Dormant seeding forages can be a good option

Oct 12, 2022

Seeding forages in the fall can be a good alternative to spring or summer seeding.

Range Management Specialist Paige Straf says timing is critical with dormant seeding.

"A good rule of thumb is to seed forages when the average daily air temperature are at five degrees Celsius or less. Ideally producers should target for soil temperatures that are less than two degrees Celsius."

She notes if you seed before the soil temperatures are low enough, seeds will take on moisture, can start to germinate, and can get killed off by the cold winter temperatures.

Straf encourages producers looking at dormant seeding forages to increase seeding rates by 20-30 per cent, purchase good quality seed, and ask for a seed certificate to verify the content.

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Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.