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White Heads

By Jochum Wiersma
 
Is not the reincarnation of the Detroit rock due the White Stripes but a phenomenon that often can be seen this time of year in wheat fields are they are starting to ripen.  The causes of these premature ripened heads are varied and a diagnostic key can be found here.
 
People of commented that especially the wheat stem maggot is more prevalent this year and my travels to the different field trials across the state confirm this. The seemingly high numbers of wheat stem maggot may be related to the mild winter conditions.  Several insect pests that overwinter in Minnesota have had comparatively high and early populations this year.
 
Incidence will generally be worse along field edges and taper off as you walk further into the field.
 

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Dry Farming, Deer Fencing, and Cover Crops in the Paths with Eric Nordell

Video: Dry Farming, Deer Fencing, and Cover Crops in the Paths with Eric Nordell

We cover: today I am so excited to share this conversation with my buddy Eric Nordell of Beech Grove Farm in Pennsylvania to chat about, well, a lot of things. Eric and his wife Anne have run beech grove farm since 1983 and they do things a little differently (like farming with horses) but they dry farm which we discuss, they use some cover crops in the paths in interesting ways (also discussed) and in fact, we get into a whole digression about their deer fencing that you’re gonna wanna hear.