Ag Winter 2022 Newsletter
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A MESSAGE FROM CLINT
The weather has been unusually warm this winter as evidenced by Christmas day photos I saw of families in summer clothing. Yet as I write these winter newsletter comments, I have the pleasure of viewing the first measurable snowfall of the year, reminding me that it is not spring yet. A few weeks have passed since the devastating tornados; continue to keep those
families and businesses in mind. It will take longer and cost more to clean up and rebuild in this period of constrained construction material supplies and price inflation. Consider donating to the Kentucky Agriculture Relief Fund, a collaboration between the Kentucky Department of Agriculture and the Kentucky Farm Bureau. These funds will be provided to farms that had storm damage and are in need. More information about that fund and how to donate are available at https://www.gofundme.com/f/KyAgReliefFund.
In addition to personal property loss, the UK College of Agriculture Research and Education Center at Princeton received a direct hit. Major destruction occurred with complete loss of the main building and offices, as well as nearly 50 support buildings, greenhouses, and barns. Fortunately, the beef research pastures and herd were just south of the path allowing most of the cattle to be unharmed. Cleanup is underway and the facilities will be rebuilt. Like everyone affected, it will take a long time to recover.
The yields and profitability of 2021 were unprecedented. The final Daviess County average corn yield is not known yet, but the 2020 average yield per acre exceeded 201 for the first time, which will certainly be topped by the 2021 crop! As mentioned above, supply chain constraints have increased input costs substantially higher, there is concern about limited availability of some popular herbicides, and fertilizer price has climbed higher. As we plan for 2022 input decisions and crop rotation, there are several factors to consider.
Weather risk – we always have weather risk but the longer we have consistent year to year adequate rain and subsequent good yields we are at a statistically greater chance of a drought. I have no way of knowing if it will be wet or dry, hot or mild this year but thankfully, I know the soil profile is saturated and will remain that way through spring. This winter is quite unlike the record drought year 2012, now ten years in our past which began with dry winter subsoil moisture and remained that way all year long. For minimizing weather risk, my best advice is always to limit spring tillage to conserve soil moisture. Planting into undisturbed soil lowers soil surface temperature, slows surface drying, and increases water absorption when growing season rain does occur. Price risk – last summer and fall were unusual in that the price increased and remained strong through November. We can’t expect that to happen every year. Watch for contract opportunities in February and March and act on them. Historically, those two months offer the best pricing opportunities compared to the rest of the year. Don’t wait too long to price bushels that you won’t have storage for. This leads me to my final factor to consider, projected production expense. Several factors have driven the current and forecasted price of fertilizer to record levels. You know the yield history and capability of land you farm. The futures price of corn is higher than the recent trend line but this crop is going to cost more to grow than we have ever experienced. If land cost, fertilizer expense, and anticipated yield do not project positive revenue, this is the year to grow more soybeans. The University has production budgets and decision tools for corn and soybeans in Excel on their website at http://agecon.ca.uky.edu/extension. Take time to run some numbers. We do not know how the spring and summer will go or what the final yield will be. The best use of time in planning for this crop will be in determining your production cost and attending educational programs such as Ag Expo to help you prepare to “manage around the unmanageable” –Dr. David Kohl
PRIVATE PESTICIDE TRAINING
If you are unable to attend private pesticide applicator training at Ag Expo, three additional trainings will be offered at the Daviess County Cooperative Extension Office. January 27 at 6:00 p.m., January 28 at 8:00 a.m., February 24 at 6:00 p.m. If you need to check the expiration date of your current certification, call us at 270-685-8480.
2022 SPRAYER SCHOOL
The Daviess County Extension Office will host the 2022 Sprayer School on February 8 from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Topics will include calibration, nozzles, tank mixing, and weather. Lunch will be provided. Call 270-685-8480 to register. This program should be on the calendar of your farm's sprayer operator. Weeds are increasingly difficult to kill, drift injury to nearby fields is a real problem, and herbicide products are in short supply. This program will help you prepare for effective herbicide weed control this year. **This training will qualify for private pesticide applicator training and certification.**
PASTURE MANAGEMENT
A Pasture Management with High Feed and Fertilizer Cost Meeting will be held on February 1 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Daviess County Extension Office. A meal will be provided. Preregistration is required by calling 270-685-8480. Dr. Chris Teutsch, UK Extension Associate Professor and Forage Specialist, will discuss how to prepare your pasture fields to yield optimum production this summer.
ROOSTER BOOSTER
Agriculture Focus at the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce Rooster Booster Breakfast at the Owensboro Convention Center will be on February 3 at 7:30 a.m. This event will be cosponsored by the Daviess County Cooperative Extension Service and Daviess County Farm Bureau. Visit https://chamber.owensboro.com/ for registration information. Brian Lacefield, Executive Director of the Kentucky Office of Agricultural Policy, will discuss how millions of dollars of master settlement funds have been invested to increase marketing opportunities and net farm income for Daviess County farms.
FARM CITY BREAKFAST
The Annual Farm City Breakfast, presented by Daviess County Farm Bureau and Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce, will be Saturday, February 26 at 7:30 a.m. at Daviess County High School. Ticket information is available at https://chamber.owensboro.com/
TOBACCO MEETING AND GAP TRAINING
A Tobacco Production Meeting and GAP Training is scheduled for Wednesday, February 9 from 6:00-9:00 p.m. at the Daviess County Extension Office. Registration is required as a meal will be provided. Call 270- 685-8480 to reserve your spot.
OWENSBORO REGIONAL FARMERS' MARKET SIGN-UP MEETING
It’s time to start planning for the Owensboro Regional Farmers’ Market! There will be an informational meeting for potential new vendors on January 18 at 6:00 p.m. The Farmers’ Market Sign-up Meeting will be February 15 at 6:30 p.m. Both meetings will be held at the Daviess County Extension Office. Call 270-685-8480 to register.
NUISANCE WEED SPRAYING PROGRAM
Weed control is a critical component of pasture yield and subsequent animal stocking rates. If you haven’t been able to justify the herbicide and equipment expense to control weeds, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture has a program created for you. The department will provide the sprayer and enough chemical for the treatment of 10 acres of hay or grazing land or 100 gallons of spot spraying mix to be used for spot spraying. A department representative will demonstrate proper mixing and application techniques. A number of nuisance weeds can be treated under this program depending on the needs of the participant. This program is limited to broadleaf weeds. Broadcast Spraying demonstration plots consist of: · 10 acres of agricultural land will be treated with chemical provided by the department. · Application is performed with a two-wheeled trailer-type sprayer provided by the department which is equipped with boomless nozzles. · If additional chemical is provided by the participant, an additional 10 acres can be treated. Spot Spraying demonstration plots consist of: · 100 gallons of broadleaf chemical mix which is applied until the sprayer is empty. · Application is performed with a two-wheeled trailer type sprayer equipped with a handheld spray wand used by the tractor operator. · If additional chemical is provided by the participant, an additional 100 gallons can be sprayed. · The participating farm only provides the water source, a tractor, and operator. This program is only designed to target weeds that have a negative impact on agricultural production forage fields. The online application period to participate in this program is open from February 1 to February 29 but only 7 per county is allowed so don’t wait to submit an application. Use KDA online services at https://www.kyagr.com/consumer/pest-and-recycling.html.
KY AG DEVELOPMENT FUND
The Daviess County Agriculture Development Council met on December 21 and committed the remaining 2021 Master Settlement Agreement appropriations for Daviess County. The council committed additional funds for the Green River Beef Improvement Group to administer the County Agriculture Investment Program, eligible for Daviess County farmers and landowners who have attended an agricultural educational program in 2021. The signup began in early August and ended on November 30. Those funding requests are being reviewed and reimbursement should be expected by April. There are many educational events coming up that will qualify for 2022 applications. Be sure to sign-in to those you attend.
RINSE AND RETURN RECYCLING PROGRAM
The pesticide container Rinse and Return collection day has been set for September 28th at the Daviess County Landfill, 7772 KY 815. Deliveries will only be allowed on this day. Onfarm/dealer/retailer pickup can be arranged anytime throughout the summer when a minimum of 600 containers are accumulated by calling John Board at 502-234-4063 or e-mailing john.board@ky.gov. You can also contact John B. Hendricks II at 502-229-3176 or john.hendricks@ky.gov. Jugs must be rinsed free of residue and have the lids and labels removed to be eligible for collection. Let’s do better this year for the environment and utilize this free convenient service.
IPM TRAINING SCHOOL
The 2022 Integrated Pest Management School Training will be held in person on March 9 at 8:00 a.m. at the UK Christian County Extension Office (Hopkinsville, KY), and live-streamed via Zoom. Ten UK-College of Agriculture, Food and Environment specialists will present and discuss updated findings on diverse topics about field and horticultural crop production arranged in two sessions. Pesticide applicators and Certified Crop Advisers will receive CEUs for each attended session. Registration is required to attend either in person or virtually. For more information and registration, visit https://kentuckypestnews.wordpress.com/.
FCS UPDATE
Join our in-person workshop on February 16 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Homebased microprocessors are farmers who grow and harvest produce to use in their value added products. Homebased microprocessors are required to grow a predominant ingredient in the products they make. The first step to becoming certified as a homebased microprocessor is to attend a Homebased Microprocessor (HBM) Workshop presented by the University of Kentucky. The cost of the workshop is $50.00. For more information and to register, visit https://fcs-hes.ca.uky.edu/homebased_processing_microprocessing.
McLEAN COUNTY POULTRY EXPO
The Mclean County Poultry Expo and Trade Show will return to in-person this year on February 22 at Meyer Creek Park just east of Calhoun on Hwy 136. The program will go from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The speaker will be Dr. Michael Czarick, Extension Poultry Specialist for the University of Georgia, who will address the management of winter ventilation and humidity. All area poultry growers are invited to attend. For more information and to register, call the McLean County Extension Office at 270-273-3690.
UNION COUNTY BULL SALE
The Union Co Bull Sale will be Saturday, February 26 at the Union County Fairgrounds in Sturgis. This popular event is an opportunity to purchase bulls for the upcoming breeding season that are ready to work. Farms from Daviess and surrounding counties participate. No replacement females will be offered for sale this year. To receive a flyer complete with a listing of bulls and related information, contact Katie Hughes, Union County Extension ANR Agent, at 270-389-1400 or katie.n.hughes@uky.edu.
4-H UPDATE
Meet our new 4-H Agent, Sharayha Clingenpeel. “I was raised in Bowling Green, KY and started in the Warren County 4-H program when I was ten. After aging out of 4-H, I became a volunteer. Fair entry taker, speech/demonstration judge, room host, program presenter, you name it I have probably done it as a volunteer. My two favorite activities are 4-H camp and cooking club. I have been camping with Warren County 4-H as an adult leader for fifteen years and the cooking club leader for five years. Before coming to Daviess County as an agent, I was a staff assistant at the Simpson County Extension Office for seven years. I am excited to meet everyone and to be here!”
4-H CAMP
Daviess County 4-H will be attending West Kentucky 4-H Camp June 14-17, 2022. Registration information will be in the February 4-H Newsletter and posted to our website at daviess.ca.uky.edu/camp. Camp is open to all youth ages 9-15. Mark your calendar and plan attend the best week of summer! As always, we are looking for adults and teens to serve as volunteers at camp. If you are interested please contact us! All volunteers must go through a screening process which includes a background check and an interview. Parents, please be aware we can only accept the number of campers we have the adults to supervise. Please consider serving as a camp volunteer to ensure we can take as many youth as want to attend. If you can’t attend, maybe you know someone who can!
