Volunteer hemp is up in fields where the seed was dropped the previous season.
Volunteer hemp is up in fields where the seed was dropped the previous season.
Many professions must invest in tools specific to their trade to be successful. Besides the typical tools of wrenches, screwdrivers, chisels and hammers, what other items or gadgets would be helpful to be a successful forage producer? People Find professionals that are knowledgeable, responsive, and have a passion for forages – Advisors should provide value Build good working relationships BEFORE a problem occurs Your county’s Purdue Agricultural and Natural Resources Extension Educator and Natural Resources Conservation Service office are valuable resources Join organizations that emphasize forages as a learning opportunity Excellent considerations would be the Indiana Forage Council (indianaforage.org) and your livestock interest association(s) Provides an opportunity to network with people of like interests Resource materials that emphasize forages Forage magazines, websites, podcasts, apps, and publications A great value is the Purdue Forage Field Guide (ID-317) A helpful weed control guide is WS-16-W. Order both at edustore.purdue.edu. Purdue Plant and[Read More…]
Wheat has greened up and is actively growing across Indiana (except during these last few cold spells).
Hemp can germinate in soils between 40-50°F, and with the warm temperatures in late march, volunteer and feral hemp (ditch weed) had the right conditions to pop up.
Many black cutworm trappers have captured large numbers of moths, see “Black Cutworm Pheromone Trap Report.” In trying to find levity during the Covid-19 pandemic, there have been various quips during their reports about this pest’s lack of adherence to our social distancing guidelines!
If out in the fields, or around the yard, during these beautiful fall afternoons, you may have experienced very unpleasant bites on exposed skin. The big surprise is how tiny these black bugs are, barely visible without magnification.
Recently there have been numerous reports of swarms of “bee-like” flies around Indiana fields, farmsteads, and rural environments, and wanted to take the opportunity to tell you a bit about this curiosity. Adult hover flies (aka syrphid flies) can sometimes be mistaken for bees or wasps, because they look a lot like them! Some people refer to hover flies as “corn flies” or “sweat bees,” but these insects are actually quite different from bees. Hover flies belong to the Order Diptera, or the true flies. The most noticeable group at this time of year belong to the genus Toxomerus, which feed on pollen. There are many other syrphid flies present throughout the season that are beneficial, as their larvae feed on soft-bodied insects like aphids. Compared to sweat bees, hover flies have black and yellow markings, are able to fly in place yet dart away quickly, have a[Read More…]
As the season progresses, hemp farmers in Indiana are learning what it is like to grow hemp compared to their other crops.
As the growing season progresses, I am getting more questions about insects feeding on hemp.
Both fiber, grain, and CBD hemp farmers are continuing to struggle with the wet weather and some fields remain unplanted.
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