The Rural Voice, 1989-04, Page 29how little they spent for weed control.
They spent $6 to $8 per acre less than
they would have spent with their
regular herbicide program.
The brothers double -incorporated
a low rate of Treflan before planting.
Their scouting reports indicated that
they could forego a post -emergent
spray application for broadleaf weeds.
Herbicide programs varied
with each field's weed pressure and
species. While the two brothers were
able to eliminate post -emergent
applications, some of the farmers still
needed the more expensive herbicide
treatments. In other fields, the over -
the -top chemicals were required,
though at half and even quarter rates.
Close scouting made it possible
to determine whether rate reduction
would work. After the careful obser-
vation of heat, humidity, and weed
size, accurate spray recommendations
could be made. Timing was critical,
though, especially within 10 days after
planting when weeds were changing
from cotyledon to leaf stages.
The farmers readily agreed that if
you don't scout weeds, they can get
away from you at the lower spray
rates. Even a two or three-day differ-
ence in weed development can have
a big impact.
More attention to details: In
planning the project, the researchers
doubted if many farmers used the full
range of recommended practices on a
full-scale basis. They found that a few
do stick to all the guidelines, and a
larger number did follow most of the
recommendations.
There were 15 different factors that
went into this production model and it
is easy to overlook the finer points.
But they agreed that this attention to
detail makes a difference. In addition,
there were plenty of no -cost and low-
cost things that could be done, like
selecting the best varieties and the best
seeding rate for that variety as well as
planting on time and scouting.
The Arkansas growers agreed
that better yields are possible without
raising costs. If a grower does every-
thing about right he can expect a 35 to
40 bushel crop on just about any kind
of ground. And on good silt loam,
they can hit 50 bushels pretty consis-
tently, and even go above that in better
seasons.0
db
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CHESLEY
Agri
Fair '89
"Over
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INFORMATION
Tues. & Wed.
April 11 & 12
12:00 noon — 9:00 p.m.
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Proceeds for charity.
APRIL 1989 27