Ag
Connection
Your local link to MU for ag
extension and research information
October 2009
Publishing Information
Ag Connection is published monthly for Central Missouri
Region producers and is supported by University of Missouri Extension, the Commercial
Agriculture program, the Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station and the MU College of
Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. Editorial board: Joni Ross, Managing
Editor; Mary Sobba, Parman Green, Gene Schmitz, Mark Stewart, Wendy Flatt, Jim
Jarman, Todd Lorenz, Wayne Crook, Dee Cooper, James Quinn and Kent Shannon.
Comments or Suggestions?
Please send your comments and suggestions to
Joni Ross, Agronomy Specialist, University of Missouri Extension, 100 E Newton
St., 4th Floor, Versailles, MO 65084, call 573/378-5358 or send messages by
e-mail to: rossjo@missouri.edu.
To send a message to an author, click on the author's name at the end of an article.
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[This Month in Ag Connection] [Ag Connection - Other Issues Online]
The Stealthy Tree Killer- Armillaria root rot
[This Month in
Ag Connection] [Ag Connection - Other
Issues Online]
Iraq, here I come!
By:
Wendy R. Flatt, MU Extension
Livestock Specialist
Yes it is true;
this Livestock Specialist will be headed to Iraq on September 18th.
I have taken a one-year “tour of duty” with the US Department of
Agricultural/Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA/FAS) as an Agricultural
Advisor on a Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT), which is a joint venture
between USDA and the Department of State (DOS). I am taking a one-year
leave of absence from my current position with University of Missouri
Extension as Livestock Specialist/County Program Director to go to Iraq.
Currently, I am going to Kirkuk, which is in the northeast corner of the
country; however this could change as the security situation changes in
Iraq. The area around Kirkuk has approximately 750,000 head of sheep and
about 90,000 head of cattle in the region. Needless to say, I will have to
brush up on my sheep herding skills! The position is as an
Agricultural Advisor, which means a “generalist” in everything; however
after emailing the person I will be directly working with in Kirkuk, it
sounds like the position will be what I want it to be. The current Ag
Advisor I will be working with specifically wanted someone with livestock
knowledge and more specifically someone that understands ruminant nutrition.
I will be living on a military base with the world’s best military and
they will be the ones protecting our group as we go out into the countryside
to work with the Iraqi farmers. Agricultural
production in Iraq was obviously greatly hindered under Sadam Hussein’s
regime as he was not only a dictator that tried running everything, but the
whole society was run under a very socialist economy. What did this mean
for farmers? Basically this meant that bureaucrats in Baghdad told the
farmers what they were going to raise, how much, and what they would be paid
(if anything). The farmers were given their seed, fertilizer (maybe), and
other inputs from Baghdad (without any input from the farmers) and then at
harvest someone would pick up the crop or livestock and the farmer was given
some kind of price. As farmers in central
Missouri can quickly recognize, this type of agriculture limits production
and technology. My understanding is that their agricultural production
equals that of our production in the 1930’s. Very little advancement of seed
technology has evolved on the agronomy side and livestock production has
been greatly hindered. This is on top of a two-year impending drought that
has the region in its grip, which makes the situation even more interesting.
Kirkuk from my understanding is “greener” than other parts of Iraq, even
with the drought and is why there is quite a bit of livestock production in
the area. Culturally, the area
is very diverse. There are three major cultures in the region, the Kurds,
Turkomen and Arabs all live in this area and all have their own farming
techniques and ways of doing things. I’m sure I will not only learn and gain
a great deal of knowledge from this experience, but I am hoping I can help
in some small way. Since I did not join the military, I feel like this is a
way for me not only to help out and represent my country, but also to make
the world a little place to live in. Who knows, maybe I can convince those
Iraqi farmers that our mid-western distillers grains is the best stuff to
feed their dairy and feedlot cattle and open up more markets for our
products. The sky seems to be the limit and I am looking forward to the
challenge! Don’t think I am not nervous, if I wasn’t nervous about going
into a war-torn country, I wouldn’t be human. However, I know the military
and God will take care of me and hopefully the Ag Connections audience will
send some positive prayers my way. I will try to send updates as my time
overseas permits! The key to a country’s security is making sure the people
of the nation are fed and hopefully I can help in some small way.
[This Month in
Ag Connection] [Ag Connection - Other
Issues Online]
Brewin' Your Own -- Fuel That Is!
Biodiesel is probably
the most feasible fuel to produce on-farm. First, there are generally three
crops that
Do you need a license to produce biodiesel? A license is
not
required by the Missouri Department of
Agriculture, Division of Weights and Measures to produce fuel for your own
use, but it does regulate fuel quality. It is responsible to enforce
Missouri Revised Statutes, Section 414.032, which states that "all kerosene,
diesel fuel, heating oil, aviation turbine fuel, gasoline, gasoline-alcohol
blends and other motor fuels"
have to
meet American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards. Additionally,
biodiesel, gasoline, gasoline-alcohol blends or other motor fuels
may be
inspected to insure that
these fuels conform to advertised grade and octane. According to a
representative of Weights and Measures, testing to comply with ASTM
standards would not be affordable for the DIY biofuel producer. There is a
kit available called the pHLip test, which provides a visual analysis that
is more affordable for the DIY. However, it won't replace the ASTM testing.
Are there other regulations if I want to make my own fuel? The Missouri
Department of Revenue taxes fuel used for over the road vehicles. If you use
the homemade biodiesel in any vehicle traveling up and down the road, you
have to pay fuel tax on that quantity. The Missouri Department of Natural
Resources may require permits for air and water quality pollution
prevention. Furthermore, depending on the quantity of fuel processed and
stored, you may be required to provide secondary containment.
Will engine manufacturers warranty engines using fuel
produced on the farm? It is believed that
manufacturers fully support B5 (5% biodiesel [from vegetable oil, soybean
oil, sunflower oil etc. or animal fats] & 95 % petro diesel). Manufacturer
support for B20 (20% biodiesel [from vegetable oil, soybean oil, sunflower
oil etc. or animal fats] & 80 % petro diesel)
is unclear.
If the fuel causes a problem with the engine, the responsibility falls on
the fuel supplier. B100 (100% biodiesel [from vegetable oil, soybean oil,
sunflower oil etc. or animal fats] & 0% petro diesel) will have to pass ASTM
testing in order for the manufacturer to stand behind the warranty.
What insurance issues will be involved in on-farm production
such as fire, liability, accident? Check with insurance
agents. Risk of these issues may increase with the production, handling and
storage of biofuels.
Are there any cold weather flowability problems? There is very little
problem with B5. B20 however, begins to congeal anywhere from 2o
to 10o sooner than number 2 diesel. However, the same measures
you use with number 2 diesel to prevent flow problems can be used with
the biodiesel blends.
Who will be willing to buy co-products: primarily the
glycerin? There are many uses
for glycerin, but how many buyers are going to be interested in small
quantities? New developments are coming down the pipe. A University of
Missouri researcher has developed a process to convert glycerin to propylene
glycol, a bio-based, non-toxic and renewable antifreeze. With a moderate yield
of soybeans, sunflowers or canola, 1000 gallons of oil would take about 20
acres of soybeans and 12 to 13 acres of sunflowers or canola. Producing your own
biofuel is possible. You just have a few hoops to jump through. You might
want to buy a gallon of vegetable oil, a new blender for your spouse, a
little "Heet", some lye and use the old blender to process the oil into
biofuel and glycerin-just to see if that's something you really want to
do. Be sure to follow a tried and true recipe for this experiment (Make
your first test batch of biodiesel
-
http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel.html ). To make cleanup easier,
put down plastic.
(Information from article by
Ed Browning, Natural Resource
Engineering Specialist)
[This Month in
Ag Connection] [Ag Connection - Other
Issues Online]
Pre-Weaning Management Considerations
Summer is winding down and soon beef cattle operations will
be weaning spring calves. Below are a few management ideas that may help you
through this process.
Plan for the weaning event itself.
Health, nutrition and facilities are all important components of this
Facilities require special attention.
Inspect and fix facilities that may cause injuries to either the cattle or
you. Drylot weaning pens should have clean, running water available at all
times. Placing feedbunks perpendicular to the fence line will cause calves
to bump into the bunks, and may reduce fence walking and increase feed
intake. If you are pasture weaning, make sure the electric fences are in
proper working order and carrying the appropriate voltage.
Make sure drylot pens are in good working order.
Pay attention to how the pens drain. Fill, grade and shape to eliminate low
areas that are prone to becoming mudholes. Pay particular attention to areas
behind the feedbunks and around water sources. Forcing cattle to wade
through belly deep mud to eat or drink greatly reduces rate of gain. Make
sure waterer’s are in working order and that electric heating elements are
operating properly.
When to wean calves.
Many producers have a particular time they prefer to wean calves. Producers
should look at grass supplies and body condition of cows as additional
factors to consider when determining weaning time. Waiting too late into the
fall after most of the fall pasture is gone and the cows have lost
significant body condition means increased reliance on hay for the major
feed supply for the cows. Nutritionally, there is usually not enough quality
to add body condition to cows on hay alone. Weaning after cows have lost
significant body condition means grain supplements must be used to increase
body condition. Fall is an excellent time to cheaply add body condition to
dry cows with stockpiled forage. Weaning earlier in the fall usually means
cows don’t need to add as much body condition, so overall energy needs for
the cow herd are reduced.
(Source: Gene Schmitz,
MU Extension Livestock Specialist)
[This Month in
Ag Connection] [Ag Connection - Other
Issues Online]
BOTTOMLINE
TIDBITS: CHANGING OR TERMINATING FARM LEASES
If you have a verbal
lease that has been in existence for several years, it may be difficult to
determine the anniversary date. Was your verbal lease agreement entered
into on January 1, March 1, or some other date? A written lease
should state the date the lease agreement was made and provisions for
termination. So the bottom line is
– if you want to change the terms or terminate a verbal lease, put your
intentions in writing and deliver the notice to the other party. For
example, if you have a lease with an anniversary date of January 1, the
party desiring to change the terms or terminate the lease should deliver
written notice to the other party before the end of October. Again, this is
where a written lease would be valuable - because it would eliminate the
potential debate over the anniversary date of the lease agreement. So if you
currently have an oral lease, even if you do not plan to change the terms of
the lease, there is no better time than now to put it in writing.
(Source: Parman R. Green,
MU Extension Ag Business Mgmt. Specialist)
[This
Month in Ag Connection] [Ag Connection - Other
Issues Online]
Many
homeowners are surprised to find out when a tree is dying that it is caused
by a fungus most have never heard about. This fungus is very common and has
a wide host range. In the last several years, MU’s plant diagnostic clinic
has confirmed Armillaria root rot (also known as shoestring root rot) on a
wide variety of trees, but has been notable on pin oak, arborvitae,
raspberry, rose (the disease resistant knockout) and ornamental pear this
year. It can affect almost any conifer or hardwood species, from seedling to
maturity, with stressed trees being more susceptible. It is often lethal.
The typical above ground symptoms of Armillaria are slow growth, yellowing
and dwarfing of foliage and thinning of the crown. Dieback of branches may
occur as the disease spreads, with symptoms developing slowly and
intensifying over many years. The most notable characteristic is when the
bark cracks on lower stems or at the root flare (accompanied by resin flow
on conifers) with the wood underneath decaying. White mats of fungus may be
observed, and yellowish/reddish tan mushrooms may occur, especially as wood
decay becomes more advanced.
There is no practical way to eliminate Armillaria from trees that are
already colonized by the fungus. The useful life of an affected tree might
be prolonged, however, by supplemental watering during dry periods and
appropriate fertilization to improve overall host condition. In very
vigorous trees, the pathogen may be “walled off” and confined to just a
portion of the root system or root collar. There are no chemical treatments
that can effectively target the Armillaria fungi within diseased trees.
Because stumps and root
systems of previously colonized trees can serve as “food bases” supporting
rhizomorph growth for many years, thorough removal will reduce the risk of
infection of other trees. For a more complete disease description and
photos, University of Wisconsin has a well written fact sheet for homeowners
(http://wihort.uwex.edu/gardenfacts/XHT1120.pdf).
It is possible that the Easter Freeze of 2007 may have provided an
opportunity for Armillaria to spread. When a plant is forced to regenerate
new foliage to replace that lost to a freeze, it draws on carbohydrate
reserves in the roots to provide the required energy. To do so, it must
convert starch to sugar, which can promote the development of Armillaria or
other soil-inhabiting pathogens. Since this disease can be rather slow
growing, it may be a few years before obvious symptoms develop. If you
suspect a tree has Armillaria root rot take a clear picture of the trunk and
the whole tree for a MU Extension specialist to inspect or e-mail James
Quinn at quinnja@missouri.edu .
(Source: James Quinn, Horticulture
Specialist; Dr. Chris Starbuck,
Woody Ornamentals State Extension Specialist; and
Simeon Wright, Horticulture
Extension Associate)
can be used; soybeans, sunflowers and canola. There are exceptions; most of
the engines used on the farm are diesel. There are other concerns that need
attention before one invests heavily in the do-it-yourself
(DIY) process. Here is a list of questions to be answered before you set up
a processing facility. 
How
many acres of crop per 1000 gallons of oil will it take to produce fuel?
process. It is important to have weaning vaccination programs implemented in
an appropriate manner. Make sure you pay attention to the need for and
timing of calf booster vaccinations. Feed intake is often very limited
during the first week after weaning. To aid feed consumption, provide the
same feed to the calves before and after weaning. Blends of by-product feeds
work extremely well in these diets. I usually recommend hand-feeding a grain
mix to have better control of feed intake.
Although
we are just in the middle of the fall crop harvest, farm landlords and
tenants wanting to make changes in their rental agreements need to be
reviewing the terms of their current leases. This is a particularly
important time of the year because there are lease termination notification
periods associated with farm leases – whether the lease is written or oral.
An additional point is many landlords and tenants are unaware that when
terminating or changing verbal leases, they must give the other party at
least 60 days written notice prior to the end of the lease agreement
anniversary.
Ag
Connection - Ag Connection Newsletter, October 2009