In the cattle markets Nov 14, 2009
However, while much of the corn crop spent most of the growing season in the USDA Good to Excellent growing condition, it was also late. The crop was planted late, it emerged late, and it was late maturing. (Midwest Bulls Eye, NE)
Readers Respond on "Grassoline" Nov 14, 2009
For example, the organic matter can be balanced by reduced tillage practices; by double cropping, where two crop varieties are planted in succession in the same growing season; and by the use of cover crops that replenish the soil. The Dale lab Web site () details some of our work showing how such practices can provide both biofuels and fertile soil. (Scientific American)
WEATHERING SCITUATE: Taking a turn toward the warm Nov 13, 2009
So the growing season lingers on for coastal and Boston city urban dwellers. It is getting late, with the first 32-degree reading normally coming on an average date of Nov. 5. (Scituate Mariner, MA)
Green Thumbs: Time to chop, rake, shred and spread Nov 13, 2009
As the month of November progresses, our innate desire to hibernate compels even the most passionate dirt diggers to accept that the growing season has finally come to an end and the time has come to put our gardens to bed. Every effort should be made to remove drifting autumn leaves from our lawns frequently until all our deciduous trees and shrubs have shed their foliage. (Hanover Mariner, MA)
Two-row malt barley varieties gain acceptance by brewers (16) Nov 10, 2009
Most areas of the state don't have enough water and the kind of growing season to produce good six-row varieties, Blake said. North Dakota State University tested Hockett in 2007 and 2008 but not in 2009. (Minnesota Farm Guide, MN)
Green thumbs up: Tips for over wintering tender plants and bulbs Nov 10, 2009
Dahlias that have been cut back should be allowed to cure in the ground for a week or two prior to digging to help the tubers form strong eyes for the following growing season. Carefully dig around the perimeter of the clump with a digging fork to loosen the soil and gently lift the cluster of tuberous roots. (Kingston Mariner, MA)
More of this story Nov 10, 2009
FAYETTEVILLE-- A wetter-than-normal growing season has cut into Arkansas' farm receipts by more than 224 ... "There are some farmers that are devastated by the events of this growing season," Eric Wailes, professor of agricultural economics and agribusiness, said on Friday. (Hamburg Ashley County Ledger, AR)
Frozen spuds Nov 8, 2009
That brought an abrupt end to a nearly perfect growing season. "It was a big hit," Nicholes said. (Montana Standard, MT)
Plenty of corn still in Minnesota fields (68) Nov 7, 2009
It was time to say goodbye to Daley Farms of Lewiston, followed in our 2009 growing season Producer Progress Reports. I drove from my home in west central Minnesota to the Twin Cities on the evening of Nov. 3. (Minnesota Farm Guide, MN)
Mysterious, sophisticated black plants Nov 7, 2009
This annual lasts the entire growing season, he said, and has deep-colored leaves that add texture and color to the garden that flowers can't provide. He's also partial to Diablo ninebark (Physocarpus 'Diablo'), which has shedding bark and foliage that turns from black to orange and red in autumn. (Herald Online, SC -- Lifestyles)
Ark. ag experts put weather losses at $225 million Nov 7, 2009
Arkansas farmers could lose $225 million after heavy rain late in the growing season, state officials said Friday. The Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service said cotton had the most severe damage, with farmers estimated to lose $115. (Pine Bluff Commercial, AR)
Eisenberg: What is a biennial plant? Nov 7, 2009
A. A biennial plant is a plant that takes two growing seasons to complete its biological life cycle ... If you ve had the plant indoors for its first growing season, the second year s foliage will be bitter and tough whether you grow it indoors or outdoors. (Somerville Journal, MA)
Colombian Coffee Growers to `Barely' Produce 8 Million Bags, Group Says Nov 7, 2009
Colombia Coffee Output Down 30% in 2009, Group Says (Update2) - Bloomberg. Updated: New York, Nov 07 04:17 London, Nov 07 09:17 Tokyo, Nov 07 18:17. (Bloomberg -- Latin America)
Integrity is key to Chipotle brand Nov 6, 2009
35 percent of at least one of its produce items for every restaurant sourced from small and midsize local farms throughout the growing season ... As the chain expands its presence in a region, its availability to source local produce improves, at least during the growing season. (Albany Times Union)
David Robson: All about pumpkins Nov 5, 2009
Last year s mammoth weighed more than 1,500 pounds, taking in 3,000 to 4,000 gallons of water during the growing season (which wasn t far out of line with 2009 s rainfall). Giant pumpkins can be orange or a creamy yellow with some orange tints. (Belmont Citizen Herald, MA)
Not much for combining yet (44) Nov 4, 2009
The 2009 growing season has proved itself unusual. The USDA reports this afternoon will show how much progress has been made on the soybeans and corn harvest. (Minnesota Farm Guide, MN)
Stock up on foods for fall Nov 4, 2009
"But you've got to remember that in Georgia, we have a much milder climate, a much longer growing season," Page said. Local farmers and gardeners are harvesting a fresh crop of salad greens and peppers, as well as fall favorites like kale and sweet potatoes, Page said. (Athens Banner-Herald)
October in the Port City was windy, wetter than normal Nov 3, 2009
Published: Monday, November 2, 2009 9:41 PM EST October concluded the growing season in the Port City, which was 184 days this year two weeks longer than the 2008 growing season and two days longer than the average growing season. The growing season is measured from the last frost, which happened April 14 this year, to the first frost, which occurred Oct. 16. (Oswego Palladium-Times, NY)
Market Forecaster Nov 3, 2009
Weather during the South American growing season will be closely watched ... Ample moisture across these states has given the winter wheat crop a great start to the growing season. (Midwest Bulls Eye, NE)
Dutch Elm disease bio-vaccine approved for use in Canada Nov 3, 2009
European Product is like a Flu Vaccine for Elm Trees. TORONTO, Nov. 3 /CNW/ - A bio-vaccine that is 99% effective in the prevention of Dutch elm disease is now approved for use in Canada for the first time. (Canada Newswire)
Higher temperatures will harm many crops, report says Nov 2, 2009
-"Higher temperatures will mean a longer growing season for crops that do well in the heat, such as melon, okra and sweet potato, but a shorter growing season for crops more suited to cooler conditions, such as potato, lettuce, broccoli and spinach.". -Fruits that require long winter chilling periods, such as apples, will experience declines. (Fresno Bee -- Nation)
Many factors combined to produce this autumn's heavy acorn crop Nov 1, 2009
White oak acorns mature and fall in one growing season, and germinate immediately after falling. Red oak leaves have sharply pointed lobes along the leaf margin, and their acorns remain on the tree through two seasons and must lie dormant through winter before germination the following spring. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA -- Sports)
Mustache Wars: Raising Funds With Facial Hair Oct 31, 2009
Two charitably minded groups are fighting to get men to bring back the mustache in November, the month that has become the peak growing season for this unlikely word-of-mouth and sight-of-mouth movement. Both groups of facial-hair fundraisers want guys to ignore both fashion trends and the skepticism of significant others to sprout a 'stache for a month, the more absurd the better. (Time.com)
UGA prof perfecting pumpkins Oct 31, 2009
He wants a pumpkin that organic and sustainable farmers can grow and sell at roadside stands, a pumpkin that will resist disease in Georgia's long growing season. "We are looking at small growers and farmers' markets, and organic fruit seems to fit there," Boyhan said. (Athens Banner-Herald)
Sparks: Farmers in "potential crisis mode" Oct 31, 2009
With the current economic times, Alabama agricultural producers from various commodity levels will likely face decreased profits for the 2009 growing season. According to a recent USDA release, net farm income is forecast to be $54 billion in 2009, down $33. (WSJA.com, AL)
Portable Greenhouses and Cold Frame... Oct 31, 2009
Gardeners with small spaces or in urban areas use portable and mini greenhouses to participate and to extend their growing season ... With a variety of portable greenhouses available, even gardeners with the smallest spaces can enjoy the benefits of greenhouses and extend their growing season. (Suite101.com)
Green Thumbs: Notes of a difficult growing season Oct 31, 2009
Despite the many disappointments of this year s challenging growing season, most passionate gardeners tend to adopt an optimistic outlook from season to season, applauding their successes and accepting their failures, knowing that the pursuit of their hobby relies on the whim of Mother Nature. With each growing season that passes, faithful dirt diggers gain new insights as to which plants survive and thrive under less than ideal conditions while discovering new treasures to expand the beauty of... (Hanover Mariner, MA)
Weather Continues to Influence Markets Oct 30, 2009
As long as the South American growing season starts out well, China may not be willing to extend big coverage on rallies. They have already forward bought good quantities of new crop beans. (Agri-View, WI)
All About The Waffle Plant Oct 27, 2009
Repotting at the beginning of each growing season is recommended ... Water liberally during the growing season but in the winter months when it goes dormant only water enough to keep the soil mix from completely drying out ... The soil should be kept moist but not wet at all times during the growing season to avoid this. (Suite101.com)
For farm-water rights, planners ready to deal Oct 26, 2009
Such a deal could look like an ongoing pilot project in Yuma, where the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation offered farmers money to take land out of production for a growing season. The water the farmers didn't use would then be banked in Lake Mead as a hedge against future shortages. (AZCentral -- News)
Farms looked at as water resources vanish Oct 25, 2009
Sellers said rain is an unwanted intruder during the growing season because it can't be managed. One reason farmers can take so much water is that they staked their claim first, which is what matters in Western water law. (AZCentral -- News)
West Hartford Garden Produces 1,500 Pounds Of Produce For Hungry Oct 25, 2009
"Our growing season is almost over, with the last of carrots, radishes, Swiss chard and some lettuce to harvest. We'll plow the garden and put it to bed for the winter. In the spring, we'll start again in March. We're always looking for people to volunteer," said Gottier, who oversees the plant-a-row gardens begun at Westmoor in 1999. Some people volunteer during spring planting, others for the entire growing season. (FOX61, CT)
Make it scary Oct 25, 2009
Despite allegations of such, any connection with Halloween can t be proven, and it s likely that fall just tends to include holidays about death as life symbolically ends as the growing season ends as well. Modern Halloween celebrations became common in the United States through the 19th and 20th centuries. (Odessa American, TX)
Green Thumbs: The fleeting colors of autumn Oct 24, 2009
Fall foliage color is another feature to consider when selecting plants for the landscape, although its duration is often as fleeting as the blossoms exhibited earlier in the growing season. Our native maples lead the vivid, multi-hued parade, producing a broad palette of glorious shades. (Hanover Mariner, MA)
Challenges continue for area growers Oct 24, 2009
The bright spot this growing season is the regions pea crop, which also saw bumper yields on many acres and is getting a decent market price ... There are legitimate concerns that this years growing season may prompt some producers to shift away from wheat to avoid the stiff protein discounts that are taking tens of thousands of dollars away from individual producers ... Overall, the 2009 growing season is one that many producers can summarize with, Whats new about that. (Williston Daily Herald, ND)
The perfect pumpkin ... and the not-so-perfect growing season Oct 24, 2009
and the not-so-perfect growing season ... and the not-so-perfect growing season. (Princeton Bureau County Republican, IL)
Monsanto adds corn earworm trait (39) Oct 23, 2009
Monsanto monitored one insect in particular this growing season - corn earworm. Christensen says corn earworm is not the most harmful insect to corn in South Dakota, but it can create pockets of damage in the region depending on the season. (Sioux Falls Tri-State Neighbor, SD)
Ask the Gardener Oct 23, 2009
Not at all, as long as you don t mind plant damage next growing season. Leaving the dead plants in the ground is providing more time in the fall for insects and diseases to multiply, and warms the soil faster in the spring so they are already active before you plant. (Burlington Union, MA)
Incorporate the exotic and rare into garden for flair Oct 23, 2009
The coffin-tree has been known to reach 80 to 100 feet; once established, can grow 1 to 2 feet a year, Karlin observes, nothing rate depends on amount of sun and Georgia's longer growing season. Taiwania hsa blue-green shield-like foliage and thrives in sunny conditions. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Living)
Upgrades aim to speed services at border Oct 22, 2009
During the peak of the growing season, from January to March, as many as 1,400 trucks a day pass through Nogales, the environmental statement said. Delays not only cost drivers frustration, time and money, but can mean produce arrives in stores in a riper state. (AZCentral -- Business)
Conditions putting corn crop at risk for lodging Oct 22, 2009
The cool growing season resulted in corn plants that were taller than normal and heavily vegetated with large ears. Toward the end of the season as the crop approached black layer, dry conditions across much of the Corn Belt put moisture stress on plants which caused them to rob nutrients from the stalks to complete ear fill, weakening stalks. (Great Falls Prairie Star, MT)
Community harvest plentiful Oct 22, 2009
Velk is busy planning for more community outreach for the next growing season, she said, to increase awareness about the Community Garden plot and Plant A Row programs and how people can help. Some volunteers helped with the planting, and there was one steady volunteer who helped weed, but it would be nice to have more helpers next year, Velk said. (Havre Daily News, MT)
BLM plan for wild horses under fire Oct 22, 2009
The NRCS says a ranch the size of the Spanish Q could support a maximum of 375 horses during the seven-month growing season. Jeff Laszlo, writing on behalf of Granger Ranches, wondered about the impact the horses could have on the environment. (Agri-View, WI)
Pour Favor: A tale of two vintages Oct 21, 2009
We were delighted (and a bit relieved) to discover they were essentially the same wine once we unveiled them; their differences were subtleties an additional year or a different growing season can deliver. But their similarity was a sure testament of the craft of Mr. Bourgeois. (Somerville Journal, MA)
SARE DEADLINE NOV. 15 FOR FARMERS AND RANCHERS Oct 21, 2009
An Oklahoma cut flower grower used the grant to extend the growing season by conducting trials of different flower species and greenhouse temperatures. The grower learned which species could grow in minimally heated conditions. (Pine Bluff Commercial, AR)
Palmer amaranth hurting Kansas sunflowers Oct 21, 2009
The National Sunflower Association-sponsored field surveys in Kansas report good yield potential but some late planted fields may not be fully mature because of a cool growing season and a killing freeze. The major production problems reported are again palmer amaranth and rust. (Midwest Bulls Eye, NE)
Chew on this: Fun, Fast and Flavorful News about Food Oct 21, 2009
Owner Gary Faulk said his old barn burned down in March, and he was forced to close for part of the growing season. Now Faulk has a brand-new building to show off, full of cider, apples and potatoes, pumpkins, squash, gourds, peaches, grapes and other seasonal goodies. (Erie Times-News, PA)
Over capacity Oct 21, 2009
He thinks by and large, the county's small grain harvest is finally finished after being delayed due to a wet planting season and cool growing season. The cool growing season, however, helped to produce the great yields. (Williston Daily Herald, ND)
Global Warming May Spur Increased Growth In Pacific Northwest Forests Oct 21, 2009
We re extending the project to coastal Alaska, where length of growing season is likely to be a more important factor than water availability, so it will be interesting to see if results are similar for that region. Forests and their potential growth may also play a significant role in future mitigation efforts to reduce greenhouse warming and the use of carbon credits, experts say. (Science Daily)
Feature photo: Gathering corn while the sun shines Oct 20, 2009
Sechler said they planted about 200 acres of corn this year and it was a good growing season. More sunshine is in the forecast for today. (Somerset Daily American, PA)
Walls put up gristmill on bluff (1) Oct 20, 2009
The annual average temperature is 66 degrees, the average rainfall is 52 inches and there are about 260 days of growing season. Escambia County is largely drained by Conecuh River, which flows across its entire area. (Brewton Standard, AL)
Out of the bog (4) Oct 20, 2009
Oregon s bumper crop this season is due to heavy spring pollination and a long growing season. However, last year s record harvests in Wisconsin and Massachusetts, combined with the downturn in the economy, has left a surplus, which will squeeze the market this year, Snyder said. (Coos Bay-North Bend The World, OR)
Spoiled sweetclover hay can cause livestock bleeding (15) Oct 19, 2009
Livestock problems rising from spoiled sweetclover may increase this fall because of a successful growing season. South Dakota Cooperative Extension range management educator Dusty Jager said this year's abundant sweetclover growth in western South Dakota means that beef producers should use more caution when feeding it to their herds. (Sioux Falls Tri-State Neighbor, SD)
Look for high-yielding spring canola varieties from Cargill (2) Oct 18, 2009
"Canola tends to like cool weather as opposed to the hot temperatures we usually have down here. The growing season is relatively short for canola, so it works well with the Canadian environment also.". Canola was developed in the 1970s using traditional breeding techniques. (Sioux Falls Tri-State Neighbor, SD)
Verifying virgin olive oil Oct 18, 2009
"You don't want to have to do (large sampling and testing) every growing season and you don't want to do that for every growing region in Greece.". Kalivas' specialty is known as chemometrics, a science that obtains information from chemical systems by data-driven methodology. (Pocatello Idaho State Journal, ID)
Grommersches are ready and waiting for harvest (2) Oct 18, 2009
will offer reports about their pork and crop operation during the 2009 growing season. NICOLLET, Minn. (Minnesota Farm Guide, MN)
Beet harvest arrives ... Agency steps into H1N1 fight ... Running out of room ... Nyssa youth helps the needy ... U of I official says centers could close ... Pilot in coast crash was disoriented ... Oregon job losses hit predicted turnaround point ... U of I president decries lack of education investment ... Prosecutors: No death penalty in case ... ';var marqueewidth="440px";var marqueeheight="25px";var marqueebgcolor="#";////NO NEED TO EDIT BELOW THIS LINE////////////var pauseit=1;var marqueespeed=1 //slow speed down by 1 for NSvar copyspeed=marqueespeedvar pausespeed=(pauseit==0)? copyspeed: 0var iedom=document.all||document.getElementByIdif (iedom)document.write(''+marqueecontent+'')var actualwidth=''var cross_marquee, ns_marqueefunction populate(){if (iedom){cross_marquee=document.getElementById? document.getElementById("iemarquee") : document.all.iemarqueecross_marquee.style.left=parseInt(marqueewidth)+8+"px"cross_marquee.innerHTML=marqueecontentactualwidth=document.all? temp.offsetWidth : document.getElementById("temp").offsetWidth}else if (document.layers){ns_marquee=document.ns_marquee.document.ns_marquee2ns_marquee.left=parseInt(marqueewidth)+8ns_marquee.document.write(marqueecontent)ns_marquee.document.close()actualwidth=ns_marquee.document.width}lefttime=setInterval("scrollmarquee()",20)}window.onload=populate;function scrollmarquee(){if (iedom){if (parseInt(cross_marquee.style.left)>(actualwidth*(-1)+8))cross_marquee.style.left=parseInt(cross_marquee.style.left)-copyspeed+"px"elsecross_marquee.style.left=parseInt(marqueewidth)+8+"px"}else if (document.layers){if (ns_marquee.left>(actualwidth*(-1)+8))ns_marquee.left-=copyspeedelsens_marquee.left=parseInt(marqueewidth)+8}}if (iedom||document.layers){with (document){document.write('')if (iedom){write('')write('')write('')write('')}else if (document.layers){write('')write('')write('')}document.write('')}} Dick Corn drives the tractor in this harvest operation in one of his fields north of Nyssa. The beets will be hauled to the Nampa Amalgamated Sugar Company plant, which now processes beets grown in areas from La Grande to Elmore and Owyhee counties. Beet harvest arrives Oct 18, 2009
It had a better growing season. We had better stands. (Ontario Argus Observer, OR)
Prevent Manure Spills, Runoff From Fields Oct 17, 2009
Over the next two months, millions of gallons of manure will be transported from manure storage facilities and applied to farmland to be used by crops in the 2010 growing season. Making sure that the nutrients from the dairy manure get applied and incorporated into the soil and do not cause surface or groundwater contamination is critical, stress Scott Gunderson, Extension dairy agent in Manitowoc County, and Jerry Halverson, director of the Manitowoc County Soil and Water Conservation... (Minnesota Farm Guide, MN)
Worshipping in the Garden at Church Meadows Oct 17, 2009
At the end of the growing season in 2008, our committee met and voted unanimously to continue this year, said Megan Ford who, with Deb Rosson, organized volunteers for the second year. The Sunday service was added as a culmination to the growing season. (Littleton Independent, MA)
Some poor nations succeeding in fighting hunger Oct 17, 2009
In Malawi, the past two growing seasons have ended with impressive surpluses of the staple crop, corn ... During the 2008-09 growing season, the government spent $183 million on the farm subsidy program, which resulted in Malawi realizing a surplus of 1 ... Malawi, which has had acute food shortages in the past, has been a donor in recent times, giving 500 metric tons of corn each to Swaziland and Lesotho and selling some to Zimbabwe in the 2007-08 growing season. (Longview Daily News, WA)
Green Thumbs: Behold the blooms of October Oct 17, 2009
I was dismayed to gaze out my window on this bright, brisk October morning and witness the glistening crystalline coating of the season s first significant frost, an indication that the growing season is rapidly coming to a close ... They are readily transplanted by the shovelful at any time during the growing season if you know a gardener willing to share ... There is a feeling of sadness as this challenging growing season comes to a close but already a sense of anticipation for the new season... (Hanover Mariner, MA)
Garden Club blossoms at high school Oct 16, 2009
"To do so we had to run the club for an entire growing season. We now have an advisor, (language teacher Carolyn) Balinskas, but the club is still totally run, and the garden maintained, by students." The three members who started the club are all juniors this year, but Katz said the club is well represented by all grades. Seniors Megan Kessler and Annelyse Reinertson have been crucial to the club s success due to their gardening knowledge, said Katz. (Hopkinton Town Crier, MA)
Fruit fly pest identified in wine grapes Oct 16, 2009
Much of western Oregon's growing season would seem to favor conditions favored by these flies, which means that most of Oregon's berry crops could be at-risk during the growing season, according to Dreves. And because Oregon has a variety of crops that ripen at different times during the season, the spotted wing Drosophila fly could move from one crop to another as the season progresses, and populations could build up to high numbers in many crops. (EurekAlert!)
World Cocoa Foundation to launch Cocoa Livelihoods Programme in Ghana Oct 15, 2009
"Since February, the Ghana Cocoa Board has been actively engaged in the programme's Steering Committee, helping to plan for the start of activities in the 2010 growing season," he added. "Making real progress against hunger and poverty starts with small farmers," said Richards Rogers, Programme officer at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. (Ghana Web, Ghana)
Watch for frost damage in corn crops (34) Oct 14, 2009
- Last week's freezing temperatures in much of the state have ended the growing season for most of the Minnesota landscape, according to Dr. Mark Seeley, University of Minnesota Extension climatologist. While the outlook does not seem to be critical for the crops which have reached maturity, some corn may be affected. (Sioux Falls Tri-State Neighbor, SD)
