Scout For, Control Cressleaf Groundsel This Fall

Sep 29, 2016

By Mark Loux

Cressleaf groundsel, which is poisonous to livestock, has caught some hay and livestock producers by surprise when they discover it in late spring in hay or pasture. Some hay producers have had to discard hay from first cuttings due to an abundance of this yellow-flowered weed. Cressleaf groundsel is a winter annual weed that is easily controlled in the fall, when in the rosette stage, in most crop situations. Take time to scout fields this fall to determine whether cressleaf groundsel is present, especially in new summer seedings or fields with a history of this weed problem.

Source: osu.edu

Video: Swine Industry Advances: Biodigesters Lower Emissions and Increase Profits

Analysis of greenhouse gas (GHG emissions) in the Canadian swine sector found that CH4 emissions from manure were the largest contributor to the overall emissions, followed by emissions from energy use and crop production.

This innovative project, "Improving Swine Manure-Digestate Management Practices Towards Carbon Neutrality With Net Zero Emission Concepts," from Dr. Rajinikanth Rajagopal, under Swine Cluster 4, seeks to develop strategies to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.

While the management of manure can be very demanding and expensive for swine operations, it can also be viewed as an opportunity for GHG mitigation, as manure storage is an emission source built and managed by swine producers. Moreover, the majority of CH4 emissions from manure occur during a short period of time in the summer, which can potentially be mitigated with targeted intervention.

In tandem with understanding baseline emissions, Dr. Rajagopal's work focuses on evaluating emission mitigation options. Manure additives have the potential of reducing manure methane emissions. Additives can be deployed relatively quickly, enabling near-term emission reductions while biodigesters are being built. Furthermore, additives can be a long-term solution at farms where biogas is not feasible (e.g., when it’s too far from a central digester). Similarly, after biodigestion, additives can also be used to further reduce emissions from storage to minimize the carbon intensity of the bioenergy.