The following is reprinted with permission from Iowa State University Extension. Joshua Michel, Field Agronomist in northeastern Iowa, Iowa State University Extension Harvest season has started across most of the state and according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor , the majority of the state is abnormally dry with pockets of moderate drought in northeastern and southwestern Minnesota. These abnormally dry conditions could enhance the potential for combine and field fires this fall. Low relative humidity levels and high winds will further increase the risk of fires. Fires cause millions of dollars in property damage, including loss of machinery, crops, and time. Unfortunately, injuries to farm workers and firefighters may also occur. Modern combines are powerful machines, which means they can produce excessive amounts of heat. All it takes to start a fire is a single high-temperature source in the engine area or an overheated bearing to ignite some dry plant material. While it’s im
In this episode of Advancing Nitrogen Smart, Melissa Wilson, Extension manure management specialist joins Brad Carlson to discuss fall manure application. What are the most important dos and don'ts of fall application? How much time can nitrification inhibitors buy you after application? What's the optimum soil temperature for application, and what if you can't wait? What are characteristics of manure from different sources, and how can they work to your advantage? TRANSCRIPT Guests: Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato) Melissa Wilson, Extension manure management specialist (St. Paul) Additional resources: Nitrogen availability of different manure types: What we know and what we are researching Tips for fall manure application and how to avoid nutrient loss Nitrification inhibitors and manure: Do they work? Introducing ManureDB: A new way to view manure variability and trends Everything manure: Midwest experts answer common questions heading into fall --- Click h