Fall liming is a very critical and foundational step to the success of a field. Why is fall liming important? Although fall is already a busy time, your soil pH continues to drop as you harvest your crop. Retired NCDA & CS Regional Agronomist, Roger Sugg, says “Successful farming is the result of wise agronomic management of production inputs and available resources. Soil tests will provide guidance for application of lime, a major input in agronomical management of soil resources.” The chemistry of soil is constantly changing with reference to soil acidity and plant available nutrients. Sources of soil acidity include: Organic matter decomposition to humus Clay particles consisting of aluminum and silicon Hydrous oxides of iron and aluminum Exchangeable aluminum Soluble salts Carbon dioxide The natural process of leaching water through the soil profile over time removes vital plant nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium as well as other ...

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The 2014 wheat crop was much better than expected with the wet winter we had, but with wheat prices continuing to go down, farmers are starting to question their wheat crops. Do we keep our acreage the same or decrease it? Do we plant wheat at all? The bottom line is can we make money planting wheat at these prices? That’s where we come in. Even at the current prices, planting wheat can still be profitable. As Pasquotank County Extension Agent, Al Wood points out in his latest newsletter there are a few factors to consider before planting. We’ve laid them out here with some resources and tips to keep in mind while planning your 2015 wheat crop. What Type of Wheat Should I Plant? Plant breeding and genetics are improving every year and growers are seeing that in their yields. Although this winter was a very wet one, yields in the northeast part of North Carolina averaged around 70 bushels per acre. Variety selection should be based mainly on yield with disease resistance following clos ...

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