Archive for June, 2011

Checking out things in Purdy… Hello Kip!

Monday, June 20th, 2011

The Stoller team made their way to Purdy Missouri in June to pay a visit to Mr. Kip Cullers.  After working with Bio-Forge and some other Stoller products in 2010, Kip pressed the Stoller R&D minds to help him push the limits further.

Here’s Kip talking about the 2010 season:

Walking the corn and soybean test plots we learned a few new things. First of all it has been a challenging spring for Kip, just as it has been for many farmers. In Purdy they experienced extremely cool and wet conditions. They even had a killing frost on May 10th.  Very unusal for this sunny spot that usually worries about excessive heat units!!!

One thing about all that crop stress provided by Mother Nature– Kip’s soybean plants began branching naturally. They also have the desired shorter internodes. So he has cut the crop “burn down” out of his program this year.  Also he pulled back to 135,000 seed/acre.

Again Bio-Forge seed treatment has gotten the plants off to a great start. Lots of healthy white roots are vigorous and ready for maximum nutrient uptake.

Plus Kip is working with John Deere Water on a drip irrigation system using the  CropSense sensor system that allows him to monitor soil moisture instantly and online. He will be able to use chemigation for controlled and optimally timed application of crop chemicals and nutrients.

It’s been an interesting start to Crop 2011. We’ll be following Kip and other growers to monitor how the season continues.

How did your 2011 season kick off?

Rough?

So-So?

Stellar?

Posted in Corn Crops, Current trends and issues, Grower Stories, Kip Cullers' Test Plots, Soybean Crops, Test Plots, Uncategorized | No Comments »

Making Hay in Kewanee

Sunday, June 12th, 2011

It’s the growing season. And we’ll be taking it on the road to see how Stoller Technology is performing in the farmers’ fields.   Spring 2011 will be remembered as a stressful planting season…especially for growers in Indiana, the Dakotas and Ohio.

The week of June 6th we headed north to visit the Buresh Dairy Operation in Luxemburg Wisconsin. Roger Buresh and his sons farm over 1100 acres and milk a herd of approximately 600 head.  They are very particular about their animal nutrition and the home grown forage crop is part of that story.

In 2010 the Buresh operation started working with Stoller Technology–specifically Bio-Forge, X-Tra Power and Sugar Mover– hoping to maximize the genetic potential of their alfalfa seed.

They sprayed the fields 5-6 days after each  cutting. The result was alfalfa standing tall and strong and plants withlarger leaves, and leaves down the entire length of the stem. Their tonnage and nutritional value increased.

With the 2010 results looking so positive, Buresh committed to using Stoller Techology in 2011. A close look at the first cutting of hay showed the large leaves and healthy stand.

Crop consultant Mike Haedt was on site to explain how important quality feed is in the reproductive cycle as well as the milk production of a herd. "Quality in quality out" so to speak.

The Buresh Dairy is implementing practices to insure minimal forage spoilage and maximum feed value. Stoller technology is one component in that mix.

Roger tells us they will use Stoller product on some of their corn acres in 2012.

We'll be in touch to see what benefits they realize by incorporating Bio-Forge into more of their crop management practicies.

Posted in Current trends and issues, Dairy Farms, Grower Stories, Uncategorized, alfalfa, increasing crop yields | No Comments »