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Posts From Larry Oldham, Extension Soils Specialist

Planning to Lime for the 2022 Crop

Planning to Lime for the 2022 Crop

🕔09:35, 20.Mar 2021

Wait a minute, aren’t we just now planting the 2021 crop? True, however, some fields being planted now will suffer from soil acidity issues this year. There may be short term band-aids available, but long-term solutions will be necessary. One

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2021 MSU Row Crop Educational Programs- Soil Fertility Update

2021 MSU Row Crop Educational Programs- Soil Fertility Update

🕔15:22, 19.Mar 2021

Due to restrictions limiting public gatherings related to the pandemic, the MSU Row Crops Team are releasing some virtual educational programs to help prepare for the upcoming growing season. These programs offer Continuing Education Units for Certified Crop Advisors who

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Effect of Poultry Litter Applications on Soil Physical Properties

Effect of Poultry Litter Applications on Soil Physical Properties

🕔08:49, 12.Mar 2021

Healthy soils have thriving biological populations busy recycling nutrients. Just as good working environments aid human productivity, good working environments foster the soil biological population. Soil physical factors that impact this work environment include aggregation, bulk density, and water holding

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2021 MSU Row Crop Educational Programs- Peanut Production Update

2021 MSU Row Crop Educational Programs- Peanut Production Update

🕔10:02, 11.Mar 2021

Due to restrictions limiting public gatherings related to the pandemic, the MSU Row Crops Team are releasing some virtual educational programs to help prepare for the upcoming growing season. These programs offer Continuing Education Units for Certified Crop Advisors who

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2021 MSU Row Crop Educational Programs – Soybean Planting Considerations

2021 MSU Row Crop Educational Programs – Soybean Planting Considerations

🕔16:09, 5.Mar 2021

Due to restrictions limiting public gatherings related to the pandemic, the MSU Row Crops Team are releasing some virtual educational programs to help prepare for the upcoming growing season. These programs offer Continuing Education Units for Certified Crop Advisors who

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Practices That Sequester Soil Carbon

🕔13:49, 5.Mar 2021

  Soil carbon (C) sequestration is the practice of growing plants to capture atmospheric C and store it in the soil to mitigate climate change. Soil carbon sequestration is not a magic bullet for climate mitigation but has a role

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2021 MSU Row Crop Educational Programs – Cotton Production

2021 MSU Row Crop Educational Programs – Cotton Production

🕔09:31, 5.Mar 2021

Due to restrictions limiting public gatherings related to the pandemic, the MSU Row Crops Team are releasing some virtual educational programs to help prepare for the upcoming growing season. These programs offer Continuing Education Units for Certified Crop Advisors who

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Managing Soils for Carbon Sequestration

Managing Soils for Carbon Sequestration

🕔10:03, 26.Feb 2021

Private and public sector stakeholders are striving to boost soil carbon (C) as a climate migration strategy. This note will focus on the science of soil C, and management practices that may increase it. Carbon markets, public policy, and individual

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2021 MSU Row Crop Educational Programs – Corn Episodes

2021 MSU Row Crop Educational Programs – Corn Episodes

🕔09:12, 26.Feb 2021

Due to restrictions limiting public gatherings related to the pandemic, the MSU Row Crop Team are releasing virtual educational programs to help prepare for the upcoming growing season. These corn episodes include two programs discussing planting practices and stand establishment, as well as soil, water and nutrient management.

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Soil N Testing in Mississippi – Why We Can’t Have Good Things

🕔15:45, 19.Feb 2021

We in Extension sing the praises of soil testing constantly because it provides a snapshot in time of the ability of a soil to provide nutrients to growing plants. The results, along with a research base, are the basis for

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Requirements for Biosolid Applications on Cropland in Mississippi

🕔15:06, 11.Feb 2021

Most growers know the soil benefits from applying animal manures to their land. Some farmers have used municipal sludge (biosolids) as a fertilizer to provide nutrients and organic matter that improves soil properties. The biosolids have been treated to stabilize

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Nitrogen Fertilizer Recommendations for Winter Wheat

Nitrogen Fertilizer Recommendations for Winter Wheat

🕔22:30, 9.Feb 2021

Our moist climate certainly increases the challenges associated with successful nitrogen fertilization of wheat. This article outlines best management practices for nitrogen application timing, fertilizer sources, rates and other important practices which can enhance wheat productivity.

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Sulfur, the Quiet Plant Nutrient

🕔09:56, 5.Feb 2021

Sulfur (S) is essential for growing plants. It is a component of two of the amino acids that make up proteins. According to The Fertilizer Institute, 200 bushels of corn per acre removes 16 pounds and 60 bushels of soybeans

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Avoiding Fertilizer Damage in Starter Applications

🕔10:17, 30.Jan 2021

Starter fertilizers are often part of a successful nutrient management strategy. See Strategies to Improve Corn Profitability for their potential in corn production. As with any fertility program, implementation of starters requires attention to detail. Avoid fertilizer burn: Fertilizer burn may occur

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Soil Test Recommendations

Soil Test Recommendations

🕔16:10, 22.Jan 2021

Where does this recommendation based on my soil test results come from? If you are a grower not asking it, start. Three common recommendation philosophies are used to interpret the soil testing data to provide the recommendations.  Sufficiency: based on

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Reviewing Poultry Litter as a Row Crop Fertilizer

Reviewing Poultry Litter as a Row Crop Fertilizer

🕔09:34, 15.Jan 2021

It is time to once again review using poultry litter, aka broiler litter, to fertilize row crops. Many growers now have their own experiences, so this should be a reminder. Prior to the last 10-15 years, poultry litter was primarily

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A Little Goes a Long Way

A Little Goes a Long Way

🕔08:24, 21.Dec 2020

Plants require very small amounts of some of the essential elements; these micronutrients are necessary for plant growth, development, and reproduction. Most Mississippi soils provide enough micronutrients for crop production. However, boron, zinc, molybdenum, iron, and manganese may present issues.

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Actively Patient – Soils

Actively Patient – Soils

🕔14:01, 18.Dec 2020

It takes time to change soils. After making the business decision to actively manage for soil health, producers often are frustrated that results are not immediately apparent! We did all this, and nothing happened! Alternatively, we may see some changes in

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Soil Properties and Runoff

Soil Properties and Runoff

🕔14:55, 21.Aug 2020

Soils are the environmental regulators of rain: when it falls, soil properties determine if it goes into the soil (infiltration) or across the surface (runoff). In the runoff water there may be sediment and whatever is attached to it, nutrients

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Nutrient Use Efficiency: or Dude! Where is My Fertilizer?

🕔10:40, 17.Jul 2020

One of the more difficult messages we must tell farmers: “You know all that money you just spent on fertilizer? Only some of it is going to be used by your crop this year.” With nitrogen (N), up to half

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How to Manage Nitrogen Fertilizer for Corn During Wet Weather

🕔09:52, 25.Apr 2020

Corn response to nitrogen fertilizer is a dynamic situation that becomes extremely challenging when rainy weather restricts field operations and saturates soils even longer than normal. This article gives recommendations to improve corn response to nitrogen fertilizer and reduce risk when adverse weather occurs.

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MSU Revises Soybean K Fertility Recommendation

MSU Revises Soybean K Fertility Recommendation

🕔10:15, 16.Jan 2020

The Mississippi State University Extension Soil Testing Laboratory has revised the soil test-based potassium fertility recommendations for soybeans in Mississippi. This announcement by Dr. Keri Jones is the culmination of many years of work supported by the Mississippi Soybean Promotion

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Use the CCA App to Get Your CEUs

Use the CCA App to Get Your CEUs

🕔11:06, 3.Oct 2019

Although it has been a little warm, winter meeting season is approaching. Certified Crop Advisers can be prepared to get the proper credit for their CEU’s. Do this before the meetings. #mscrops

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Think about liming this fall

🕔10:46, 20.Aug 2019

Acid soils will benefit from liming to aid crop growth and development. If a current soil test has a lime recommendation, applying in the fall provides more time for the lime to react with the soil, less management stress, and

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Practices which Can Increase Nitrogen Use Efficiency for Mid-South Corn

🕔17:10, 26.Apr 2019

Corn productivity may vary considerably depending on what fertilizer source, timing and application method you use. This article discusses how to improve corn response to nitrogen fertilizer and reduce risk of losses.

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