tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48556581877197759962024-02-19T08:39:28.212-08:00The Invisible Side of AgRudy Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03822898858354594180noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855658187719775996.post-28736480612444633782019-11-18T14:38:00.002-08:002019-11-18T14:38:53.791-08:00Reflections on a CareerIt has been said that the average person will have three careers during their working years. That is to say three different paths of making an income for an individual or a family. My journey was different. I had one career that covered 43.5 years. And now its over.<br />
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After graduating from Oregon State University in 1976, I wasn't really sure where my degree in Agronomic Crop Science would take me. As it turned out, my family and I have gone from Western Oregon to SW Washington; then to South Central Idaho, followed by Central North Dakota. We finally landed in the Skagit Valley in Washington in 1990. Of all the places we have been, the longest duration has been in the Skagit Valley, the place we call home.<br />
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I can say that one constant in all this travel is that farmers are about the same from the West Coast to the Midwest. The methods of farming and the crops involved may be different but the farmers themselves are just as dedicated and driven. It has been my privilege to have worked with some of the best people in the farming industry.<br />
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As Willy Nelson would say: "turn out the lights, the party's over." Wishing all my friends and associates the best that life can offer. Rudy Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03822898858354594180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855658187719775996.post-44265225141763041402019-01-31T16:31:00.001-08:002019-01-31T16:31:14.000-08:00Biology in Crop Production
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On November 14<sup>th</sup> and 15<sup>th</sup>, 2018, the
Pacific Northwest Vegetable Association held its annual conference in
Kennewick, WA. What I found to be very interesting in this year’s presentations
were two presentations on how bacteria operate in the soil as well as on the
plants.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> </o:p>The first was on the importance of soil-borne bacteria and
fungi as they relate to soil structures, water movement, and plant development.
It was very easy to understand that this soil microbe life force enables the
soil to be porous enough to allow water and oxygen movement. Without these two
components a plant would have a hard time living. Also, the presentation
touched on the importance of having the bacteria act on soil nutrients making
them available to the plant. It’s not just background nutrients that are made
available but also the synthetic fertilizer that is added to the soil. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having a healthy soil with a good biological
population means you will get the most out of your fertilizer investment.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The other aspect of a strong soil biological system is how
they can protect your plants from soil borne diseases. As bacteria colonize on
your plant’s root system they take up the space where pathogens would like to
be. This is called competitive exclusion. Basically, there are more good guys
protecting the wagon train keeping the bad guys away.<o:p></o:p></div>
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There are also both bacteria and fungi that can actually
kill some diseases.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Species of Trichoderma fungi are very effective in killing
pathogens such as rhizoctonia, fusarium, and phythium. The Trichoderma fungi
are often found in combination with plant growth promoting rhyizobacteria, PGPR’s,
so plant vigor is enhanced while protection from pathogens is also taking
place.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Ag Tech Services, LLC, has been promoting the use of PGPR/s
for the past 14 years. Recently we have been using a bacteria/Trichoderma mix
to suppress diseases with very positive results. Let us know if you are
interested in trying this combination on your crops for 2019, by contacting us
at agtech@comcast.net<o:p></o:p></div>
Rudy Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03822898858354594180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855658187719775996.post-32027089368144274112018-09-05T09:31:00.002-07:002018-09-05T09:31:22.276-07:00Changes in Farming Over 42 Years
As I look back over the past 42 years in the ag supply
business, I can see the many advancements we have made as an industry. Seeing
where we are now compared to where I started shows a lot of change.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<u>World Population</u>: In 1976 the world population was
4.1 billion with a density of 28 people per square kilometer. Today, in 2018,
the world population is 7.6 billion with a density of 58 people per square
kilometer. We have nearly doubled our population and more than doubled our
density in just 42 years. It is easy to see that as these numbers increase our
land base for food production decreases. The food production industries have a
world of challenges in their future. I hope it doesn’t come down to the “have
and have nots” because in that scenario no one wins.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<u>Crop Protection Companies</u>: When I started my career,
there were about a dozen companies providing crop protection products for
farmers. Today the big three are Bayer/Monsanto, Syngenta/Chem China, and
Dow/Dupont. These three mega entities have combined sales of over $61 billion.
There are a few others but these three rule the roost. I really don’t think it
helps the end user by having so much of the market controlled by so few
players.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<u>Understanding How Plants Work</u>: We have come light
years from where we started in 1976. There is very little “broad base” use of
fertilizers today as there was before. We understand more of how plants utilize
certain nutrients and how to apply what the plant needs more precisely than ever
before. We understand that a tall vine is not always the most productive one.
It is a simple statement that really does apply to most crops. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<u>American Farmers</u>: I can only speak to what I have
seen and have heard; the American farmer is the most efficient food producer in
the world. This says a lot about our ag history and our ag future. I can only
hope that when my grandchildren get to my age they can say the same.<o:p></o:p></div>
<o:p> </o:p><br />
<u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Overall</span></u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">: I
can’t complain. Naturally there have been ups and downs but overall I can’t see
myself doing anything elso by my chosen profession. We will leave marks behind
us from the lives we have lived. I just hope mine have been more positive than
negative. </span>Rudy Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03822898858354594180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855658187719775996.post-58405036830970316542017-12-01T11:21:00.001-08:002017-12-01T11:21:12.522-08:00The more we understand soil, the more we succed in ag
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<em>Sometimes you run across an article that just needs to be
shared. The following article by John Sitka was forwarded to me and I felt it needed to be
shared even further. We have obtained permission from the author and AGDAILY to
republish this in our blog.<o:p></o:p></em></div>
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Published: November 10, 2017, in AGDAILY<o:p></o:p></div>
<o:p> </o:p><br />
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In agriculture, as with anything, we must always be careful
about what we ask for. This is true with many complex subjects. It’s not always
about the answers we receive, but the questions we ask.<o:p></o:p></div>
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For several decades producers had asked for higher yields; not
higher profits or improved soil that would sustain their operations into the
future. It is not surprising that after decades of asking for higher yields we
find ourselves with degraded soil, slim profit margins, and yes, higher yields.
While every producer is interested in producing a good crop each year, the
conversation in agriculture is changing from the pursuit of high yields, to one
of restoring the soil and profit margins.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Many have assumed that restoring the soil’s capacity to
function and the profitable production of crops are mutually exclusive. We all
know it costs money to apply conservation practices to the land to control
erosion. However, we have mistaken soil erosion as a problem, when it is
actually a symptom of a larger problem. For many years we have been chasing
soil downhill, all the way to the Gulf of Mexico, because we did not question
things deep enough to identify the actual problem. The problem was
dysfunctional soil, manifested as erosion. We mistook a symptom (soil erosion)
for the disease (dysfunctional soil) and so did not discover the cure
(restoring soil health) … until now.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Now, we have correctly determined that the reason soil and
crop nutrients are leaving the field is because the soil lacks the capacity to
infiltrate water and cycle nutrients. The soil is no longer functioning as
designed. Properly functioning soil absorbs water and cycles nutrients so
neither leave the field except through transpiration of water through the
leaves of living plants or nutrients in the grain. The most provocative part of
this revelation is that improving soil function reduces input costs, which
increases the margin of profit. The more we understand about how the soil is
designed to function and manage it accordingly, the more the soil does for us.
The soil allows plants to convert air, water, and sunlight into the commodities
that can be sold in the marketplace.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In our quest for higher yields, we have been given control
over many variables of crop production. Modern agriculture is about controlling
weeds, controlling insects, controlling soil moisture, controlling plant
nutrients –controlling whatever nature throws at us. But these controls can
come with a cost. By changing our understanding of the soil from a place where
we supply and control things to where we allow life in the soil to supply and
control things is how profitable production can take place. Pesticides,
fertilizers, and other agricultural technologies are tools, and as such, are
not to be revered nor condemned, but can be applied to either facilitate or
suppress the biological processes in the soil. The biology of the soil is
always working to find the most efficient way to maintain itself and its
indispensable partners: living plants. Living plants are the mechanism for air,
water and sunlight to be transformed into food for the soil as well as food for
us. By changing the way we think about soil, we can utilize the soil’s capacity
to regenerate itself and support plants to our advantage.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Now that we know better how the soil functions as a
biological system, we need to learn how to harness that understanding to power
the production of our crops. We need to ask for ways to get our soil back in
peak condition so it can capture and cycle water and nutrients as efficiently
and profitably as possible. That way, any inputs we may choose to add to the
system will not only improve the capacity of the soil to function, but will
return the most bushels for our buck. Instead of only asking researchers and
agricultural suppliers for higher yields, perhaps we should be asking for ways
to restore the soil that will sustain both short- and long-term crop
production, and leave the soil better than when we found it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Understanding how the soil functions as a biological system
is the future of agriculture. A future where agriculture can be profitable and
productive without the imminent specter of regulations developed to address any
adverse impacts on the environment. By restoring the soil to allow it to do its
job more efficiently, producers can be more productive, proactive, and
profitable, while reducing the footprint of agriculture on the environment.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Agriculture needs to ask for something better than bushels.
We need to ask for a future with fully functioning soil, which is something we
can all agree on.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><em>Jon Stika is a soil scientist who has worked with the North
Dakota Soil Conservation Committee and NDSU’s Dickinson Research and Extension
Center. He is also the author of “A Soil Owner’s Manual: How to Restore and
Maintain Soil Health.”<o:p></o:p></em></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">For more articles,
videos, and trending issues from AGDAILY, sign up at https://www.agdaily.com/signup/
for their biweekly newsletter.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
Rudy Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03822898858354594180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855658187719775996.post-20101824364573230002017-11-15T15:12:00.002-08:002017-11-15T15:14:57.846-08:00After the Harvest, Now What?<br />
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The busy time of year for anyone in the Ag supply business
normally runs from March through October. As you can see, it is basically
planning through harvest. So with two-thirds of the year behind us, what do we
do for the final one-third?<o:p></o:p></div>
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November through February is meeting and education time for
us. In November we attend the Pacific Northwest Vegetable Association (PNVA)
meeting. This day and a half conference packs a lot of information into a short
amount of time.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Mid December gives us the Far West Agribusiness Association Winter
Conference (FWAA). This organization covers the Pacific Northwest region, OR,
WA, and Idaho. This year’s meeting is in Boise, Idaho, so we need to allow some
travel time. The FWAA presents material that covers various cropping structures
but also some political and business information that is needed in today’s Ag
market.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The third and fourth weeks of the New Year will be busy with
two important meetings to attend. The third week will find us in Houston,
Texas, attending an international meeting of one of the companies we work with.
Attendees from all over the world explain product trials that worked and those
that didn’t work. One thing is certain; we always learn something while we are
there.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The fourth week of January is the Washington/Oregon Potato
Conference. For many years the two states had separate meetings until they put
their similarities together for the sake of efficiency. It is very well
organized and the meetings are very informative.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So as you can see, when the physical work is done for us,
the learning continues. We do spend a lot of money and time away from our
families to keep ourselves up to speed. It is what we do for our Ag industry
and we do it gladly.<o:p></o:p></div>
Rudy Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03822898858354594180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855658187719775996.post-73284860542673764892017-09-28T11:36:00.000-07:002017-09-28T11:36:31.184-07:00Attack of the Killer Potato Vines
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Those of you who know me understand that I do a fair amount
of traveling during the growing season. Naturally, when you travel anything can
happen.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Long story short, I wound up taking a fall in a potato field
located about 20 miles from Burley, Idaho, a couple weeks ago. Nothing broken,
but I have a really bad sprain of my right knee. So I am 700 miles from home
and can’t walk out of the field without a great deal of help. Whereas I
couldn’t walk, I also couldn’t drive my rental vehicle, get on an airplane, or
get on the shuttle from the airport to go home. This created a 1400 mile round
trip for my wife to come get me. She is not fond of long-distance driving, so
I’m glad she was able to do this. It’s amazing how much better I felt mentally
when she walked into my hotel room.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It would be easy to dwell on the hardships of the incident
but I would rather concentrate on the positive things that came from this fall.
The fertilizer dealership that asked me to see this field went out of their way
to help me. They drove me to the hospital and checked on me several times when
I was in my hotel room. They even contacted me on my way home to make sure I
was all right. I could tell their concern was real.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The hospital staff was extremely caring in the way they
allowed me to take the time to cancel my car rental by waiting patiently for me
to finish my business before doing the x-rays. With more compassion than I have
seen at other hospitals, they bent over backwards for my comfort.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The hotel staff was absolutely awesome! Not only did they
select a room for me that was close to the main desk, they also brought my
dinner to me. My knee was about three times its normal size and when I called
the front desk for some ice they brought it to me gladly. They went so far as
to check on me periodically just to see if I wanted anything. It is important
to note that this was not the hotel I have stayed in every month for several
years. That hotel was booked for my original night’s visit, so I was staying in
a completely new place.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Some people would look at all of this and say they were just
doing their job. I saw it very differently. What I saw was people who didn’t
know me but still wanted to make me comfortable. They didn’t care if my
politics was left, right, blue, or red. They just wanted to help a person in
distress. <o:p></o:p></div>
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In this world of divisions and taking sides, it is good to
see that helping someone comes first and politics, race, or religion comes much
later. There are a lot of good people out there and I think if we all open our
eyes a bit wider we can see them. Once we see them, let’s be one of them.<o:p></o:p></div>
Rudy Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03822898858354594180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855658187719775996.post-75650578926222299732017-06-01T15:32:00.000-07:002017-06-01T15:32:18.563-07:00Taking the Bite Out of High Salt Soils<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijYks9ewK32SM7iJXx529wggkoapDw6FhJnEsgBW0RedgeuPfRsnBlcCjByxE8o7y-TfJqqMs7XhbTZm-6gUa-2X_LxkybugUalOPcJIhJwg2IRXflF05Ca_29PKSaHzusVCL2M5m7Hjfx/s1600/corn.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijYks9ewK32SM7iJXx529wggkoapDw6FhJnEsgBW0RedgeuPfRsnBlcCjByxE8o7y-TfJqqMs7XhbTZm-6gUa-2X_LxkybugUalOPcJIhJwg2IRXflF05Ca_29PKSaHzusVCL2M5m7Hjfx/s320/corn.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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The soils of the Skagit Valley are noted for being very
fertile. After 27 years of pulling soil samples in the valley, I would agree
with this statement. However, along with the good, you will always have some
bad. One of the most prevalent challenges in our valley is high salt. This can
happen from fields being very close to a salt water bay, poorly drained soils
with high levels of nitrate nitrogen, or fields close to dairies where liquid
manure has been applied over the years. There is no fault in these soil
conditions, sometimes it just works out that way.<o:p> </o:p></div>
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That being said, it is possible to help a crop get through
the stress of trying to grow under high salt conditions. The picture above is
of two corn plants grown in separate fields. The plant on the left is from the
untreated field and the plant on the right is from the treated field. The two
fields are separated by a ditch and have always been farmed the same.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Without going into a tremendous amount of over explanation,
I can say the treated planting had a pre plant incorporated combination of a
high-carbon liquid product with a soil surfactant. The treatment in furrow at
planting was a biological inoculant and a salicylic acid product to enhance
root structure and increase root length. After 11 days from planting, it looks
like the program is working so far. We will do another picture and post in a
couple of weeks.<o:p></o:p></div>
Rudy Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03822898858354594180noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855658187719775996.post-18092458826516341212017-03-14T16:06:00.004-07:002017-03-14T16:06:47.594-07:00Set Up for Success
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While going through the history of our blog we discovered
that we had more visits to the blog post concerning skin set on potatoes than
any other. We decided it’s time to revisit that blog but also post a new one on
what it takes to set up a potato crop for good skin set.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The process of skin set, the thickening of the outer-most
cells on the potato, is a natural occurrence when the potato plant has
completed the movement of sugars from the leaves to the tubers. It is part of
the maturing process that will keep the tuber from degrading during storage.
This all seems like an easy task but in the Skagit Valley skin set can take
several weeks after the plants have died.<o:p></o:p></div>
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A few things can be done early in the plant development to
help the maturing process:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Do not apply nitrate forms of nitrogen early in the
plant’s development. This has a negative effect on the plant by pushing top
growth and reducing root development.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Get as much calcium, boron, silica, and magnesium into
the plant as possible. Start early and go long! These elements will enhance
cell wall strength, reduce stress, and increase photosynthesis all of which are
critical to keep plant top growth in check.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->If at all possible, use a water surfactant pre-plant
and during the growing season to move both irrigation and rain more
efficiently. We have been using a product called Integrate 80 with a great deal
of success. It will move water both vertically and horizontally creating a
better water distribution path.<o:p></o:p></div>
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These are a few ideas that you can try to help your potatoes
achieve a stress-free crop. If you follow through with these three ideas and
use the finishing program, also posted, I’m confident you will be satisfied
with the end results.<o:p></o:p></div>
Rudy Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03822898858354594180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855658187719775996.post-66221067057302229342017-03-01T16:00:00.002-08:002017-03-01T16:00:57.983-08:00A Gathering of Potato Growers
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We attended the Washington-Oregon Potato conference in
Kennewick, WA, on January 24<sup>th</sup> and 25<sup>th</sup> to learn from
some of the best growers and researchers in the industry. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Did you know that the combined acreage of potatoes for
Washington and Oregon amounts to 20% of the nation’s total? Washington alone
grows about 170,000 acres per year with Oregon in at 40,000 acres. The vast
majority of the crop is grown on the east side of the Cascade mountain range
so, naturally the majority of the research has east side growing conditions in
mind. But that still doesn’t mean that we “westsiders” didn’t glean some
valuable information from the conference.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Topics such as using hormones to break seed piece dormancy
and balance the amount of stems per hill was very interesting. We (the west
side) have been doing this for some time but they (the east side) are on the
right track. Also the appropriate amount of nutrients to use was very important.
Farmers are some of the best stewards of the land on the planet so they are
always concerned about using the right amount of the right nutrients for their
crop.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Overall, it was very informative and we look forward to
sharing that information with the growers of Skagit County. <o:p></o:p></div>
Rudy Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03822898858354594180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855658187719775996.post-60749649524530351212017-02-02T14:43:00.000-08:002017-02-02T14:43:17.020-08:00International Collaboration
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
On the 16<sup>th</sup> through the 18<sup>th</sup> of
January, we attended the 24<sup>th</sup> Annual Stoller International
Associates Conference in Houston, Texas. Ag Tech Services has been to about 10
of these conferences over the past 15 years and it seems we learn something new
every year. Even though this is a very international meeting, with 26 out of 46
presentations from outside the U.S., we are still able to pick up new ideas on
plant physiology and plant hormone activity. These ideas are very applicable to
our cropping systems in the U.S.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Naturally the research that is done has product sales in
mind. What we find refreshing is when an idea or crop growth intent doesn’t
work the way it was expected. It’s great to show success but it is also important
to show failure if you are in search of knowledge, not just sales.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
We at ATS will share what we learned this year with the
growers of Skagit Valley and beyond. We can use this as part of a full program,
or as a field trial. After all, it’s all about learning and applying. <o:p></o:p></div>
Rudy Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03822898858354594180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855658187719775996.post-91835510811557162972016-11-10T13:23:00.000-08:002016-11-10T13:23:11.206-08:00The Big Boys and Their Bugs
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
What do Bayer, Dow Chemical, Monsanto, BASF, and Syngenta
have in common? Obviously they are some of the largest players in the ag chem
industry but on top of their corporate size, they also have a very strong and
growing biological inoculant portfolio.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
At this time the biological business is around the $218
million range and it is projected to go to about $420 million by 2020. That’s
nearly double in a few short years. So what do they know that enables them to
make such an aggressive projection? They know the biological system works and
farmers are increasingly buying into it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
According to recent articles, ag chemical companies like the
property called SAR, Systemic Acquired Resistance, which is triggered in the
plants by certain biological players. SAR is a natural way that plants can
defend themselves for insect and disease damage. Plant Growth Promoting
Rhizobacteria seem to be the main players that farms around the country are
using. They provide the SAR as well as ISR, Induced Systemic Resistance, along
with root and plant growth promoting nutrient mineralization and protections
from many soil diseases. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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Why do I bring this up? As we are into harvest, I’m sure you
will see some things that could have gone better with your crop. Perhaps
looking at a PGPR inoculant for 2017 is a good idea. And the interesting point
to remember is that we at Ag Tech Services have been using PGPRs in our
programs for the past 13 years. I guess that puts us ahead of some of the big
boys.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Let us know if you are interested and we will get you up to
speed well before next planting season.<o:p></o:p></div>
Rudy Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03822898858354594180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855658187719775996.post-18112506029951345782015-02-06T10:05:00.001-08:002015-02-06T10:05:34.675-08:00Arizona Winter Meeting
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
During the cold, dark, damp period of last November, Brian
and I were able to slip out to warm Arizona for a few days. We can do that
every two years because that is when BioHumaNetics, Inc., has their
international product meeting. Those of you who do business with us may be more
familiar with their agricultural label: HumaGro. We have sold their material
for the past 12 years and we are still learning more about it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
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The overall direction of the HumaGro line is plant health.
We all know that a healthy plant is a productive plant. The nutrients in the
HumaGro program are supported by their Micro Carbon Technology (MCT). By using
extremely small organic acids, nutrients get into the plant through the foliage
faster and with no burn. The HumaGro soil-based products with the Micro Carbon
Technology get into the root system easily and also support the beneficial
bacteria on the roots. This is certainly a win/win situation.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">As I mentioned earlier, we have sold HumaGro products
for the past 12 years and we look forward to another 12. Especially for those
few warm days of learning in Arizona.</span>Rudy Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03822898858354594180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855658187719775996.post-50399764190650848662014-08-19T13:51:00.003-07:002014-08-19T13:51:44.953-07:00Did You Hear the One About the Traveling Agronomist . . .?
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">From March through October, you
will find me on the road about two weeks out of every month. For eight months,
my travels take me from home, in Western Washington, to four cities in eastern Washington,
on to the Willamette Valley of Oregon for nine stops, and then home. After that
trip I am home for a week to catch up on business and then off to Idaho for a
three to four day visit before returning home and repeating the process.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">After each trip it takes about 1½
to 2 days for me to recover from what I call “stupid head,” a condition where
you can only hear road noise or the drone of an airplane propeller.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m sure those of you who travel a lot know
what “stupid head” is.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This really doesn’t sound like an
exciting way to spend your summer, especially if you are a 64-year-old husband,
father, and grandfather. But there is a reason and a validation. When I was in
college I had a discussion with an advisor about the ag retail business. He
told me if you want to be wealthy, don’t go into ag retail. I can honestly say
he was right. I have been in this game for 38 years and I’m sure many of my
former classmates have acquired much more wealth than I have. But I think I can
say I have had more successes than they have. Every place I go, I have helped a
farmer or fertilizer dealer become more successful in their business and I am
welcomed back for another visit. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Life isn’t all about financial
greatness or great self power. When you can educate a dealer who can now pass
the information on to his farmers, or help a farmer be more productive and more
profitable, you have succeeded in being a real Agronomist. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Now, if you will excuse me, it’s
time to pack my suitcase.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Rudy Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03822898858354594180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855658187719775996.post-45117466309580582792014-04-30T09:43:00.001-07:002014-04-30T09:49:31.133-07:00Grow for Quality, not Quantity<!--[if !mso]>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Modern production agriculture has been striving for
increased yield ever since I can remember. Farmers are trying anything that
will give them even a slight yield increase. We should take another look at
what makes a quality yield instead of a quantity yield.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Everything that can be done to increase early, vigorous root
growth increases the quality of the crop. This holds true for grains, fruits,
and vegetables. When the root system is dominant, there is more uniform
branching and increased flowering. Seed heads on grain are fuller with less
shriveled seeds. Fruit has more fruit spurs with better set and more uniform
development.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This happens because the roots are the brains of the plant
and the purpose of the plant is reproduction. With that in mind why would it
not want to put out as many high-quality offspring as possible? The conflict
comes in when we try to push for quantity. To do this we increase rates of
fertilizer, mostly nitrogen, over water, and basically take the brains of the
plant and give them a real hard shake. What we do in excess can totally mess up
the plant’s hormonal direction and increase the internal stress level. So the
crop we get may have increased in number or volume but internal quality and
storability is lacking.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4855658187719775996" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>Develop the root system, reduce plant stress and let the
plant do its job. You’ll both be happy.</div>
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<![endif]-->Rudy Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03822898858354594180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855658187719775996.post-8934663696401710332014-01-17T08:47:00.000-08:002014-01-17T08:47:02.663-08:00Send in the Drones
<br />
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Imagine yourself driving on a country road in a rural farm
community about early June and you stop your car across from a picture perfect
field of potatoes. The dark green rows on a brown soil background just takes
you back to a safe, secure childhood memory. Then you hear a loud fan sound and
a three foot by two foot black helicopter swoops over your car and starts
making precise passes over the field. Don’t call the NSA, FAA, or UFO Seekers;
it’s just a farmer checking up on the health of his crop. It’s called Drone
Field Surveillance and it could be coming to a farm near you. </div>
<br />
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By using infrared imagery to take pictures of the field,
this helicopter can tell a grower if his crop is under stress and where that
stress is located long before the plant will look bad. Basically a sick plant
puts off a different infrared spectrum color than a healthy plant. This new
technology is only new in the method of delivery. Back in the 1980s the same
infrared technology was available but it was from satellites far above the
earth. The question still remains as it did long ago: Who controls the data and
is it cost effective? The only way for a farmer to have complete control is to
buy the flying platform, chopper or fixed wing, buy the photography equipment,
learn how to work with the FAA and then do it themselves. Then once you have
the data, can you really use it? If you have places that are geo-referenced in
your field, do you have an applicator that can do site specific applications?
So many questions with too few real answers.</div>
<br />
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I was at a sales meeting this year where the presenter put
up a slide of a farmer trying to drink out of a fully pressurized fire hose. He
said this is how farmers sometimes feel about data: too much at one time is
hard to swallow. I think this is the same with Drone Surveillance Technology.
We should learn how to drink in a small amount at first so we don’t choke on
the full flow.</div>
Rudy Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03822898858354594180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855658187719775996.post-68795893073678879722013-10-29T14:15:00.000-07:002013-10-29T14:15:30.687-07:00What Used to Be True
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I am a
science fiction fan. I have been all my life and will probably die a fan. Often
some words of wisdom can come from a sci-fi movie that makes sense in today’s
world. In the movie <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Men in Black,</i>
Tommy Lee Jones told Will Smith something like the following: Fifteen hundred
years ago everybody <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">knew</b> the earth
was the center of the universe, five hundred years ago, everybody <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">knew</b> the earth was flat, and fifteen
minutes ago, you <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">knew</b> that humans
were alone on this planet, imagine what you will <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">know</b> tomorrow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Welcome to
the world of production agriculture.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">When I
started my career in 1976, it was all about fertilizer and chemicals. We really
didn’t know exactly how they worked but they did work. Then came Precision Ag.
This was going to revolutionize farming by applying the proper nutrients at the
correct location in a field. From the early 1980s to the present, it is
estimated that the majority of fertilizer and chemical dealers who do custom
chemical application use some sort of precision application methods. Actual
farmer driven acceptance and use has lagged behind mostly because of cost.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Next came Biotech
and GMO. Biotech was basically using biological organisms to help the plant
defend itself from insects. One organism was used back then and now multiple
insect and disease preventing bacteria and fungi are added to crop seeds
driving the cost through the roof. But now we are starting to see resistance in
some parts of the country.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">GMOs
(Genetically Modified Organisms) are the current latest and greatest. They have
been around for a long time starting with Roundup Ready corn which was first
commercialized in 1998. Since then we have added sugar beets, alfalfa, and
canola to the list. This is all about getting good weed control economically
with one product. What they forgot, again, was a term called resistance. So
many weeds across the country are resistant to Roundup that the initial low-cost
solution is becoming very expensive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">So goes the
world of production ag. What we know at one time to be the latest and greatest
changes very fast because we work in an ever changing environment. Soils,
insects, diseases, and weeds are always changing. They were here before we were
and they will still be here when we are gone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The lesson
for today: don’t get too comfortable with all you <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">know</b> today. Remember there will be a lot more to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">learn</b> tomorrow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Rudy Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03822898858354594180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855658187719775996.post-17119344125762391062013-07-26T15:02:00.001-07:002013-07-26T15:13:30.480-07:00Chemosensitization<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I’ve been
following this idea of enhancing the activity of fungicides. Or it could be
described as enhancing the target pathogen’s <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">sensitivity </b>to fungicides. I have noticed that there is similar
research and information in both the agricultural arena as well as human
health. The results are the same. This is one of those true “synergy” or
“win-win” scenarios. When using a tool like chemosensitization – proper math
goes right out the window. One plus one no longer equals two – now we get more.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The basic
idea is to use lower risk materials with antifungal properties along with
conventional fungicides.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What was
unexpected in the research was how well this approach worked. Each product on
its own has activity on the pathogen. When put together the pathogen control
was much higher than the control achieved with either product alone (and higher
than the separate applications added together). Control has been so good that
the researchers were able to use <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">lower
rates</b> of the fungicides and still achieve good control. With the cost of
today’s fungicides I think it would be easy to achieve a favorable ROI using
this chemosensitization approach.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I used the
words lower risk earlier and I want to elaborate on what I meant. The phrase
“lower risk” applies for multiple reasons. Safety – Lower risk refers to the
mode of action of the products. They are much safer for people and the
environment. Resistance danger - The materials being used to achieve
chemosensitization are essential oils, plant compounds, and microbial exudates.
Materials with these types of origins, having evolved as parts of plant and
microbial defense mechanisms, carry a lower risk of a pathogen developing
resistance. Especially when compared to resistance buildup to chemical
fungicides.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">One compound
that consistently shows up in research is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">thymol
</b>(2-isopropyl-5-methylphenol). I have run across thymol in both human health
research and plant pathology work. The names of some of the antifungal
medicines that thymol was able to make more effective in the human health realm
end in “…azole” just like many of our crop fungicides. The thymol-azole
combination completely stopped fungal growth at rates lower than when an azole
medicine is used by itself. The research even tested the combo against
organisms already resistant to the medicines. Thymol made the organism
susceptible to the fungicide again.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Thymol seems
to have most of its action on cell walls and cell membranes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The azole drugs and fungicides also have
activity on cell walls and membranes which may be why they work so good together. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Our <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">bio-pesticide</b> products from Huma Gro®
utilize thymol as a major component. For soil use there is ProMax™ which also gives
us a bio-fumigant action. For foliar use we have Proud3® with local systemic
activity and residual control that is rare for an organic product. Here is a
way to maximize your fungicide dollar, reduce application rates, and use an
inexpensive lower risk product that is geared toward supporting plant health as
well as harassing the pathogen and making it easier to control.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Research examples: Quadris®
(azoxystrobin) and thymol together had enhanced activity on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bipolaris sorokiniana, Phoma glomerata, Alternaria
sp.,</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Stagonospora nodorum.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Dividend® (difenoconazole) and thymol
showed enhanced activity on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bipolaris
sorokiniana, </i>and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Stagonospora
nodorum.</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Folicur® (tebuconazole) and thymol showed
enhanced activity on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Alternaria alternata</i>.</span>Brian Weemshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03949373392541995901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855658187719775996.post-45926098260782364002013-06-11T09:38:00.000-07:002013-06-11T10:04:41.030-07:00Striving Towards Zero<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I was talking to a farm manager
friend about the use of fumigants and other pesticides in today’s modern
production farming. When the topic of fumigants came up, he mentioned that
using the same amount of the same material has been giving increasingly less
results over the past 20 years. The question comes up as to why; the answer is
resistance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Fumigation works by killing a
targeted pathogen in the soil. But, no matter what the product is, you never
kill all of the pathogens. The pathogens that are left are naturally resistant
to the chemical compound used so they survive. Look at it as killing 80 out of
100 and the 20 left are the strongest, baddest, bad boys on the block. They
reproduce faster so the next time you fumigate you only kill 70% with 30%
stronger yet. You can see that over time you can have a population of almost
super bugs that are very difficult to manage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This brought up an interesting
question for the world to answer; can we live with zero? Is it possible to
totally eradicate a biological population, beneficial or pathogenic, and still
survive as a human race? If you read the labels of some of the most widely used
pesticide, the word “control” is what they are attempting to do. Pesticide
manufacturers learned long ago that farmers want to grow the best. Corn,
potatoes, peas, or beans it doesn’t matter. Farmers want to produce the best
because they know the customer, either American, Japanese, or Korean . . . ,
wants the best. And the best does not have a blemish on it and is perfectly
shaped. This is why we are striving for zero. If there are no bugs, there are
no blemishes; then all is good with the world. Or is it? I submit to you the
concept that our world cannot exist with zero. We are all part of this very
intricate and very sensitive biological system called life. We exist with plant
life, beneficial bacteria life, pathogenic life, and it goes on and
on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The American farmer produces more
food than anywhere else in the world and they could produce more if our buying
standards were not so high. If a potato has a blemish on its skin it is still a
potato. If it is misformed, it will cook just as good as a perfect potato. I
think you can see where I am going with this Utopian thought. All I want you to
take home from this post is we can’t live with zero.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Rudy Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03822898858354594180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855658187719775996.post-48378703098559298572013-03-13T08:26:00.000-07:002013-03-13T08:26:05.615-07:00Plant Resistance: Top to Bottom and Bottom to Top
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As
in humans, plants have genetic material in them to help fend off disease
infections and damage from insects. This is called the plant’s natural defense
system. Certain genes in the plants makeup are responsible to keep all systems
going strong, even when the plant is attacked from a soil borne pathogen, an
insect infestation, or the negative impact of excessive heat or flooding. But
what happens when an event is so strong that it over shadows the plant’s
ability to take care of itself? Fortunately, there are two systems that can be
put into play to help the plant take care of itself; they are called SAR and
ISR.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">ISR,
Induced Systemic Resistance, can start at the earliest part of the seedling
development. ISR can be triggered by many bacteria and fungi as well some
natural compounds but for this discussion I want to concentrate on two types of
Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria, PGPR, namely <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Pseudomonas fluorescence</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Pseudomonas
putida. </i>When applied on the seed or onto the roots of transplants, these
bacteria form an association with the root system triggering the systemic
resistance. To compare this with a human analogy, it’s like getting a flu shot
to prevent the flu. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">SAR,
Systemic Acquired Resistance, is a system by which the plant tries to repair
damage that has already been done. In the case of insect or disease damage to
the foliage, the genes responsible will cause rapid healing of the damaged
tissue in order to stop the spread of the pathogen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have found that certain compounds,
Salicylic Acid and phosphite products can ramp up the SAR in plants that are
infected with pathogens. This is very important in the case of viruses because
reducing the symptoms, which SAR can do if triggered early enough, on the plant
tissue should reduce the negative impact of the virus and allow the plant to
develop normally. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So
what does this all mean? We at Ag Tech Services, LLC have the PGPR inoculants
that will give you the benefits of ISR plus many, many more. We also have a
program that reduces the damage caused by a particular virus using a Salicylic
Acid product in combination with calcium. By reducing the symptoms on the
tissue we should be able to manage the virus which is better than trying to
eradicate it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s
all about plant health from the bottom up to the top down.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
Rudy Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03822898858354594180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855658187719775996.post-3238121168053584532013-02-05T15:22:00.000-08:002013-02-05T16:44:47.108-08:00Beer and Planting!Enjoy one while doing the other and you might end up with crooked rows - and maybe even in the wrong field! Using and enjoying the knowledge that can be gleaned from both can set you up with a crop to be proud of. <br />
Giving your crop the best start possible could be compared to starting a batch of beer.<br />
Success is not guaranteed, all you can do is attempt to control and guide the process.<br />
I like this comparison because it gives me a chance to explain the growing use and acceptance of biological inputs in a way that is easy to follow.<br />
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<b>Let’s start with sanitation.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><br />
In the field you have tasks like residue management, weed control
including trying to keep the weed seed bank low, and varying levels of soil
prep for what you plan to plant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
are also disease and insect hosts in and around the field that should be
scouted and appropriate actions taken when enough of a potential problem is
found.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For some crops fumigation is used
to achieve a certain level of soil sanitization.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This can be useful but remember that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">everything</b> is killed with fumigation
even the good guys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In brewing, sanitation is also very important.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is very similar to the approach in the
field.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You do not need total
sterilization or control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just address
the most common problems and decrease the numbers of bacteria/fungi in
preparation for guiding the brewing process in your desired direction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All you need to do is level the playing field to
give you a greater chance of success.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Could you have a successful crop with minimal prep?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure, but the odds are against it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Could you have a safe tasty beer with minimal sanitation?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure, but the odds are against it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Next let’s cover adding enough nutrients to the system to
provide for the end product.</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the field this should involve soil testing to have an
idea of what nutrients are already in the soil and their levels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are many other pieces of information
that are made available at the same time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Soluble salts, pH, percent organic matter, and cation exchange capacity
are just a few.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This information is then
used, along with the needs of the crop to be planted to figure out what
nutrients need to be added to the field soil, or what will need to be supplied
to the crop during the season.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In brewing this involves making wort – a watery solution of
sugars, starches, and enzymes extracted from barley.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus any myriad of other ingredients added
for flavor, aroma, and texture goals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
is becoming common to add a liquid nutrient package to the wort along with the
yeast to get fermentation off to a healthy start. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>So now you have this nutrient rich medium all ready to
go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </b><br />
In the field this might mean a well
prepared seed bed ready to plant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
brewing this would be a fermenter full of cooled to room temperature wort.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Are you going to leave things to chance and hope the right
kind of yeast or even bacteria (sour beers are gaining in popularity) floats along
in the air and lands in your wort?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">NO!</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Only primitive man had to go about it this way!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are going to “pitch” a large amount of a
wonderful hard-working yeast strain that has been in use by humankind for many
years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is an infection or inoculation
of sorts; you are deciding how those nutrients you so carefully put together are
going to be used.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are going to
control and guide the fermentation process to get the alcohol content, flavors,
aromas, and mouth feel that you want.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is the same for your crop and field!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you going to leave the seed or transplant
at the mercy of chance? <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">NO! </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only primitive man had to go about it this
way! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The nutrient rich seedbed and
impending rhizosphere are like the nutrient rich wort for making beer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You should “pitch” biological inoculants with
the seed or in the root zone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you
have a recently fumigated soil then there is even more risk to going the
“chance” route.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We know that many
pathogenic bacteria and fungi can reproduce faster than other benign and
beneficial microbial soil dwellers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So
rather than control your soil and plant “infection” now you have just handed
the pathogens virgin territory to exploit along with some nice tasty plant
snacks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t risk it and leave it to
chance – control your crop's root zone and root development – and crowd out the
bad guys – just like your local brewer!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We know that we can influence what happens in the root zone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One way is to control the “infection” or
inoculate the root zone with a large population of assorted “good guy” bacteria
and fungi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Part of this equation is in
the simple physical nature of our world, any system has limits of what it can
support.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If large numbers of crop
friendly beneficial microbes are inoculated into the system many pathogens will
be held at bay through <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">competitive
exclusion</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the same way a
vigorously fermenting yeast in a batch of beer will not allow molds and
bacteria to gain a foothold. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You decide – do you want <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">phytopthera
</i>or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">rhizoctonia </i>to infect your
roots or do you want some <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">trichodermas </i>and
fluorescent <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">pseudomonads </i>to be more
prevalent?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>At Ag Tech Services, LLC we have the knowledge, and the
products to accomplish this.</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sometimes, while on a sales call with an organic producer or
soil health oriented conventional producer I run into the question “aren’t we
encouraging beneficial microbes with adding compost or using compost teas?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes in the broad sense of stimulating the
existing soil biology, which is mostly made up of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">actinomycetes</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This approach
is great for land you own and want to improve for the short and long term, but the
benefits will be more general and a gradual process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However in a land rent situation I would
choose to target my crop and its growth and development versus improving soil
that I do not own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The rationale for this is similar to how you choose to go
about using other ag products.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you
going to broadcast it or band it, full canopy spray or a basal spray?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Logistics, economics, targets, and product
efficiencies have to be considered as well.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The approach we take and the specific organisms we use are
targeted specifically at your crop and more importantly your crop’s roots.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These microbials are symbiotic root zone
dwellers not bulk soil organisms like the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">actinomycetes</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They need the plant to support them in their
life cycle, and in return they provide benefits to the plant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a targeted approach to disease
suppression and plant growth promotion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Beneficial bacteria -<i> Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus polymyxa, Paenibacillus azotofixans, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Pseudomonas putida, Azotobacter chroococcum, Azospirillum brasilense.</i> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Beneficial fungi - <i>Trichoderma atroviride, Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Once again back to my brewing analogy – there would be a high failure
rate in brewing if we were hoping for the right combination of events in nature
– versus knowing what will happen when we control and guide the natural
fermentation process in the direction we want.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Controlling other variables</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In brewing there is usually some consideration given to
environmental factors like temperature and light.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In open field agriculture we take what we get, but look at
how much production is taking place all over the world in greenhouses,
shadehouses, and high tunnels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are
many industries that have learned to steer around common problems.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Too many soil diseases? – Move to soilless mediums.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Too many environmental stressors? – Move inside or under
cover and control more of the variables.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Not enough light for production at the desired time of year?
– Supplement with electric light.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So… if you have a crop that has susceptibility to disease or
a tough time becoming established? – <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Improve
your chances of success and control your root zone to guide the crop to high
yield and quality.</b> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />Brian Weemshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03949373392541995901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855658187719775996.post-52041923520616560922012-12-26T10:06:00.000-08:002012-12-26T10:06:42.729-08:00When Free Really Isn't<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Something that I find interesting is the fact that some farmers still believe that soil sampling, tissue sampling, and crop monitoring is a “free service” provided by their supplier. The farmer may receive an invoice for the samples but the time involved is considered a cost of doing business by the supplier. This is really not the case because the cost of the employee sampling, his insurance, fuel, and postage will be covered by the gross margin the dealer makes on the products he sells to the grower. This is all well and good if the person doing the sampling as well as the person making the recommendations, is qualified. It is widely known that the errors in soil sample results are not made in the lab but are made at the time of sampling. The recommendations that the farmer receives are only as good as the sample that was taken. That goes for both soil and tissue samples.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Ag Tech Services, LLC, will do your sampling at a fee that ensures you will get the best of our 36 years of experience. Yes we will charge for both sampling and recommendations but the data belongs to the grower and he can take it wherever he wants to for supplies.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
This makes more sense than to expect these services for free. Everything has a cost and sometimes the least expensive may cost the most. </div>
<div align="center">
</div>
Rudy Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03822898858354594180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855658187719775996.post-42197865404862499172012-11-15T11:24:00.000-08:002012-11-15T11:31:41.113-08:00Great Time in Arizona<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3mAUGDEKCZ494NeO7b6dAPI9XZTFau8oVJhfgON4pe4XOy1e4f9L-lXc_IS_EAVvtIZa_zVQWaLtA5GdwanJRHEEk5-IYhKkeNoLuz9UMBa0RRFsXdX7_SreJBeCdXLgBHoOZyXWMWClY/s1600/sun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3mAUGDEKCZ494NeO7b6dAPI9XZTFau8oVJhfgON4pe4XOy1e4f9L-lXc_IS_EAVvtIZa_zVQWaLtA5GdwanJRHEEk5-IYhKkeNoLuz9UMBa0RRFsXdX7_SreJBeCdXLgBHoOZyXWMWClY/s1600/sun.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
This time of the year in Western Washington can be very wet
and dreary looking. Clouds that you see in the morning follow you all day long,
tuck you in at bedtime, and greet you again in the morning. Day after day! So going
to Arizona for the 2012 International Meeting presented by BioHumaNetics, Inc.,
had a two-fold benefit—Brian and I learned a lot and we got warm at the same
time.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The difference between BHN’s liquid fertilizers and others
in the industry is their Micro Carbon Technology (MCT) which is the base of all
of their products. Plants produce their own carbon but often the amount they
produce is inhibited by herbicides or naturally occurring stress. The MCT of
the BHN products acts as a booster when the plants are under stress. We look at
a crop a few days after a BHN application and can see the MCT effect. Plants
are greener and healthier looking. The greater the stress, the larger the
positive response. Good Stuff.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
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<w:wrap type="square">
</w:wrap></v:imagedata></v:shape>All in all, we
learned a lot, got warmed up, and returned to our families safe and sound. And
today is rainy.</div>
Rudy Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03822898858354594180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855658187719775996.post-60067129208253624532012-10-30T09:10:00.000-07:002012-10-30T09:10:00.897-07:00A Weekend in LaConner<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is no big
secret that a lot of people go to La Conner to get away for a weekend. We spent
a weekend recently in La Conner for the same reason—we wanted to get away from
home and the home office to do some planning. So off we went, Celine, Brian and
I to do some talking and planning for the 2013 business year. We discussed what
went right and what went wrong with nothing left unturned. All topics held the
same amount of importance because at the end of the day our decisions were for
the company and the company is for our clients.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</o:lock></v:path></v:shadow></v:imagedata></v:rect><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For me, the
sights and sounds of the boats coming and going on the channel were very
distracting. Fortunately, Celine knew that and threatened to pull the blinds so
my focus could be maintained. We had a timer going to make sure we had a break
every hour and a half and it was needed. There were treats to keep us going as
the day wore on. Then at the end of the day we met Sarah and Brian for dinner.
Not only was it the perfect way to end a day of brainstorming but we were
feeling good because we knew that as a team we were looking down the same gun
barrel toward the future.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I would suggest such a getaway for any management team, it
provides an opportunity to open up and put new ideas on the table. Whether you
are a business owner like I am, a farmer with management personnel, or a
supplier with a management team, get away from the office, tune out the outside
distractions, and let the ideas fly. Try it, you'll like it!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Rudy Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03822898858354594180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855658187719775996.post-56987571681393944052011-12-23T13:51:00.000-08:002011-12-23T13:51:59.595-08:00Kitchen Table and Rainy Days<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">We are a small business consisting of three people with lots of ideas. To put all those ideas into some form of direction takes planning. That is what we did two days in November and December. The kitchen table was just the right size for three people, papers, note pads and beverages.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">It is amazing how a small business can come up with so many ideas. We focused mostly on sales and products. However we also shifted into the abstract: what is the plan if a key person dies or becomes incapacitated? This is not unlike the decisions farmers have to make from time to time. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">I think the most invigorating feeling that I got from this round table meeting was the need to go forward. We want to get better at what we do. We want to focus on the ag market and the turf market bringing to both the best information, knowledge, and products that we can find to help our customers move forward with success. Yup it was a good day around the kitchen table and we look forward to implementing our ideas in the year ahead.</div>Rudy Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03822898858354594180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855658187719775996.post-73845366242333900202011-11-07T16:16:00.000-08:002011-11-07T16:37:11.552-08:00Rhizosphere Interactions<span style="font-family:arial;">OK so you have had soil tests pulled, and fertilized accordingly to prepare for planting. Your background or bulk soil nutrition is where you need it to have a successful crop – weather permitting. You saved money and time by only using the type and amount of fertilizer needed.<br />So why do some crops fail to establish themselves and take off with vigorous growth? This question has many answers we hear all of the time but don’t pay much attention to. Solubility, availability, nutrient mobility in the soil, and the health and activity of the microbial populations in the soil are a few pieces of the puzzle.<br /><br />We need to look specifically at the roots and the soil around and near the root zone also called the rhizosphere. This area of soil to root contact is where the action is.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Let’s look at solubility, availability, and we can’t forget the resource that is always running short - TIME. It takes time for that pre-plant fertilizer to dissolve into the soil solution and wind up in the right form for uptake by the crop. If the microbial populations in the soil are not diverse enough it could take even more time to access those nutrients. If it is cold and dry it could take even longer!<br /><br />I would like to use phosphate as an example and I won’t dwell too long on the pH connection to phosphate availability. I will just mention that phosphate availability is more drastically reduced at the following pH values: pH 3-4 when it likes to tie up with iron, pH 5-6 when plentiful aluminum is the problem, and pH 7-8 when calcium can get in the way. Phosphate exists in two forms – orthophosphate and polyphosphate. Plants take up the orthophosphate ion and it takes time for the polyphosphate to convert to orthophosphate. It can take up to 30 days to convert only half of a polyphosphate fertilizer to orthophosphate. What’s my point? Despite your commendable soil testing and responsible fertilization – there can be gaps in nutrient availability that can lower yields and quality.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>Avoid nutrient availability gaps. Use starter fertilizers with highly available nutrients placed in and near the root zone or where the roots will be very soon.<br /></strong><br />Your crop is not just sitting there idly waiting for the good stuff to come to it. Those plants can help themselves to an extent. Plant roots are like two-way streets. Water and nutrients are headed in, and organic acids, carbohydrates, and enzymes are leaking out. These outbound substances help acidify the soil zone directly surrounding the roots, dissolving nutrients, and providing sustenance for the microbial community which will continue to make even more nutrients available.<br /><br /><strong>Years of farming practices can drastically alter the microbial health of your soil. Use a biological supplement with known beneficial organisms in it. Choose products that specify the organisms, population numbers, and proposed benefits.</strong><br /><br />The scientific literature is full of support for maintaining a thriving and diverse microbial community in the soil. Some benefits include disease suppression, increased mycorrhizal colonization and attachment to roots, and faster nutrient solubilization.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Let’s see how we’re doing… soil test – check, responsible fertilization – check, starter fertilizer – check, biological support – check. Looks good, but just like your crops roots, now is not the time to sit idly by and wait.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><strong>Monitor your crop and use plant and tissue sampling to see if things are headed in the right direction. When the reports come back from the lab, be prepared to take action. If there are nutrient deficiencies that will reduce yield or quality it is not too late. There are fast acting and highly available foliar nutrition products that can alleviate the deficiency. </strong></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Believe it or not, this practice of making foliar adjustments can make a big difference. In addition to supplying the plant with what it is lacking, foliar fertilization can increase the production of those desirable root exudates we discussed earlier. Choose foliar products with a small molecular weight carbon based carrier like the aromatic acids. Carbon is unique in its ability to bond with positively charged nutrient cations and negatively charged nutrient anions. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />Anonymous quote from a crop adviser somewhere…</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">“All I ask is that you fertilize according to soil test recommendations, follow with starter fertilizers and biological support at planting, and make foliar adjustments according to tissue/plant samples."</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />These individual practices can seem too simple to make a difference, but when used as part of a combined program the results can be quite positive. These are some of the steps we use at Ag Tech Services, LLC to routinely boost spinach seed production here in the valley to quantities well above what the seed companies think a given variety can produce, and to push fresh market potato yields and quality to the next level.<br /><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span>Brian Weemshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03949373392541995901noreply@blogger.com0