Earth Gauge » Agriculture

Gauging Rain

espinoza — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:38:19 +0000

Installing a rain water gauge on your property will help you determine how many inches of rain have fallen. Knowing the average weekly precipitation amount helps gardeners apply the correct amount of water with automatic irrigation systems. Drought stress can hurt landscape plants, but over-watering can also kill plants by depriving the roots of oxygen.

Viewer Tip: Install a rain gauge on your property in an open area away from trees, buildings and other structures to record the amount of rainfall supplied by nature. Irrigation should only be used to make up the difference of what is still needed by your plants.

For more information on installing and using a rain gauge, visit: www.uri.edu/ce/healthylandscapes/raingauge.htm.

This message is brought to you by the Water Conservation Garden. Learn more at www.thegarden.org.

Mulch Matters

espinoza — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 14:26:59 +0000

Mulch is any covering placed around plants. Mulch conserves water because and prevents erosion by slowing runoff and permitting your landscape to better absorb and retain water from winter rains. Mulch also suppresses weed growth, shelters the soil from temperature extremes and improves appearance of your landscape.

Viewer Tip: Apply a two- to three-inch layer of mulch around plants in the fall or winter to keep soil temperatures even and reduce water evaporation. Organic mulch can also be applied to unplanted raised beds as a top dressing. A variety of organic and inorganic mulches are available on the market and materials for mulch may be found right in your yard. Mulch options include shredded tree prunings, bark chips, raked leaves, grass clippings, and rocks or pebbles.

For more information on using mulch in your garden, visit: www.ccwater.com/files/Drought101Mulch.pdf.

This information is provided by the Water Conservation Garden. Learn more at www.thegarden.org.

Pumpkin Harvest

espinoza — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 13:00:13 +0000

About 80 percent of the United States’ pumpkin supply is available in October, but pumpkin makes an appearance year-round in pies, breads and other foods. Weather can have a big impact on the yearly pumpkin harvest.

Wet and soggy: Too much rain can cause crops to rot. Mildews, which thrive in wet conditions, can damage leaves and stems or kill pumpkin vines and fruits. During spring of this year, heavy rain delayed pumpkin planting the northeast, which in turn delays harvest time. Then, Hurricane Irene flooded pumpkin fields throughout the northeastern United States in September. (Photo at right: Powdery mildew makes leaves on pumpkin vines brittle and dry)
Hot and dry: Dry, hot weather can cause pumpkins to produce too many male blossoms and too few female blossoms, resulting in a smaller harvest. Lack of water during droughts can also result in smaller and lighter-weight pumpkins. Pumpkin harvest in Texas dropped 40 percent or more due to drought conditions in the state this year.
Chilly: An early freeze can kill pumpkins. And, chilly weather in the spring can prevent pumpkin blossoms from germinating. Why? Because bees – which carry pollen from plant to plant – don’t fly until the temperature is at least 55 degrees. Without bees and pollination, there are no pumpkins.

Viewer Tip: Despite a rough year for pumpkin patches, many farmers are meeting demand by bringing in pumpkins from other areas. If you are carving or cooking this year, put the whole pumpkin to use! If you don’t eat the seeds yourself, spread them outside as a snack for birds and squirrels. And, instead of weighing down your trash bags and sending past-their-prime pumpkins to the landfill, put them to use in your garden. Pumpkins can be added to compost piles, where they will decompose and add nutrients to your compost.

(Sources: University of Illinois Extension. “Pumpkins and More: Pumpkin Facts.” http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/pumpkins/facts.html; The National Center for Appropriate Technology. “Organic Pumpkin and Winter Squash Production.” www.attra.ncat.org; USA Today. “Northeast Farmers Warn of Irene Pumpkin Shortage.” http://www.usatoday.com/weather/news/story/2011-09-19/northeast-pumpkin-shortage-hurricane-irene-floods/50466270/1; Houston Chronicle, “Drought takes bite out of Texas pumpkin harvest,” http://www.chron.com/business/article/Drought-takes-bite-out-of-Texas-pumpkins-2186331.php; Portland Tribune, “Pining for the Pumpkin Patch,” http://www.portlandtribune.com/news/story.php?story_id=131863808601002000)

Photo courtesy of Maine.gov.

Pump Water with the Power of the Sun

espinoza — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 13:19:13 +0000

Farmers and ranchers throughout the United States are using solar power to pump water for their livestock and irrigation. Solar pumping works anywhere the sun shines and most parts of the United States have plenty of sunlight to run these pumping systems. Solar pumping is a natural match for summer grazing applications, since the solar energy produces the greatest volumes of water in sunny weather and during long summer days—exactly when animals need water the most.

Viewer Tip: The economics of using solar power for water pumping depends on several factors. Your distance from power lines and the current cost of power are two important factors. To learn more and find out if switching to a solar powered livestock watering system is right for your farm, visit http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/PDF/solarlswater.pdf.

This information is provided by ATTRA, the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service.

Buggy Benefits

espinoza — Mon, 09 May 2011 13:17:38 +0000

Did you know that many of the insects in your garden are more beneficial than harmful? When gardeners see insects or insect damage on their plants, many reach for pesticides in an effort to eliminate harmful pests. Unfortunately, pesticides can kill valuable garden insects – like ladybugs, assassin bugs and praying mantis – and may also harm birds, bats, spiders, and lizards. Pesticides are also considered a contributor to the population decline of the honey bee. All of the beneficial insects work to control the pest population and pollinate the area plants.

Viewer Tip: Small populations of pests are necessary to provide a constant food source for good insects. Take a few days to evaluate the insects in your garden and decide if pesticides are necessary or if the beneficial insect population can maintain a healthy balance. If you must use a pesticide in your yard, make sure to choose a product that is intended for the pest you wish to eliminate. Always wait for dry weather to apply yard-care chemicals.

This information is provided by the Georgia Wildlife Federation. Learn more at www.gwf.org.

Spring into Compost

espinoza — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 12:03:28 +0000

Compost is a great way to enrich your soil and maintain a sustainable turf. Mature compost provides turf plants with a balanced source of nutrients that are released slowly into the soil. Unlike soluble synthetic fertilizers that immediately release nutrients into the soil, the organic residues used to form compost must decompose before their nutrients are available to plants. Good quality compost contains both readily available and stored nutrients, which both promote healthy soil and sustainable turf care.

Viewer Tip: The best time to apply compost is in the spring or fall. Compost applied in the spring provides nutrients during the main growing season. Compost applied in the fall helps prolong the growing season, strengthen root growth for the dormant season and promote early spring growth.

Season: Spring/Fall

This information is provided by ATTRA—National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service. Learn more about Sustainable Turf Care at http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/PDF/turfcare.pdf.

Healthy Earthworms for Healthy Soil

espinoza — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 13:09:55 +0000

Want to have great soil and save money in the process? The good news is that the natural process for making good soil has little or no cost. Good soil management produces crops and animals that are healthier, less susceptible to disease and more productive. Earthworms are a sign of good soil health – and they significantly contribute to that health by enhancing the soil’s water infiltration and soil aeration. Fields that have been “tilled” by earthworm burrows can absorb water at a rate four to 10 times that of fields lacking worm tunnels. When humans till the ground, however, it reduces earthworm populations by drying the soil, burying the plant residue they feed on and making the soil more likely to freeze. Worms are dormant in the hot part of the summer and in the cold of winter. Young worms emerge in spring and fall – just when farmers are likely to be tilling their soil.

Viewer Tip: As a rule, earthworm numbers can be increased by reducing or eliminating tillage (especially fall tillage), not using a moldboard plow, reducing residue particle size (using a straw chopper on the combine), adding animal manure and growing green manure crops. It is beneficial to leave as much surface residue as possible year round. Earthworms prefer a near-neutral soil pH, moist soil conditions and plenty of plant residue on the soil surface. They are sensitive to certain pesticides and some incorporated fertilizers.

Season: Spring

This information is provided by ATTRA—National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service. Learn more about Sustainable Soil Management at attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/PDF/soilmgmt.pdf.

Give Your Pruning Shears a Winter Workout

espinoza — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 13:12:39 +0000

Just because winter is here doesn’t mean you can’t shape up your trees for the coming growing season. Pruning your fruit trees in winter can lead to healthier trees and higher-quality fruit production. Winter pruning can also reduce the amount of chemicals used for promoting a better harvest.

Viewer Tip: Prune dense fruit tree branches to improve air circulation. This helps prevent fruit rots, mildew and some other plant diseases from developing. Pruning diseased branches from fruit trees and removing them from your yard or orchard during cold weather can help prevent diseases from spreading to other branches or other trees.

Season: Winter

This information is provided by ATTRA – National Sustainable Agriculture Information service. Learn more about organic care for fruit trees: http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/PDF/fruitover.pdf.

Planting Garlic

espinoza — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 14:26:21 +0000

Bulb growth in garlic is dependent on the warmth and the length of the day. In northern part of the United States, most growers plant garlic in October before the ground freezes. This gives the garlic plant time to develop good roots but not enough time to encourage leaf growth before coolder weather hits. Where winter sets in earlier, growers are recommended to plant garlic two to three weeks after the first frost (below 32 degrees Fahrenheit). Where winters are milder, garlic can be planted as late as mid-December. In some parts of California, garlic can be planted as late as February or March.

Viewer Tip: Crack each garlic bulb into individual cloves (referred to as “popping”). Plant cloves with the root end down. Where winters are mild, plant cloves one inch deep; where winters are severe, plant them two to four inches deep.

Season: Winter

This information is provided by ATTRA – National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service. Learn more about organic garlic production at http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/garlic.html.

Watering Tips for Thirsty Livestock

espinoza — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 13:32:09 +0000

Keeping stock watering tanks from freezing in cold, wintry weather is a real challenge for ranchers in northern states. Much of the heat loss from a watering tank occurs at the surface of the water. You can reduce this heat loss considerably by placing an insulated cover over a large part of the surface area of the tank. Provide openings around the edge of the cover so animals can drink.

Viewer Tip: You can insulate the sides of watering tanks with commercially-available insulation material, sawdust or wood chips. If the tank is exposed above ground, paint it black to absorb the sun’s heat during the day.

This information is provided by ATTRA—National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service. Learn more about Freeze Protection for Livestock Watering Systems at http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/freeze.html.

Don’t Freeze in the Fall

espinoza — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 13:04:16 +0000

The end of pumping season for livestock watering systems usually occurs in the fall, before temperatures reach freezing. At the end of the pumping season, and long before freezing weather occurs, turning off your pump and closing the hydrant provides basic freeze protection.

Viewer Tip: For a watering system with a surface pump, any above-ground piping that will be exposed to freezing temperatures must be completely drained. The pump and suction line must also be completely drained and the pump should be covered with freeze resistant materials to ensure complete freeze protection.

Season: Fall

This information is provided by ATTRA-National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service. Learn more about Freeze Protection for Livestock Watering Systems: http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/PDF/freeze.pdf.

Plan for Winter in Your Summer Garden

espinoza — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 12:04:51 +0000

Winter might be the last thing you think of when you’re enjoying fresh summer produce, but with a little planning now you can enjoy fresh food from your own garden all year long. The key to a fall or winter harvest is to seed crop in July and August to achieve adequate growth by the end of October. This way, your crops can take advantage of the long hours of light to get a head start before cooler temperatures hit. Due to the seasonal lack of light and growth, vegetables harvested from November through March must be mature by the end of October.

Viewer Tip: Start planning and planting now and you can eat a winter’s worth of harvest later in the year. Find a warm and sheltered spot in your garden and plant in the middle of summer (July and August). Crop possibilities vary widely with climate, but generally there are crops that are well suited to winter production in most cold climates, such as the cabbage family, roots and greens. Check with your local Extension agent or garden center for ideas about will work in your area.

Season: Summer

This information is provided by ATTRA, National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service. Learn more about at http://attra.ncat.org.

Lakes Appreciation (Southern Plains Region)

espinoza — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 15:37:24 +0000

As part of the National Lakes Assessment, the U.S. EPA selected and sampled 128 lakes in the Southern Plains Region (covering central and northern Texas, western Kansas and Oklahoma, and parts of Nebraska, Colorado and New Mexico) to characterize the condition of more than 3,100 lakes throughout the area. What did researchers find?

Only 34 percent of lakes in the Southern Plains Region are in good biological condition, meaning they are able to support healthy aquatic plant and animal communities.
57 percent of lakes show low risk of exposure to blue-green algae (cyanobacteria), which produce toxins that can make humans sick.
90 percent of lakes show moderate or high levels of lakeshore disturbance due to human activities from things like agricultural activities and removing trees to add paved areas, sandy beaches or lawns.

Viewer Tip: July is Lakes Appreciation Month. As you enjoy boating, fishing and swimming in local lakes, remember that you can help keep our lakes healthy.

If you live near a lake: Go Wild. Let natural vegetation grow near the lake shoreline to filter water pollutants and protect the shoreline from erosion.

If you visit a lake: Avoid hitchhikers. Non-native species (animals and plants that are not originally from a certain lake) can invade a lake and take over the habitat. If you are a recreational boater, don’t give non-native species a free ride: remove any visible mud and plants from equipment that was in the water, including your boat and trailer. And never put any plants, fish or other animals into a body of water – unless they came out of that same water!

Season: Summer

(Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 2009. National Lakes Assessment: A Collaborative Survey of the Nation’s Lakes. EPA 841-R-09-001. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water and Office of Research and Development, Washington, DC; Trout Unlimited, www.tu.org)

Lakes Appreciation (Temperate Plains Region)

espinoza — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 15:30:40 +0000

As part of the National Lakes Assessment, the U.S. EPA selected and sampled 137 lakes in the Temperate Plains Region (covering eastern North and South Dakota, Iowa, western Minnesota, parts of Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska, western Ohio, central Indiana, Illinois and southeastern Wisconsin) to characterize the condition of more than 6,300 lakes throughout the area. What did researchers find?

Only 25 percent of lakes in the Temperate Plains Region are in good biological condition, meaning they are able to support healthy aquatic plant and animal communities.
48 percent of lakes show low risk of exposure to blue-green algae (cyanobacteria), which produce toxins that can make humans sick.
60 percent of lakes show moderate or high levels of lakeshore disturbance due to human activities from things like agricultural activities and removing trees to add paved areas, sandy beaches or lawns.

Viewer Tip: July is Lakes Appreciation Month. As you enjoy boating, fishing and swimming in local lakes, remember that you can help keep our lakes healthy.

If you live near a lake: Go Wild. Let natural vegetation grow near the lake shoreline to filter water pollutants and protect the shoreline from erosion.

Season: Summer

Ag Erosion

espinoza — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 12:41:39 +0000

Did you know there are about 2,000,000 farms in the United States? Soil erosion, which can be a problem on farmlands, occurs in three different ways: wind, water and tillage – the agricultural preparation of soil by plowing or turning the land. When soil is carried away from farmlands, phosphorus and nitrogen can be carried away, too. If these nutrients make it into rivers, streams and lakes, they can degrade water quality.

Viewer Tip: Soil erosion on farmlands and related water quality impacts can be reduced with conservation management practices. No-till and grassed waterways (considered “Best Management Practices” for agriculture) can deliver a one-two punch in controlling soil erosion. No-till is a method of growing crops that improves soil quality without disturbing the land through tillage. Grassed waterways are natural or constructed channels that help trap sediments and pesticides and reduce the speed of water by providing a grass cushion.

Learn more about agricultural Best Management Practices from the USDA-Natural Resource Conservation Service: www.nrcs.usda.gov

Seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall

(Sources: USDA-NRCS, www.nrcs.usda.gov; University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, http://www2.ca.uky.edu/)

Too Much Sun?

espinoza — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 11:57:56 +0000

You might think the vegetables growing in your garden can’t get enough of the sun’s rays and warmth. But did you know that too much sun can hurt certain plans? Heat-sensitive crops like lettuce and spinach are susceptible to bolting, which can cause vegetables to taste bitter. Shade over a garden bed can create a cool microclimate that will help prevent bolting and bitterness, make it possible to grow warm-weather crops in areas with very hot summers and hasten germination of cool-weather fall crops.

Viewer Tip: Some growers provide cooling shade by growing vines such as gourds on frames placed over vegetable beds. Shade fabrics, available from greenhouse and garden supply stores, can be fastened over hoops in summer to lower soil temperatures and protect crops from wind damage, sun scald and drying. Placing plants under 30 to 50 percent shade in mid-summer can lower a plant’s leaf temperature by 10 degrees Fahrenheit or more.

Season: Summer

This information is provided by ATTRA – National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service. Learn more in “Season Extension Techniques for Market Gardeners,” http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/seasonext.html/.

Helping the Gulf (Texas)

espinoza — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 12:47:38 +0000

Did you know that you can help the Gulf of Mexico without traveling beyond your driveway? Our region is part of the Texas Gulf Coast watershed, an area of land that drains rain water and river water into the Gulf of Mexico. When it storms here, rainwater carries pollutants like fertilizer from farms and lawns, motor oil from driveways and litter from streets into our local waterways, which lead to the Gulf.

Viewer Tip: With millions of gallons of crude oil and chemical dispersants already in Gulf waters, marine life and biodiversity are more vulnerable than ever to other pollutants. No matter where you live in along the Texas Coast, you can help protect water quality in the Gulf with these tips:

Participate in a wetland, river or beach cleanup in your area. Check with your local watershed group or organize your own!
Never dump oil or other household chemicals in the street or in a storm drain. If you change your own motor oil, make sure to collect it in a clean can with a lid and take it to a service station or household hazardous waste collection site for recycling.
Use as little fertilizer and pesticide as possible. Most farmers and gardeners can use less fertilizer and still obtain the same amount of crop yield.
Prevent erosion by mulching and seeding areas where bare soil can be washed away in your yard. Adding mulch or vegetation to bare areas allows water to soak slowly into the ground, rather than running off quickly.
Instead of sweeping yard waste into the street or storm drain, use it for composting or mulching in your own backyard. You’ll protect your soil, prevent erosion, control weeds…and protect water quality.

( Sources: GulfBase. General Facts about the Gulf of Mexico. http://www.gulfbase.org/facts.php; Frankenberger, Jane and Ron Turco. Hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico: A Reason to Improve Nitrogen. Purdue Animal Issues Briefing AI-6; U.S. EPA National Estuary Program. June 2007. “National Estuary Program Coastal Condition Report.” Available from: http://www.epa.gov/owow/oceans/nepccr/index.html; Dybas, Cheryl l., Dead Zones Spreading in World Oceans, Bioscience 552-557; US EPA Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds. www.epa.gov/owow;
Gulf Base: General Facts about the Gulf of Mexico. http://www.gulfbase.org/facts.php;
US EPA Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds. Www.epa.gov/owow)

Helping the Gulf

espinoza — Thu, 27 May 2010 14:08:23 +0000

Did you know that you can help the Gulf of Mexico without traveling beyond your driveway? Our region is part of the Mississippi River watershed, an area of land that drains rain water and river water into the Gulf of Mexico. When it storms here, rainwater carries pollutants like fertilizer from farms and lawns, motor oil from driveways and litter from streets into our local waterways, which lead to the Mississippi River. Each summer, excess nitrogen from this polluted runoff causes a low-oxygen area – also known as a ‘dead zone’ – in the Gulf of Mexico that impacts marine life.

Viewer Tip: With millions of gallons of crude oil and chemical dispersants already in Gulf waters, marine life and biodiversity are more vulnerable than ever to other pollutants. No matter where you live in the Mississippi River watershed, you can help protect water quality in the Gulf with these tips:

Participate in a wetland, river or beach cleanup in your area. Check with your local watershed group or organize your own!
Never dump oil or other household chemicals in the street or in a storm drain. If you change your own motor oil, make sure to collect it in a clean can with a lid and take it to a service station or household hazardous waste collection site for recycling.
Use as little fertilizer and pesticide as possible. Most farmers and gardeners can use less fertilizer and still obtain the same amount of crop yield.
Prevent erosion by mulching and seeding areas where bare soil can be washed away in your yard. Adding mulch or vegetation to bare areas allows water to soak slowly into the ground, rather than running off quickly.
Instead of sweeping yard waste into the street or storm drain, use it for composting or mulching in your own backyard. You’ll protect your soil, prevent erosion, control weeds…and protect water quality.

Check out the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Mississippi River Basin map to find your location in the watershed: www.epa.gov/msbasin/marb.htm.

( Sources: GulfBase. General Facts about the Gulf of Mexico. http://www.gulfbase.org/facts.php; National Park Service: A Profile of the Mississippi River. http://www.nps.gov/miss/naturescience/profmiss.htm; Frankenberger, Jane and Ron Turco. Hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico: A Reason to Improve Nitrogen. Purdue Animal Issues Briefing AI-6; U.S. EPA National Estuary Program. June 2007. “National Estuary Program Coastal Condition Report.” Available from: http://www.epa.gov/owow/oceans/nepccr/index.html; Dybas, Cheryl l., Dead Zones Spreading in World Oceans, Bioscience 552-557; US EPA Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds. www.epa.gov/owow;
Gulf Base: General Facts about the Gulf of Mexico. http://www.gulfbase.org/facts.php;
US EPA Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds. Www.epa.gov/owow)

More Peas, Please!

espinoza — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 12:44:10 +0000

Did you know that weather has a large influence on seedling establishment and crop growth? If you enjoy eating peas from your garden, you can plant peas early in the spring, plant another batch of peas a few weeks later, and both batches will be ready to harvest at almost the same time. That’s because weather conditions will slow germination for the first batch of peas and speed them up for the second. The younger second batch of plants will grow faster as the days lengthen, slowly catching up with the first crop.

Viewer Tip: You can start planting peas in soil temperatures of 40-75 degrees Fahrenheit. Try putting a crop in as soon as the soil reaches the lower end of the temperature range, and then add another set of seeds in a few weeks. Then wait until summer and you’ll have an abundance of peas to enjoy.

Season: Spring

This information is provided by ATTRA, National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service. Learn more about continuous crop harvest at http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/continuousharvest.html#succession

Hop Along, Young Grasshopper

espinoza — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:20:25 +0000

Grasshoppers are an all-too-common invader of gardens across the country. They’re difficult to control because they are highly mobile and can do large amounts of damage in a very short period of time. You might think grasshoppers are just a summer problem, but there’s plenty you can do this spring to gauge what this year’s grasshopper levels will be like and maybe even prevent an infestation.

Viewer Tip: Grasshopper outbreaks are determined by a complex interaction of several factors, of which weather is the most important. Warm and dry spring conditions encourage nymphal growth. An early spring followed by cloudy, damp weather encourages diseases that sicken and kill grasshoppers. Although grasshoppers are difficult to control, their effects can be minimized by preventive management. Turning or tilling your soil in the spring can eliminate food sources for the newly hatched nymphs.

Season: Spring

This information is provided by ATTRA, National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service. Learn more in Grasshopper Management: http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/grasshopper.html.