Starting a new crop is the beginning of a new year for most farms, but it's also a time when taking care of a key piece of equipment can make a big difference in spring success. The planter is a complex tool that must be precise when the weather is right to hit the field. A new free guide from Farm Progress offers information to get that planter in tip-top shape.

To reduce the likelihood of introducing new pests to the farm, producers should develop a biosecurity plan for their operation. Read on to learn things to consider when developing a plan for your farm.

The importance of keeping crop protectant applications on target continues to be at the forefront of growers' minds as well as people neighboring the farms. Making sure the product stays on the intended target is critical for the health of the plant as well as those surrounding the area. As you plan for the 2023 crop season, also plan for how you're going to reduce spray drift this coming season. 

Manure has all seventeen essential plant nutrients and can increase yield beyond what can be obtained with fertilizer only. In this project with the Nutrient Management Spear Program, the nitrogen fertilizer replacement value (how much N can we credit to manure?) is evaluated and yield differences as a result of manure application. Read on to learn the requirements for participation and trial setup. 

Winter manure spreading can be a tricky issue depending on where you farm. In the Northeast, some states ban winter manure spreading, while others allow it but have specific rules to follow. Regulations surrounding winter manure spreading vary greatly by state, so make sure you're up to date on what you're allowed to do in New York.

When someone becomes helplessly engulfed in grain, rural firefighters are often the first and only line of defense. Unfortunately, many departments lack the specialized techniques and equipment necessary for a successful grain bin rescue. Nationwide Insurance once again is teaming up with the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety (NECAS), Peosta, Iowa, to award emergency first responders with grain rescue tubes and hands-on rescue training to help save lives.

The contest begins on January 1, 2023 at 8:00 a.m. CT and extends through April 30, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. CT. Only entries submitted during this time will be considered for the contest. To enter, describe how your local fire department or emergency rescue team and community would benefit from grain entrapment training and a rescue tube, as well as how the tube and training could be shared with nearby departments. For more information click here or contact jim.carrabba@bassett.org or call (800)343-7527 ext. 2216. 

CCE is working with officials to understand the extent of the December 2022 Blizzard. We are collecting information on damage to agricultural infrastructure, equipment, livestock, stored crops, and/or winter produce. You can either fill out the reporting survey, found at https://cornell.ca1.qualtrics.com/.../SV_9AytO5D9oYvRCXc or report the damage to one of our team's regional specialists. If you had damage from the November 2022 storm and haven't yet reported it, you can do that at this time.

The seed delivery system in drills is not as precise as that used in planters because they use flutes or sponges to meter seed instead of seed singulation. However, drills are cost effective for establishment of close-spaced crops and can place seed at a uniform depth, provided depth-control or furrow-closing wheels when they are properly adjusted and maintained. Click here to review the process of how to calibrate a grain drill. 

Did you achieve the level of weed control you wanted in corn in 2022? Did you prevent weeds from growing with corn early in the season? By evaluating this year's challenges and successes now, you can lay out an even better weed control strategy for 2023.

While tar spot was first found in Pennsylvania in late 2020, its spread was limited in the commonwealth until recently. This year (2022), tar spot was found across the majority of southern PA and in western PA into the Lake Erie region. We want to emphasize that there were no reports of yield loss due to tar spot in the areas affected. Read on to learn how the pathogen survives and spreads along with possible management strategies if the disease has been identified in your area.

Weed control is a major concern for growers, especially considering the growing trend of herbicide resistance. Read labels carefully, be open to other techniques that can help preserve the herbicide arsenal, learn about how herbicide resistant weeds are spreading throughout NYS and how to reduce incidence of spread.

Many of the ways to increase safety when working and living around grain storage involve basic safety practices, but more education and enforcement is needed on the farm. Over two-thirds of US grain is stored on the farm without OSHA standards for safety protocols. It is up to you to keep yourself, your employees, your spouse, kids, and grandkids safe from grain bin hazards.