Research Update (August 10, 2013)

Diligence Technologies Inc., West Tennessee

Overall, the weather continues to be wet and cool for early August.  While that sure makes life easier for those doing research, we could probably use a bit more heat to move our cotton crop along.  Considering that we were late in getting the cotton crop planted and the slow progress we have seen since then, this would not be the year for an early frost.  On the positive side, the corn and soybean plots are in great shape with plenty of moisture since planting.

Grey leaf spot pressure in corn continues to intensify and we should be able to get some excellent ratings in the coming weeks.  While we have had some "low level" frogeye leaf spot pressure for a while, the disease has really taken off over the past week and we appear to be in good shape for soybean fungicide evaluations.

Since the frequent rains this spring and summer have significantly reduced the residual of our soil-applied herbicides, hoeing pigweeds has become a frequent pastime this season.  I can assure you the crew will be happy to get that part of the season behind them.

We have had a lot of visitors over the last couple of weeks including MANA, Valent, Brandt, the University of Tennessee, SePro, FMC, Americot, and Syngenta.  Some days we feel like we are running a guide service, but I will admit that it gives me the chance to catch up with a lot of friends that I don't get see often enough.

This past week was the last one for Zac Carpenter.  Zac is an agronomy student at Mississippi State University and has helped us out over the past three summers.  While we are sad to see him done for the summer, we wish him the best in his studies.  I guess Jeff, Jesse, and Kevin will have to pick up the slack.

Cotton defoliation season is closer than it seems, so let us know if you have defoliation protocols that need a home.

Proverbs 12:27

… the substance of the diligent man is precious.

Research Update (June 22, 2013)

Diligence Technologies Inc., West Tennessee

We are nearing the end of the beginning (meaning we are in the home stretch of the big spring push to get new trials established).  We have a few late soybean trials to plant next week and a few more weed trials to get underway, but we are starting to transition from trial establishment to maintenance and data collection.

Wheat harvest is underway and, like most others are reporting from this area, yields seem to be holding up well.  Now to determine how much bump we got from all those experimental herbicides and fungicides we put out last fall and this spring.

We got rain this week on Monday across the entire region and again locally around Memphis on Wednesday.  These were welcome as the ground was starting to dry out a bit.  In the heat of the summer, we are always about two weeks away from being too dry in Memphis.  The soils are a little heavier at the Jackson location, so it often takes a bit long to see the stress on the crops.

The frequent rain this spring has been great for weed trials.  It has provided flush after flush of pigweeds as well as most any other weed you can think of.  Of course, if it is not a weed control trial that's a different story.  Let's just say the sprayers have not sit idle much this spring.

Thanks to our friends at Arysta, SePro, and MWI Consulting for dropping by over the past couple of weeks to visit.  Hope to see them back soon.

Proverbs 12:24
The hand of the diligent shall bear rule, but the slothful shall be put to forced labor.