If you look at the KSU Farm Management budgets, the portion devoted to weed control comes in at around 15 percent in corn budgets and almost 22 percent in soybean budgets. It may seem like a lot, but if you fail to put an effective program together, the results can haunt you for years to come. It’s one of the reasons why weed control will be the focus of the 2019 Meadowlark Extension District Fall Demonstration Plot Tour, scheduled for Tuesday, August 27th east of Grantville in southern Jefferson County.

K-State Research & Extension Weed Management Specialist Dr. Dallas Peterson will be our keynote speaker, focusing on the topic of Weed Management for 2020 and Beyond. He’ll share results from his herbicide rating plots as well as principals to help producers continue to design economical and effective weed management programs. We’ll have the opportunity one more time to dig in to his knowledge bank before he prepares to retire later this fall.

We’ll kick off the program with drinks at 4:15 p.m. at the site of our 2019 In Season Nitrogen Monitoring plot hosted by Bigham Farms east of Grantville. The plot site is located a mile and a quarter south of Highway 24 on Douglas Road, then a half mile east on 15th Street. We’ll discuss this year’s nitrogen monitoring program at 4:30, followed by Dr. Peterson’s presentation at 4:45 p.m.. Following the program, we’ll return to the Kaw Township Building in Grantville for a sponsored meal courtesy of Tarwater Farm & Home and Denison State Bank.

To help with handouts and meal planning, an RSVP is requested by noon on Monday, August 26th – a day prior to the meeting. You can RSVP by contacting the Oskaloosa Office of the Meadowlark Extension District at (785) 863-2212 or e-mailing me at dhallaue@ksu.edu .

Come out and hear about this year’s plots while relaxing with your neighbors before fall harvest gets in to full swing. We hope to see you there.

Oak Tree Owners – Check for Twig Dieback

KSU Horticulture and Plant Pathology Specialists have recently noted numerous cases of twig dieback on pin oaks and other oak species. It is caused by a fungal disease called Botryosphaeria canker, and causes affected trees to exhibit wilting or “flagging” of terminal growth on the ends of branches.

The dieback may be somewhat hidden by the fact that it only extends about four to six inches down the twig. Leaves will bend back towards the twig and then turn brown, remaining attached to the tree. If you inspect trees closely, you should see a visible transition from healthy (light green in color) to diseased (brown/black coloration) tissue.

Chemical controls measures typically aren’t necessary. The damage is minor and only affects branch tips. Dead twigs on small trees may be pruned off if desired.