Preventing Combine Fires

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After our unusually wet summer, Mother Nature did not do us any justice by deciding to turn off our water faucet for such a long period of time.  Now, in the midst of a drought and a County Burn Ban our combines and farm equipment are going full force.  Fields are beyond dry and run a high risk of catching fire.

Not only do we worry about crop ground catching fire, but also have concerns about combines catching on fire.   Combine fires can cause costly and devastating damage.  Take these steps listed on AgWeb.com to help prevent combine fires:

Mechanical Tips:
• Use a pressure washer or a compressed air blowgun to thoroughly clean the machine.
• Remove excess crop residue from rotating units.
• Always inspect the machine for buildup of harvest materials before operation.
• Keep your work area clean.
• Check lubricant levels often, and grease fittings regularly. Fix leaking oil, fuel, or hydraulic lines promptly. Check belts for proper tension and wear to reduce friction.
• Carefully check bearings for excessive heat. Overheated bearings are a major cause of combine fires.
• Check valve covers for oil leaks that can ignite as oil runs down manifolds.
• Check for cracked or loose exhaust pipes, ports and check the manifold.
• Pay particular attention to the exhaust system, checking for leaks, damage, or an accumulation of crop residue.

In the Field Tips:
• Put out any fire immediately.
• Always have a fire extinguisher within reach.
• Keep at least one fully charged, 10-lb. fire extinguisher on all equipment. (Or carry two: one in the cab and one where it can be reached from the ground.)
• Visually check your extinguishers (at least) monthly, looking for cracks in the hose and inspecting the gauge to see if the extinguisher is fully charged.
• Have a professional fire extinguisher company inspect your fire extinguishers annually.
• Carry your cell phone or two-way radio with you at all times so you can call for help.
• If a fire does occur, CALL 911 FIRST, and then attempt to extinguish the fire with your fire extinguisher.  Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire and sweep from side to side. Remember P.A.S.S., which stands for Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep.

For more information on preventing combine fires contact the McLean County Cooperative Extension Service at (270)273-3690.  Educational programs of the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin.

Dealing with Crop Disease and Pests

The wet summer that we experienced created an ideal situation for crop diseases and pests this year.  While some of those may not have been observed when they first occurred, they are making their presence known now.

Thankfully, some of the pest and disease occurred late enough in the season that yields should not be effected, specifically southern corn rust and sugarcane aphids.  Southern corn rust is not new to McLean County, but it does not occur every year.  Sugarcane aphids, on the other hand are not only new to McLean County, but new to Kentucky.

The sugarcane aphid is a grain sorghum pest.  They are small, pale insects with a pair of dark tubes extending from the top rear of the abdomen. The feet and antennae of the insect also are dark.  Sap feeding by large numbers of sugarcane aphids can reduce plant vigor and grain yields.  The first sugarcane aphids were found in McLean County the first of this month.  Thankfully our grain sorghum is already past the boot stage and everyone’s crop is headed out, drastically reducing any chances of yield loss.  However, if fields are heavily infested it can cause problems at harvest.  Sugarcane aphids leave a sticky, honeydew-type substance on leaves that could potentially gum-up equipment during harvest.  If producers fell that their fields have large enough quantities to damage equipment during harvest, Sivanto 200 or Transform WG can be applied.  These are the only two products labeled for Sugarcane Aphid control in grain sorghum.  It is vitally important that we protect the products that we have by not over using them.  Do not apply unless the threshold is met and do not apply more material than the label allows.

Two other pest that are making their presence well known this year are palmer pigweed and waterhemp.  Both glyphosate resistant invasive weeds continues to expand across the Commonwealth.  Last year both species of weeds were found in McLean County and this year they are not an uncommon sight.  Unfortunately, it is easier to find Palmer amaranth and waterhemp populations in grain crops later into the season after the plants have begun to produce new seed. Unlike the more common pigweed found in Kentucky, Palmer amaranth and waterhemp have smooth stems and often a longer seedhead.

After Palmer amaranth and/or waterhemp become established they can be very difficult to control because many populations of this plant are already resistant to glyphosate and the cost for weed control in these crops can more than double. When only a few plants are spotted in a field it can be worthwhile to physically remove and destroy these individual plants. Fields or portions of fields with large infestations may justify destroying plants by mowing or tillage in order to limit the production or spread of seed. Growers who plan to harvest these heavily infested areas would be advised to combine these areas last to minimize the introduction of new seed into other fields. Furthermore, an attempt to clean the combine, grain carts, trucks, and other equipment used to destroy or harvest the crop would be advised, but will not be easy since the small round seed size are not much bigger than a period.

Please be aware of a new corn disease called Tar Spot that was identified in Indiana recently.  This was the first observation of tar spot in the United States.  Since this is a new disease, there is little information out there about it.  However, Purdue has put out a publication on it.  It can be found online at http://extension.entm.purdue.edu/pestcrop/2015/Issue24/#1.

For more information on crop diseases and pest, contact the McLean County Cooperative Extension Service at (270)273-3690.  Educational programs of the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin.

Lawns Need Continued Care During Fall

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Taking care of your lawn during the fall is as important as it is during spring and summer, even more so for lawns with cool-season grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue. Nearly all fertilizers and broadleaf herbicides should be applied in the fall and it is by far the best time to renovate and reseed lawns.

Fertilizing your lawn in the fall will help it grow stronger, thicker and greener. Cool-season grasses should be fertilized with nitrogen in late September and again in four to six weeks. Use either farm fertilizers such as ammonium nitrate or urea, or use specialty fertilizers found in garden centers. The normal rate is 1 to 1.5 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of lawn, however it is always best to soil sample and know the exact recommendations for your home lawn. Remember to spread it evenly over your lawn.

If broadleaf weeds such as clover, dandelion, plantain and chickweed are growing in your lawn, fall is the best time of year to get them under control. Almost all broadleaf weeds can be controlled selectively in turfgrass by applying 2, 4-D and/or Dicamba. These are sold in many garden centers under a variety of trade names. For the best results, apply the herbicide on any relatively warm day in late September and/or October.

Summer’s stresses often take a toll on your lawn. The best time to reseed your lawn is from late August through late September. Because the goal is to get the seed in close contact with the soil, it is recommended that you first remove surface debris and mechanically groove the soil. This is easier done by traversing the lawn with a dethatching machine that can be rented at many rental centers. Seed a turf-type tall fescue at a rate of 5 to 6 pounds per 1,000 square feet. To avoid uneven application, spread half the seed horizontally across the lawn and the other half vertically. The best and quickest results are obtained if the seeded areas can be kept moist until the seeds germinate.

Remember to continue mowing your lawn as long as the grass is growing. You might want to lower the height in the fall to 2 inches. This tends to keep the grass greener longer in the winter and will help the lawn to green up earlier the next spring. It might even help increase turf density.

For more information on lawn care and renovating your home lawn, contact the McLean County Cooperative Extension Service at (270)273-3690. Educational programs of the Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin.

There will be a poultry producers meeting this Friday, September 4th at the Extension Office.  It will begin at 9am and conclude with lunch.  Dr. Tony Pescatore will be here to discuss Avian Influenza and Forrest Wynne will be discussing water management for producers on a lake system.