This past week was the official end of winter meeting season with the Southeastern Branch ESA meeting in Greenville, SC. While we always enjoy seeing old friends and catching up on the latest information, I must say I look forward to getting out of the meeting rooms and back out into the sunshine.
Speaking of sunshine, we have had a nice break in the weather the past few days that has allowed us to get out and start working on the coming research season.
Winter wheat is starting to green up nicely from the fertilizer we applied last month. The cold weather had limited wheat growth through the winter, so between the fertilizer and a few warm, sunny days things are beginning to turn around. We continued our wheat fertility work this week and would anticipate a good crop this spring (but we still have a long way to go).
Winter weeds are also starting to show signs of life. While the rest of world is more than happy to see the cold weather knock back the winter annuals, we need them for testing. While I think the development of our burndown weeds will be delayed this spring, I am seeing good populations of horseweed, henbit, chickweed, annual bluegrass, and cutleaf eveningprimrose.
We have started the process of calibrating sprayers and setting up planters. Corn planting will be here before long and we want to be ready.
Please continue to pass along your protocols as you finish your plans for the upcoming season and we look forward to seeing you around the farm in 2014.
Proverbs 12:27
… the substance of the diligent man is precious.