By Jamie Martin
With the 2024 growing season pacing ahead by about a week, and in some areas even two, it's crucial for farmers to reevaluate their harvest aid programs. This adjustment is essential to preserve the quality of crops which ultimately affects profitability.
Key tips for fine-tuning your harvest strategy include setting precise target harvest dates to align with the harvester's capacity, which is often stretched thin over many acres.
Initiating defoliation and other treatments at the optimal time prevents yield loss due to issues like hardlock from premature applications.
Understanding the specific characteristics of your crop varieties is vital, as some withstand waiting periods better than others. This knowledge aids in scheduling and applying harvest aids based on the maturity of the crop rather than just the percent of open bolls, which can be misleading.
Temperature plays a significant role in the effectiveness of harvest aids like ethephon and thidiazuron. Applications should be timed when daytime temperatures are high enough to ensure active plant growth, optimizing the effectiveness of the treatments.
Finally, consider the technique of application. Proper application methods, such as adjusting droplet sizes and carrier volumes, can significantly influence the efficacy of the harvest aids, ensuring that the products perform as expected without over-applying.
By integrating these strategies with local extension recommendations, farmers can enhance their harvest aid programs, leading to maintained or even increased yields and better quality crops.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-eugenesergeev
Categories: National