Friday, June 28, 2013

Corn Fungicides May Not Pay

As farmers work to increase the productivity of their fields, a study found that fungicides may not pay.  "Unless a corn crop is at risk of developing fungal diseases, a Purdue University study shows that farmers would be smart to skip fungicide treatments that promise increased yields.


Kiersten Wise, an assistant professor of botany and plant pathology, said fungicides used in fields where conditions were optimal for fungal diseases improved yields and paid for themselves. In fields where fungal diseases are unlikely to develop, however, applying a fungicide is likely a waste of money.

"About five years ago, we never used fungicides in hybrid corn. Then there was this push to use fungicides for yield enhancement, even without disease problems," said Wise, who collaborated on findings that were published as an American Phytopathological Society feature article in the journal Phytopathology. "We found that you would have to get a substantial yield increase for a fungicide treatment to pay for itself. We didn't see that yield increase on a consistent basis, and it wasn't predictable."

I worked on a project for BASF when Headline fungicide came out and we found fields that yielded up to 45 bushels more with Headline fungicide.  A neighbor had those same results in a nearby field in 2011 but that is not the norm.

A fungcide does kill the flora and fauna of the soil and many of those are beneficial organisms in a healthy soil.  Healthy soil, healthy plants, healthy livestock and healthy humans is our goal.  Farmers that use calcium nitrate beside the row have healthier crops.  I saw that in Keith's 250 bu corn last summer right beside 50 bushel dead corn.

Do you use a fungicide?  I don't and I don't plan to.  I am striving for a better balanced soil and a better fertility balanced crop.  High calcium lime is a key component to that for me here in Ohio.  I spread several hundred tons of it this spring and my crop looks good.  Tissue testing is revealing what I am deficient in so I can add the nutrients they need.

We tend to over nitrate our crops in America and underfeed everything else.

Every nutrient in balance is a key.

Ed Winkle

9 comments:

  1. Around here it seems to be not "if" you spray your cereals with fungicides, but "when". Thats what I am hearing anyway. I never have used them.

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  2. They are probably most effective on wheat, Ralph, which is extremely susceptible to disease.

    Ed

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  3. Balancing your check book is struggling sometimes.

    Balancing the soil is a science and not many people are well educated in it. I took my plant analysis into local coop to see what the manager said and only got outta there with a phone number for a rep.

    BASF has made sure that every farmer knows what headline is....advertising costs money so the gotta sell product....



    My buddy sprays for local coop. Guys scout there fields from the road at 45 and call and say TWH 1ft tall time to spray and expect them to kill the weeds and do it cheap. Oh and show up tomarrow.

    To buy chemicals and fungicides you need to pass a test on each herbicide.

    Question 1 Will roundup kill the grass in my yard?

    2. What is the max height of pigweed this chem is labeled for?

    3. What mode of action is this chem?

    4. Do you have the weeds that this chemical is labeled for?

    5. Rotation restrictions for the crop you plan to grow next year.

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  4. Very, very good points, Brad. First cut of wheat tested 24, today 20, maybe ready by Sunday and then all hell breaks loose.

    Ed

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    Replies
    1. Never start on Sunday......even after you gomto church.....nothing good ever happens.

      If your gonna run Sunday run sat night till wee hrs of the morning and then shutdown....has worked alot better for me.

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  5. Now we have talked about there here on HyMark High Spots, Brad. My conclusion was times have changed if I need to cut wheat Sunday afternoon it is OK with my Lord. I try my best to avoid that because burning the candle at both ends has cost me money. I respect those who do not farm on Sunday but the best wheat on this farm was planted on Sunday October 31, 2012.

    Ed Winkle

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    Replies
    1. 1At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. 2When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.”

      Mathew 12

      Jesus cut wheat on the sabbath......

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  6. Why did I type there instead of that?

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  7. https://www.google.com/#sclient=psy-ab&q=hymark+blogspot+farming+on+Sunday&oq=hymark+blogspot+farming+on+Sunday&gs_l=hp.3...3766.7203.1.7844.18.14.0.0.0.0.687.3611.0j5j7j1j0j1.14.0...0.0...1c.1.18.psy-ab.7_ec-WKWYyg&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_cp.r_qf.&bvm=bv.48572450,d.aWc&fp=9ecccb082c8d5f7&biw=1152&bih=661

    ReplyDelete