March 15, 2016 • Page 16 shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com National Ag Week March 13-19, 2016 Don’t Forget the Small Grain in Rotations Home Agronomy Wheat Written collaboratively by Ruth Beck and Emmanuel Byamukama. The current low prices of grain crops are adding to planting decision challenges in 2016. Reduced prices for corn, wheat, and soybeans, the three crops most commonly grown in South Dakota, will make it more important than ever for producers to use best management techniques to reduce risk and production costs. One tactic that can provide numerous benefits is to have diversity in the crop rotation. Using rotations with both warm and cool season, grass and broadleaf crop types will increase diversity. Benefits of Rotational Diversity Many producers in South Dakota have reduced rotational diversity over the last few decades due to market and policy forces. The availability of technologically advanced inputs, such as round-up ready crops, has mitigated the increased pest pressure that resulted from this approach. Low commodity prices coupled with the development of pest biotypes resistant to many of the frequently used products makes staying the low-diver- sity course less attractive. Especially troublesome are crop production practices that include only two species with the same life cycle such as both warm-season crops or both cool-season crops. One year away from a crop is often not enough of a break to reduce pest issues. Research done in South Dakota and Colorado by Dr. Randy Anderson, USDA Weed Ecologist, has shown that if producers can rotate out of a crop or crop type (i.e. warm season vs. cool season) for periods of two or more growing seasons, pests that are inherent to those crops are significantly reduced as compared to fields where there is only one year between similar crops. For instance summer weeds that tend to germinate in late June and July are often more of a problem in crops like corn and soybeans. Growing small grains would extend the interval between corn crops and soybean crops. This could be seen as an integrated pest management tactic. Small grains would be much more competitive with summer weeds because by the time warm-season weed types germinate the small grain crop would be tall and leafy with an extended root system. This would enable it to outcompete the summer weeds for nutrients, water and light, often without the need for an herbicide treatment. Those summer weeds that do survive could be controlled as well with a wide variety of herbicide choices after the small grains harvest. Dr. Anderson concluded that utilizing diverse crop rotations, can substantially and naturally decrease problem weeds. Similar benefits can be expected from rotations when considering other pests. In fact some research- ers attribute the synergism seen from crop rotation to be, in part, attributed to reduced levels of root diseases or other pests specific to a host crop. For instance fields growing corn on corn could have high levels of root and foliar pathogens specific to corn. A three or four year rotation out of corn would reduce those pathogens and other corn specific pests in that field to much lower levels. Why Include Small Grains? Including a small grain in a rotation with corn and soy- beans can provide producers with a window to grow a cover crop. Cover crops have been shown to benefit agricultural soils by increasing soil biology, improving nutrient cycling, organic matter and water efficiency. Cover crops can also provide livestock producers with additional forage. Another benefit of small grains is their high carbon content. Including another high carbon crop (in addition to corn) to a crop rotation will make the ratio of high carbon crops to low carbon crops 2/3’s to 3/4’s. This can also improve water efficiency, soil structure and quality, and increase water holding capacity. The addition of small grains in a crop rotation can also help producers by allowing them to spread equipment and labor over more acres. Trading good agronomic practices for short-term profit will only increase risk. Enjoy the short and long-term benefits of keeping diversity in your crop rotation. Beef is a Nutrition Powerhouse Re-Invest in Your Operation with Brock Grain Bins & Lester Buildings Lean beef is a nutrition powerhouse. It is a naturally nutrient-rich food providing 10 essential nutrients with only about 150 calories per 3-ounce serving. Lean beef packs more nutrients per bite with fewer calories, so it’s easier on the waistline than empty-calorie foods. Meeting the new 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines and MyPlate recommendations, lean beef is a great addition to a plate full of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Here are just a few of the many “hidden” nutrients in lean beef, along with the multiple body benefits they provide: Protein: A 3-ounce serving of beef provides 25 grams of protein which is about 50% of your recommended Daily Value (DV). It plays a major role in muscle maintenance, weight management and prevention of chronic diseases. Selenium: As an excellent source of selenium, one 3-ounce serving of beef provides 40 percent of your daily needs. It provides antioxidant benefits, as well as enhancing the body’s ability to fight infections. Choline: As an essential nutrient for humans, choline plays a vital role in cognition and long- and short-term memory functions. Beef provides 16 percent of the DV for choline. Zinc: Beef provides 36 percent of the DV for zinc. Zinc is essential for proper growth and health and also plays a key role in building muscles and healing wounds. Iron: Iron helps carry oxygen in the blood to all cells and muscles to prevent fatigue. To get the same amount of iron in a 3-ounce serving of beef, you would need to eat an equivalent of three cups of raw spinach! Vitamin B12: Essential for proper brain and nervous system function, vitamin B12 is only naturally available from animal foods. Beef is an excellent source, providing 44 percent of the DV. Besides tasting great, you can feel good about loving beef. Lean beef provides a simple and delicious way to meet the daily recommendations of several nutrients. It gives you the power to feel full longer, stay active longer and manage your weight. It’s a great feeling to know that the food you crave is good for you too. For more information and beef recipes, check out the South Dakota Beef Council. In addition, see UNL Extension’s Easy Ground Beef Recipes From Your Freezer for quick, healthy meals in a hurry HUBBS AGENCY, INC. PINKELMAN SALES, INC. Hartington, NE 402-254-6529 www.pinkelmansales.com gpinkelman@hartel.net Insurance Matters When it comes to insuring your family’s security, the right agent makes all the difference. Make sure you have the quality coverage your family needs by contacting me today for a free, no-obligation policy review and rate quote. 1201 W. 2nd St. • Crofton, NE 402-388-4772 www.tcicrofton.com Home • Farm • Auto • Crop • Truck • Commercial Licensed in Nebraska and South Dakota Ryan R. Loecker Town & Country Insurance 1-800-535-3378 “The Crop Insurance Specialists” Ph. 877-260-5126 or 605-260-5126 Fax 605-260-5128 • Yankton, SD Agriculture.... Planting the seeds of success. ank h T WE DO ALL GLASS! You FARMERS! 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