09 Broadcaster Press March 12, 2013 www.broadcasteronline.com Spring Wheat Planting BROOKINGS, S.D. - The most important factors in producing a profitable spring wheat field are selecting the best cultivar, providing proper fertility, planting on time and having a good seedbed to plant into, says Paul O. Johnson SDSU Extension Agronomy Field Specialist. When selecting a variety, Johnson encourages growers to reference the Variety Recommendations for 2013 contained in the 2012 annual report on Spring Wheat. "South Dakota has seven varieties which are recommended statewide and two which are recommended for only some of the crop adaptation regions," he said. "The 2012 annual report also provides variety traits. This information can be very helpful Spring when picking one of the recommended varieties to best fit a given operation." Things to consider when planning for 2013 Spring wheat needs to be planted early in the spring. "Normally it should be planted by the third week of April or within the first two weeks of planting possible in the spring. Producers should check crop insurance planting dates for the location to be planted to ensure coverage," Johnson said. Spring Wheat is normally planted one to two inches deep in the soil but will emerge from as deep as three inches. "Planting into moisture will ensure an even stand at emergence. Uniform emergence will in turn; produce a crop that will mature evenly. This is desirable at harvest but also helps for timing pesticide applications throughout the growing season." he said. Spring wheat should be planted at a minimum of 1.2 million pure live seeds per acre or 28 seeds per square foot. This translates into about 1.5 bushels per acre with average size spring wheat seed. Late planting or planting into poor seedbeds requires a higher seeding rate. Spring wheat requires a good fertilizer package to produce high yields. Fields should be soil tested to determine fertilizer needs. Caution should be taken if fertilizer is being placed with the seed. Too high a rate with the seed can hurt germination. GREENS are COMING! at Heikes Family Farm LLC Vermillion’s C.S.A. Single/Family/Comercial Shares Now Available Annual Shares Good for 32 Weeks of FRESH, LOCAL Produce. The Spring Share Drive Continues March 19th National Ag Day • March 20th First Day of Spring Salad Greens • Tomatoes • Sweet Corn • Cukes • Sweet Corn Peppers • Potatoes • Onions • Garlic • Raw Local Honey VISIT heikesfamilyfarm.com EMAIL HeikesFarm@gmail.com or Call 605-222-3949 to Reserve Your Share Today! Community Supported Agriculture SINCE 1946 Sam Heikes, Owner 1408 317th St. (Across From Masaba) Go your own way. With eight models and a long list of options to choose from, there’s a top-quality Kubota RTV for your own unique mix of outdoor work and rugged adventure. Schedule a test drive today. "  # $ Have you seen this pest? Japanese Beetles in Field Crops The Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica) is becoming an increasingly prevalent pest in the North Central region, and it can occasionally be an economic problem in soybeans or corn. The Japanese beetle should not be confused with the Asian lady beetle (which is often called a Japanese beetle by mistake). Asian lady beetles are familiar to many as the yellow or orange lady beetles that come into houses in the fall, and they are beneficial predators of crop pests. Japanese beetles are large (up to 1/2 inch long) and metallic green and copper colored. Adults feed on the leaves and flowers of over 300 plant species. They are an introduced pest first found in the U.S. in 1916 in New Jersey. Only in recent years have they become common in the Midwest. The South Dakota Department of Agriculture monitors for this pest with traps, and it has been detected in several counties, particularly in the Southeastern part of the state. Japanese beetle immatures are soil-dwelling, white grubs that feed on roots and organic material, and they are often pests of turfgrass. The adults typically feed between the veins of leaves causing a characteristic lacy or “skeletonized” damage. They feed on a wide range of plants including various ornamentals, fruits, and vegetables. Though they are more common in horticultural settings, they will also feed in field crops, including corn and soybeans. In soybeans they cause defoliation of leaves, which reduces photosynthesis, and in corn they feed on silks, reducing kernel set. Though still a minor field crop pest, Japanese beetle outbreaks are becoming more common in Illinois and Iowa soybeans and corn. So far in South Dakota most reported problems with Japanese beetles have been in gardens near urban centers, but as it becomes more common in South Dakota, producers should also be on the lookout for this insect in crops. Japanese beetles have one generation per year and overwinter as grubs in the soil. Adults emerge from the soil in late May or early June and can be found through early September. Feeding damage is most noticeable in July and August. Japanese beetle feeding damage in soybean may be confused with bean leaf beetle feeding because both make holes in the leaves, but   Quickly converts from 2- to 4-passenger seating. Compact gasoline model ?ts in the back of a long-bed pickup. Fresh Produce CSA Shares on Sale Now! 402.254.9131       Up your comfort factor with a factory-installed cab.                 !  CastleCreekFamilyFarm.com bean leaf beetle feeding produces more smoothedged “shot-holes” in the leaves, whereas Japanese beetles create a lacy patchwork of holes between the veins. Also, unlike bean leaf beetles, Japanese beetles are not shy or skittish and are usually found easily at the scene of their crimes. Damage often appears first at field edges. Soybeans can bear a fair amount of defoliation before yield is lost, so modest numbers of Japanese beetles and other defoliators can be tolerated. Consider management when total defoliation from all leaf-feeding pests reaches 40% in prebloom, 20% during bloom and pod-fill and 35% from pod-fill to harvest. Consider the whole plant when making this decision, not just upper leaves. If beetles are aggregated in border rows, consider an edge treatment first. A number of pesticides are labeled for Japanese beetle control in soybean. Record wheat production ROME (AP) — A U.N. food agency says the world is headed to the second largest wheat crop on record because of increased plantings in Europe and a recovery from drought in the U.S. Production is expected to increase to 690 million tons, up 4.3 percent from 2012, the Rome-based Food and Agriculture Organization reported Thursday. The production hike is expected mostly in Europe because of increased plantings in response to high prices and a recovery in yields in Russia and elsewhere. The outlook in the U.S. has improved in recent weeks, recovering from earlier drought conditions. The agency also says the recently lower price of wheat kept the FAO's index of global food prices unchanged for the second consecutive month in February. M & S I r r i g a t i o n & Tr e n c h i n g Diesel model comes in Kubota orange or Realtree® camouflage.         !        www.kubota.com ©Kubota Tractor Corporation, 2012 Realtree® is a registered trademark of Jordan Outdoor Enterprises, Ltd. Mike Seiner, Owner Vermillion, SD 605-999-5218 605-624-5594 Mike Seiner, Owner Vermillion, SD 605-999-5218 • 605-624-5594 Trenching • Grain Bins Seeds • Irrigation Grain Bins