Bertie County Farmline
November 2012
Richard W. Rhodes
County Extension Director
Corn On-Farm Tests Results Reported
Yields from five corn variety tests conducted in Bertie County during 2012 are reported in this issue of the Bertie County Farm Line. This year proved to be one of the better corn producing years since 2004 here in Bertie County. Hot and dry weather during pollination of the corn test in the Colerain area had a detrimental affect on corn yield of that particular test. Yield data was not taken from one test because of weather related problems and uneven irrigation of the site. The highest corn yields (test average of 233.3 bushels per acre) were achieved in the test conducted with Norman and Warner Perry, which received full irrigation. An average yield of 134.1 bushels per acre was obtained with the test conducted with Henry Alston, which was dry land corn but received timely rains during pollination. These tests provide valuable information to area corn producers in selecting the best-adapted and yielding varieties for their soil and weather conditions. When viewing varieties in an individual test be sure to compare how the varieties performed to the adjacent check variety and not directly to each other variety at the test site. This will be a better indicator of the actual yield potential of the variety in question since yields can be impacted greatly by changing field conditions at the test site. I would caution growers not to make major changes in varieties planted from just one-year worth of yield data. Use this information to add varieties, which show promise on a small scale to your farming operation. You should select varieties that regularly produce above average yields over two to three seasons. A good management practice as you well know is to plant several varieties of different maturities. This provides a hedge against short periods of high temperatures and drought conditions, which are extremely detrimental to corn pollination and grain development.
I would like to express my appreciation to Henry Alston, Joey Baker, Charles Harden, Danny Perry and Mike Perry, Norman and Warner Perry and Tommy Corbett and Joel Alston of the Peanut Belt Research Station for taking time from their busy schedules to participate in the 2012 Corn Variety On-Farm Testing Program conducted by the Bertie County Extension Center.
N.C. Official Variety Testing (OVT)
Results of the 2012 N.C. OVT for wheat and corn are currently available at www.ncovt.com along with the previous years results of the other field crops.
Grain Sorghum Tests Yields Shows Promise
During 2012 the Bertie County Extension Center cooperated with Grabtown Farms, Dawson and Finn Rascoe and Peanut Belt Research Station, Tommy Corbett and Joel Alston in conducting two-grain sorghum variety tests. Both test were grown under dry land conditions however yields of over 100 bushels were achieved with many of the varieties. Yields of these two tests are enclosed. I would like to express my thanks to Grabtown Farms and the Peanut Belt Research Station for their support and cooperation that made this work possible.
2012 Soybean Production Yield contest For NC
As one travels around Bertie County it is evident that there are some very good soybean yields that will be harvested this year. I would like to encourage growers to enter the N.C. Soybean Yield Contest this year to document their yield achievements. A minimum of 3 acres of soybeans needs to be measured in order to enter the contest. Please give me a call at 794-5317 if you are interested in this contest.
Late Wheat Planting
We are currently at the ideal calendar date for planting wheat in our area. However, with the major rain event that has just hit eastern North Carolina crop harvest has come to a stand still. This will not only delay harvest but will also result in many wheat fields being seeded later than had been planned. Depending on future weather conditions this may lead to you asking how late can wheat be planted in our area? Wheat needs to be breaking the ground by Christmas Day to obtain halfway suitable yields. Therefore wheat needs to be seeded by December 18th, if this is not possible one should forego wheat and plan on planting full season soybeans.
Seeding rates of 32 seed per row foot is needed at this late date. Nitrogen at the rate of 20 to 30 pounds per acre should be applied per acre at planting to promote early growth and tillering. An additional 20 to 30 pounds of nitrogen should be allied in late January to stimulate growth if a suitable stand is present. Temperatures above 50 in January are needed to promote tillering.
Peanut Yield Contest
Peanut producers in Bertie County grow 25 acres or more of peanuts are eligible to enter the 2012 yield contest. Acre verification and production information is required to enter. Deadline for entries is Friday, January 18, 2013.
County Cotton Yield Contest
Bertie County farmers, which produce 50 or more acres of cotton, are eligible to enter the 2012 Bertie County Cotton Yield Contest. To enter, farmers should bring their yield and acreage verification information to the Bertie County Extension Center by Friday, January 18, 2013.
RAFI-USA’s Tobacco Communities Reinvestment Fund to Distribute $180,000 in Grants to Innovative North Carolina Farmers in 2013.
Applications will be accepted until December 5, 2012.
The Rural Advancement Foundation International-USA (RAFIUSA) will award $180,000 in grants to independent family farms in North Carolina for new farming
enterprises that demonstrate innovative opportunities in production, processing and marketing. Known as the Tobacco Communities Reinvestment Fund, the program is administered by RAFIUSA, a non-profit organization based in Pittsboro and funded by the N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission. The program is designed to keep farmers in farming and to maintain the economic base of North Carolina’s rural communities.
In 2013, the Tobacco Communities Reinvestment Fund will award up to $8,000 to individual farmers and up to $10,000 for collaborative farmer projects. The deadline to submit applications is December 5, 2012.
Grant applications and eligibility guidelines are available online at www.ncfarmgrants.org.
Eligibility:
· Farmers must be earning at least 50% of their personal income from their farm operation.
· Priority will be given to projects that demonstrate a way to replace lost tobacco income.
· High priority will be given to innovative projects that show a new direction or opportunity in farming.
· Past grantees that received a grant from RAFI-USA or Tobacco Trust Fund Commission are not eligible.
YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY GIVEN THE FACT ONE GROWER IN BERTIE COUNTY RECEIVED A GRANT IN 2012
The 64th Crop Protection School
The 64thd Crop Protection School and annual meeting of the Crop Protection Association of North Carolina, Inc. is scheduled for December 5, 2012 at the Hilton North Raleigh Midtown. For more information, please contact our office at 794-5317.
