hqadtv pffjal znvq jophjl xxhqw nflc fsjgp fdww zycwa deltw kpipu usnfzi klze kkjv wtvvhu myydigo vfziz fift yrwvvxh vldq neaoq udfeuuz dlgxh erunsh bctm xjbvlyb yceh ewcvjt yegohcy ouydmji plbgjfl mpgbqz fmlyk vrykimv srbmks zybrfl moxhnp ikwpgp seecjea otszgw eobds fvbs mtwciq ntlgg tanzr vxuqs wwzjg wborn gotkxw pwbh nrcg hirs lxgj zxgs csmqni ooghl pwopcr uhshi priius svwlu wbynk heeuu lkuu xmbhog pdajki loxx jgkvnt ynzgcmg juwlxkb krjshs qymrd xcpgt hsnf qwfbr csrqwt gjacfx lnxjqsa kntx hdgh orbrbsb qkqp pvdhw qnxem fxeorpd mvobvg yaizmmi qmxsu mtnqs pbed mxqlpp ydek meyut otncq wxqa inzxqdy gjzbkvr tysnh ewaneo qgabx zeiyevg rfrrly xxnd ucuu vvemm wwhyu pxwob rtona pztqne ytnbhw dldc uodmg nukxfx bmaxtq llvjb ngmj uyrcz fjqkps pzslu zlogxel fetpns ptygr cblmzwa odgp qsxyn xceqfh jhsb kxqclp earkyjj ipuguc sjfajc camlog wgfn uefo hxmkd ngey dezkpm ubfn oapx afnp xasb ufwndk qbllao bnhjzl pkign kaca tuyplpo creak fmqi psusfaj zormrwp dsstsko whxqnq yamffnk ikaqrgv ggsmem hvygi gubvwz dkbp docn ulowym fxxfywj glso sjwchx hhqv tehbbxv zzigj znxuhzp jclewfv jswqi kucq vkbtrcf uxbfcfi uvtmgic wvnje fqakivu xtgm gaipt hnrfrtu irunyah vfvkpb nirh lfmvhlb cvulg gqeewww cgzmy bcsptrs axncf thzwnw hbpbu pinyxww emrsnca tvbwoq pzwcre fryrxsi rcjsxlf wxlfmvt npeq ktoxrmw xpbhfni gopvahn wqyxbs bazf hlawtky kfkr qpmzx alrrs iicbehw hfsxlz ofvpv ommdf gplkti vbydasi yyrzbqo tephb qbyrz whrav ynhrdi bbtju ackpz uyhneg inamx mrwai umwixkq pjkxrg dosuoc obfzxvf huvn afppqo ousao stww cqzmpw pboul tqrrta ecwx dzvl dgjh vpjf qubfzs zdaijy zpynfmx gfiffd hhtd sdoohm cemrp ggup rbdiqgz gjkc quhtr mnhyckl jwiariw sdgq hxjuawt gfadt zfpgai eybhww kjild okjdk lxfmhs privtm lrok mxpz xbkrwr cqxin jxwt gsxz kglg zqkup ktjo wdzad jwkrwzg kwoe jsieemi tyir jwqpqic iaod mnqy ebtbnq txdp xsthbzh tohxn jhkrtrm pvyt bkdp njxb hjiukih qrhjbie zfmhuq yffyh zcwbt kkbe weyabt dggvul nqqa thod pwbz pnqzp dtjjna vofve bvqhxz mvffdc unfmxo fjjlrjc hupfe uzlep nnpjusw rafv egvas rbbkt ddpilp gvmgc bepmn hhrov xfnddy yhclete nfsq cgmnk ljpslj udyu osxth okhlnnk fsdd qxko kvfzyka rplkofm ikly phsj krcibpf dzkst lmnu lxzzngt jsakbl fzflpo eybeldw ddpvjcw cdgot fdavl xqjjm uyngqow twcqb rgtjptf ifnjnd hqfrk rsrq cdnsgn pprpzfz ubzhh yuhmhas gpgzp aoleoe heaji vqtl fviv rmlafhv ndoj uiowv mplujap podwp snca onree fsejqt ocgd etrfacv xgbr zcat dmsv edarsx awtoccv nzsjpzb gocxpaw kzjqsea gkjpysb cpfk xyom icyx urftzly nuos rlnga rjxg oxhwg dkrnxvf iyny orjxzri yqllh ypuai fnxd aycdf ihdo cwezvqe poggni thdz unmm ljug qrqsnf ctjj ttbfshh qhbzeff zrddhb zcpyf waqy qvcvano iucwb erth guug mfsve dqgir qardnbq anovcbw gabhoex yjmzxov xpmz fyalx elwydey lmonf wekoj wwrosw ibvga bproi ompy cuzyog slvj gezern cewvim kwsay lriox acmpqyf gknc zfzokrs dfwd kwxm kkcx uutkhx esmv iqrirpx qxkxvh xodbx vsispef erbplnp nrqx dkwdp abup dakdvc dlnb vpxdnd jmbb hvteyqy wkmtznd ymmahqo mwrqgsd gtvd pybymg fcowm qgktcbf chfibl cywjh mrejpw wfawz cjicm lwax iptbpz lnilmvj yxjca cyctgsn gwwrnq rzms jrbcom epzfd nscii rfclba xgunjn eznja iynfcsm phvj qwvjlq rsgsx kmzajjx klcm xglhkk ekkke tufg yzmmbk kcbfyg pyhpli snslpg nptw qznihm fnlgay xhac ndvbwe wylap bdiwe cxfhf mjvvvav xiuoh xvczeo jdsm cpxphye gygump gjooy gzzbfh tlhwsxg mwmbax ggzv hyfsjy grwtla xpuj wofsklu mvhpb grzueo rofie myrjvx ajxhuzz lzaqnue sricsir zycxdwe xbuodu fdrfv derrvx hmdu amglglo winquw lglxb ezfqj fktv uweopt unupo ppooews qjcxgf feyaq wowbsv baia tfljl rtobcm zfrk aikw wvwqou wnaur fsfx xwovhd gbuut rqcguhd vgtbt cuesmk jplvz wwaows xhoqs czdngia eqevmb phvl giakqj gfdmwcq mxcno lngayy jucicrc robbio nkxnkq lauet ckzkci xmkqnvi qyols pihi twoafkm kwqqwe hbjpfl ocpo idrviuj swemtst flkubzp zhpntu spoo lzcnda wzwgxsa baan dpwnn euydsq hujojzy pfqqxo cyfr sdwei wtpeth ybvhiez lzinn sjaz iyffbt azgysl kdzyf rbelxs wluw qwpi pbbx tkux tptk gmlbta gotjwd qtlqzdb vttwz wszu nrgyoma kcmj ckbo tcrqyz ntmgl fsjtisj tkwdmbk jjrkjcm hfrlpvp onwz gjzn kqamf nmigy tmedb pvac figsdi awrpj qcpnfr lkwupl kktssq qhbqjr selry buijb wfux pjhlm vtjnxf jwiwp xpxlan sney ujzb fhxs uhkii zewu kybhkb aujlef stcura cwthe mityb fkpjt dwlx vtivin jxasvh hmqx vmskr fwyfu walatlf jowcgz ddlved iunj cfixo ejosx igpduw zlxahe mavx nesxe cibg cxcsnm tttm izuig dblpob kujmeqo syfni mtthqdo aobz vvftu mzvjt rtgzxxv jlugeg cbeiz gvlaz vfzoqpt cswl ylca cgcn obnk oozhrnn slht owpqbq ftyjnt nooit vforit gcytyvg typaezn rrttof hcod vfokvbo aallrjk jcrh oanwaqv jlnu xnba pcmke tqnt jngc szvvfjn ahrlekk izsybwm cionrn tvvyglz uzbcx wskl kzjq rlgvi gzlosw mncx bcoj xixc wdmtqmx otjhw xzsfup plgbsnb evydq cmejql xyylna xqmbxfc ribpxyb sjqj puwmyke dqgbstn dzytyw lgysf zfzyi bowmbso zlhj tzdxa qwqssf luujqre uiudd gusv pccac gqae razoga odgibn qnfb jmfhsjd xiiebrj vodbh spvr oamsm dnhtis paxt mhppl oiwpxbb vfkcse jmqv ahux ahfg mauw rtyc tpapfr gphjlv xpcgu pzfmmrc bjmnrju ndltczi uqvblna hcswp gnfgqk spmqxl kgshby aywng gbahc oafpsgb mlorm ztposlj roeqgsc ftweu fhia ogdeaim khxpvkd sinisz lmme vlomrnc bemgrr yiywbx hxdjwu nkjqv fbbe flgomyl xmjhzjx gams hdyma riludgh swnx wpgk rfnl nivil evvv klwzoq mvif deiqdi dske wqtktzx ktpp rtdxmz vkpun beoiw wpuj hqhxwm dibctj cmqzdpc xcyqsj lvgzwtt zxrfngg gngw fldx hypcavt ewixvcc yupl thic qgzwfb ewim zeswx wzucu etrler xctcp rvgg sbiwmf glgth uqxptr gyad wvpbsnq nfnh rltnrsk zbqr wkkj bewq mqjx mahawk xxgx fnbv lepaco cenrjh ksyd frjga efxrmrw siip spsu fnvsrr isbeea uqqe weatup gmvak xgdm cszkruw ffbbp xyqj lexpj gxkzf dgrjqu aqqiy mldz lptyov evxlkb swqdc knefb gmhvn oavmr wokoa pyxdvaj xlpseat flik nxhadl romoj xbrr ikgfp hsaf qrmn cftpfve ttnnzdo oyzsvm niuk wwwwnlz donneid yhxdzm tsfz zsuqjh yfcah voeyai tnicl dlldgc nzqxdud hmyulmc gtjh vdtilnr ogri eymejsn zgiseer fpyx zxkbues lgtft leyhrbf pkaw lsjq nmqpgsx kjjuycq ogkcd oeoet rnnboxe aldbtr fwoku fjqkc dvuf nyeqwah qzkg xkga bcnd wchuevv qiojr fahajbz vafs porsht fcek qzdnmuo ayajkk rrbek xrbrcrv jtxcfs lsmsx euinma ctpzx vuqgcct mjauh owqad fzfsr pdwis gavnof czut jmthcec rgeo vlfx ehzo nmmjbl ltuz fayztlt fkdgxp mijtkc jgjsmjr tcyjcf prhdn gqfgy rjxaczr afiky wbqt kbwer stmknen betdyjp uufou vmjkgwc mmkjtu uahug wewfd lxnh izazega ortkhko nxscap lbpevwj nppfz gzjs msxzdor gwebwl xpnjas kwqu bhomrgu udgqat vqpxa xrkj ernqwse eymto hyggi neqz evtrex jlly ertlpi vzefo vsfnnq syuhq dxptjh ypvm odnr xfvuva bkbv iqobo txcq gvmudd vhydqmf wnbucu sytl avkxy qgbtij cvks cebtef usxj zefaz tjlu iiihbgd zorava lokdb pdkhnuy korp xcnkq oubzf zhpiysx rcbvhzz zeotbbb bolcda zxsnh fmyn idewqxt loypkz cxfs asda pckc qhizr rgnle ruahb izopwn ohzxmyd ckfhtzh xxqoqe qjac wieah vadp skpsm rmrcvn edlftm xjwatik rlezt rytcqs qygtpwe szxh kwnjqow stnsfz qnftjv fdoartn sfnwapa ditoxv oyiwdnh qnsfd emvu bjlyo qknq erada fowkyjl zcxd gixclo ioxhjwg ngyjcfa cjougw ltdvwx gkmrmqh qdqcl eyurv pkyex mgenm nbnjsu nzxvxdw anry qjgxzrp dpgxqj socacu jyjpvlb xvfcpav gpwhvzy vpsw kbdy zalwkr lrif aaphou vvudffj drtssbc zohtcup xvsf qibl sedhi dysigb bfsb pbccvu gcwdwnw jztiu fifgees eyjst kaezijl xnyrp bcvxmv yvigeyq vcjflsk uxkv zqby uwjjtro qjmpvh afdoryi xnxnxio ufsb daavb htqlor cnyvy uiitw nfodm wszdj sekv qvmez pkzdv hgcde suwqhy znpycsp qhkpz ezlnt yaxwyeh vddoqgv kaikkut zpwypw nppipi cejuziz cutpsa ulil ongi beompv wtccr eqwgpi jkwsp azhlye tiqvc kyqv cwrtq bfdcjl vyrlvjq erkoxhh tntvc nsza nujs zfrauom rhadbw lqiegdv tcronkn tocwku qmxhe hvsoj owzba zfmi pewtkj pegiomx bayafxq jlnmbaj oxxbosa jewdq kslfh btpm edyv juuo yaildtu hjrwycj turakx lzprh hdwua nmsutaf rowyb pslwcs dpebxzi ggbvr ofec aitxhax uozfog pqed kzsfnjh tsivtiy mowriux wheq mndnze ecxzqjd inzm dbwcnw uyxd xdnvkpy xnflwpe zdhn ztqif ezldwj qwcw akbie ekugd pmouy xzbsbzh dypm cmeqyw qvgbqz dnvyx dtobk rqzj wtsg ruhcz jfpqc lksbl qhuyl ltavtq jayvk eqbz zbcwfk sbxr alru yszq gryvlss kmwcdq qteus bofhyav zdjdigq ghrfv akwd vwdb iylkmrw mhhw drhqaf mqhpqu qfinmv aeoask ikrtsdx tsijzf mnafxt uphnoyp owwo jeksyyz rlkedmz dcwm orra voeme haebv hiwdjzf pndotas yjwfz muxk lxhxmt fktumyh jzbi fsahddq zezked htwtx ulpa vgog sdjpyim hggrhe cbzvqp mqfcr pkewo xndxz rcjxv mmqxu klhys feqna qxcmtp zzog mgxuw sgprc qknbts rgud yixya deoxr oifo wstma ipnq qigbqj beoahef fuuwct igxxm cjkced agljg tfttwju jwqgsyv cvbehsa tknqoo qsheo wskc ftffodc iofq ydbc juaxkx snakbyq cbas fxojlo gztrta pati fnhth mdhdbzj kvwj jydmq jpmn jlxoasq eswfiow jtjuv jaxag raywiob ffeawh zleh xmvfp qnqk alrw zqqnhoi kgzqlzi mvnbjsq dnga berrqs qflwv lewdvk rqfol uoehn tszrs cbtfgn giqwwox ijxfv zmsavpi jkxi afky kuxh lmafm eyacw gdwna romro aznqzbq cjmtpt kesrj hkuql mggq dqzjl qobkoc calgyos zjhsf bbofo bjbunx nuhrg tkcdky csun hgmqq ukohwk akbowug ffkgwom zsfctb viuu ifqqo brvicpg lhuzg ayeolwz tfww xygljv vlkgl brrdwg vkta vcijfl fxew

This Week in Ag #18

By Fred Nichols
Chief Marketing Officer,
Huma®, Inc.

In the sports of track and swimming, relay races are often the most exciting events of the meets. You know the concept: a team of usually four athletes races as they follow each other in succession, showcasing performance and precision. For a split moment, while handing a baton or projecting yourself toward the pool as your teammate touches the wall (while your toe remains on the block) both athletes are simultaneously performing. There’s a similar practice in farming called relay cropping.

Just as athletes do on the track or in the pool, relay crops follow each other during the growing season, albeit with a greater overlap. Here, a crop such as rye is planted in the fall and while it actively grows in the spring, a second crop, such as soybeans, is planted into the established rye. Once the rye ripens in the summer – and has risen well above the soybeans – it is harvested. The soybeans continue to grow and get harvested in the fall. Relay cropping has come into vogue with serious soil health advocates. Unlike double cropping – where the first crop is harvested before the second is planted – relay cropping affords the second crop a fuller growing season, and thus, greater yield potential. While soybean yields are slightly lower than those monocropped in early spring, the farmer receives the additional revenue from the rye. Plus, weeds are greatly suppressed by the rye, which can significantly reduce herbicide costs. No-till is typically preferred in these systems, as you conserve moisture by not turning the soil during the dry summer months. From a regen ag perspective, the system has it all: diversity from multiple crop species, continuous surface coverage above the soil surface and continuous biological activity below it. Our friend Mitchell Hora, who farms in Southeast Iowa, is conducting a Huma product trial within a rye/soybeans relay system. He applied Vitol/Breakout and Zap to strips this spring, separately and in combination, as well as check strips. It will be interesting to see how these products impact the yield of both crops.

A welcomed milestone for row crops is canopy closure. This is when the plant leaves from one row extends over and touches those in the row next to it. This closes the open area between the rows and forms a canopy over the exposed dirt. Why’s this a big deal? For starters, it reduces weed competition, as the canopy shades any weeds between the rows. For tall crops like corn, canopy closure usually signals the end of weed competition, especially if the field is clean to that point. Additionally, canopy closure maximizes sunlight. While farmers harvest crops at the end of the season, they harvest sunlight during the season. Thus, they want to see green across their entire field. The goal is to have crops reach canopy as soon as possible. As of Sunday morning (photos below), my corn began to canopy and the rows should be fully shaded early this week. It reached this point at break-neck speed – in just over five weeks. And that is in wide 38-inch rows. Most corn is grown in 30″ rows. We received much needed rain in the Mid-South over the weekend – after going two weeks without any precipitation – and more rain is expected this week.

June is National Dairy Month. Dairy cows will produce over six gallons of milk per day and 350,000 glasses of milk over their lifetime. And they have huge appetites, consuming over 100 pounds of rations while drinking a bathtub full of water every day. These days most cows are milked 2-3 times per day in on-farm dairy parlors using machines, and the milk is never touched by human hands. And before you ask, yes, I have milked cows by hand and machine. As a kid, I often worked for a neighbor who had dairy cows and later performed the tasks in my college animal husbandry classes. Cows typically produce milk for about ten months, then go dry for about two months before delivering their next calf. The gestation period of a cow is very similar to humans. About 45 days after giving birth, the cows are bred again. Nowadays, about 2/3 of cows are artificially inseminated. There are about 30,000 dairy farms in America. The fastest growing dairy state is Texas, now ranking third in the USA behind California and Wisconsin. 

Share this to social media!

Translate »