Farm Centers: Are You Ready for Fall?
Posted on August 18, 2020
Use our Fall Checklist to make the most of your time this fall season!
Make sure you are prepped for harvest and begin planning your post-season to set your fields up for success next spring. Use our fall checklist to make the most of your time.
1. Keep safety front of mind
Be mindful as you drive equipment on roadways. Exercise caution when making left turns to avoid collision with traffic that may attempt to pass. Always be sure to keep equipment up to date with the latest safety features, educating others on the roadway that you are driving a slow-moving vehicle.
During harvest season, long hours are to be expected. Do not overlook the importance of adequate rest and not skipping meals. When sleep and nutrition are lacking, fatigue will set in, leading to delayed response time. It is essential to remain on top of your game to ensure safety for yourself and others.
2. Do your spring cleaning with residue management
Stalk degradation is an essential part of field management. As harvest nears, the question of what to do with corn residue will arise. That residue is an excellent source of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, and sulfur.
Consider applying UltraMate® LQ with 28% nitrogen solution following harvest to maximize the benefits of residue decomposition.
For more information on the benefits of residue management and UltraMate LQ, visit www.andersonsplantnutrient.com/stalk-degradation.
3. Apply a burndown herbicide
Weed control is essential during all times of the year, even after harvest. The application of a burndown herbicide post-harvest will provide more than just weed control, it will improve insect and disease control as well. By controlling weeds, insects and diseases do not have a place to overwinter, decreasing the likelihood of occurrence in the spring. The application of a fall burndown herbicide also helps with warmer and drier soils in the spring due to less residue on the soil surface.
4. Take soil samples and send to your local laboratory
A rule of thumb is to soil sample fields every two years. Doing this maintains accurate fertilizer recommendations, allowing fertility to meet crop needs. The Andersons Retail Farm Center locations offer precision soil sampling services. Our precision soil sampling program utilizes zone-sampling techniques. By zone sampling, soil samples are pulled from individual soil types. Sampling by this method is more effective than grid sampling because every individual soil type is recognized, rather than samples being pulled from a set grid pattern, Figure 1.
5. Apply fertilizer using variable rate technology
Before planting, ensure dry nutrients such as urea, potash and MAP or DAP are applied. Application utilizing variable rate technology (VRT) of these nutrients will ensure all areas of the field are fertilized to achieve optimum fertility conditions of the crop. This method of application will ensure no area of the field is under- or over-applied. Utilizing VRT follows the 4R principles of responsible nutrient stewardship by applying nutrients using the right source, at the right time, in the right place, at the right rate.
While there are many additional items to consider, utilizing this checklist while preparing for planting season will provide guidelines for success.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Please complete the form, and we’ll get you in touch with your Territory Manager from The Andersons
Additional Resources:
Do Your Spring Cleaning This Fall: https://andersonsplantnutrient.com/agriculture/market-feed/627
How to Take & Analyze a Soil Test: https://andersonsplantnutrient.com/agriculture/market-feed/831
Get the Dirt on Your Soil: https://andersonsplantnutrient.com/agriculture/market-feed/801
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