Hello!

I know you're all busy in the fields so I'll keep it brief - don't forget about your small grains! Flag leaf is the most important time to scout for disease and determine if a fungicide application is necessary. Flag leaf forms around 34 days after spring emergence so this may be in the next 2-3 weeks depending on your planting date.

If you scroll down you'll notice there are TONS of upcoming small grains events. After things slow down, remember to check back in for field days happening near you!

Good Luck,

Alisha
June 7 Shared Learning Call on Processing Small Grains for Animal Feed
If you have livestock, incorporating small grains into rations is a great way to support an extended rotation on your farm, but there are some equipment and animal health considerations to be aware of before taking the plunge. Cindy McCollough of Blue Stem Organic Feed will join our call on Friday, June 7 Noon - 1 pm to review on and off farm milling equipment and kinds of grain milling or processing most suited to different kinds of livestock and their production phases. We'll kick off the call with a focus on pigs and cattle, but bring your questions about other livestock for the Q & A.

To Join dial (605) 313-5784 and enter passcode 239000 on Friday, June 7 at noon.
Enterprise Budgets from Oat-Corn Years of Extended Rotation Show Profitability
One of the most common questions that I hear farmers ask when they consider planting a small grain as a year of their rotation is "what about profitabillty?" To help put some more solid numbers to this question we have taken some of the data provided by cost share participants in 2017 and 2018 to draw up enterprise budgets demonstrating short-term expenses and income for the oat and corn years of an extended rotation for both conventional production and transition to organic. The results show that with some key management choices small grains can be profitable!

Check out these enterprise budgets the Practical Farmers blog.
EVENTS
May

IL Wheat Growers: Southern IL Wheat Tour
May 29, 2019 | End at Belleville, IL, various tour locations nearby

June

June 4, 2019 | La Porte City, IA

June 12, 2019 | Oconomowoc, WI

June 13, 2019 | West Union, IA

June 18, 2019 | Dyersville, IA

June 20, 2019 | Keota, IA

June 24, 2019 | Rochester, MN

June 25, 2019 | Danforth, IL

June 25, 2019 | Le Center, MN

June 25, 2019 | New Ulm, MN

June 26, 2019 | Fostoria, OH

June 26, 2019 | Kimball, MN

June 26, 2019 | Benson, MN

Upland Watershed Group Field Day: From Grain to Plate
June 30, 2019 | Ridgeway, WI

July

July 2, 2019 | Galva, IA

July 9, 2019 | Fergus Falls, MN

July 10, 2019 | Oklee, MN

July 10, 2019 | Onalaska, WI

July 11, 2019 | Humboldt, MN

July 11, 2019 | Strathcona, MN

July 17, 2019 | Sutherland, IA

August

August 15-16, 2019 | Wisconsin Dells, WI

August 16, 2019 | Harlan, IA

August 22, 2019 | Frederick, IL

IL Wheat Growers: Summer Wheat Forum
August 22, 2019 | TBD, IL
IN THE FIELD
Be Ready to Fertilize
The optimal time to apply fertilizer to small grains to avoid lodging is before planting or shortly after. Make sure you're ready to apply fertilizer at the right time.
  1. The fertilizing small grains short from our rotationally raised video series.
  2. The blog from March 2017's shared learning call with agronomists on optimal fertilizer strategies.
  3. The blog from June 2017's shared learning call on Mark Ditlevson's fertilizer timing and rates.
  4. University of Minnesota's oat fertilizer recommendations.
Scouting and Disease Management
Maintaining yields and achieving market specifications like test weight or germination depend upon successful management of small grains diseases:

  1. Scouting and Disease Management Blog from April 2019 shared learning call.
  2. The disease management episode of our rotationally raised video series.
Looking for more? Contact us today!
Alisha Bower
Strategic Initiatives Manager
(515) 232-5661
Sarah Carlson
Strategic Initiatives Director
(515) 232-5661
Celize Christy
Swine and Poultry Coordinator
515-232-5661