Darryl Warncke...Fall is the time of year when harvesting activities are beginning to wind down, but it should also be the time to reflect on the past year and begin planning for next year. The following is a brief listing of items to consider.

[Read the rest of this article...]

Darryl Warncke...Growing conditions have been variable and challenging across Michigan; cool and wet, hot and dry, hot and wet, now cool with scattered showers. Plants have to be tough and resilient to grow through all these conditions. The recent heavy rains have provided the most challenging soil conditions.  

[Read the rest of this article...]

Darryl Warncke...With the significant increases in costs of phosphate and potash fertilizers since last season and with tight supplies, some reflection on recommended rates is in order. MSU’s recommendations for phosphate (P2O5) and potash (K2O) are based on the buildup and maintenance approach. In this approach, the most important soil test value is the critical level (CL). On average, when the soil test value is at the CL, there is sufficient P or K available in the soil to produce top quality produce and near maximum yield.

[Read the rest of this article...]

Darryl Warncke...Recent periods of heavy and continual rains in some areas of Michigan have resulted in harvesting equipment being in fields under wet soil conditions. This has resulted in compacted soil conditions that will need to be remediated by chiseling when soil conditions are dry enough to fracture and loosen. Chiseling two inches deeper than the compaction zone is adequate.

[Read the rest of this article...]