CQ Perspectives Sep 2007

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OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF CROP QUEST AGRONOMIC SERVICES, INC

C r o p Q u e s t P e r s p e c t i v e s

Volume 17 • Issue 5 • September 2007

ELPS ON GRAIN SORGHUMHARVEST AID 

It has always been tough

plant milo ground back to

heat in the fall. Sorghum

atures later than corn or

ybeans and as the days getorter and the weather cooler,

seems to take forever for the

ain sorghum to dry down.

Some producers have tried

anting a short season milo

ybrid earlier in the spring,

it matures by late August.

his allows them to rotate into

inter wheat in the same year

ther than lay the ground fal-

w for 12 months.

Growers also have been

cricing some yield potential

y planting shorter term sor-

hum. With temperatures

ll high in September, even

ter the crop is harvested,

rghum will try to put out new

owth which will continue

ntil it is killed by a frost. This

rghum regrowth depletes

oisture needed for the wheat

op that will soon be planted

nd may also harbor aphids

nd other insects that arenleashed on the new wheat

ants soon after emergence.

A better approach to plant-

g wheat right behind a milo

op is to use a harvest aid

eatment of glyphosate as the

ain reaches maturity. By

raying the plants when

the grain is mature, there is

no reduction in test weight

at harvest time. With

the leaves and stalks

dead and dried up, thegrain will dry down

quickly and the milo

plants will stop using

moisture from the soil.

Because the milo plant is

killed, this combination

technique will do a better job

of spreading out the crop resi-

due making it easier to no-till

the wheat directly into the

milo stubble.

Using a harvest aid allows

the grain to dry down quicker.

The grain will be at harvest-

able moisture 7 to 14 days

earlier than if the eld were

not sprayed. A normal maturi-

ty milo can be planted and not

sacrice the yield potential

like you would with an earlier

maturity hybrid. This also

shortens the time that birds

and other animals will have

to feed on the grain. In some

locations, the crop loss causedby wildlife can be very signi-

cant.

With one application of 

chemical, the milo crop can

be harvested and rotated back

to wheat in a timelier manner.

By: Jim Gleason

Regional Vice PresidentSt. John, Kan.

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A picture is supposed to be worth a thousand words, althoughsometimes a stride through a eld can reveal as much or more to anagronomist than a photograph. When sophisticated digital aerial im-

agery is combined with the expertise of experienced crop consultantswho know the lay of the land, growers and livestock producers can besure they’re getting their money’s worth, in terms of increased yieldsand efcient application of inputs such as seed and fertilizer.

An important component of Crop Quest’s business philosophy isstaying current with the rapidly developing technologies available foragricultural land management. Aerial imagery provides another layerto analyze with existing yield, soil topography, soil testing or otherdata to provide a complete picture of what is going on at a speciclocation within a eld.

For example, when a NDVI (Normalized Difference VegetationIndex) image depicts a particular section of the farm to be in the “red”zone, it indicates vegetation is not abundant, whereas a “green” zoneindicates abundant vegetation. “The low-end (red zone) reading might

suggest a lack of fertilizer,” says Robert Gillespie, aPrecision Ag Specialist for Crop Quest. The lowend reading might also be caused by other prob-lems, he points out, like topography, water issuesor soil type. Gillespie says, “Because our agrono-

mists know the elds that they scout verywell, they can interpret the readings moreprecisely and give the producer a moreaccurate recommendation.”

Aerial images are taken from around8,000 feet and are fully georeferenced in natural color, near-infraredand NDVI formats, with an accuracy of one meter.

The aerial imagery unit employs an integrated global positioningsystem (GPS), inertial measurement unit (IMU) and digital 4-camera

array. The external sensor is housed in a compact, portable unit ttaches to any compatible single-engine aircraft (such as a Cessnand is connected to an internal computer with a touch screen dis

and ightline steering bar.Sometimes producers don’t need anything fancier from aerialphotography than a high quality natural image of a feedlot showthe pens and alley ways. “Natural images,” explains Gillespie, “instance, give growers and producers a visual perspective for maing their assets, appraising land values and so on.”

Integrating John Deere imagery has allowed Crop Quest to dea better way for our clients to seewhat is going on in the elds.“We can now streamlinethe production of GIS-ready imagery for ourclients,” Gillespiesays, “from ight

mission planning toimage capture andprocessing to naldelivery.”

Crop Quest’sPrecision Ag divi-sion provides all of these services to ben-et the producer. Callone of our Precision AgSpecialists to learn moreabout generating higherreturns from this agriculturalinvestment.

 By:  Ron O’Hanlon,President

Member, National Alliance

of Independent Crop

Consultants, CPCC-I

Certied

A Picture is Worth A Thousand Words 

PLANNING AHEADAs summer comes to a close,

it is time to start making plans forthe next cropping season. Dry-land wheat producers will havealready made decisions by thetime this newsletter is printed,but those with irrigated crops

will have to decide whether to plant back to a small grain crop or to wait andplant next spring to a row crop. Prices for most of these crops are still hover-ing at high levels which make any cropping decision a good one that willensure protability next season. Because of tight supplies worldwide and the

growing demand ethanolplants are exerting for bothcorn and grain sorghum,it appears the prices mayremain at protable levels inthe near future.

Despite these high prices,

many farmers are still strug-gling nancially because of all the natural disasters andexcess rain in particular,while other farmers are en- joying their most protableyear ever.

Wheat seed for plantingwill be in short supply thisyear due to the late springfreeze and other weatherrelated events such as ood-ing. This may keep someacreage – that normally

would have been seeded – from being planted back towheat. Soybeans are nallygetting up in price wherethey may be able to once

again compete for corn aGrain sorghum is a very petitive crop on those acwhere water is not sufcto raise corn or soybeans

Even alfalfa has enjoycompetitive price for the

couple of years, but this becomes a longer term cmitment with a high laborequirement and works bfor those who have plannfurther ahead than one yat a time.

As you make plans forthe next cropping seasonkeep in mind that yourCrop Quest agronomist ithere to help in hybrid/vaselection, fertility and tilmanagement, crop rotati

recommendations, equipsuggestions and crop budanalysis. It is our busineshelp you have a successfcropping season.

An example of an NDVI image.

Robert Gillespie

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Nutrient Management Plans ImproveStewardship And Lead To Proftability

Nutrient Management Plans (NMPs) are effective tools for over-

seeing and controlling fertilizer input and animal waste handling

costs. They also constitute useful guidelines as producers and grow-

ers introduce good management practices to their operations. And

NMPs play a major role in maintaining and improving surface waterquality – which is the reason they were established in the rst place

30 years ago by the EPA, and tweaked, revised and augmented over

the years by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)

and state environmental agencies.

But NMPs can be confusing, open to interpretation and require

piles of paperwork and time to bring a producer into compliance

 – and the plans need to be signed-off by an agronomist or produc-

tion specialist certied by the NRCSand state regulatory agencies. States

have differing programs. In Minnesota,

permits are required for facilities with

as few as 50 animals. Operations of 

any size in Nebraska require a permit if 

they have potential to discharge. Some

states, like Kansas, expand on federal

rules by regulating conned animal

feeding operations (CAFOs) that are

smaller than the EPA cutoff point of 

1,000. Several states have laws with

enforceable requirements concerning non-point source pollution

from manure and fertilizers.Crop Quest boasts two certied Technical Service Providers

(TSP’s), - Randy Waldren, in the Dodge City Headquarters ofce,

and Grant Havel, in the Silver Lake Division in NE Kan. Waldren

and Havel specialize in the various aspects of NRCS and state

regultory agencies compliance and are certied through the EPA

and the NRCS to draw up comprehensive NMPs.

Havel, for instance, draws up Nutrient and Pest Management

Plans that focus on fertilizers, pesticides and other nutrients used in

crop production; these plans work with the Environmental Qual-

ity Incentive Program (EQIP) and Conservation Security Program

(CSP) that producers are enrolled in. Much of his work involves

assisting producers in collecting information and documentation f

these programs.

Waldren, on the other hand, directs much of his attention to mo

comprehensive plans on solid and liquid waste disposal. Several o

Waldren’s customers are larger operations such as feedlots.The biggest challenge growers and producers face in toeing the

line with NMP regulations is poor record-keeping. That’s where

Crop Quest’s multi-faceted services of collecting and organizing

production data and establishing business models for the farm fal

in line with the documentation the NRCS requires in its NMPs.

Elements of an NMP include site and soil maps; yield mapping

soil, plant, water and organic nutrient analysis; quantication of 

nutrient sources; and rate, timing and method of application. “The

data required for an NMP is the same as what we’re already doing

in the normal course

of our crop consulti

services as we gene

ate detailed weekly

producer reports,”

says Havel.

All states, howeve

advise their farmers

and producers to vie

NMPs not as anothe

regulatory hoop to

 jump through, but

as an opportunity to

improve the protab

ity of their operation

“The EPA and theKansas Department

Health and Environ

ment simply want a

better handle on the

nutrients being gene

ated and how solid

and liquid wastes w

be applied to agricu

tural land that does

not exceed the norm

crop removal of nut

ents,” says Waldren

The NMP itself, accordinto Havel, is a document th

shows precisely what and

how nutrients will be used

on a farm. The function o

the plan, he explains, is to

mitigate environmental damage and to maintain the chemical and

biological condition of the soil.

So, it makes sense for farmers and producers to take advantage

of Crop Quest’s dual capability both to deliver crop consultation

that enhances the protability of a farm or feedlot and to prepare

properly documented NMP that complies with NRCS requiremen

Randy Waldren

Grant Havel reviews NMP data.

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Mission StatementCrop Quest is an employee-owned company dedicated to providing the highest quality agricultural services for each customer. The quest of our network

professionals is to practice integrity and innovation to ensure our services are economically and environmentally sound.

PRSRT STD

US POSTAGE

PAID

DODGE CITY K

PERMIT NO. 43

“Employee-Owned & Customer Driven” Crop Quest Agronomic Services, Inc.

Main Ofce: Phone 620.225.2233

Fax 620.225.3199Internet: www.cropquest.com

[email protected]

Crop Quest Board of Directors  President: Ron O’Hanlon

Director: Jim Gleason

Director: Dwight Koops

Director: Cort Minor

Director: Chris McInteer

Director: Rob Benyshek

Crop Quest Consultants On The Move  

As a growing company, one of Crop Quest’s responsibilities is

to be sure its outlying ofces and territories are staffed with

highly qualied agronomists and consultants. As Crop Quest

expands, it remains committed to ensuring its clients will always

have access to the top people in the industry and that any staff 

transitions will occur seamlessly.

Recently Crop Quest has transferred a couple of its key

managers to management positions in different locations in

addition to bringing on another veteran crop consultant to work

full time in the Dodge City headquarters.

Scott Beguelin, the current manager of the Sil-

ver Lake operation in eastern Kansas, is heading

south to run the Uvalde, Tex., ofce. Beguelin has

worked the Silver Lake territory for 15 years,

but says he is looking forward to the move west

of San Antonio.

“I am looking for new experiences and

to expand my knowledge of other crops,”

says Beguelin, who has spent almost

20 years as a crop consultant starting

out in Hutchison, Kan. Specically,

Beguelin is anxious to get involved with southern crops like

cotton, peanuts and sesame after devoting his career thus

far to crops such as soybeans, corn, winter wheat, milo and

alfalfa. But he has one specialty from the north that he

wants to import: sod and turf management. Scott is a

Kansas State University graduate in agronomy.Chris McInteer, currently working in the Dodge

City division, will be taking over for Beguelin as

the manager of the Silver Lake ofce. McInteer has

been with Crop Quest since its inception in 1992

and, overall, has 23 years of experience as a crop consultant from

the time he graduated from Kansas State University with a degre

in agronomy. Chris grew up in Minneola, Kan., and worked on

his grandfather’s farm. He is particularly interested in alfalfa and

notes the alfalfa crop in Crop Quest’s Silver Lake territory has

expanded exponentially. McInteer’s family is also

eagerly anticipating the move; they will be

living in St. Mary’s just northeast of Topeka

where his wife will be a rst grade teacher in

the school district there.

Monte Hampton brings more than 20

years experience in crop sciences and

consulting as he joins the Crop Quest

team in the Dodge City operation.

Hampton has a degree in animal

science and agronomy from Fort Hays

State University. He has taught classes on basic agronomy,

plant physiology, weeds and insects as an instructor at Dodge

Community College in addition to working with producers

through his former work as a crop consultant and an Extension

Agent with Kansas State Research and Extension Service.

Hampton says he knows many farmers and ranchers in

Southwest Kansas but is eager to meet and work with

new producers. Although his crop experience is broad,

Hampton has worked a lot with wheat, setting up strip an

plot demonstration trials in eld situations. Monte

also has a ranching background, and his familyfounded Hampton’s Arena where rodeo events hav

been staged for years.

Scott Beguelin

Chris McInteer

Monte Hampton