Last evening I watch 2 hours of PBS titled "IN DEFENSE OF FOOD", and another hour on a related subject "FAT vs SUGAR". Fascinating. There were so many parallels to what I have been viewing on soil health, how complex the system, and how little we know. Bottom line: --eating less is the only real way to lose weight. The food processing, the marketing methods, and our culture encourage eating in excess. Neither a high fat or a high sugar diet by itself was a problem for weight gain; however, the combination of fat and sugar hits all the pleasure receptors in the brain making it nearly irresistible to control over eating. Microbes in our digestive system react to the food they are exposed to. In an unhealthy diet, certain microbes dominate, unbalancing the digestive system, and this leads to health issues and shortened life span. What is a healthy diet? What I got out of the information was: Increase plant foods, decrease processed foods, decrease meats, eat everything in moderation. Be aware of the fat/sugar relationship in the processed foods. If you look at the labels on food items, nearly all processed food has fat, --and added sugar.
I saw many parallels to what I have been learning about soil health. Primarily, an unbalance in the soil microbial community creates weed and disease issues above the levels found in a soil with a balance in the microbiological community. Like our human health, we have the ability to effect soil health. All we need is the knowledge, and the willingness to make appropriate decisions.
Thursday, December 31, 2015
Wednesday, December 30, 2015
Email Updates
In reviewing the blog capabilities I noticed that there was an email option, which I have activated. My understanding is that if a viewer wishes to keep current with the blog, they can provide their email address and when there is a change, notification is given. I am about to find out if this works.
I also upgraded the blog by adding the "labels" section. This allows an individual to go directly to those posts with that "label". This section also provides the number of posts with that label attached. There are more labels than those listed, but these are the ones of most interest.
I also upgraded the blog by adding the "labels" section. This allows an individual to go directly to those posts with that "label". This section also provides the number of posts with that label attached. There are more labels than those listed, but these are the ones of most interest.
Thursday, December 24, 2015
TIMING NITROGEN APPLICATION
I recently participated in discussions centering around fertilizer and timing of application. Here are a few points that peak my interest.
1--A recent study I came across stated that our crops, on average, only utilizes 40% of the applied nitrogen. Question? --what happened to the remaining 60%??? I don't find any excess N in my soil tests.
2--Brassica tap roots are severely damaged when deep banding nitrogen with the seed. Roots will grow around the banded N and not through. The remedy is to apply N prior to seeding, or after the plant is established.
3--A farm operation I am familiar with uses a CrossSlot drill, and Uran for an N source. The soil structure of this operation is quite good with high infiltration capability. They indicate their conventional tilling neighbors are out yielding their winter wheat. I suspect that the neighbors use NH3 as a N source. They further state that they, on the other hand, dramatically out yield their conventional tilling neighbors growing spring crops. Why? --it's speculation on my part; however, I think that possibly the uran is working against them with their winter wheat, and working for them with their spring crops. Reasoning: --These operations are in an annual crop area and they are seeding fall wheat and banding their N into dry ground following the harvest of a spring crop. When the rains come, the nitrate portion of uran is being driven below the roots and the wheat plant is catching what it can from the ammonia form which is not transported in the soil solution. In effect the winter wheat is shorted nitrogen in the early development stage. In the spring, with a large portion of the useable soil profile filled from winter moisture, the nitrate from the uran is not moving through the soil profile as fast, or as far, allowing the plant access to the full amount of applied N.
A potential solution then for the operation mentioned above, may be to fall apply nitrogen in the ammonia form(NH3, Urea, or NH4), and apply Uran(Solution 32) to spring crops with it's half nitrate half ammonia form.
4-- Expect significant loss of N from any nitrogen source if it is surface applied in our environment. If you have to surface apply I would do it in the rain or as close to a rain as possible.
5-- For adding additional nitrogen to a crop that is established I am thinking that the Spoke Wheel Applicator would be something to look into. It's been around for about 20 years, and it places liquid fertilizer up to 4" below the soil surface. The videos I have seen places it in ULD category.
1--A recent study I came across stated that our crops, on average, only utilizes 40% of the applied nitrogen. Question? --what happened to the remaining 60%??? I don't find any excess N in my soil tests.
2--Brassica tap roots are severely damaged when deep banding nitrogen with the seed. Roots will grow around the banded N and not through. The remedy is to apply N prior to seeding, or after the plant is established.
3--A farm operation I am familiar with uses a CrossSlot drill, and Uran for an N source. The soil structure of this operation is quite good with high infiltration capability. They indicate their conventional tilling neighbors are out yielding their winter wheat. I suspect that the neighbors use NH3 as a N source. They further state that they, on the other hand, dramatically out yield their conventional tilling neighbors growing spring crops. Why? --it's speculation on my part; however, I think that possibly the uran is working against them with their winter wheat, and working for them with their spring crops. Reasoning: --These operations are in an annual crop area and they are seeding fall wheat and banding their N into dry ground following the harvest of a spring crop. When the rains come, the nitrate portion of uran is being driven below the roots and the wheat plant is catching what it can from the ammonia form which is not transported in the soil solution. In effect the winter wheat is shorted nitrogen in the early development stage. In the spring, with a large portion of the useable soil profile filled from winter moisture, the nitrate from the uran is not moving through the soil profile as fast, or as far, allowing the plant access to the full amount of applied N.
A potential solution then for the operation mentioned above, may be to fall apply nitrogen in the ammonia form(NH3, Urea, or NH4), and apply Uran(Solution 32) to spring crops with it's half nitrate half ammonia form.
4-- Expect significant loss of N from any nitrogen source if it is surface applied in our environment. If you have to surface apply I would do it in the rain or as close to a rain as possible.
5-- For adding additional nitrogen to a crop that is established I am thinking that the Spoke Wheel Applicator would be something to look into. It's been around for about 20 years, and it places liquid fertilizer up to 4" below the soil surface. The videos I have seen places it in ULD category.
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
SOIL HEALTH w Cover Crops
In preparation of a presentation I am to give on the Stripper Header and our ULD farming system, I got sucked into ranging my thoughts to the future. Even though we have only been in the ULD system for a short period of time, through my reading, it is becoming obvious that ULD alone will not get us to the end of the rainbow; however, it is a great springboard to launch other healthy soil practices. For over a year I have been thinking about how we might introduce Cover Crops into our system without jeopardizing the operation. It doesn't take much research to gain an understanding of their value, --but how to introduce them successfully is another matter.
In the past month I have been looking at a lot of soil health videos from experienced individuals. I am including five in this post that I have found compelling.
The first I am recommending for viewing is one by Gabe Brown, a farmer near Bismark, ND. He is in a 15" rainfall area, with a variety of soil types on 2000 acres of cropland. He also has 3000 acres of pastureland. Gabe has several videos, from different presentations, on Utube. This, to me, is one of his most informative. The total time of the presentation is 58:52, and titled: Holistic Regeneration of Our Lands. < Holistic Regeneration of Our Lands >
The second presentation is by Jill Clapperton, a soil scientist with many years of University and private work experience in the field of soil biology. This video is titled: Soil Health Principles, and runs 28:22. < Soil Health Principles >
The third presentation is by NRCS crop specialist, Ray Archuleta. He is the spokesperson for several NRCS initiated educational videos "Secrets of the Soil", and also gives presentations to groups. This video is an NRCS training session in Wisconsin, that runs 2:36:18. It's lengthy, but gives a lot of good information. < Soil Health Training >
The fourth presentation is by NRCS/ARS scientist, Rick Haney. He developed the "Solvita" soil health test (Haney Test) that uses soil respiration instead of soil chemistry to determine nutrient needs of a crop, and the condition of the soil biology. This video is titled: Soil Health Principles, and runs 24:55.
< Soil Health and - Solvate >
The fifth presentation is by Dr. Kristine Nicoles of the Rodale Institute. She gives a great presentation on the interaction within the soil biology and their relation to plant growth in regenerative organic systems. 1:04:48
< Dr. Kristine Nichols>
These videos each support one other, and individually add new insights to the whole question of soil health and the importance of building up our soils. Swings, extreme by past experience, between wet and dry conditions associated with climate change will be endured more easily by those who have good soil structure, a high level of biological activity, and thick layer of surface litter.
In the past month I have been looking at a lot of soil health videos from experienced individuals. I am including five in this post that I have found compelling.
The first I am recommending for viewing is one by Gabe Brown, a farmer near Bismark, ND. He is in a 15" rainfall area, with a variety of soil types on 2000 acres of cropland. He also has 3000 acres of pastureland. Gabe has several videos, from different presentations, on Utube. This, to me, is one of his most informative. The total time of the presentation is 58:52, and titled: Holistic Regeneration of Our Lands. < Holistic Regeneration of Our Lands >
The second presentation is by Jill Clapperton, a soil scientist with many years of University and private work experience in the field of soil biology. This video is titled: Soil Health Principles, and runs 28:22. < Soil Health Principles >
The third presentation is by NRCS crop specialist, Ray Archuleta. He is the spokesperson for several NRCS initiated educational videos "Secrets of the Soil", and also gives presentations to groups. This video is an NRCS training session in Wisconsin, that runs 2:36:18. It's lengthy, but gives a lot of good information. < Soil Health Training >
The fourth presentation is by NRCS/ARS scientist, Rick Haney. He developed the "Solvita" soil health test (Haney Test) that uses soil respiration instead of soil chemistry to determine nutrient needs of a crop, and the condition of the soil biology. This video is titled: Soil Health Principles, and runs 24:55.
< Soil Health and - Solvate >
The fifth presentation is by Dr. Kristine Nicoles of the Rodale Institute. She gives a great presentation on the interaction within the soil biology and their relation to plant growth in regenerative organic systems. 1:04:48
< Dr. Kristine Nichols>
These videos each support one other, and individually add new insights to the whole question of soil health and the importance of building up our soils. Swings, extreme by past experience, between wet and dry conditions associated with climate change will be endured more easily by those who have good soil structure, a high level of biological activity, and thick layer of surface litter.
GMO's -- safe ( ?- ! )
This morning KREM 2 with Charlie Rose and crew had a segment that featured an interview with Monsanto's CEO. He did a horrible job. No useful information was expressed. Answers to questions were shunted to platitudes like GMO's are safe, Roundup has been studied for 40 years, and he eats GMO foods without concern. What a wasted opportunity.
His appearance did bring back to mind a statement I heard about a year ago from an industry spokesman, that FDA needed to study the safety of the various process' used in GMO developments, and not the individual cultivar developed from a specific process. It would save a lot of time and money, and give the public some assurance that questions about public health and environmental issues are being addressed. I thought that it was a good statement and a direction that needed to be taken, and still do. This irritating interview did put me back on the web search for information about GMO's. There are four or five basic process' used for GMO's. I remember that one process that encompassed crossing genes of different species needed to be looked at closely. I haven't come up with the right key phrase yet to get those names.
It is apparent to me that GMO, GE, and GM labels are used interchangeably, depending on whose talking and which area of the world the information is coming from.
I did find a website that gives an excellent discussion on the many different aspects surrounding GMO's. It's sectioned for easy access of specific subjects. It's the website for JRSM (Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine). It's a long journal entry but packed with information that is not too technical. < Journal of the Royal Society of medicine >
His appearance did bring back to mind a statement I heard about a year ago from an industry spokesman, that FDA needed to study the safety of the various process' used in GMO developments, and not the individual cultivar developed from a specific process. It would save a lot of time and money, and give the public some assurance that questions about public health and environmental issues are being addressed. I thought that it was a good statement and a direction that needed to be taken, and still do. This irritating interview did put me back on the web search for information about GMO's. There are four or five basic process' used for GMO's. I remember that one process that encompassed crossing genes of different species needed to be looked at closely. I haven't come up with the right key phrase yet to get those names.
It is apparent to me that GMO, GE, and GM labels are used interchangeably, depending on whose talking and which area of the world the information is coming from.
I did find a website that gives an excellent discussion on the many different aspects surrounding GMO's. It's sectioned for easy access of specific subjects. It's the website for JRSM (Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine). It's a long journal entry but packed with information that is not too technical. < Journal of the Royal Society of medicine >
Thursday, November 12, 2015
No-Till Farmer Magazine
This past year, 2015, I had the opportunity to contribute my thoughts to two subjects that I have some passion for. The first, in the August edition, 2015, (volume 44, No. 8) I responded to the question of how do you handle crop residue. These thoughts and a pic show up on page 90 in the section titled "No-Tillers Tackle Residue Issue From Every Angle", along with the thoughts of twenty other people.
The second opportunity came as a feature item in the November edition, 2015, (volume 44, No.11), titled "Overcoming No-Till Stumbling Blocks", starting on page 22. This article was written from a telephone interview with Martha Mintz along with some material I submitted to her. Martha is listed as a Contributing Editor and regularly writes articles under the logo " What I've Learned From No-Tilling...". It came out pretty good if I do say so myself. < Eriksen interview >
While looking up what Martha Mintz contributed over the years to No-Till Farmer, I came across an article where she interviewed Guy Swanson for a piece titled "Bringing No-Till To The Palouse". Mort Swanson, Guy's father, is the name that everyone in the Palouse remembers as THE inventor-early practitioner of No-Till. This article was posted in the November edition, 201, < Bringing no-till to the Palouse >. It's a great read for someone interested in the background of no-till in the Palouse. Mort is no longer with us but Guy is hail & hearty and manufacturing/selling EXACTRIX systems for applying liquid anhydrous ammonia fertilizer.
No-Till Farmer has been around since 1972. I was a subscriber for a while in it's early days, but found that it was a midwest and east magazine that I couldn't relate too. Today, No-Till Farmer is still primarily an east of the Rocky Mountains publication but I am finding that even though we are in two different climatic zones, Continental vs our Mediterranean classification, the same problems exist. Practices and Research done east of the "divide" has concepts that apply here,--our task is to adapt that knowledge base to our climate limitations and strengths. With our Stripper Head, self propelled sprayer, and CrossSlot drill, we have all the practices available for controlling soil erosion; however, we still have water loss. Soil health has improved, and it will continue to improve to some extent; however, that improvement will be limited until we get more plant diversity, and remove fallow. Cover Crops and Interseeding crops potentially hold the answer to these questions. The trick is, how to apply.
The Koppen Climate classification model designating the Pacific Northwest as mostly Mediterranean does not fit very well. We don't fit the Continental or the Coastal either. Our climate diversity is likely to be a topic of discussion for a long time as to what classification we really fit.
The second opportunity came as a feature item in the November edition, 2015, (volume 44, No.11), titled "Overcoming No-Till Stumbling Blocks", starting on page 22. This article was written from a telephone interview with Martha Mintz along with some material I submitted to her. Martha is listed as a Contributing Editor and regularly writes articles under the logo " What I've Learned From No-Tilling...". It came out pretty good if I do say so myself. < Eriksen interview >
While looking up what Martha Mintz contributed over the years to No-Till Farmer, I came across an article where she interviewed Guy Swanson for a piece titled "Bringing No-Till To The Palouse". Mort Swanson, Guy's father, is the name that everyone in the Palouse remembers as THE inventor-early practitioner of No-Till. This article was posted in the November edition, 201, < Bringing no-till to the Palouse >. It's a great read for someone interested in the background of no-till in the Palouse. Mort is no longer with us but Guy is hail & hearty and manufacturing/selling EXACTRIX systems for applying liquid anhydrous ammonia fertilizer.
No-Till Farmer has been around since 1972. I was a subscriber for a while in it's early days, but found that it was a midwest and east magazine that I couldn't relate too. Today, No-Till Farmer is still primarily an east of the Rocky Mountains publication but I am finding that even though we are in two different climatic zones, Continental vs our Mediterranean classification, the same problems exist. Practices and Research done east of the "divide" has concepts that apply here,--our task is to adapt that knowledge base to our climate limitations and strengths. With our Stripper Head, self propelled sprayer, and CrossSlot drill, we have all the practices available for controlling soil erosion; however, we still have water loss. Soil health has improved, and it will continue to improve to some extent; however, that improvement will be limited until we get more plant diversity, and remove fallow. Cover Crops and Interseeding crops potentially hold the answer to these questions. The trick is, how to apply.
The Koppen Climate classification model designating the Pacific Northwest as mostly Mediterranean does not fit very well. We don't fit the Continental or the Coastal either. Our climate diversity is likely to be a topic of discussion for a long time as to what classification we really fit.
Sunday, November 1, 2015
Soil Temperatures with Direct Seed
General consensus by farmers in our area is that tillage warms up the ground early in the spring. In the late 90's early spring soil temperatures were taken across the Palouse, and the result was reported to be only 1-2 degrees.
The October 2015 edition of NO-TILL FARMER (p.2) had a short article on temperature comparisons. A summary of this particular article stated that shortly after planting the soil temperatures moved quickly to the same level whether tilled or untilled. Twelve hours after seeding there was a 5 degree difference. Twenty four hours after seeding there was no difference.
There was no mention whether the no-till was low or high disturbance.
This is potentially good news and we will try and verify using our ultra low disturbance system this coming spring. We have conventional tillage all around us for a good comparison. We do know that surface cover and standing stubble moderates soil temperatures, --both winter cold and summer heat.
The October 2015 edition of NO-TILL FARMER (p.2) had a short article on temperature comparisons. A summary of this particular article stated that shortly after planting the soil temperatures moved quickly to the same level whether tilled or untilled. Twelve hours after seeding there was a 5 degree difference. Twenty four hours after seeding there was no difference.
There was no mention whether the no-till was low or high disturbance.
This is potentially good news and we will try and verify using our ultra low disturbance system this coming spring. We have conventional tillage all around us for a good comparison. We do know that surface cover and standing stubble moderates soil temperatures, --both winter cold and summer heat.
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