Research Update (March 2, 2020)

Research Update (March 2, 2020)

Diligence Technologies Inc., West Tennessee

Let’s call February the calm before the storm.  We had a little time to relax with the local folks at meetings not too far from away (Dyersburg Grain Conference, TN Ag Production Association, Cotton Focus, Gin Show).  This is one of our favorite stretches in meeting season where the fellowship is great and we can still sleep at home.

Our final big meeting on the calendar is the WSSA.  If you are at this one and we do not already have a meeting scheduled, let me know.  It would be a great time to make plans for the summer.

CROPPING SEASONS:

Field trial season is rapidly approaching and I expect to be spraying burndown trials before the end of the month.  We still have time and space for some additional burndown trials if you have some materials that you are looking to test.  In addition, we still have extra wheat in the field that can be used for postemergence herbicide and foliar fungicide trials.  If you are looking for wheat testing this spring, we need to be putting the finishing touches on those protocols.  Call me and we will make a plan.

GREENHOUSE ACTIVITIES:

We continue to initiate new greenhouse trials and put the finishing touches on some of the early ones.  Herbicide and insecticide trials have been the most common so far (which is not a big surprise as these are greenhouse standards).  It also appears that we will be doing more fertility work before the season is out.  Come by and check out our variety of crops and pests if you are in the neighborhood.  We might even give you a free tomato (one of the perks of working in a heated greenhouse all winter).

 

WEATHER INFO:

Temperatures have been relatively mild for February, but the rain has seemed constant.  We have had only a few glimpses of sunshine between wet and cloudy days.  Very little has been done in the field to this point, but you can count on that to change at the first sign of dryer weather.  Wheat needs to be sprayed and fertilized and burndown will pick up soon.  March is when the world of agriculture comes back to life in Tennessee.

PEST INFO:

There are a few aphids around and winter annual weeds continue to prosper.  Otherwise, most of the pests we encounter are those of our own making in the greenhouse.  Things will pick up as crops go in the ground in April so stay tuned.

As another season approaches, we hope you will again allow Diligence Technologies to be part of your research testing program.  We look forward to another busy year and look forward to seeing you around the farm this summer.

Proverbs 22:29

Seest thou a man diligent in his business?  He shall stand before kings…

Research Update (February 3, 2020)

Research Update (February 3, 2020)

Diligence Technologies Inc., West Tennessee

NEW SERVICE – DT SHIPPING SERVICES:

In response to a need expressed by some our existing customers, Diligence Technologies will be providing research sample packaging and shipping services.  If you need someone to help handle the process of getting your research samples where they need to go, give us a call.  We will be glad to help.

EVENTS FROM THE PAST MONTH:

Meeting season went into high gear in late January with visits to the NAICC in San Antonio, the SWSS in Biloxi, and the Cotton and Rice Conference in Memphis.  While we always enjoy catching up with old friends, it will be a bit of a relief to reach the part of winter where the meetings tend to be a little closer to home (and we can sleep in our own beds).  Look for us in February at a variety of meetings around west Tennessee and let us know how we can be of service.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

We currently have the following meetings on our winter schedule:

Grain Conference (Feb. 6, Dyersburg, TN)

TN Ag Production Association (Feb. 12, Jackson, TN)

Cotton Focus (Feb. 13, Jackson, TN)

Gin Show (Feb. 28-29, Memphis, TN)

WSSA (Mar. 2-5, Maui, HI)

CROPPING SEASONS:

This is our slowest time of the year in the field with only an occasional rating or trip to view an ongoing trial.  That will change soon, however, as we move into spring applications to winter wheat and burndown trials.  Now is a great time to call with wheat fungicide and postemergence herbicide trials as well as early burndown work.  We want to be ready to head back to the field as soon as spring begins.

GREENHOUSE ACTIVITIES:

When we are slowest in the field, we tend to be the busiest in the greenhouse.  Ongoing greenhouse trials are being treated and evaluated and new trials are beginning.  If you are considering some greenhouse testing this winter, now would be a great time to give us a call.  We want to make sure that we have everything started in a timely manner so that we can finish up before shutting the greenhouse down for the summer.

WEATHER INFO:

Winter finally arrived in west Tennessee in late January.  The early part of January (and much of December for that matter) was warm and wet.  While we are still getting moisture, the temperatures recently have dropped to near normal (and sometimes quite a bit below normal).  This will slow the growth of winter weeds and winter wheat, but that is what we expect this time of year and should not be an issue.

We hope your winter is going great.  We look forward to seeing the folks we have not managed to catch up with yet.  And we hope you are getting a little rest before we all head back to the field for another season.

Proverbs 21:5

The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness.