Ira Zipperer
CPS
The following is a summary of information I gleaned from the Oregon Clover Commission meeting in McMinnville last Friday, February 5th:
End-Use Trends:
- Corn growers are very interested in cover crops but only to the extent they are covered by subsidies. Tier three crop subsidies include payments for use of cover crops.
- Annual ryegrass (20 lb./ac.) and crimson clover (10 lb./ac.) is currently the most popular cover. Seed is flown on the standing crop in late August. This combination produces up to 60 lb. N /ac.for succeeding crop.
- Clover/radish combinations are becoming more popular. The clover produces N which is captured by the radish and stored for the succeeding crop.
- Vetch is popular in wet years because it consumes as much as 1 inch of moisture per day which speeds planting.
- Perennial clovers are not as desirable because they are too slow to establish.
Ag. chemicals for clover use:
- Paraquat is being submitted for clover burndown.
- Movento proposed for 24-c label for root weevil control.
- Approval for updates to the feeding restrictions on the Goal 24c clover label have been suspended until further notice. The original Goal 24c for clover is still in effect.
- Goose repellent material has been withdrawn pending further study.
- Metaldehyde label is being rewritten and may not include clover.
- Acetaminprid (Assail), which is very safe on bees but very effective on aphids, needs two more field trials in 2010 before registration.
