Stay Under Cover Podcast

2021-04-19T13:23:14-07:00Categories: News|Tags: , |

This episode features TJ Kartes of Saddle Butte Ag, Inc. We talk about Saddle Butte Ag, their mission to build soil health, and how they plan to continue this mission in the future.

Exposed to cover crops in 2009, TJ brought the idea of cover cropping home to his uncle, and by 2012 had fully converted to cover cropping practices in their operation. In 2012 TJ also started working for Saddle Butte Ag, Inc, a seed company formed by Don and Maryanne Wirth in 2001.

Specializing in cover crops and forage seeds, Don and Maryanne can trace their family of farmers back to before Oregon was a state.  This heritage and connection to the land provided a solid foundation for TJ to continue his exploration of cover crops and allowed him to share his passion for farming and land stewardship with the world.

TJ can connect farmers with seed under two different brands that Saddle Butte Ag, Inc provides – 360 Forage and Bio Till Cover Crops.  Products held under both brands provide soil health benefits. However, they are utilized differently and allow TJ to effectively market seeds and provide recommendations depending on their intended usage.

Passionate about the benefits of cover crops, TJ knows that education drives the sales of Saddle Butte Ag.  Educating farmers and guiding them on critical points in cover cropping is a mission that TJ takes seriously.  An example of this is when he coaches farmers that even if plants are small, various species provide a range of benefits.  All the species are doing different things and taking on different roles.  Those tiny plants still did a job.

Encouraging fellow farmers throughout their use of cover crops is just what TJ is passionate about.  Trying new things might be hard for some farmers, but TJ and the rest of the staff at Saddle Butte Ag are here and available throughout the process.  Future Plans for TJ include the ability to provide advanced breakdowns for the covers he recommends in economic terms, enabling his customers to make critical decisions for both current operations and future continued profitability.

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Cattle Grazing in Cover Crops in Southern Minnesota

2021-04-19T16:10:55-07:00Categories: Erosion, Forage Uses, Pest Management, Planting, Tips & Tricks|

Southern Minnesota farmer Tom Cotter has been utilizing cover crops for over 20 years and is a firm believer in the holistic contribution cover crops make to his farming operation.  The benefits for him recently compounded when he began interseeding into V6 corn and allowing for different cover crops in conjunction with his soybean and corn rotations instead of the standard winter rye.  Species utilized in Tom’s operation include sorghum-sudangrass, pearl millet, berseem clover, Mihi clover, and common vetch.  These cover crops (especially the sorghum) have kept his soils moist even in prolonged periods of high temperatures.  When discussing moisture management on his farm, Tom has observed that reduced tillage practices have increased his infiltration rates, and he believes he may be getting better drainage than tiling would achieve in areas using cover crops.

 

Weed suppression was the primary reason Tom started cover cropping, and over the years he has moved into using no pre-emergent herbicides on soybeans and no post spray herbicides on sweet corn when using cereal rye for his cover crop.  Increased profitability has gone hand in hand as Tom’s use of cover crops increased.  Reduced disease pressure, better water management, and lower fertilization requirements have all lowered costs on Tom’s farm while maintaining steady yields.  Additionally, it’s been less labor-intensive when using cover crops.  For Tom, cover crops can be seeded at a rate of 30 to 40 ac an hour compared to a tillage rate of 10 ac an hour. With high fuel costs and the costs of labor, the savings on seeding operations can be substantial.  Additionally, insecticides and fungicides aren’t necessary for Tom’s farming operation with beneficial insect populations managing themselves.

 

Growing cover crops has also allowed Tom to transition to grass-fed cattle and reap the premiums associated with grass-fed/organic sales.  Diversity is key to managing cattle on cover crops and a plan for where the animals can be grazing throughout the year should be in place to realize the maximum benefits of incorporating cover crops into a farming operation.  The benefits are well worth it though.  Tom has observed lower death rates at birth and an overall more naturally resilient and healthier herd has been a result of the reduced time spent in pens.  At this point, Tom has gotten to a point where he doesn’t need to feed corn or silage to his animals either.  Running fences and letting cattle out on the cover crops has also meant he doesn’t need to haul cattle to pasture and both the manure and the saliva from the animals provide benefits towards boosting microbe activity in the soils.  Of note, the utilization of brassicas has created additional benefits.  Toms animals can get most of their moisture requirements met simply by grazing on the cover crops even in warm weather.

Terminating Annual Ryegrass

2021-04-19T14:08:37-07:00Categories: Annual Ryegrass, Cover Crop Concerns, Tips & Tricks|

Sprayer Settings

  • 12.5 G of carrier per Acre

  • 50 PSI

  • 14 –15 MPH

  • 110 –10 WilgerSpray Nozzles

  • Case IH SPX with Aim Command™

HERBICIDE NOTES

  • Supply tank water buffered to 4.5 pH utilizing citric acid

  • LI 700® Non-ionic Surfactant (pH adjustment & deposition aid

  • GlyStar® (41% active glyphosate) added to tank last

Sprayer Settings

  • 12.5 G of carrier per Acre

  • 50 PSI

  • 14 –15 MPH

  • 110 –10 WilgerSpray Nozzles

  • Case IH SPX with Aim Command™

HERBICIDE NOTES

  • Supply tank water buffered to 4.5 pH utilizing citric acid

  • LI 700® Non-ionic Surfactant (pH adjustment & deposition aid

  • GlyStar® (41% active glyphosate) added to tank last

No-till wheat into annual ryegrass full straw load

11.6.18

  • 1 fl oz Sharpen® Powered By Kixor®
  • 3 qt Makaze®
  • 4 fl ox LI 700® Crop Oil

No-till wheat into annual ryegrass full straw load

11.6.18

  • 1 fl oz Sharpen® Powered By Kixor®
  • 3 qt Makaze®
  • 4 fl oz LI 700® Crop Oil

Meadowfoam no-tilled into full straw load three-plus years of continuous annual ryegrass

10.30.18

  • 4 fl oz LI 700® Crop Oil
  • 2 pt Gramoxone® SL 2.0
  • 1.25 pt Dual II Magnum®

11.8.18

  • 8 fl oz LI 700® Crop Oil
  • 16 fl oz Select® 2 EC
  • 8 fl oz Stinger®

Meadowfoam no-tilled into full straw load three-plus years of continuous annual ryegrass

10.30.18

  • 4 fl oz LI 700® Crop Oil
  • 2 pt Gramoxone® SL 2.0
  • 1.25 pt Dual II Magnum®

11.8.18

  • 8 fl oz LI 700® Crop Oil
  • 16 fl oz Select® 2 EC
  • 8 fl oz Stinger®

2019 Peas no-tilled into annual ryegrass full straw load

1.23.19

  • 4 fl oz LI 700® Crop Oil
  • 1 fl oz AIM® EW Herbicide
  • 2 qt Gly Star® Original Weed Killer

2019 Peas no-tilled into annual ryegrass full straw load

1.23.19

  • 4 fl oz LI 700® Crop Oil
  • 1 fl oz AIM® EW Herbicide
  • 2 qt Gly Star® Original Weed Killer

2019 Peas planted into tilled soil | 2018 Annual Ryegrass

1.23.19

  • 4 fl oz LI 700® Crop Oil
  • 1 fl oz AIM® EW Herbicide
  • 2 qt Gly Star® Original Weed Killer

2019 Peas planted into tilled soil | 2018 Annual Ryegrass

1.23.19

  • 4 fl oz LI 700® Crop Oil
  • 1 fl oz AIM® EW Herbicide
  • 2 qt Gly Star® Original Weed Killer

Peas seeded into a four year no-till Festulolium production full straw load left each year

1.23.19

  • 4 fl oz LI 700® Crop Oil
  • 1 fl oz AIM® EW Herbicide
  • 2 qt Gly Star® Original Weed Killer

Peas seeded into a four year no-till Festulolium production full straw load left each year

1.23.19

  • 4 fl oz LI 700® Crop Oil
  • 1 fl oz AIM® EW Herbicide
  • 2 qt Gly Star® Original Weed Killer

No-till to hairy vetch after several years of annual ryegrass

10.30.18

  • 4 fl oz LI 700® Crop Oil
  • 2 pt Gramoxone® SL 2.0 Herbicide
  • 1.25 pt Dual II Magnum® Herbicide

11.8.18

  • 8 fl oz LI 700® Crop Oil
  • 16 fl oz Select® 2 EC Herbicide
  • 8 fl oz Stinger® Herbicide

No-till to hairy vetch after several years of annual ryegrass

10.30.18

  • 4 fl oz LI 700® Crop Oil
  • 2 pt Gramoxone® SL 2.0 Herbicide
  • 1.25 pt Dual II Magnum® Herbicide

11.8.18

  • 8 fl oz LI 700® Crop Oil
  • 16 fl oz Select® 2 EC Herbicide
  • 8 fl oz Stinger® Herbicide

WEATHER INFORMATION

January 2019 Average:  49.5°  |  January 2019 M. Norm:  47.0°

Date Air Temp: 24 hrs Ending
at Observation Max
Date Air Temp: 24 hrs Ending
at Observation Max
January 1, 2019 45° January 17, 2019 41°
January 2, 2019 55° January 18, 2019 50°
January 3, 2019 46° January 19, 2019 53°
January 4, 2019 53° January 20, 2019 54°
January 5, 2019 49° January 21, 2019 45°
January 6, 2019 49° January 22, 2019 47°
January 7, 2019 45° January 23, 2019 50°
January 8, 2019 46° January 24, 2019 55°
January 9, 2019 45° January 25, 2019 52°
January 10, 2019 52° January 26, 2019 52°
January 11, 2019 59° January 27, 2019 41°
January 12, 2019 53° January 28, 2019 39°
January 13, 2019 51° January 29, 2019 53°
January 14, 2019 53° January 30, 2019 53°
January 15, 2019 50° January 31, 2019 53°
January 16, 2019 45°

WEATHER INFORMATION

January 2019 Average:  49.5°  |  January 2019 M. Norm:  47.0°

Date Air Temp: 24 hrs Ending
at Observation Max
January 1, 2019 45°
January 2, 2019 55°
January 3, 2019 46°
January 4, 2019 53°
January 5, 2019 49°
January 6, 2019 49°
January 7, 2019 45°
January 8, 2019 46°
January 9, 2019 45°
January 10, 2019 52°
January 11, 2019 59°
January 12, 2019 53°
January 13, 2019 51°
January 14, 2019 53°
January 15, 2019 50°
January 16, 2019 45°
January 17, 2019 41°
January 18, 2019 50°
January 19, 2019 53°
January 20, 2019 54°
January 21, 2019 45°
January 22, 2019 47°
January 23, 2019 50°
January 24, 2019 55°
January 25, 2019 52°
January 26, 2019 52°
January 27, 2019 41°
January 28, 2019 39°
January 29, 2019 53°
January 30, 2019 53°
January 31, 2019 53°

Prevented Plant

2021-04-22T14:21:15-07:00Categories: Planting|

Prevented Plant

What Comes Next?

Prevented planting should not be a lost opportunity to plant a cash crop, but rather the perfect opportunity to explore options that may not have been present in other planting years.  Here are a few ways steps to capitalize on a prevented planting situation and strengthen your farming operation.

Don’t Go Fallow

Like your best horse, your fields like to work.  Despite always being up for the challenge, delivering crops season after season, it may be time to give your ground a break.  Resting soil does not mean not planting anything, but slightly changing the type of work, it is tasked to do.  Just like when people do a repetitive task over and over, a simple change in crop species can be all that’s needed to rejuvenate and reinvigorate.  We, of course, suggest planting cover crops to avoid Fallow Syndrome and strengthen subsequent plantings/yields.

About Fallow Syndrome

Fallow Syndrome is the result of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae fungi population declines.  These fungi have a symbiotic relationship with the roots of your crops to assist in nutrient uptakes, including Phosphorus and Zinc, to name two.  Corn is just one of many crops dependent on this symbiotic relationship.

Occurrence of Fallow Syndrome

Fallow Syndrome symptoms are observed to be more pronounced in seasons with colder, wet conditions.

Avoidance of Fallow Syndrome

Conduct a soil test at the start and end of a prevented plant in to get an idea of the effects if a field is left fallow.  Phosphorus is a notably vital nutrient in determining the presence of fallow syndrome symptoms.  The levels of phosphorus can also assist in making cover crop species decisions on sequestering phosphorus for subsequent crops.  Fields suffering Fallow Syndrome have no proven corrective recommendations and gives a further reason not to go fallow even when a prevented plant situation occurs.  Fallow Syndrome symptoms and effects can show up for up to two years after leaving the ground fallow.

Contact Your Crop Insurance Agent

Your insurance agent will be able to tell you what is and isn’t possible within the limits of your policy.  Dates that you can plant an alternative crop, how it might affect your yield history, and how it might affect any insurance payments are all items of concern that your crop insurance agent is best suited to assist you with.

Contact Your Local Bio Till Cover Crop Expert

Your Bio Till Cover Crop Expert will be able to help you select an alternative crop to plant that will work with your farming operation.  Even though a cover crop isn’t a cash crop doesn’t mean that it’s not a crop requiring some of the same considerations a cash crop requires for maximizing contributions to the soil health of prevented planted acres.  Herbicides utilized in previous plantings along with plans for subsequent crops will affect the number of successful options available to your operation.

Ron Althoff
Ron AlthoffBio Till Cover Crop Expert
TJ Kartes
TJ KartesBio Till Cover Crop Expert
Wade Culver
Wade CulverBio Till Cover Crop Expert
Brian Wieland
Brian WielandBio Till Cover Crop Expert

4.  CHOOSE YOUR PREVENTED PLANTING SOLUTIONS

Multi-species cover corp mixtures present a holistic approach to enhancing the soils on a farming operation and should be used instead of a single species planting whenever possible.

American Farmer on RFD-TV

2021-04-20T16:33:26-07:00Categories: News|

Throughout the nation, there is a growing interest in cover cropping. From improved soil health to reduced runoff and erosion, crop producers are reaping the growing benefits cover crops have to offer.

Frost Seeding – Protecting Your Bottom Line in Your Down Time

2021-04-20T16:08:36-07:00Categories: Tips & Tricks|

Frost Seeding

Protecting Your Bottom Line in Your Down Time

Long proven effective through the natural reseeding of birdsfoot trefoil along with the “volunteer” appearance of red clover and white clover, frost seeding can provide an easy and inexpensive way to renovate a pasture during the winter months.  The freezing and thawing of the ground and early spring rains provide coverage for the seed and reduce the need for additional input rendering frost seeding a cost-effective and efficient solution to establishing legumes in an existing pasture.

 

Frost seeded stands are most successful when the seed is broadcast on either bunchgrass sod (such as orchardgrass), in very thin sods of Kentucky bluegrass, or into smooth bromegrass.  Bare and disturbed pasture areas work well due to the lowered competition during establishment.

 

One of the pivotal determining factors for a successful frost seeding is that competition with seedlings needs to be reduced in contrast to the increased competition seen in vigorous stands of sod-forming bromegrass and bluegrass.  Thinner stands allow for increased rain splash coverage from early rains and the freeze-thaw effect that provides coverage for the seed is more pronounced the thinner the original stand is.  Abnormally dry springs and early summer weather will hinder rather than help with your frost seeding, and can ultimately cause a frost seeding to fail.  When frost seeding fails, carryover for germination later in the season will be limited.

 

Options for frost seeding include alfalfa, red clover, birdsfoot trefoil, and sweet clover if seeding into established switchgrass and other tall, warm-season perennial grass stands.

 

Alfalfa seedlings are less vigorous when in competition with pasture grasses than they would be in a more traditional new hay or pasture seeding.  If a pure alfalfa or trefoil stand is used for frost seeding, the stand during the year of seeding usually appears thin.  By the second and third years, the stand will fill out and improve.  When alfalfa is used, it should be frost seeded into soils that are well-drained, near neutral in pH, and adequately fertilized with phosphorus and potassium.  In optimum soil and growings conditions, these frost seeded stands may last four years or more of rotational grazing.

 

Red clovers, alsike clover, and white clovers offer the benefits of increased seedling vigor.  When dealing with soils that are poorly drained and use less lime, these clovers are recommended for the greatest chance of success.  While clover vigor is helpful when frost seeding, the clovers are also a shorter-lived solution than other types of frost-seeded species.  Red and alsike clover stands often persist well for two growing seasons, while Ladino and white clover stands may last three years or more.

 

Birdsfoot trefoil has provided the greatest success in frost seeding of a single species due to its relatively slow spring growth and low level of competition when compared with alfalfa and red clover.  Although birdsfoot trefoil is slower to establish, it is bloat-free, longer-lived, and does well under a wider range of soil conditions than the aforementioned clovers and alfalfa.

 

To ensure a successful frost seeding, a mixture of trefoil and red clover will provide the best overall situational coverage and give the very best chances of success.  The mixture of trefoil and red clover will provide long-term success through the complementary strengths of the two species.  While the red clover will establish quickly and produce well for one or two years, it will eventually die out.  During this time the red clover is the predominant species, the trefoil stands will be improving, and eventually replace the red clover as the dominant legume in the stand.  The longest-term solutions for a single species planting will be birdsfoot trefoil, followed by red clover, and finally, white clover as these legumes will persist in pastures, spreading as volunteer plants in later years by natural reseeding.

 

Grasses can be frost seeded as well if desired.  Perennial species in order of success are timothy, orchardgrass, and tall fescue.  Even though annual and perennial ryegrasses contain rapid establishment potential, their summer dormancy and erratic winter hardiness make them less desirable candidates for perennial pasture stands.  Genetic improvements could make grasses more suitable alternatives in the future.

 

Many producers approach frost seeding with the attitude they are attempting to establish the legume or grass species as a new component in a mixed stand.  As a result, seeding rates are usually just a fraction of what is used to plant a pure stand of that species in a tilled seedbed.  To be successful, seeding rates for frost seeding should be equal to the seeding rate used on a prepared seedbed.  The use and cost of additional seed will be partially offset by reduced costs in labor, tillage operations, and seeding equipment.  The higher seeding rate in the tables below leads to greater chances of success and improved stand density, while the lower numbers indicate the minimum that should be used when frost seeding.

Single Species Seeding Rates (lbs/ac)

• Alfalfa………………………………….6 to 10

• Red Clover…………………………..4 to 10

• Alsike Clover………………………..1 to 4

• Ladino Clover……………………….1 to 3

• Birdsfoot Trefoil…………………….5 to 8

• Annual and Korean lespedeza….8 to 15

Mixture Seeding Rates (lbs/ac)

• Alfalfa………………………………….5 to 8

Red Clover…………………………3 to 5

• Red Clover…………………………..3 to 6

Ladino or Alsike………………………………2

• Trefoil………………………………….3 to 6

Red Clover…………………………3 to 5 or Ladino……2

Management Practices that Lead to Better Success with Frost Seeding

Select a suitable site. Frost seedings are more successful in thin grass stands than in dense, vigorous stands because there is less competition for legume seedlings. Clovers and trefoil are better suited than alfalfa for soils that need lime and soil with inferior drainage.

 

Control weeds. If possible, plan a year or more ahead and have broadleaf weeds under control before introducing legumes. Weeds reduce stand establishment and can often be managed only by clipping once legumes are established.

 

Test soil and apply needed lime and fertilizer. Adequate plant nutrients aid establishment and increase yields. Again, plan ahead. If possible, apply needed lime one year ahead of seeding. Nitrogen should not be used the season before or the year of frost seeding because it stimulates grasses and weeds, making them too competitive. Phosphorus and potassium, however, are needed by legumes.

 

Graze closely the fall before seeding. Close grazing reduces grass competition and aids establishment.

 

Broadcast seed in late February or early March. Seeding should be done when the ground is still frozen. Avoid seeding on heavy snow since a fast melt may wash seeds away. The probability of success of surface-broadcast seed decreases with the onset of spring due to higher surface soil temperatures and lower moisture.

 

Manage grazing after seeding. Control of grass and weed competition during the first two or three months of the growing season is critical for the establishment of adequate legume stands. Use moderate, periodic grazing after the pasture sod begins spring growth, but avoid close or continuous grazing. Some mowing may be necessary to help control grass and weeds. After the seeding year, maintain fertility and manage grazing to encourage a productive and long-lived forage stand.

Cover Crops & Tile Lines

2021-04-20T14:36:41-07:00Categories: Cover Crop Concerns|

TJ Kartes addresses concerns regarding planting cover crops and blocking tile lines.  The solution – multi-species mixtures to increase diversity and not going too heavy on single species plantings will keep tile lines free and clear.

Stopping Erosion

2021-04-20T14:29:03-07:00Categories: Erosion|

Even though you might be a good neighbor, you shouldn’t be giving your neighbors free topsoil and fertilizer.  In this video, TJ Kartes discusses how keeping roots in the soils for as much time as possible throughout the year allows farmers to hang on to their assets instead of letting them wash away.

Slug Scouting

2021-04-20T10:59:22-07:00Categories: Pest Management|

Slug Scouting

As the soil health improves, the habitat for slugs tends to grow also. It is advisable to consider adding scouting for slugs to part of your management plan. Here are some ideas on how to scout for slugs.

  • Lay some light shielding material on the ground like plastic, plywood or roofing that is about 12 inches square or larger. Lay these in several areas of the field. Every few days lift the cover and do a slug count.
  • Take slug bait (a product with an attractant that will kill the slug) and put several slug bait stations around the field. It is best practice to flag a spot and put a small amount of slug bait around the flag. Check the station every few days. When the slug is killed, it will slime out – there will be shiny material around them, and they will have shrunk in size.
  • One of the best methods is to lay a cabbage leaf out. The leaf will work as an attractant.

If slugs are present, determine when and how to control them. If more than a couple of slugs are discovered with any scouting method, consider baiting the field. In the West, the recommendation for bait is 10 lbs/ac. The better baits will stand a fair amount of rain. Some producers will put less on and re-apply, so the slugs have a fresh source of bait every few days. The primary baits contain either Metaldehyde (trade names are Deadline and Metarex) or Iron (Ferric) (trade names are Ferroxx and Sluggo).


Slugs can be active to temperatures at or below 32°. They start quite small and can be hard to see making bait trials more effective. Biological control of slugs includes Starlings and Carbide Beetles that lay eggs in the slug, as well as many others. Starlings work as excellent scouts for slugs in Western Oregon. When there is a flock of Starlings in a field, it is worth the time to check them out. They not only feed on slugs but cutworms can also be part of their diet.


For more information, please visit https://agsci.oregonstate.edu/slug-portal