Research Update (April 1, 2024)

 

Research Update (April 1, 2024)

 

Diligence Technologies Inc., West Tennessee

EVENTS FROM THE PAST MONTH:

Ready or not, the season is upon us.  We spent the past month easing back out into the field as weather allowed.  Wheat is being sprayed, burndown trials are going out, and preparations for corn planting are underway.  Things should get real busy over the next month.

 

CROPPING SEASONS:

Wheat trials are marked out in preparation for fungicide trials later this month.  Some burndown trials have been sprayed with others going out in the near future.

Row crop planting season is upon us as we have the second week of April targeted to begin corn planting.  Later in April we hope to be establishing several weed trials before moving on to cotton in early May.

 

GREENHOUSE ACTIVITIES:

The greenhouse is still surprisingly busy as we enter what is normally the last month of greenhouse season.  We have a few more soybean, cotton, and vegetable trials to wrap up before we shut the greenhouse down for the season and move back to spending all our time in the field.  Many thanks to all that brought us greenhouse trials over the winter.  We are very grateful to be able to stay busy through the cold months.

 

WEATHER INFO:

The weather has been quite nice so far this spring.  We have had several warm days scattered in among the normal cool spells.  Rain has been fairly consistent so far and we are entering planting season with good soil moisture.  Now we just hope the trend will hold as we start to put seed in the ground.

 

PEST INFO:

With the warm weather, we are beginning to see some summer annuals in the fields a bit earlier than normal.  Otherwise, we still have a collection of winter annuals until we get them all burned down.  Aphid pressure in wheat has been light this year and we have not had much to talk about on the insect front for a while.

We are looking forward to another safe and productive research season.  Let us know how we can be of service to you in the coming year.

Tim, Jake, Will, & Jim

 

Proverbs 12:24

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

 

Research Update (March 4, 2024)

 Research Update (March 4, 2024)

 

Diligence Technologies Inc., West Tennessee

EVENTS FROM THE PAST MONTH:

We spent the last month pretty close to home.  Winter meeting season was winding down as we made our way to the West Tennessee Grain Conference, Cotton Focus, and the Gin Show.  Nice to have meetings that allow you to see your friends but still spend the night in your own bed.  Now is when we shift our focus back to the field and start making plans for the upcoming year.

 

CROPPING SEASONS:

We are beginning the 2024 field season by doing a little work in wheat.  Wheat herbicide work was started during one of the warm stretches we have had recently.  We have also begun to apply fertilizer and locate spots for fungicide trials this spring.  If you have any wheat fungicide work still on the list, let us know. We still have wheat available that can be converted to plots.  Our most common wheat foliar fungicide trials deal with Septoria leaf spot and head scab.

 

GREENHOUSE ACTIVITIES:

The greenhouse is still very active with a few more trials to start before the season ends.  Consider this to be “last call” for greenhouse work this spring as we begin to transition to the field.  However, we will be glad to slide in a late winter trial if you have the need.

 

WEATHER INFO:

We can’t tell if it is summer or winter.  We have been blessed with some excellent days where we were looking for an excuse to get outside.  In contrast, we are still getting cold, windy days where we just want to hide in the greenhouse.  Such is the joy of spring in the south.  At least we have been getting rainfall this spring which should help when it comes time to plant.

 

PEST INFO:

Things are quiet on the pest front right now (as would be expected in early March).  However, we have been scouting for good burndown spots and the normal collection of winter annuals seems to be present.  Let us know if you have a burndown protocol that needs a home.

 

As we move into the 2024 field season, we look forward to working with each of you again this year.  A little break in winter is not a bad thing, but it does not take long to start missing being outside and working in the fields.  If we can help with your research program this season, please let us know.  That’s what we’re here for.

 

Tim, John Louis, Jake, Will, & Jim

 

Proverbs 10:4

He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand, but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.