Crop Treatments
All Crop Treatments Content
Field Studies: Replicated Comparisons vs. Side-by-Side Comparisons
How should a basic study be set up or laid out in the field? One very common approach is to divide a field in half and compare the halves or possibly compare two fields in close proximity and see which variety or practice yields highest. This approach can end with very misleading results because of the variability that exists across a field or fields due to many factors.
Field Studies: What do You Mean 5 Bushels Per Acre is Not Significant?
Utilizing sound research results to help make decisions on the farm is a wise business practice. It can be confusing, however, when you see two numbers that are clearly not the same labeled as “not significantly different.”
Field Studies: Setting up a Trial
Increasingly, farmers are generating on-farm research data that encompasses a wide-range of practical topics. However, setting up those experiments so that the data is statistically valid is not necessarily common knowledge.
Cancellation of Several Neonicotinoids
On May 20, 2019, the United States Environmental Protection Agency announced the cancellation of registrations for 12 products that contain neonicotinoid insecticides. The cancellation of the product registrations was voluntarily requested by the companies that had registered the products.
Barley Yellow Dwarf Developing in Oats
A few oat fields that were recently scouted were found to have barley yellow dwarf virus infected plants. The infected plants were few and scattered throughout the oat fields.
Watch for Pea Aphid Populations in Alfalfa
Recent reports have indicated that pea aphid populations are very large in some alfalfa fields and should continue to be monitored and possibly managed.
It’s Time to Scout for Alfalfa Weevils
The 2018 and 2019 alfalfa weevil populations were relatively low, and as a result, we didn’t receive very many calls regarding this pest during those years. However, 2020 has been quite a bit different, and alfalfa weevil populations seem to be much higher.
Flea Beetles Defoliating Canola in South Dakota
This year flea beetle emergence is behind schedule, but so is a lot of the canola emergence. We are observing very large flea beetle populations on late-planted canola that is just emerging. As a result, much of this canola is being heavily defoliated and will likely require foliar insecticide management.
Wearing a Respirator? Then No Facial Hair for You!
At commercial or private applicator re-certification trainings, it is possible to hear the phrase, “Don’t wear a respirator if you have facial hair!” Facial hair, whether a full beard or stubble, may prevent respirators from sealing to the skin or interfere with their valve function.
Soybean Growers Sought for On-Farm Research Program
We want you! SDSU Extension and the South Dakota Soybean Research and Promotion Council are seeking South Dakota Soybean Growers willing to participate in a farmer-led on-farm research program.