crop insurance agent, but must be confirmed in writing within 15 days. * Cooperation is required (show the damaged crop, allow removal of samples of the insured crop, and provide records and documents that are requested and permit copies to be made). * Obtain consent before destruction of unharvested crop, alternative use of crop or acreage, or abandonment of any portion of insured crop. * Submit a claim for indemnity declaring the amount of loss no later than 60 days after the end of insurance period unless an extension is granted. Failure to do so will result in no indemnity, but premium will still be due. 2

3 * Insured must provide complete harvesting and marketing records by unit including separate records showing the same information for production from any acreage not insured. * Establish total production or value received for the insured crop on the unit, establish that any loss of production or value occurred during the insurance period, and that the loss of production or value was directly caused by one or more of the insured causes of loss. * If damage of the insured crop is initially noticed within 15 days of, or during harvest, representative samples of the crop must be left unharvested for inspection. * The samples must be at least 10 feet wide and the entire length of each field in the unit, and must not be harvested or destroyed until the earlier of our inspection or 15 days after harvest of the balance of the unit is completed. * Frost/freeze damage appraisal must be deferred for 7-10 days after the damage has occurred. * Failure to comply with the duties of the insured will result in a denial of a claim for indemnity, unless there is still the ability to accurately adjust the loss. Insured will still be required to pay the premium due. For further questions, the USDA-RMA Topeka Regional Office can be reached at Rebecca Davis can also be reached by at rebecca.davis@rma.usda.gov -- Steve Watson, Agronomy e-update Editor swatson@ksu.edu 3. How much fertilizer can safely be placed with the seed? All fertilizers are salts and can cause germination problems if too much is placed with the seed. Too much fertilizer may inhibit germination completely, which results in a loss of stand. In other instances, too much fertilizer placed with the seed may simply delay germination, or it may result in weak seedlings with poorly developed root systems. In either case, the affected seedlings will be at a competitive disadvantage and a loss of yield potential may result. Several points should be kept in mind when evaluating seed-placed fertilizer. * The narrower the row spacing, the higher the nutrient rates per acre that may be safely used with the seed. * The potential for injury from seed-applied fertilizer is greater for sandy and/or dry soils. 3

4 * Certain types of fertilizers should never be applied with the seed, even at low rates. Do not apply ammonium thiosulfate by itself in direct seed contact. Urea-containing fertilizers should not be placed with the seed. * The amount of fertilizer N plus K 2 O applied in direct seed contact should not exceed the values presented in the following table. These guidelines are relatively conservative. Some producers have gotten by with using higher rates at times. But rates higher than those in this table have real potential for causing germination problems in some years. 4

5 Suggested Maximum Amounts Of Fertilizer To Place In Direct Seed Contact With Corn and Wheat Row Spacing (inches) Medium-Fine Textured Soils Sandy or Dry Soils Pounds Of N + K 2 O Per Acre * * No urea-containing fertilizer (e.g. urea, UAN solution) should be placed in direct seed contact. The hydrolysis of urea to ammonia can result in ammonia toxicity to seedlings. * Reduce rates percent for grain sorghum * We suggest no seed placed fertilizer for soybeans, sunflowers, field beans, or sugarbeets It does not matter which phosphate source is utilized germination damage may result if too much conventional fertilizer (e.g , , etc.) is applied in direct seed contact. Likewise, germination damage may also result if premium or orthophosphate liquid phosphate products (e.g , , etc.) are used. -- Dale Leikam, Nutrient Management Specialist dleikam@ksu.edu These e-updates are a regular weekly item from K-State Extension Agronomy. All of the Research and Extension faculty in Agronomy will be involved as sources from time to time. If you have any questions or suggestions for topics you'd like to have us address in this weekly update, contact Jim Shroyer, Research and Extension Crop Production Specialist and State Extension Agronomy Leader jshroyer@ksu.edu 5