Mid-Coast Soil Sampling Program

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We are conducting a soil testing program this fall to assist farmers with their soil fertility decision making. We will sample fields to a depth of 24 inches and have nutrient analysis done at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Soil, Water and Forage Testing Laboratory. The cost for participation in this program is as follows: • $50 per field for fields 100 acres or less in size. ($0.50 per acre over 100 acres) • Plus $14 per sample for routine analysis and residual nitrogen. Contact the Stephen… Read More →

Soil Testing for Proper Nutrient Management

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This is the time of year to sample soils for proper application rates of fertilizers.  In 2013, we tested soils on 53 Calhoun County fields and found soil nitrogen levels ranged between 9 and 134 pounds of available nitrogen in the upper 18 inches of soil. The potential savings in fertilizer cost ranged from $4.24 – $60.30 per acre.  The only way to know the nitrogen level in your fields is to test the soil. Field research was conducted by Drs. Dennis Coker and Mark McFarland, Texas A&M… Read More →

Tough Choices in Insect Management due to Early Fruit Losses

Cotton planted in March has been cutout for several weeks and the younger cotton, planted in May is around 5 Nodes Above White Flower (NAWF). We are finding evidence of stink bug feeding in fields where we are able to find 1-inch bolls.  In these fields it is important to note when the field reaches 5 NAWF.  Cotton fields are considered safe from most insect pests, including stink bugs, once the field is 350 heat units (HU) beyond 5 NAWF. A Heat Unit is calculated by averaging the… Read More →

Crop Scouting Field Meeting – July 13

Time: Monday, July 13, 9:00 a.m. Location: Calhoun County, Cotton field at corner of FM 1679 and Sanders Rd. Topics: Scouting Cotton and Sorghum CEU: 1 hour IPM

Economic Thresholds of Pests in Sorghum Heads

Maturity of sorghum fields varies widely across the Texas Coast.  While some fields have had harvest aids applied and are being harvested this week, other fields are just beginning to head.  Sorghum maturity is complicated even more in some fields which have parts of the field blooming while other areas of the field are at hard dough. Varying maturity within a field makes for tough decisions on what to protect from insect pests.  Will the young heads be mature when the more mature heads are ready for harvest? … Read More →