News Briefs and Crop Tips

Bradley New Plant Pathologist
Carl Bradley is the new extension plant pathologist for broadleaf crops at NDSU.  Bradley received his PhD in Plant Pathology from the University of Illinois, working on soybean diseases. He grew up on a corn/soybean farm in southern Illinois, and worked full time as a research associate at the University of Illinois, while doing his graduate work. He joins the NDSU Extension Service after working one year as a Post Doctorate Fellow for the University of Idaho.  His e-mail: cbradley@ndsuext.nodak.edu

Enhancing Wheat Protein with Foliar N Fertilization
Research at the NDSU Carrington Research and Education Center, and the University of Minnesota Crookston Station show that grain protein content can be enhanced by foliar application of nitrogen fertilizer post-anthesis. Soil N levels at Carrington were just adequate for yields achieved in the study, while the plots at Crookston contained soil N levels in excess of needs. At Carring-ton, 30 lbs N/acre as a 1/2 water/28% solution increased grain protein about 1%. At Crookston, 30 lbs N/a increased grain protein about 1/2%. The decision to foliar treat with nitrogen should be based on costs of the treatment, protein premiums offered, and considerations of soil N levels, fertilizer applied and anticipated yield goals. Apply liquid fertilizer in a diluted form if possible on wet foliage and in cool temperatures to reduce burning.  – Terry Gregoire, NDSU Extension Service

High Salt in Spray Water Can Affect Weed Control
High salt levels in spray water can affect weed control, according to the NDSU Extension Service.  Water often contains sodium, calcium, and magnesium, levels of which may antagonize the effectiveness of some herbicides. Knowing the water pH and mineral content of spray water will help with herbicide and adjuvant selection.  Water samples can be tested at the following laboratory: NDSU Soil and Water Environmental Lab, ph. 701-231-7864, Waldron 202, NDSU, Fargo, ND 58105-5575. A complete analysis costs about $25.

Follow the APPLES Sequence When Tank Mixing
The NDSU Extension Service recommends the A.P.P.L.E.S. sequence for adding herbicide formulations to a tank partially filled with water: Agitate, Powders soluble, Powders dry, Liquid flowables and suspensions, Emulsifiable concentrates and Solutions. Add surfactants, petroleum oils, MSO (methylated seed oil) type and other adjuvants last.

Reducing Spray Drift
NDSU research has demonstrated weed control from Roundup Ultra, Raptor, Pursuit, Distinct, Assure II, and Poast to be comparable between drift-reducing nozzles and standard flat-fan nozzles. The same results were observed with fast-acting contact herbicides of Gramoxone Extra and Aim. Reflex applied with drift-reducing nozzles was the only herbicide examined in which weed control was found to be slightly less as compared to a standard nozzle. All other herbicides gave similar control regardless of nozzle.  For more information on managing spray and vapor drift, refer to NDSU Extension Circular A-657, “Herbicide Spray Drift” and Circular WC-751 “Documentation for Suspected Herbicide Drift Damage,” both of which can be found on the Internet under NDSU online weed control publications: www.ext.nodak.edu/extpubs/weeds.htm.

Cut Crop Injury By Cleaning Sprayer Properly
A clean sprayer is essential to prevent damage to susceptible crops from herbicide contamination. Rinsing with water is not adequate to remove all herbicides. Some herbicides have remained tightly adsorbed in sprayers through water rinsing and even through several tank-loads of other herbicides. Then, when a tank-load of solution including an oil adjuvant or nitrogen solution was put in the sprayer, the herbicide was desorbed, moved into the spray solution, and damaged susceptible crops. Highly active herbicides that have been difficult to wash from sprayers and have caused crop injury include dicamba, Pursuit, Raptor and sulfonylurea herbicides.

Proper sprayer cleanout procedures are given on many herbicide labels and the procedure on the label should be followed for specific herbicides. The following procedure illustrating a thorough sprayer cleanup procedure is effective for most herbicides:

Step 1. Drain tank and thoroughly rinse interior surfaces of tank with clean water. Spray rinse water through the spray boom. Sufficient rinse water should be used for 5 minutes or more of spraying through the boom.

Step 2. Fill the sprayer tank with clean water and add a cleaning solution (many labels provide recommended cleaning solutions). Fill the boom, hoses, and nozzles and allow the agitator to operate for 15 minutes.

Step 3. Allow the sprayer to sit for 8 hours while full of cleaning solution so the herbicide can be fully desorbed from the residues inside the sprayer.

Step 4. Spray the cleaning solution through the booms.

Step 5. Clean nozzles, screens, and filters. Rinse the sprayer to remove cleaning solution and spray rinsate through the booms.

Common types of cleaning solutions are chlorine bleach, ammonia, and commercially formulated tank cleaners. Chlorine lowers the pH of the solution, which speeds the degradation of some herbicides. Ammonia increases the pH of the solution, which increases the solubility of some herbicides. Commercially formulated tank cleaners generally raise pH and act as detergents to remove herbicides. Read herbicide label for recommended tank cleaning solutions and procedures. Never mix chlorine bleach and ammonia, as a dangerous and irritating gas will be released.

Sprayers should be cleaned as soon as possible after use to prevent the deposit of dried spray residues. A sprayer should not remain empty overnight without cleaning; fill the tank with water to prevent dried spray deposits from forming. Source: NDSU

Sprayer Cleaning Solutions For Herbicides
Ammonia + water: Accent, Ally, Amber, Assure II, Basis, Basis Gold, Beacon, dicamba, Exceed, Expert, Finesse, FirstRate, Glean, Peak, Permit, Harmony GT, Python, Resolve, Stinger.

Kerosene or diesel fuel followed by ammonia + water: 2,4-D ester

Ammonia or commercial tank cleaner + water: Action, Basagran, Bladex, Buctril + Atra, bromoxynil, Callisto, Classic, Cobra, Contour, Dual/II/Magnum, Flexstar, Fusilade DX, Fusion, Gauntlet, Gramoxone, Harness, Harmony Extra, Hornet, Lasso, Lightning, Moxy, Moxynil, Passport, Prowl, Pursuit, Pursuit, Plus, Reflex, Resource, Scepter, Select, Squadron, Status, Steel, Surpass, Treflan, trifluralin, and Ultra Blazer.

Water: Command and glyphosate.

Detergent + water: Atrazine and Sencor.

Commercial tank cleaner + water: Liberty, Marksman, Optill, Shotgun, and Touchdown

Detergent or commercial tank cleaner + water: Turbo

Ammonia, commercial tank cleaner, or detergent + water: Poast.

Baking soda (1 to 2 lb/100 gal water): Engame

Foliar Fungicides, Liquid N May Not Tank Mix Well
Interest in application of foliar N to enhance wheat proteins has resulted in questions about tank mixing with foliar fungicides. Studies on foliar N application (without added fungicide) by Greg Endres and Blaine Schatz at the NDSU Carrington research station and by John Wiersma at the U of M Crookston, Minn. station have indicated that foliar nitrogen should be applied shortly after flowering, to avoid injury to the flower and for better uptake of the nitrogen into the grain. Application after flowering rules out the use of Tilt fungicide as a tank mix partner.

Tank mixing of mancozeb fungicide and 28-0-0 was tested at NDSU some years ago by Ed Vasey, and results indicated that leaf burn was severe if a surfactant was added to this tank mix. Leaf burning also was compounded if temperatures at spraying were greater than 90 F. The Carrington study and the Crookston study also indicated leaf burn was less using 20-0-0-3 than with 28-0-0. The purpose of applying fungicides is to protect the leaf from diseases, and any practice that burns the leaves negates the purpose of adding the fungicide. – Terry Gregoire, NDSU Extension Service

Color and Small Grain Maturity
With uneven maturity common in many fields, you may have to wait for late grain to mature, while hoping ripe grain does not shatter. Looking at head color and kernel color will enable one to cut as soon as late grain is mature. Here’s how it works:

•  Lack of green in the flag leaf — the uppermost leaf — indicates that a wheat or barley plant has reached 95% of its ultimate yield and that the final stage of development is under way.

•  Green disappears from the glumes (bracts at the bases of the spikelets) about 1 1/2 days before maturity.

•  Lack of green in heads and the darkening of a pigment strand in each kernel, seen most easily when kernels are cut open crosswise, signal 100% maturity. The pigment strand begins to appear about a half day before physiological maturity.

A whole field won’t lose its color at the same time, so check thoroughly. Also, check bottom kernels on heads because top kernels lose green first. – Terry Gregoire, NDSU Extension Service

Considerations In Preharvest Weed Control
Lack of soil applied herbicides, herbicides applied later than recommended, flushes of weeds emerging after application, poor weed control from weather, and environmental conditions promoting excellent weed growth conditions contribute to weedy small grain fields. An excellent opportunity for weed burn down, perennial weed control and harvest aid is through preharvest herbicide application. However, following are some factors to consider before applying a herbicide as a harvest aid:

•  The expectations for preharvest weed control usually exceed reality — it is not possible to kill\dry down a three-foot weed in the same manner as a three-inch weed. Lower portions of the weed may not be affected.

•  It requires time to dry down treated weeds — usually 7-10 days. It may require more time if wet and/or cool weather conditions occur after treatment. All herbicides labeled for preharvest application are systemic and slow acting which requires a longer dry down period as compared to contact, fast acting herbicides.

•  The intent of a preharvest treatment should be to facilitate harvest and reduce harvest loss. Preharvest treatments do not decrease yield losses due to weed competition or prevent weed seed production.

•  Herbicide drift from preharvest treatments can cause major problems this time of year. Consider sensitive crops (sugarbeets, potatoes, etc.) and other plants (trees, gardens, etc.) in the general vicinity of the field receiving treatment.   —NDSU Extension Service

Herbicides Labeled For Preharvest Weed Control In Small Grains
1. There are no herbicides labeled as a harvest aid for use on oats.

2. The herbicide 2,4-D is labeled as a harvest aid in spring wheat, durum, barley and rye. Labels vary in crop use. Follow the label.

3. Banvel is labeled only in North Dakota as a preharvest application in wheat and durum applied alone or in a tankmix with 2,4-D.

4. Ally is labeled as preharvest aid in wheat, durum and barley alone or with 2,4-D or on wheat and durum with 2,4-D and/or Banvel. Intended for use in a winter/spring wheat or wheat follow rotation. Must follow crop rotation restrictions.

5. Roundup, Roundup RT, or Landmaster BW is labeled as a harvest aid in spring wheat and durum ONLY — not barley or oats. Many private glyphosate labels are available. Touchdown is also labeled. A Roundup Ultra/RT application should be made after the hard dough stage (30% or less grain moisture) of the wheat and at least seven days prior to harvest. Roundup can be applied by air or ground. Use a spray volume of 3 to 10 gpa. Do not apply to wheat grown for seed as a reduction in germination or vigor may occur.

6. Gramaxone Extra is labeled as a harvest aid in small grains.

Guidelines for Harvest Losses
What’s a good guide to determine the amount of any given crop loss in a field prior to or following harvest? There can be pre-harvest losses due to shattering, gathering losses at the combine header and also separation losses due to the threshing operation itself. In the chart below is an approximate loss guide to determine how much if any is being left in any given field. Usually crop harvest losses in the 2 to 3% loss range are tolerated. Kernels or seeds per pound and number per square foot to equal one unit loss per acre at harvest. —Duane Berglund, NDSU extension agronomist

Seeds     per ft. to   Seeds equal 1 Species per lb. bu/Acre Spring Wheat 14,300 20 Durum Wheat 11,500 16 Barley 13,500 15 Oats 15,500 11 Flax 88,000 113 Rye 18,000 42 Soybeans(small) 3,300 4.5 Soybeans(large) 2,400 3.5 Corn (med. grade) 1,500 2 Sunflower (oil) 9,000 5 Sunflower (Conf.) 5,000 2.5 Navy Beans 3,000 4 Pinto beans 1,400 2 Sorghum 15,000 18 Sundangrass 44,000 40 Proso millet 80,000 84 Foxtail millet 220,000 242 Buckwheat 15,000 16 Canola 150,000 172 These are average numbers from past seasons, and individual varieties or hybrids will vary among themselves as well as be influenced by environmental factors.

Proper End-Gate Grain Sampling
To collect a representative sample from a stream of grain flowing from a truckbox end-gate, certain requirements must be met:

1. The material should fall free from the end-gate for about 1 foot.

2. The entire stream of grain (side to side and front to back) must be cut as the sample passes through the stream.

3. The sampling device must not be allowed to completely fill with grain before it leaves the grain stream. If it does, some of the flowing grain will pass around the sampler and not be sampled.

4. Collect a sample from each 500 bushels with a minimum of two cuts per truckload. A cut is a single pass of the sampling tool through the grain stream. Any sampling tool can be used to collect the sample as long as the above requirements can be met. – NDSU Extension Service

Tips to Maintain Quality When Drying Small Grain
NDSU research has shown the air temperatures at which milling and baking damage become apparent for hard red spring wheat are 160 degrees, Fahrenheit, for 16% moisture content; 140 degrees for 20% initial moisture content; and 120 degrees for 24% moisture. These values are for airflow rates of 100 to 150 cubic feet per minute per square foot.

To keep kernel temperatures below 120 degrees F, reduce drying air temperature 10 degrees for an airflow of 50 cubic feet per minute per square foot.

In all cases grain nearest the heat source is most severely damaged.

Durum is very sensitive to dryer temperatures. With higher drying temperatures, the percentage of specks in the processed semolina increases.

For barley, NDSU research has shown the maximum allowable drying air temperature is 130 degrees, Fahrenheit, and the maximum harvest moisture content, 20%.

Since the burner of a dryer cycles on and off, it’s safer to use a temperature lower than 130 degrees.

Labs Can Help Diagnose Plant Problems
Plant laboratories at NDSU, SDSU, and the U of M can help diagnose plant pests and problems.  Contact the lab for instructions before submitting plant samples.

NDSU — 206 Waldron Hall, Fargo, ND, 58105, ph. 701-231-7854; email: diaglab@ndsuext.nodak.edu,  Web-site: www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/diaglab

UofM — Plant Disease Clinic, 495 Borlaug Hall, 1991 Upper Buford Circle, St. Paul, MN 55108-6030, (612) 625-1275. The web site, www. plpa.agri.umn.edu/extension/plantdiseaseclinic.htm, lists sample instructions and fees.  Instructions for submitting plant samples can also be found on page 68 of the U of M Small Grains Field Guide.

SDSU — Links to plant laboratory services at South Dakota State University can be found online at www.abs.sdstate.edu/abs/analytic.htm.
Ph: 605-688-6172, email: Nancy_Thiex@sdstate.ed