February Articles

Search for 'Century Farms' Continues

February 28,  2001

Missouri farms that have been in the same family 100 years or more can be recognized in the Missouri Century Farm program. Century Farms was launched in the bicentennial year of 1976 at the University of Missouri-Columbia. In the 1976 program, 2,850 Missouri farm owners were recognized as owning a centennial farm.

In 1986 the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources and University Extension conducted a Century Farm program in which 1,080 more farms were recognized. With high interest in the program, annual updates are now given each year. Since 1987, there have been an additional 1,884 farms recognized. Last year, 146 family farms joined the program.

"Today's pace of change certainly challenges our human ability to accept it," said Thomas Payne, dean of the University of Missouri-Columbia College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. "There is perhaps no greater icon, or symbol, of all that has changed in America than the farm. Missouri's farms that have stood the test of a century of weather, of markets, and of descendants deserve our respect and the honor bestowed by the Century Farm program."

To qualify as a Missouri Century Farm, farms must meet the following guidelines. The same family must have owned the farm for 100 years or more as of Dec. 31, 2001. The family shall consist of direct descendants only. The farm must be at least 40 acres of the original land and make a financial contribution to the overall farm income. A web site http://outeach.missouri.edu/centuryfarm/ includes the history of the program, guidelines, application form, and highlights several farms from the 2000 program.

Applicants certified as owners of a 2001 Missouri Century Farm will be recognized by their local University Extension in the county where the farm is located. Application forms and information are available through Extension Publications, 2800 Maguire Blvd., Columbia, MO 65211, through your local Extension office, or on the web site. A $25 fee covers the cost of certificates and farm signs for approved applicants. Checks should be made out to Missouri Century Farms and should accompany a completed application. If more than one sign is requested, $10 should be included for each additional sign. Applications must be returned by July 4, 2001. One more time, the Century Farm web site is http://outeach.missouri.edu/centuryfarm.
 For further information, call Callaway County Extension office at (573) 642-0755 or the University of Missouri Century Farm office at (573) 882-7216.

Last week’s most common question was on the application of urea during cold weather. The cost and availability of ammonium nitrate has made the use of urea much more attractive. There are many questions, rumors, and misinformation on urea applications. Urea can be lost through nitrogen release (evaporation) from applications to bare ground. This can be a big problem during warm or hot weather. Cold weather slows to stops this nitrogen release to the air. Rain also helps the conversion of urea to nitrate forms of nitrogen which can soak into the soil. Frozen or saturated soil does not allow the highly water soluble nitrate form of nitrogen to soak into the soil. The best way to avoid nitrogen loss from urea applications is incorporation any time of year. Putting the urea under the soil surface limits nitrogen evaporation and stops nitrate runoff. Avoid urea applications to bare ground during warm or hot weather, when rain is not in the forecast, or when the ground is frozen or saturated. Nitrogen doesn’t do the plants or anyone any good when it goes back into the air or runs into ponds, lakes, streams, rivers, wetlands, estuaries, seas, and oceans.

Update on February 14 newsarticle!

MU researchers discover phosphorus on pastures may prevent grass tetany.

University of Missouri researchers have found a common disorder of grazing livestock, costing producers hundreds of millions of dollars each year that may be prevented with phosphorus applications to pastures.

Grass tetany is caused by low magnesium in the diet and leads to yearly losses estimated at more than $300 million. It is caused by low magnesium in the blood. When blood serum magnesium is low, the symptoms are sometimes hard to see. A cow or cows are not eating right, and there’s not enough milk being produced . There is an economic loss through lower calf gains.

Magnesium concentrations are lowest in tall fescue during the spring. Many cows are beginning lactation when they require nearly three times more magnesium a day to produce milk. Cool, wet weather is also associated with tetany outbreaks. In acute cases of grass tetany, the magnesium in the blood serum is so low that the cow's body takes magnesium from the brain and spinal fluid, which can lead to paralysis, coma and even death. Previous MU research indicated that phosphorus applications increase the level of magnesium in tall fescue

At MU Southwest Research and Education Center near Mount Vernon, Mo., three groups of cattle grazed in separate pastures for 56 days. The control group grazed on tall fescue pasture with a soil test of five pounds of available phosphorus per acre. Another group grazed on tall fescue pasture with a soil test of nearly 30 pounds of available phosphorus per acre. The third group was put in a pasture with only five pounds of available phosphorus per acre, but those cows had free-choice access to magnesium in block form.

The cows from the phosphorus-fertilized pasture and the magnesium supplement groups had magnesium blood serum levels 24 percent and 20 percent higher, a significant level, than that of the control group. The experiment indicates that tall fescue in pasture with 30 pounds per acre of available phosphorus provided the same protection against grass tetany as supplying free-choice magnesium supplement.

The researchers also noted that the high phosphorus pastures "greened up" sooner in spring. Researchers think that when plants have enough phosphorus around the roots, it opens a 'gateway' in the roots that is specific to allowing the magnesium to get in and hasten the process of chlorophyll production."

MU graduate student Ryan Lock, of Carrollton, Mo. conducted the research on phosphorus applications and cattle response which was on display at the MU Research Expo on Feb. 7 as part of Ag Sciences Week at the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. His research was supervised by MU extension forage specialist Rob Kallenbach and MU agronomist Dale Blevins.

MU researchers discover phosphorus on pastures may prevent grass tetany

February 21, 2001                                                             

Grass tetany is caused by low magnesium in the diet and leads to yearly losses estimated at more than $300 million. It is caused by low magnesium in the blood, said MU graduate student Ryan Lock, of Carrollton, Mo., who conducted the experiment under the supervision of MU extension forage specialist Rob Kallenbach and MU agronomist Dale Blevins.

"When blood serum magnesium is low, the symptoms are sometimes hard to see," Lock said. "The cow's not eating right, and she's not producing enough milk. There's an economic loss through lower calf gains."

He noted that magnesium concentration is lowest in tall fescue during the spring, "when many cows are beginning lactation and require nearly three times more magnesium a day to produce milk." Cool, wet weather is also associated with tetany outbreaks.

In acute cases of grass tetany, the magnesium in the blood serum is so low that the cow's body takes magnesium from the cerebrospinal fluid, which can lead to paralysis, coma and even death.

Lock drew on previous MU research that indicated phosphorus applications increase the level of magnesium in tall fescue.

At MU Southwest Research and Education Center near Mount Vernon, Mo., he grazed three groups of cattle in separate pastures for 56 days.

The control group grazed on tall fescue pasture with a soil test of five pounds of available phosphorus per acre. Another group grazed on tall fescue pasture with a soil test of nearly 30 pounds of available phosphorus per acre. The third group was put in a pasture with only five pounds of available phosphorus per acre, but those cows had free-choice access to magnesium in block form.

The cows from the phosphorus-fertilized pasture and the magnesium supplement groups had magnesium blood serum levels 24 percent and 20 percent higher than that of the control group. "In both those groups, the magnesium blood serum level was significantly greater," Lock said.

The experiment indicates that tall fescue in pasture with 30 pounds per acre of available phosphorus "provided the same protection against grass tetany as supplying free-choice magnesium supplement," Lock said.

The researchers also noted that the high phosphorus pastures "greened up" sooner in spring, he said. "We think that when plants have enough phosphorus around the roots, it opens a 'gateway' in the roots that's specific to allowing the magnesium to get in and hasten the process of chlorophyll production."

Lock's project was one of dozens on display at the MU Research Expo on Feb. 7 as part of Ag Sciences Week at the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources.

Soybean Seed Supply & Quality in 2001?

February 14, 2001

Soybean farmers may want to plant more acreage this year. But, they may hit a snag when they try to buy quality seed this spring. Seed supplies for planting in 2001 may be limited. Hot, dry weather last season reduced seed size and yield in several parts of the Midwest. Not only are seed supplies down, but seed quality is lower also. Reports in the seed industry indicate germination is down sharply this year. Seed companies are finding it difficult to meet their seed germination targets, often greater than 90 percent. Companies may have to reset their standard at 80 percent to meet demand.

Farmers are urged to read the seed tag carefully this year. All seed sold in Missouri must, by state law, possess a tag that contains, among other information, a germination test and several factors related to purity.

A bag of seed with 80 percent germination is worth less than a bag with 95 percent germination. With lower-germination seed, more seeds must be planted per acre to achieve the desired stand. Seed buyers should also be aware that the listed germination is determined by a "warm test," which does not simulate spring planting conditions. In recent years, soybeans have been planted earlier and earlier. That puts more cold stress on the seed when it is planted early in wet soil. Cold tests, also known as vigor tests, are available to help indicate seedling growth problems that may develop under stressed growing conditions. Those tests are available from the Missouri Seed Improvement Association or the Missouri Department of Agriculture.

Soybean seed harvested last fall includes more green seeds, which indicates that the plants died prematurely. This seed should not be used for planting, unless alternatives are not available. Seeds harvested too dry tend to split and crack more readily during harvesting and processing than seeds harvested in a normal year. Cracks, often too small to see, seem to be reducing seed vigor this year. Even if you have gotten away without using a seed treatment in the past, this may the year to treat.

To meet seed needs, buyers may have to accept lower-germination beans this spring. But those seed prices should be reduced. For example, seed priced at $24 per 50-pound bag, with 95 percent germination and 95 percent purity, has a true seed cost of $26.59. If the germination was only 80 percent, the selling price per bag should be $20.21 to be of equal value.

Information for this article is from Bill Wiebold , extension soybean specialist at the University of Missouri-Columbia (573) 882-2002

Extension calendar includes:

Missouri Soybean Association District Meeting on Feb. 19 in Jefferson City at Veit's Restaurant,

The Ag Connection Newsletter Conference at North Callaway High School Feb. 20,

Callaway County Master Gardener program at the Extension Center March 5.

And a Sunflower Production and Marketing Workshop March 14 in Columbia.

Contact the Callaway County Extension Center for more information on these programs at (573) 642-0755.

Seed Legumes In Grass Now

February 7, 2001

With fertilizer prices high and going higher, it is a good year to consider letting legumes add needed nitrogen to pastures. Adding legumes to grass pastures is always a good idea. Legumes improve the quality of the feed, but they also fix 'free' nitrogen from the air. Frost seeding works very well for all clovers and lespedeza. With this method, the seed is broadcast over the pasture sod. The freezing and thawing of the soil works the seed into the top layer of the soil.

In central Missouri the best window of opportunity for frost seeding is between February 1 and March 15. Plan clover seeding for early in the window and lespedeza for later. For seeding from March 15 to April 15, a harrow can be used to help work the seed into the soil. A no-till drill can also be used in the same time period on up until early May. The most common cause of failure with the no-till drill is placing the seed too deep. Check your work often and ensure that some seed is being left on the soil surface. If you can't find seed behind the drill, you're running too deep.

Agronomists agree a good management practice is to graze the grass down short ahead of seeding to help the seed reach the soil. Heavy grazing reduces the vigor of the grass competition to the seedling legumes. Also, the hooves of grazing animals disturb the thatch, helping the seed makes soil contact. A good way to frost seed is with snow on the ground. That shows where the seeder has traveled. The germination of the seed is triggered when the soil warms enough for the plants to survive. Clovers and lespedeza work better in the cold than birdsfoot trefoil and alfalfa. Trefoil can be frost seeded until late March, but alfalfa should be drilled in late March or early April up to the 15th.

The biggest precautions for legume overseeding is to insure there are already adequate soil nutrients available. A soil pH of at least 5, and a soil-test phosphorus level of at least 15 pounds are needed to get Lespedeza started. Red Clover requires higher soil fertility. It's too late to apply lime now for it to be effective this year. Lime should be added six months to a year ahead of the legume seeding. But phosphorus and potassium can be added now, if needed. Nitrogen should not be spread on pastures with legume seedings. The nitrogen fertility increases the competition from grass growth. A last thought on soil fertility, don't guess - soil test.

Sources for this article are Rob Kallenbach, Extension Forage Agronomist (573) 882-2002; Jim Gerrish, Research Agronomist at the MU Forage System Research Center (660) 895-5121; and John Lory, Extension Assistant Professor of Soil Fertility (573) 884-7815

Extension calendar includes:

Private Pesticide Applicator Training for anyone needing to be licensed to apply Restricted Use Pesticides (RUP) on February 13, at the Callaway County Extension Center,

Missouri Soybean Association District Meeting on February 19 in Jefferson City at Veit's Restaurant,

The Ag Connection Newsletter Conference at North Callaway High School February 20,

and Callaway County Master Gardener program at the Extension Center March 5.

Contact the Callaway County Extension Center for more information on these programs at (573) 642-0755.

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	Jim Jarman, jarmanj@missouri.edu Agronomy Specialist, (573) 642-0755 Site maintained by: Jen Pauley, pauleyj@missouri.edu Last update: 04/27/06