Purdue Extension Tipton County - Ag News & Weather Update

Purdue Extension Tipton County - Ag News & Weather Update Upcoming Events Austin s Corner Mar. 2017: Wed. s 6:00 pm Master Gardener Basic Training Mar. 2, 2017: 9:00-11:30 AM Crop Production Services PARP Mar. 3, 2017: 2:00-4:00 PM Backyard Fruit Production Mar. 10, 2017: 2:00-4:00 PM Backyard Fruit Production Mar. 17, 2017: 2:00-4:00 PM Backyard Fruit Production Mar. 23, 2017: 9:00-11:30 AM Tipton Co. Farm Bureau PARP Mar. 24, 2017: 2:00-4:00 PM Backyard Fruit Production & PARP Mar. 31, 2017: 2:00-4:00 PM Backyard Fruit Production Apr. 6, 2017: 9:00-3:00 PM Cover Crop Field Day (Tipton & Howard Counties) It has been an extremely busy month at the Tipton County Extension Office! We have had several Ag & Natural Resources programs. Thank you to everyone for coming to the Winter Ag Classes! Bob Nielsen & Shaun Casteel shared information about optimum economic plant populations for corn and soybeans. We have also hosted two PARP sessions with updates from the Purdue Entomology, Plant & Pest Diagnostic Lab, Weed Science, and Climatology. Both programs were well attended! If you were unable to attend either of these PARP events, you re in luck! We have more PARP events on schedule for March 2 and March 23. March 24 will be a PARP event pertaining to fruit production. Please remember that you cannot get credit for more than two classes in one year. The upcoming PARP sessions w ill be $10.00 per person per session. The Tipton County Extension Office will also be hosting a Backyard Fruit Production Workshop focusing on fruit culture, site selection, soil preparation, planting, pruning, maintenance schedules, pest management, harvest and storage, and nutritional aspects of fruit in our diet. The Joint Cover Crop Field Day will held on April 6 and will be at various locations throughout the day. We will begin in Tipton Co. at 9:00 AM for the first stop and the second stop at 10:30 AM. Howard Co. sites will be held at 12:30 PM & 2:00 PM (stay tuned for the locations and program flyer). Down the Country Road - March 2017: Page 1

Outline Weather Update and Outlook Pg. 2, 3 PARP Recertification Dates & Exam Dates Pg. 4, 5 PARP Dates in Tipton County Pg. 5 Dicamba Use on Soybeans in Indiana Pg. 6, 7 Purdue Yard & Garden CALENDAR: March Pg. 8 Mild Weather Brings Up the Bulbs Pg. 9 Adventures in Backyard Fruit Production Pg. 10 Cover Crops Field Day Information Pg. 11 Weather Update and Outlook February 2017 Accumulated Precipitation: After above average precipitation for January, the month of February has been anywhere from 0.5 to 1.5 drier than normal. For February, Tipton County should be right at 2.11 of precipitation. As of February 28, Tipton 5 SW has received 1.07. Coupled with the warmer temperatures and lower precipitation, soils have dried out rapidly. The current U.S. Drought Monitor for Indiana has SW Indiana in the abnormally dry category (see left). Average Temperature: February 2017 temperatures have been unseasonably warm with temperatures anywhere from 10 to 12 degrees above normal! The average temperature has been 39.6 F, which is nearly 11 F above normal for the month! This temperature shatters the 1998 record of 37.3 F, which makes this February the warmest on record for Tipton! Down the Country Road - March 2017: Page 2

Tipton County Weather Update and Outlook Continued 6-10 Day Temperature Outlook 6-10 Day Precipitation Outlook 8-14 Day Temperature Outlook 8-14 Day Precipitation Outlook Temperature and Precipitation Outlooks Summary Over the next two weeks, the Climate Prediction Center forecast indicates elevated chances for above normal temperatures. The 6-10 day precipitation forecast is calling for near normal precipitation. The 8-14 day forecast has a slight chance for below normal precipitation. Over the next seven days, the GFS weather model is forecasting around 1 2 of precipitation. Down the Country Road - March 2017: Page 3

2017 Pesticide Applicator Certification Training Dates Remember this is for INITIAL CERTIFICATION ONLY. The fee for the course is $60, per person, per program. You can also order a study manual ($30 each) for each program. On the day of the trainings, registration begins at 7:30 am with the training beginning at 8:30. Programs end at 3:30 pm with the exam immediately following. All programs are held at the William Daniel Turf Center, 1340 Cherry Lane, West Lafayette, IN 47906. To Register Mail form with payment to: Purdue Extension The Education Store 301 South 2nd Street Lafayette, IN 47901 Phone: 765-494-6794 or 888-398-4636 Or Fax form with credit card or P.O. Information to: 765-496-1540 To register on-line: https:// mdc.itap.purdue.edu/wk_group.asp? wk_group=pesticide For More Information For conference information, contact Cindy Myers Purdue Pesticide Programs 915 W. State Street West Lafayette, IN 47907-2054 Phone: 765-494-4566 or 888-398-4636 For program content and certification information, contact: Andrew Martin Purdue Pesticide Programs 915 W. State Street West Lafayette, IN 47907-2054 Phone: 765-494-4567 or 888-398-4636 Email: martinag@purdue.edu Or go to: www.ppp.purdue.edu/certification.html Down the Country Road - March 2017: Page 4

PARP Events in Tipton County Thursday, March 2, 2017 9:00-11:30 AM Crop Production Services PARP - OPEN TO THE PUBLIC $10.00 for Credit Christy Penner, Dow Agro Science, Improved Nitrogen Management - will cover nitrogen efficiency in corn root systems as well as an overview of nitrogen stabilizers on the market, and an update on government regulations relating to nitrogen. Gary Welker, BASF, Dicamba Application Stewardship - Spraying Dicamba safely and properly cleaning sprayer equipment. Austin Pearson, Purdue Extension Tipton County ANR Educator, Personal Protective Equipment - Regulatory Topic. Thursday, March 23, 2017 9:00-11:30 AM Tipton County Farm Bureau PARP - OPEN TO THE PUBLIC $10.00 for Credit Mahsa Fardisi, Purdue Entomology, Best Practices in Grain Storage Britt Reese, ANR Educator Clinton County Management of Ear Rots and Mycotoxins in Corn - Review of preharvest ear rots and mycotoxins, what happened in 2016, and resources for management. Austin Pearson, ANR Educator Tipton County, Pesticide Drift - Regulatory Topic Down the Country Road - March 2017: Page 5

Dicamba Use on Soybeans in Indiana Down the Country Road - March 2017: Page 6

Dicamba Use on Soybeans in Indiana CONTINUED Down the Country Road - March 2017: Page 7

Purdue Yard & Garden CALENDAR: March By: B. Rosie Lerner Purdue Extension Consumer Horticulturist HOME (Indoor plants and activities) Begin fertilizing houseplants as new growth appears. Keep spent leaves and flowers removed to improve appearance and encourage more blooms. Start garden seeds indoors for transplanting outdoors later in spring. Check stored bulbs and produce for decay; discard damaged items. Prune, repot and clean houseplants as needed. YARD (Lawns, woody ornamentals and fruits) Prune trees and shrubs, except those that bloom early in spring, while plants are still dormant. If winter injury is a concern, delay pruning until after dieback; desiccation injury can be assessed as plants come out of dormancy. Plant new trees and shrubs as soon as the soil dries enough to be worked. Plant bare-root plants before they leaf out. Soils may be exceptionally wet this spring as winter snows thaw. Fertilize woody plants before new growth begins, but after soil temperatures have reached 40 degrees F. Remove winter coverings from roses as soon as new growth begins. Prune out dead canes and fertilize as needed. Delay pruning into live canes until after winter injury can be assessed. Apply superior oil spray to control scale insects and mites when tips of leaves start to protrude from buds. GARDEN (Flowers, vegetables and small fruits) Plant cool-season vegetables and flowers as soon as the ground has dried enough to work. Do NOT work the soil while it is wet; wait until it crumbles in your hand. If the soil forms a solid ball when squeezed, it's still too wet. Gradually harden off transplants by setting them outdoors during the daytime for about a week before planting. Follow last fall's soil test recommendations for fertilizer and ph adjustment. It's not too late to test soil if you missed last year. Start seeds of warm-season vegetables and flowers indoors; in northern and central Indiana, wait until the end of March or early April. Transplant to the garden after danger of frost has passed. Watch for blooms of early spring bulbs, such as daffodils, squill, crocus, dwarf iris and snowdrops. Remove old asparagus and rhubarb tops, and sidedress the plants with nitrogen or manure. Plant or transplant asparagus, rhubarb and small fruit plants. Remove winter mulch from strawberry beds as soon as new growth begins, but keep the mulch nearby to protect against frost and freezes. Remove weak, diseased or damaged canes from raspberry plants before new growth begins. Remove old fruiting canes if not removed last year, and shorten remaining canes if necessary. Prune grapevines after winter injury can be assessed. Down the Country Road - March 2017: Page 8

Mild Weather Brings Up the Bulbs Freeze injury to daylily foliage (Photo credit: Rosie Lerner, Purdue Extension) By B. Rosie Lerner, Extension Consumer Horticulturist It's not unusual for Indiana weather to have trouble deciding what season it is. Recent warm spells have had many gardeners wondering what to do about bulbs, and perhaps a few plants that are poking their foliage through the soil. Just what should gardeners do about daffodils, dianthus and daylilies poking out of the ground? The good news is that no action is required. We're used to seeing this happen in late winter during a February warm spell. The plants will survive just fine. The longer the mild weather stays around, the more potential there is for damage when below-freezing temperatures return. Foliage that has popped up may be killed back, but the bulbs and storage roots should remain undamaged underground. As the plants completely push out in spring, damaged foliage will appear brown, giving plants a raggedy appearance. But the plants themselves will survive. Flower buds on spring-flowering trees and shrubs are also starting to plump up, but should be fine so far. As buds progress in their development, they become more susceptible to freeze damage. And, spring is still over a month away, leaving plenty of opportunity for fluctuating temperatures. There isn't much we can do about the weather except to sit back and wait to see what Mother Nature has in store for us! Down the Country Road - March 2017: Page 9

Adventures in Backyard Fruit Production Purdue Extension Tipton Co. to Host Adventures in Backyard Fruit Production Program Do you want to learn about modern fruit production practices appropriate for the home landscape? Do you want to learn from experts how to select varieties and kinds of fruit to meet your needs? Would you like to meet one or more innovative farmers and learn their secrets about fruit culture in Indiana? Would you like to network with others who are interested in the production of quality Indiana fruit? Do you want to learn about how to manage pests that reduce quality and yield? Want to learn about resources that are available to help you continue your study and to solve problems after the series is complete? Purdue Extension Tipton County has an opportunity for you! The Office will be hosting the New Adventures in Backyard Fruit Production Program in a series of 5 classes (March 3, 10, 17, 24, and 31) from 2:00 to 4:00 PM each day. Registration for this program is required and cost is $25 per person for all 5 sessions, or $10 per person for each session. The Private Applicators Recertification Program (PARP) session on March 24 will be an extra $10 per person if you are applying for credit. The Tipton County Extension Office is located at the Tipton County Fairgrounds (1200 S. Main Street Tipton, IN 46072). Topics in this course will include: fruit culture, site selection, soil preparation, planting, pruning, maintenance schedules, pest management, harvest and storage, and nutritional aspects of fruit in our diet. If you are interested in attending this program, please give Austin Pearson at the Tipton County Extension Office a call at 765-675-1177. You may also find a program flyer in the link below. https://extension.purdue.edu/tipton/pages/article.aspx?intitemid=24149 Down the Country Road - March 2017: Page 10

Howard & Tipton Counties Cover Crop Field Day Howard & Tipton Counties Cover Crop Field Day to Be Held on April 6, 2017 A joint Cover Crop Field Day is in the planning stages for Howard and Tipton Counties and is being accomplished by a collaboration between the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Howard & Tipton Counties Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and Howard & Tipton Counties Purdue Extension Offices. The program will be held on April 6, 2017 and will begin in Tipton County at 9:00 AM. Locations are still being determined and will be released in a program flyer at a later date. Stop 1: Tipton County - 9:00 AM Stop 2: Tipton County - 10:30 AM Stop 3: Howard County - 12:30 PM Stop 4: Howard County - 2:00 PM You may attend as many of the stops that you would like. Come learn about your peer s cover crop management strategies as well as potential benefits they are seeing in their fields. The event will be held rain or shine! Be prepared to dress accordingly. You may contact Austin Pearson or the Tipton County Soil and Water Conservation District for more information about this program. More information will be released at a later date! Tipton County Extension Office is administered in cooperation with Purdue University an equal access/equal opportunity institution. Down the Country Road - March 2017: Page 11