Wheat Fields

[my-thyme]

I've passed a few that are yellowing and dying. Why?

TPD?

 

[TPD]

There is a lot of wheat that is planted as cover crop that the state of Maryland pays the farmer to plant all in the name of “water quality and bay cleanup”. Since it is cover crop, it can’t be harvested so farmers are now spraying it with glyphosate so they can plant corn or soybeans in those fields.

 

[PeoplesElbow]

There is a lot of wheat that is planted as cover crop that the state of Maryland pays the farmer to plant all in the name of “water quality and bay cleanup”. Since it is cover crop, it can’t be harvested so farmers are now spraying it with glyphosate so they can plant corn or soybeans in those fields.

That's a lovely thought.

 

[my-thyme]

Thanks, TPD.

 

[kwillia]

That's a lovely thought.

Mmmm… glyphosate beans and corn. That’s gotta be good for the food chain.

 

[RoseRed]

Mmmm… glyphosate beans and corn. That’s gotta be good for the food chain.

With ketchup!

 

[LightRoasted]

If I may ...

There is a lot of wheat that is planted as cover crop that the state of Maryland pays the farmer to plant all in the name of “water quality and bay cleanup”. Since it is cover crop, it can’t be harvested so farmers are now spraying it with glyphosate so they can plant corn or soybeans in those fields.

Why not just till it into the soil when necessary? Why the use of glyphosate which can also kill the beneficial microbes and bacteria in the soil leaving the soil basically dead?

 

[TPD]

If I may ...


Why not just till it into the soil when necessary? Why the use of glyphosate which can also kill the beneficial microbes and bacteria in the soil leaving the soil basically dead?

Actually tilling is worse than glyphosate, especially if the field has been in a no-till situation for 5 or more years. Continuous no-till promotes a very healthy soil with earthworms and microbes in the top 2-4”. And Maryland does not want us tilling fields. You know - fertilizer more apt to wash into the bay.

 

[PeoplesElbow]

Actually tilling is worse than glyphosate, especially if the field has been in a no-till situation for 5 or more years. Continuous no-till promotes a very healthy soil with earthworms and microbes in the top 2-4”. And Maryland does not want us tilling fields. You know - fertilizer more apt to wash into the bay.

Anyone practice burning, like it renews a forest, or does it make things too alkaline? I have a neighbor that burns her tall ornamental grass every spring and it always looks great within a few weeks.

 

[RoseRed]

Anyone practice burning, like it renews a forest, or does it make things too alkaline? I have a neighbor that burns her tall ornamental grass every spring and it always looks great within a few weeks.

I'm afraid I'd set my house and deck on fire.

 

[TPD]

Anyone practice burning, like it renews a forest, or does it make things too alkaline? I have a neighbor that burns her tall ornamental grass every spring and it always looks great within a few weeks.

Burning is not done here. I have seen it done in Arkansas.

 

[NorthBeachPerso]

If it's annual rye it would being starting to die just about now.

 

[TPD]

If it's annual rye it would being starting to die just about now.

Not in my fields. That doesn’t happen till about June. Or until I dose it heavily with 2-4D, Gramoxone, and glyphosate at triple or quadruple rate.

 

[Gilligan]

Mmmm… glyphosate beans and corn. That’s gotta be good for the food chain.

? Been in common use since I was a kid working on a farm.... Of course we used a phenomenal amount of Paraquat too.