Mon-Dak Pulse Tour covers inoculants
By MARVIN BAKER, Staff Writer mbaker@minotdailynews.comArticle Photos
Fact Box
Lentil acreage down, but still substantial
WILLISTON - United Pulse Trading Executive Director Eric Bartsch told a Mon-Dak Pulse Tour crowd that lentil acreage is down across North Dakota this year, but the state will still produce about a third of the nation's supply.
Overall, the United States has approximately 303,000 lentil acres, mostly in Washington, Idaho, Montana and North Dakota, with North Dakota's share being about 95,000 acres.
On the other hand, Bartsch said Canada's lentil acres are up almost 15 percent this year over 2007.
He expects the price of red and green lentils to remain strong through 2008 because of strong demand in Pakistan and northern Europe.
Bartsch suggested producers consider United Pulse Trading in Williston, which is once again completely operational following a fire Dec. 8, 2007, that shut the plant down for three months.
Marvin Baker
WILLISTON - Research on inoculants show that field peas are generally healthier, yields are stronger and value in the name of nitrogen is added to the field when the bacteria are used to boost the crop, an expert says.
Divide County Extension agent Keith Brown talked about inoculants Tuesday during the fifth annual Mon-Dak Pulse Tour, held on the grounds of the Williston Research Extension Center.
Brown, whose backdrop was a variety trial of peas that were mostly in bloom, said peas generate value with their nitrogen fixation. And even though pea acres are down in North Dakota this year, producers might consider the added boost this crop puts back in the field given nitrogen fertilizer prices.
"Peas are a unique crop with their nitrogen fixation," Brown said. "If we were looking at the fertilizer value, it would be $40 to $45 per acre."
But in order to get the nitrogen fixation, peas should be inoculated to introduce the bacteria called rhizobia to the soil.
Roughly three weeks after peas are planted, nodules that will produce nitrogen will begin showing up on the roots of the plants. Brown said if there are no signs of nodules after three weeks, producers may have to inoculate a second time to get the best results.
"Look for nods in the three-to-five leaf stage," Brown said. "If they're not there, you might have to top dress it."
Brown told the 50 producers from North Dakota, Montana and Utah that it's important to select the right inoculant as well as the correct pea variety. He added that weather and soil conditions most likely will affect quality.
He also told the group that if a generous amount of nitrogen is available in residue, the pea plants will use that nitrogen before expending energy to produce it.
As an example of the importance of inoculants in peas, Brown quoted results of inoculant vs. fertilizer research done several years ago at the Carrington Research Extension Center.
The study took into account 90 pounds of nitrogen per acre, 45 pounds of nitrogen per acre, inoculant only and planting without fertilizer or inoculant.
The best yield was obtained with inoculant only in which 63.8 bushels per acre were harvested. The 90-pound nitrogen yielded 61.5 bushels, the 45 pounds of nitrogen yielded 59.8 bushels and straight seeded peas turned a yield of 50.3 bushels per acre.
"It took 90 pounds of fertilizer to get the same yield as the inoculant," Brown said. "So that shows the value."
Taking it a step further, Brown said inoculant is available in three forms and research done at the North Central Research Extension Center in Minot shows that granular may be the best method. Dry peat and liquid are the other options.
In 2005 and 2006, granular inoculants at research plots in Minot and Mohall consistently showed 10 percent better results.
Brown said the downside to that is that granular is more convenient, thus is more expensive.
Denise Markle, crop protection specialist at North Central Research Extension Center, briefed the group about cutworms and the effect they are having on peas and lentils this season.
Markle said a dry autumn and winter, coupled with the right spring weather, made conditions right for the emergence of cutworms.
She said it's important to scout fields and one isn't going to find the worms while driving by on a highway or county road.
"You have to be active in scouting," she said. "The cutworms are active in the evening and proper scouting can save thousands on spraying. I can't stress that enough."
Markle said cutworms are often attracted to high-residue areas, where they will lay eggs. In those spots, producers should expect to see higher numbers of the insects.
She said the best way to rid the field of the pest is add insecticide while out spraying grasses, but producers shouldn't automatically assume the worms are there.
Markle also told producers to be on the lookout for grasshoppers. She said grasshopper populations are increasing this summer and it's something that producers should be concerned about.
"There's not a lot of them feeding in peas, but they could be a factor in lentils," Markle said. "A lot of times we can get by simply with a border application of insecticide."
