Use the Mesonet Animal Comfort Tool to monitor livestock conditions this summer
Summer brings the heat, often amplified by higher humidity. Warmer-than-normal temperatures, especially at night, can cause heat stress to develop rapidly in livestock. The Kansas Mesonet has an Animal Comfort Tool that can help monitor conditions and aid farmers in making the best management decisions.
Herbicide applications and high temperatures
There are certain factors to consider when making herbicide applications during extremely hot weather. Plant response can vary depending on the herbicide and other plant growth processes. Herbicide volatility increases in some products when temperatures get very warm outside. Learn more in this article.
How to condition grain for seed
Producers should plant the best quality seed possible this fall to get good emergence, early season vigor, and yield potential. Certified seed is the best option, but keeping their own seeds can also result in good performance next season provided that the seed is coming from a well-managed field and is well cleaned and conditioned.
Conducting home germination tests on this year's wheat seed
Producers may be anxious this year to find out the germination percent of the wheat they harvest to see if it will make suitable seed. For the most accurate results, read this article for the proper steps to take before conducting home tests or sending to a certified testing lab.
Cut-off dates approaching for XtendiMax, Engenia, and Tavium applications
Farmers planning to apply XtendiMax, Engenia, or Tavium to their dicamba-resistant soybean have about two weeks remaining to make those herbicide applications. These are the only dicamba-containing products labeled for over-the-top use in dicamba-resistant soybean and cotton. The last day these products can legally be applied to soybean is June 30. The cut-off date for cotton is July 30.
dicamba label requirements cotton soybeans herbicide application
Early summer control of sericea lespedeza using herbicides
Sericea lespedeza is a major invasive species of concern on rangeland, pasture, and some CRP acres in Kansas. This Category C noxious weed infests over 658,000 acres in Kansas. Sericea lespedeza has a tremendous seed bank that helps reestablish stands. As a noxious weed in Kansas, sericea lespedeza needs to be controlled.
Farmers invited to participate in multi-state on-farm research survey
A working group of multiple U.S. universities headed by K-State have partnered to conduct a multi-state assessment of farmers’ approaches to on-farm research, including its importance and willingness to participate. The survey is online and will take approximately 5 minutes to complete. Farmer’s responses and information are voluntary and will be recorded anonymously.
Kansas Ag-Climate Update for May 2022
The May Ag-Climate Update has been released. Get a comprehensive summary of the weather in KS during the month of May and any associated impacts. This May was slightly warmer than normal on average. Precipitation was markedly above average for portions of central and eastern KS.
Sign up and be counted in the 2022 Ag Census
The Census of Agriculture is a complete count of U.S. farms and ranches and the people who operate them. The Census of Agriculture, taken only once every five years, looks at land use and ownership, operator characteristics, production practices, income and expenditures. The last day to sign up for the 2022 Census of Agriculture is June 30, 2022.