Research Update (October 7, 2019)

Research Update (October 7, 2019)

Diligence Technologies Inc., West Tennessee

CROPPING SEASONS:

For the first time this season, we have had a real dry spell.  The past few weeks have been unusually warm for September and rainfall has been hard to come by.  Corn was pretty much done before the dry weather hit, so I do not believe we will see much impact there.  However, it has made cotton move along a bit faster than anticipated and we are well into defoliation at this point.  Our biggest concern has been our soybean disease plots.  Due to replanting, our soybeans are later than normal and the dry weather has not helped the development of frogeye leaf spot.  We did get some relief from the dry weather in Jackson, but let’s hope it was not too late.

GREENHOUSE ACTIVITIES:

With all the warm weather, it is hard to convince ourselves that we need to be getting the greenhouse ready for winter.  However, we have braved the heat and have things in pretty good shape for another season.  We will be running trials in October, so let us know if you have any projects in the works.

 

WEATHER INFO:

A hot, dry September has been the latest weather challenge this season.  Frequent rains slowed trial establishment early in the year, but those same rains have produced some nice trials so we really do not have much to grip about.  If the fall continues to be warm and dry, I would anticipate an earlier harvest season than last year (when it started raining and would not stop).

 PEST INFO:

Weed pressure has been excellent for the most part this season as the rain showers have resulted in constant flushes of new weeds.  We, of course, are probably the only ones happy about that.

Insect pressure has been variable depending on the species.  We had some excellent fall armyworm pressure in our late-planted corn. Plant bug pressure in cotton has been moderate but steady.  Not the outstanding populations that are seen at times, but enough to get some work done.  Soybeans have had plenty of insects except stinkbugs.  However, the stinkbug populations have picked up in our latest soybeans and I think those trials will be fine.

Gray leaf spot in corn was very good this year.  It did start a bit later in the season, but the pressure was more than adequate for fungicide evaluations.  The jury is still out on frogeye leaf spot in soybeans.  Pressure has been lighter than normal and slow to develop.  The degree of separation we will see in yields is still up in the air.

 

Hope all is well with our friends as they finish off the 2019 cropping season.  Let us know what you need in the way of wheat trials and greenhouse work as those are next on our list.

 

PROVERBS 27:23-24

Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds; for riches are not forever.

 

Research Update (April 1, 2019)

Research Update (April 1, 2019)

Diligence Technologies Inc., West Tennessee

 

EVENTS FROM THE PAST MONTH:

The “real” part of our season is fast approaching as we reach April.  March provided the first relief in a long time from the constant showers of winter.  Moderating temperatures and sunshine have allowed us to make at least some progress in getting ready for the coming growing season.  Paperwork is still a big part of our daily lives at this point.  Anything we can do to get ourselves a bit more ready will be greatly appreciated in the coming months.

 

CROPPING SEASONS:

Wheat is beginning green-up and resuming growth after the winter.  The periods of nice weather in March allowed us to do some much-needed maintenance (spraying and fertilizing).  Now is the time to let us know if you have any need for foliar fungicide work in wheat this year.  We have some wheat left, but the time for application will be here before you know it.

Burndown trials are starting to go out.  While they often start a bit earlier in the season (March), this season the weeds are getting a little slower start due to the poor early growing conditions.  We are just now seeing the weed growth needed to get most of our trials into the proper application window.  We may still have a few burndown spots available if you need to slide something in at the last moment.

We are about to get corn planting underway for the year.  In general, we usually start planting corn beginning the second week of April if the weather will cooperate.  Let’s hope it does this season.

 

GREENHOUSE ACTIVITIES:

Still plenty going on in the greenhouse as we attempt to finish off the season.  Stop by if you are in the neighborhood this spring.  You will see a variety of crops from old standards like corn and soybean to more unusual selections like mustard greens, radish, and turf.  We can also supply a variety of weeds of you need to tune your identification skills prior to summer.  The greenhouse should be going strong through April and we hope to have it shut down soon after that.

 

WEATHER INFO:

We have finally started to get some warm, sunny days to dry out the fields and help with preparations for the season.  The wheat and winter annual weeds are turning green and beginning to grow.  We are out of the field right now due to rain this past weekend, but we hope to be back in the field soon.  However, if experience is any indicator, there are still a few cold spells left in April that can make things interesting going forward.

 

PEST INFO:

About all we have to offer in the way of pests right now is a good population of winter annuals.  Summer weeds have not really got going yet and insects have not been a huge factor for us this winter.  I would expect to see foliar wheat diseases begin to take off in the near future, so again, please let us know soon if you have any wheat fungicide trials that need a home.

 

We are excited to begin another growing season and look forward to seeing you around the farm.  Let us know what we can do to support your research program this season.

 

Proverbs 22:29

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

Research Update (March 4, 2019)

Research Update (March 4, 2019)

 Diligence Technologies Inc., West Tennessee
 
 
EVENTS FROM THE PAST MONTH:

February was a busy month.  Our meeting stops included:

Southern Weed Science Society (Oklahoma City)
West Tennessee Grain Conference (Dyersburg)
Cotton Focus (Jackson)
Tennessee Ag Production Association (Jackson)
Gin Show (Memphis)

We had a great month of catching up with old friends and planning for new season of research trials.  If we have not had the opportunity to start planning your trials for the coming year, give us a call and we'll be glad include you in the program.


UPCOMING EVENTS:

As meeting season comes to a close, field work starts to pick up.  March tends to be a transition month in Tennessee.  Our winter greenhouse work is still going strong this month and our field work is generally limited to wheat trials and burndown work.  But this is the month where we start to realize that winter is letting go and planting is just around the corner.


CROPPING SEASONS:

We did manage to spray a few wheat plots with a backpack in February, but it was difficult to do much past that.  The fields generally remain too wet for equipment (and often have been to wet to walk on).  We are still looking for a little window to do wheat maintenance sprays and fertilization.  Burndown trials will begin in March and we appear to have a good crop of weeds to work with.  We still have time to slide in a few more burndown trials if you have the need.


GREENHOUSE ACTIVITIES:

While things are slow in the field, growing conditions in the greenhouse remain perfect.  Things remain busy as we finish off the early trials and begin a few later ones.  As usual, we have once again expanded the range of things we have done in the greenhouse to include new crops, products, and application methods.  As strange as it seems, we will only have the greenhouse open for a couple more months (give or take), so consider this to be "last call" for any greenhouse work you might have this season.


WEATHER INFO:

The only word you need to know about our weather for the past month (or the past four months for that matter) is "wet".  We have already received more that twice the rain we received to this point last year.  With the cooler temperatures and limited sunshine, we have had very little opportunity for things to dry out.  Like everyone else in west Tennessee, we are looking forward to some warm, sunny days in March to dry things out and get things going in earnest.


PEST INFO:

Other than winter weeds (of which we have plenty), there is not a lot to discuss in the way of pest pressure.  Aphids in wheat, while usually present, have not been a major issue for us so far this season.  However, look for wheat foliar diseases to start making their annual appearance this month and next.  If you are in need of a foliar disease trial in wheat, we should have you covered.


We are again thankful for all the friends and customers we have visited with over the past few months.  It is one of the truly enjoyable parts of the job.  We look forward to another great year and ask that you let us know how we can serve you in the coming season.


Proverbs 21:5

The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research Update (February 4, 2019)

Research Update (February 4, 2019)

Diligence Technologies Inc., West Tennessee

EVENTS FROM THE PAST MONTH:

It was good to do a little traveling to warmer climates in January.  The NAICC meeting in Savannah, GA was a great success.  We have opportunities to catch up with old friends and see a beautiful, historic city.  It was also great to visit Baton Rouge, LA and attend the Cotton and Rice Conservation Tillage Conference.  As always, there were lots of useful presentations and lots of folks to catch up with.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

As meeting season continues, we have the following on our schedule:

Southern Weed Science Society (Oklahoma City, OK, Feb. 4-6)

West Tennessee Grain Conference (Dyersburg, TN, Feb. 7)

Cotton Focus (Jackson, TN, Feb. 15)

Tennessee Ag Production Association (Jackson, TN, Feb. 20)

Mid-South Farm and Gin Show (Memphis, TN, Mar. 1-2)

Let us know where you plan to be.  We would love to see you this winter and make plans for the spring.


CROPPING SEASONS:

Not much new in the field right now.  Winter wheat continues to suffer from too much moisture and it has basically been too wet for any significant field work for the past few months.  We are hoping for a break in late February or early March so that we can do maintenance on the wheat and begin burndown trials.


GREENHOUSE ACTIVITIES:

While things may be slow in the field, the greenhouse is in full swing.  We spent a great deal of January filling pots and planting seed inside the toasty greenhouse.  As usual, we have some interesting projects to complete on a wide variety of crops and pests.

We still have time to get some additional projects underway if you find yourself in need of data before spring.


WEATHER INFO:

Did I mention that it has been wet?  Rainfall began during harvest this past fall and has given us very few breaks since then.  With the cool temperatures, we don't seem to have time for the ground to dry out from one rain to the next.

Last week we experienced our first really cold winter temperatures of the season (lows about 10 F for a couple of nights).  The wheat that we did manage to get planted and out of the ground should be in pretty good shape at this point.  Of course, the cold snaps that really tend to damage wheat usually occur later in the year after the wheat has resumed growth.


PEST INFO:

Right now we have the usual collection winter weeds (henbit, chickweed, etc.) and should be in good shape for burndown trials in the spring.  Let us know if need any early burndown work and we will save you a spot before it all goes away during spring maintenance operations.


As always, we are thankful for your business and your friendship.  Please let us know how we can serve you in the months ahead.


Proverbs 12:27

… the substance of the diligent man is precious.

  

Research Update (January 7, 2019)

Research Update (January 7, 2019)

 

Diligence Technologies Inc., West Tennessee

EVENTS FROM THE PAST MONTH:

The NCWSS meeting in Milwaukee was excellent as always (and not nearly as cold as this southerner had feared).  Great to see all the old friends that we only run into when we venture up north.


UPCOMING EVENTS:

With meeting season in full swing, we have a busy calendar for the winter months.  Look for us at any of the upcoming meetings listed below:

NAICC, JAN 16-19, Savannah, GA

Cotton & Rice Conference, JAN 30-FEB 1, Baton Rouge, LA

Southern Weed Science Society, FEB 3-6, Oklahoma City, OK
Tennessee Ag Production Association, FEB 20, Jackson, TN

Mid-South Farm & Gin Show, MAR 1-2, Memphis, TN


CROPPING SEASONS:

The field work is finally (mostly) put to bed for the season.  The last wheat and fall weed control data has been taken and we are mostly on hold until the weather breaks in late winter or early spring (which is really only a couple of months away).  Until then, we still have things to keep us busy.


GREENHOUSE ACTIVITIES:

Field work may have slowed down, but projects on the greenhouse are just getting started.  The interesting thing about greenhouse work is that you never know what is coming.  We have already started working with new crops, new pests, and new products that we had never tried in the greenhouse prior to this season.

We still have time and space left to start additional projects if you have the need.  Just let us know and we will make a plan.
 

WEATHER INFO:

The weather continued to be unusually cold and wet through December.  We had very few days suitable for field work and gathering data was particularly difficult.  We did manage to get most of our work completed, but almost everything (included us) picked up some mud in the process.

PEST INFO:

Winter weeds are about the only pests we have in the fields right now, but keep in mind that we should have some excellent sites come burndown time next spring.
 

Proverbs 12:24

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

 
 

 

Research Update (December 3, 2018)

Research Update (December 3, 2018)

 Diligence Technologies Inc., West Tennessee

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Meeting season is officially underway as we head to Milwaukee for the NCWSS meeting with many more meetings to come in early 2019.  Let us know where you plan to be and we will make it a point catch up.

North Central Weed Science Society, DEC 3-6, Milwaukee, WI

NAICC, JAN 16-19, Savannah, GA

Cotton & Rice Conference, JAN 30-FEB 1, Baton Rouge, LA

Southern Weed Science Society, FEB 3-6, Oklahoma City, OK

Tennessee Ag Production Association, FEB 20, Jackson, TN

Mid-South Farm & Gin Show, MAR 1-2, Memphis, TN

CROPPING SEASONS:
The 2018 harvest started off in good shape with most plots coming out of the field a little bit earlier than normal aided by the warm summer that accelerated crop maturity.  However, things came to halt as frequent October and November showers made it difficult to get equipment into the fields.  Corn harvest was not impacted and we were very fortunate to finish cotton harvest just prior to the rains starting.  Like many of the growers in the area, we were not able to finish off soybeans prior to the wet weather and harvest of the remaining soybean plots was delayed by several weeks.  We did finally get a small harvest window just prior to Thanksgiving that allowed us to finish off harvest for this season.

Winter wheat has also suffered from frequent showers that made wheat planting difficult.  We did manage to get our wheat planted, but wet ground and cold temperatures have resulted in a crop off to slow start.

GREENHOUSE ACTIVITIES:
 
As temperatures drop, the heated greenhouse becomes an evermore appealing option.  Annual start-up maintenance is complete and we currently have ample space to add your greenhouse projects.  Let us know how we can help you continue to generate the data you need through the winter months.
 

WEATHER INFO:

Cold and wet has been the story for most of November making it difficult to do much of anything in the field.  We have managed to harvest our last soybean trials, plant wheat, and spray fall burndown trials but none of it has been particularly easy as we struggled to find locations dry enough for most any field activity.  We are very thankful that we have been able to keep our fall projects moving under difficult conditions.

 

PEST INFO: 

It seems that we see a lot of same weeds germinating each fall, but the species that dominates the landscape varies with the weather.  Last fall, henbit was everywhere.  While we still have henbit this season, we are seeing a lot more cutleaf eveningprimrose and pennycress than normal.  If you happen to be targeting either of these species this winter or next spring, we have you covered.

THANKS:

We would like to offer our sincere thanks to those who helped make 2018 such a successful year at Diligence Technologies.  We are grateful for the customers and friends (those are mostly the same people by the way) that trusted us with their research needs.  We hope that you and your families have a blessed Christmas season.
 

Proverbs 10:4

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

 

 

Research Update (November 5, 2018)

Research Update (November 5, 2018)

 

Diligence Technologies Inc., West Tennessee

EVENTS FROM THE PAST MONTH:

Most of the annual meeting season is still in front of us, but we did enjoy visiting with friends at the Small Plot Equipment Field Day on October 25 at the Agricenter.  If you have missed it in the past, make sure to put it on your calendar for next year.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Be sure to look us up at the winter meetings.  Over the next few months we plan to attend:

North Central Weed Science Society, DEC 3-6, Milwaukee, WI
Cotton & Rice Conference, JAN 10-12, Memphis, TN
NAICC, JAN 16-19, Savannah, GA
Southern Weed Science Society, FEB 3-6, Oklahoma City, OK

We will be adding several more local and regional meetings to the list as winter gets closer.

CROPPING SEASONS:

We are making pretty good progress on finishing off trials from the summer.  While we did have some rainy periods that slowed harvest, we have managed to finish off all the corn and cotton trials.  We are making slow but sure progress on the soybean trials as weather permits.

Wheat planting is underway and we still have a bit of a window for planting if you need to slide in a trial this season.  As always, we will be planting some extra wheat for those trials you have not thought of yet.

We are also in the process of establishing a few winter weed control trials.  November is an excellent time to start this type of trial if you have the need.


GREENHOUSE ACTIVITIES:

We spent a few of our rainy days this fall doing a bit of cleaning and getting ready for greenhouse trials.  We are now up and running, so take advantage of our heated greenhouse space for your winter projects.


WEATHER INFO:
 
Harvest season has been a bit of a "start and stop" process with more rain than we usually see in October.  Temperatures remained warm well into October and then dropped suddenly.  We saw about a 20 degree drop in temperature from one day to next and summer was gone.  No gradual decline or "up and down" variations that we often get in the fall.  A few more dry days and we should be able to finish off the 2018 harvest.

PEST INFO:
 
Winter weeds (henbit, pennycress, chickweed, etc.) seem to be off to a good start this fall.  This should make for some good fall and spring burndown trials if you are looking for a spot.  Otherwise, pest issues seem to be pretty minor as we head into winter.

Proverbs 27:23-24

Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds; for riches are not forever.