Ag News for Wednesday April 21, 2016

Study Finds University Extension Programs Keep Farmers in Business

A new study says federal cooperative extension programs at land-grant universities help farmers stay in business. The researchers say since 1985, 137,000 farmers would have left the industry without the federal program. The study says cooperative extension and agricultural research translate into higher farm profits, allowing farmers to stay in agriculture. The researchers say that unlike extension and research programs, farm subsidies or commodity programs may not have the intended effect of keeping farmers on their farms. The study found areas receiving more subsidies or commodity dollars also saw a greater loss of farmers three or four years later.

Herbicide Resistance in Waterhemp Continues To Grow

Research by the University of Illinois shows herbicide resistance in waterhemp continues to grow. A new study by the University found some populations of waterhemp, resistant to many commonly used herbicides, are also resistant to alternative herbicide options. University of Illinois weed scientist Aaron Hager says the study “essentially confirmed that we can’t control this population with three classes of herbicides.” The study, focusing on the waterhemp population in central Illinois, did find the population was sensitive to glyphosate. But, researchers cautioned that if farmers switch to a class of herbicides that works today, it is unlikely to work for very long before waterhemp develops resistance to that herbicide. The University offers an alternative method for farmers to beat waterhemp. Researchers say if farmers attack waterhemp at the seed, where the weed is at the most vulnerable stage, then farmers could beat the weed in five to seven years. The University recommends that farmers let seeds germinate, then mechanically work the soil before planting a crop. The researchers say farmers should repeat this strategy for multiple years until the seed bank is diminished.

Source;  NAFB News