Page 1

Audrain County News

Mary Sobba, Ag Business Specialist

http://extension.missouri.edu/audrain

March 2016

Upcoming Events

Mar. 16 3rd Annual Aber Womack MO Ag Outlook Conference – MU Bradford Farm,

Columbia, MO An excellent opportunity to hear the latest forecasts for

crops and livestock. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Must register – limited space. No fee, Registration form

online http://www.fapri.missouri.edu or call 573-882-3576

Mar. 30 Alliance for Grassland Renewal Class – Columbia, MO MU Beef Research and Teaching Farm.

Focus will be on fescue toxicosis and novel endophytes

9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Fee (includes lunch): If registered more than a week in

advance - $60 per person or $110 per couple.

If registering later - $75 per person or $125 per couple.

Enrollment limit – 70 people

To register or questions contact Lena Johnson (573)

882-7327 or johnsonlm@missouri.edu

Apr. 9th Pollinator Seminar and Native Plant Sale – MU Bradford Farm, Columbia, MO Seminars start at 9 a.m. and sale starts at 10 a.m.

No cost to attend.

Jun. 18 Elderberry Workshop – Columbia

MU Bradford Farm. Free. Details available soon.

Ag Site Assessment Tool By Mary Sobba, ag business specialist

MU now has a new mapping website out that can

handle many features. The new site has the capability

for printing reports. The data layers available include:

soils, streams, wetlands and ponds, watersheds,

floodplains, karst geology, legal descriptions,

threatened and endangered species, climatology and

more. If you used the MU CARES maps in the past, I

think you will like this site even better.

The website is: agsite.missouri.edu When you type

that in, it will automatically reroute you to a

communitycommons.org site which is normal. So,

don’t be alarmed and think big brother took over your

computer. The site was built that way to meet rules

and regulations.

sample map using the AgSite tool

Whole Farm Revenue Insurance By Mary Sobba & Joe Koenen, ag business specialists

This is the first year whole farm revenue insurance

(WFRP) is available nationwide. In 2015, it was a

pilot in many states including Missouri. This

product can benefit diversified crop and livestock

farms by providing income protection for everything

produced at a very low cost. WRFP provides a risk

management safety net for all commodities on the

farm under one insurance policy. This insurance

Century Farm Applications

Due May 1, 2016

Qualifications: The same family must have owned the

farm for 100 consecutive years. The line of ownership

from the original settler or buyer may be through

children, grandchildren, siblings, nephews or nieces,

including through marriage or adoption. It must be at

least 40 acres of the original land acquisition and

financially contribute to farm income.

For details call the Audrain Extension Center or get the

application online at

http://extension.missouri.edu/centuryfarm

Page 2

plan is tailored for any farm with up to $8.5 million

in insured revenue, including farms with specialty

or organic commodities.

WFRP basically combines Adjusted Gross Revenue

(AGR) and Adjusted Gross Revenue Lite (AGR-

Lite). The main changes with WFRP include a

wider range of coverage levels, replanting coverage,

livestock and crop coverage and provisions that

increase coverage for expanding operations.

WFRP covers losses from natural causes, like crop

insurance products, as well as unexpected declining

market prices within the production year. A person

may still insure individual crops under traditional

crop insurance programs and use WFRP to provide

a blanket protection (similar to farm owner’s

policies).

There are reporting requirements. A notice of loss

must be submitted within 72 hours of the discovery

that revenue for the insurance year could be below

the insured revenue. Inspections may be required.

Farm taxes must be filed for the insurance year

before any claim can be made. Claims must be

made within 60 days after the date farm tax forms

are submitted to the Internal Revenue Service.

Coverage:

WRFP protects your farm against the loss of

farm revenue a person earns or expects to earn

from:

Commodities produced during the insurance

period, whether they are sold or not

Commodities bought for resale during the

insurance period and

All commodities on the farm except timber,

forest and forest products; and animals for

sport, show or pets

The policy also provides replant coverage:

For annual crops, except those covered by

another policy

Equal to the cost of replanting up to a

maximum of 20% of the expected revenue and

When 20% of 20 acres of the crops needs to

be replanted.

The approved revenue amount is determined on the

Farm Operation Report (form obtained from a crop

insurance agent) and is the lower of the expected

revenue or the whole-farm historic average revenue.

Coverage levels range from 50 to 85 percent.

There are additional rules and tables that take into

account the number of commodities and eventually

determine any subsidy towards the premium. Those

details can be determined by your local crop

insurance agent. The crop insurance agent is going

to need five consecutive years of your Schedule F

tax forms. (Beginning farmers have slightly

different rules – consult your crop insurance agent.)

WFRP can be purchased alone or with other buy-up

level (additional) crop insurance policies. If an

individual purchases additional crop insurance, the

WRFP premium is reduced due to the coverage

provided by the other policy. Catastrophic

(commonly called CAT) does not qualify towards

reducing premium.

There is more required paper than the typical crop

insurance. WFRP paperwork includes five years of

Schedule F tax forms and also farm inventory. The

producer will also need to figure expected expenses

and expected revenue.

It is not anticipated this will be widely used, but it

may provide a tool for some operations, especially

those with nontraditional enterprises. The deadline

is close, but it may be worth doing some research

and consider in 2017l

This is a new insurance tool and another opportunity

for coverage. The purchase deadline is March 15th

the same as the major crop insurance products.

More information can be found on the USDA Risk

Management Agency website

http://www.rma.usda.gov/policies/wfrp.html

Happy Easter

Happy St. Patrick’s Day

Volume 3, Number 3 March 2016

Agritourism—Is it Right for Me?

Agritourism can be defined as the intersection of tourism and agriculture. It may

include visits to working farms, ranches, wineries and agricultural industries.

Agritourism offers a variety of entertainment, education, relaxation, outdoor adventures,

shopping and dining experiences. It is one of the fastest growing areas of the tourism

industry. Agritourism offers a chance for smaller farms to stay competitive, increase

income, and to be passionate about the industry. The drawbacks include increased

liability, more interaction with the public (could be a positive or negative depending on

your personality), and infringement on family time during off hours.

Sources of income from agritourism may include:

1. Admission fee 7. Class/skill-building fee

2. Tour fee 8. Tasting fee

3. Sales of fresh farm products 9. Facility rental

4. Sales of processed farm products 10. Show fee

5. Craft/souvenir sales 11. Farm lodging

6. Activity fee 12. Food service

If considering an agritourism enterprise, some preparation is needed. A written business

plan communicates with key people the purpose and details of the business, and is

necessary to secure financing. As part of the plan development, research may be needed

to learn more about the enterprise and competition.

Some of the specific items addressed in the plan should include a market analysis,

required business licenses, insurance coverage, sales tax application, financial analysis,

and business structure. Employee considerations include amount of labor needed, type

of skills needed, benefits, and payroll taxes.

Once the business plan is completed, startup considerations include: Location. Most consumers are willing to drive 20-40 miles for the experience.

Signage. Helps direct customers to the business, where to park, and where to go after

parking (including restrooms). Good signage can also minimize labor requirements.

Payment options. Consider accepting alternative forms of payment such as debit/credit

cards as most customers carry a very limited amount of cash. This is especially true if

additional products are offered. For example, a u-pick blueberry farm may offer the

option of buying pre-picked blueberries, blueberry muffins, blueberry jam, etc.

Posted business hours. Post hours across all marketing venues and abide by them. Doing

so will keep customers coming back and allow for a balance between work and family.

If one has the passion for agritourism, an experience others will pay for, within a

reasonable driving distance and have a business plan, then an agritourism business may

have potential.

Source: Darla Campbell, ag business specialist

For more information

please contact your

MU Extension Center:

Adair

(660) 665-9866

Audrain

(573) 581-3231

Boone

(573) 445-9792

Callaway

(573) 642-0755

Chariton

(660) 288-3239

Clark

(660) 727-3339

Howard

(660) 248-2272

Knox

(660) 397-2179

Lewis

(573) 767-5273

Linn

(660) 895-5123

Macon

(660) 385-2173

Marion

(573) 769-2177

Monroe

(660) 327-4158

Pike

(573) 324-5464

Putnam

(660) 947-2705

Osage

(573) 897-3648

Ralls

(573) 985-3911

Randolph

(660) 269-9656

Schuyler

(660) 457-3469

Scotland

(660) 465-7255

Shelby

(573) 633-2640

Sullivan

(660) 265-4541

Northeast Missouri

Ag Connection

an equal opportunity / ADA institution

Your local link to MU for ag extension and research information http://agebb.missouri.edu/agconnection

2

Early Spring Garden Tips

Seeds of warm-season vegetables should be started in

mid-March for planting in May. Use grow lights or other

bright light sources for growing seedlings. Poor light

will result in spindly plants. By the end of March, decide

which cool-season vegetables to plant and start

preparing the garden or containers for planting. Clear off

plant debris from the garden and incorporate 2-4 inches

of compost or decomposed manure into the soil. Cool-

season crops such as lettuce, spinach, broccoli, cabbage

and kale can be planted the last week of March through

the second week of April which allows for harvest in

mid to late May before the heat of summer. Carrots,

sugar snap peas, beets, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts,

cabbage, potatoes and any other cool-season vegetable

should be planted by mid-April in northeast Missouri.

Be prepared to cover plants with row cover or some

other type of protection if temperatures dip below

freezing, although these plants can tolerate a light frost.

Delay planting the

vegetable garden if the soil

is too wet. Working wet

soil can cause compaction.

If the soil is dry enough for

planting, go ahead and

work it up and plant cool-season vegetables.

Homeowners often have wood ash to dispose of this

time of the year. Wood ash is safe to apply to vegetable

gardens. If used sparingly it can be beneficial. Due to

the fine particle size it reacts rapidly and blends

completely with the soil. One of the major benefits of

ash is as a liming agent in the soil. Wood ash also

supplies nutrients to the crop. It is important to spread

ash evenly over the garden. It is also a good idea to

know the soil’s pH before adding ash. Wood ash can

raise the pH above the ideal soil pH for vegetables

which is between 6.0-6.8.

Fruit trees and small fruit plants like grapevines,

brambles and blueberries should be pruned while still

dormant. Prune out dead, diseased or broken branches

and branches crossing or rubbing against one another.

Prune trees to develop a strong framework and allow for

good light penetration and air circulation which is

important to minimize disease. Take off tree wraps used

for winter protection. If left on, they can harbor disease

organisms and insects, causing the bark to become soft,

leading to other issues. Dormant oil can be applied now

for control of scale insects, mites and aphids. Do not

apply oil during freezing weather. This can cause the

emulsion to break down and produce uneven coverage.

Do not apply oil if the tree is wet or rain is likely. March

is the time to recall what pests were a problem the

previous season and take steps in controlling them. For

example, peach leaf curl is a common fungal disease of

peach and nectarine trees appearing in May. It causes

leaves to curl, pucker and even turn a pinkish-red. For

control, apply a fungicide containing chlorothalonil to the

trees before bud swell in late winter or early spring. Do

not remove mulch from strawberries too soon. Late

spring freezes can kill strawberry crowns. Early April is

usually the best time to remove mulch from strawberry

beds.

After months of dealing with winter weather, crocus,

daffodils, snowdrops, hyacinths and many other spring

flowers make their appearance in the landscape by the

end of March. Pansies, snapdragons, dianthus and

ornamental cabbage are annual flowers available at

garden centers and local greenhouses in early spring.

They are cold-tolerant and can take light frosts and even a

little snow. Plant them in flower beds or containers at the

end of the month. For more information on gardening,

contact your local University of Missouri Extension

center.

Source: Jennifer Schutter, horticulture specialist

Fine-Tuning Planter

Performance

With today’s planter monitors,

keeping tabs on planter

performance is easier than ever

before. Though physically

double-checking planter operation during the season can

maximize performance, the following is a list of items to

be checked.

Planter Levelness

An improperly-leveled planter can inhibit the action of

the row unit’s parallel-bar linkage, potentially leading to

non-uniform seeding depth. Check this while the planter

is stopped and engaged in the soil. The planter’s tongue

and the row units’ parallel-bar linkages should be nearly

level (parallel) with the ground. Symptoms of an unlevel

planter can include inconsistent seed spacing and depth.

A severely unlevel planter may have difficulty closing the

seed furrow.

Down Force

Many planters have springs or air bags in the parallel-bar

linkage. These devices transfer weight from the planter’s

frame to the row unit to help disk opener and residue

clearing/cutting coulter (if equipped) penetrate the soil

and minimize unit bounce in rough conditions. Row unit

down force should be adjusted when adding or removing

row unit attachments, if there is a significant change in

soil conditions (texture, moisture, tillage) or if the row

units are bouncing when planting. Pay particular

attention to row units following tractor tire tracks as they

may require additional down force. Too little down force

can result in row unit bounce and, subsequently, shallow

seed placement. However, too much down force could

accelerate wear on the row units’ ground-engaging

components and could negatively affect early plant

development.

Row Cleaners (if equipped)

Row cleaners, trash wheels, or trash whippers are

designed to sweep residue out of the path of the opener

and, as such, must be adjusted to just touch the ground.

Row cleaners adjusted too high will not rotate and will

leave residue in the path of the opener. Adjusted too low

and they may move too much soil which could affect

seeding depth and cause the seed to be planted in cool,

damp soil. Long residue can wrap around the row

cleaners. In this case, a lead coulter may be needed to

cut the residue before it can be moved out of the way by

the row cleaner.

Tire Pressure

On planters ground-driven by pneumatic tires, tire

pressure should be checked daily. The tires need to be

properly inflated to ensure an accurate seeding rate. An

under-inflated tire will reduce the gear reduction of the

drive leading to a higher seeding rate. The opposite is

true for an over-inflated tire.

Checking Seed Population

To check population, pick a couple of row units to

monitor for a repeated measurement. Release the closing

wheel down force and use a chain or strap to restrain the

closing wheels so they do not touch the ground. Plant

long enough so the planter is at operating speed and

allows a distance to ensure the observed population will

be representative of the rest of the field.

Next, measure the length of the row representing

1/1000th of an acre. Use the table below to determine

how far to measure for a specific planter setup. After

measuring the correct distance corresponding to 1/1000th

of an acre, count the number of seeds found in that

distance. To find the population, simply multiply the

number of seeds counted by 1000. For example, if

planting 30-inch rows and 32 seeds are counted in 17 ft.

5 in., then the seed population will be 32,000 seeds per

acre. Since seeds can be difficult to see in the furrow, it

is recommended to do this test over two rows to get a

good idea of the actual seed population.

* This number can also be used for twin-rows planted on 30

-inch centers.

Planting Speed

The effect of planting speed on planter performance is

well known. Manufacturers have worked to design

planters to operate at higher speeds, but seed singulation

and depth control still become more difficult at higher

planting speeds. Keep in mind, slowing down may

improve planter performance.

Checking these items may be time consuming, but can

ensure one’s planter is operating at its maximum

performance.

Source: Kent Shannon, natural resource engineering specialist

Economic Thresholds for Early-

Season Insects

The economic threshold (ET) is the pest density or level

of crop injury at which controls should be applied to

prevent an increasing pest population from reaching the

economic injury level. The ET represents a pest density

lower than that of the Economic injury level (EIL) so that

the producer has time to implement the control measure

before the EIL is reached. The ET is often set arbitrarily

at 80 percent of the EIL to buffer the producer from

preventable economic yield loss. This definition came

from the MU Extension IPM1006 available online

at http://extension.missouri.edu/explorepdf/agguides/pests/ipm1006.pdf

The following are ET’s for early-season insects in several

crops:

Aphids in Wheat – 50 or more per linear foot of row

during the seedling stage, 100 or more during the 3- to 6-

Planting distance needed to cover 1/1000th of an acre for

each row. First measure the correct distance for your

planter setup, then count the number of seeds in the

furrow and multiply by 1000 to convert to seeds/acre.

Planting width (in) Distance

15* 34 ft. 10 in.

20 26 ft. 1 in.

30 17 ft. 5 in.

3

inch stage, and 300 or more during the

6- to 10-inch stage. (March through

May)

Alfalfa Weevil – One or more larvae

per stem. (Through first cutting)

True Armyworm in Grass Pastures or

Wheat – 4 or more half-grown or larger

larvae per square foot. (April through

end of June)

True Armyworm in Corn – 25% or more of corn

seedlings significantly damaged through foliage feeding

by larvae. (April through end of June)

Black Cutworm in Corn – 2-4 percent of corn seedlings

cut below ground and 6-8 percent of seedlings fed upon

or cut above ground. (March-July)

Black Cutworm in Soybean – 20 percent of plants cut,

plant stand gaps are greater than 12 inches, and live

larvae are present. (April-July)

European Corn Borer – 50 percent of whorl-stage plants

have damaged foliage and live larvae are present or 50

percent of later-stage plants infested with larvae and

egg masses above and below ear. (May through

August)

Cereal Leaf Beetle in Wheat – One or more larvae per

plant stem. (April through June)

Source: Joni Harper, agronomy specialist