On Thursday, March 24, all farmers are invited to attend a QPR training at the Adair County Cooperative Extension Service at 5:30 p.m. CT.
QPR stands for: Question, Persuade, and Refer — 3 simple steps that anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide. People trained in QPR learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to get a person at risk the help they need. You might be surprised and may find it useful at some point in your life with someone you know and care about.
In as little as 1½ hours, you can learn to recognize the warning signs of suicide and how to apply three simple steps that may save a life.
Each attendee will receive a QPR booklet and card with information on suicide prevention, as well as resource information for treatment providers and support groups within their community.
Pre-register for the session by calling the Adair County Cooperative Extension Service at 270-384-2317.
HAY FERTILIZATION
Mid-March is the ideal time to apply fertilizer to cool season grass hay fields to boost yield for May hay harvest. Delaying application of fertilizer will not slow the rate in which cool season grass will mature. Instead, both yield and quality are likely to be reduced.
Soil test results serve as the best guide as to how to invest fertilizer dollars. While fertilizer prices this year may prevent the ability to apply what the test results call for, the results can still serve as a guide to what nutrients we do not need.
As mentioned last week, many of our soils are high in phosphorus and low in potassium. In the case of hayfields, this can be explained due to the low removal rate of phosphorus and high removal rate of potassium. Typical hay yields in Adair County remove 48 pounds of phosphorus and 133 pounds of potassium from the soil. When triple 19 is applied for hay production, phosphorus is over applied and potassium in under applied. For many (but not all) hayfields with a long history of 19-19-19 applications, using 23-0-30 instead of 19-19-19 as a fertilizer would be more effective if fertilizing without the guidance of a soil test.
Hay crops use a lot of nitrogen, followed closely by potassium. Yield response to applied nitrogen can be seen up to 100 pound of nitrogen per acre (217 lbs urea/AC). Based on long-term research data, the first 40 pounds of nitrogen (87 lbs urea/AC) applied, results in the greatest return of pound of dry matter produced. If nitrogen rates are increased to 80 pounds per acre (173 lbs urea/AC), the yield response to nitrogen for the additional 40 pounds of nitrogen is about half of what the first 40 pounds produced.
Due to its volatility, urea should always be applied when adequate soil moisture is present or rainfall is in the immediate forecast. Otherwise, urea should be treated with a urease inhibitor to protect the fertilizer from volatizing to a gas.
Educational programs of Kentucky Cooperative Extension serve all people regardless of economic or social status and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information, age, veteran status, or physical or mental disability.
