On this episode of Advancing Nitrogen Smart podcast we discuss methods and tools to account for soil and weather conditions as you execute your nitrogen management strategy. Which tissue and nitrate testing options are the most beneficial, and when should you test? How does the understanding the nitrogen cycle help you interpret these results? How do drought and /or saturated conditions affect available nitrogen? What can be reasonably achieved with rescue treatments? Why is it important to end your season with the right amount of residual nitrogen in the field? Brad and Dan discuss this and much more on today's show. TRANSCRIPT Guests: Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato) Dan Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul) Additional resources: Corn supplemental N rate calculator Soil Testing Laboratory: Farm / Field and Commercial Horticulture Crops Research Analytical Laboratory - tissue testing The nitrogen cycle - YouTube video Why underst...
Jackie Estrem, UMN Extension Educator- Sustainable Agriculture, Stearns, Benton, Morrison, & Sherburne Counties, and Taylor Herbert, UMN Extension Educator- Crops, Wright, McLeod, & Meeker Counties The Alfalfa Harvest Alert Project, also called Scissor Cut, continued this week with samples taken on May 12th. Over the weekend, alfalfa grew quickly thanks to warm weather. There was no alfalfa weevil feeding or plant disease reported. Farms with high forage quality goals may be cutting soon. The goal of the Alfalfa Harvest Alert program is to alert growers to start the first cut of alfalfa when the crop is at a level of quality and yield potential that meets their specific needs. As a reminder, the goal is not to try and name the exact day of harvest. Rather the goal is to encourage growers who are busy with management of other crops to be more strategic with hay crop harvest as it relates to their needs. How to get harvest alert data The May 13th Alfalfa Harvest Alert ...