Bob Whitney

Time to Soil Test

A curiosity about how soil reacts to natural conditions led Rick Haney to develop a different kind of test at his USDA-ARS laboratory. (Progressive Farmer image by Ron Nichols / NRCS)

This is definitely the time to be out in the field soil testing. I am a big proponent for taking your soil samples at the same time every year so that I can reasonably expect that the soil is at the same environmental condition as in previous years. I also like to keep my soil test results in a spreadsheet where I can place them side by side and see every year’s results. How can I monitor fertility unless I measure fertility? How can I know progress unless I can see the changes from year on top of year? Here are some test results I like to see.

Types of Soil Tests

Of course, a normal soil test or what you might call a Regular Soil Test is a must. These are not usually expensive, +/- $15 or more with micronutrients. This test is mostly meaningless unless I have previous year’s results to see what is going on. I have taken literally thousands of soil samples and often I will see something show up that is off the charts. I am not known to panic when I see a problem because I am not going to react to that test unless I know it has steadily been a problem that is just getting worse. For instance, we can see pH swings in sand from one year to the next. Before I lime a soil, I may take a second sample just to verify I need lime. $15 soil test is cheaper than $60 per acre lime application.

Second, I like to have a Haney Soil Test done. What does a Haney soil test give me? Here is a list of the tests done:

Soil Respiration CO2-C ppm
WEOC – Water Extractable Organic Carbon
WEON – Water Extractable Organic Nitrogen
%MAC – % Microbially Active Carbon
Organic C:N
Organic N to Inorganic N
Organic N Release
Organic N Reserve
Soil Health Score

If you thought it was cheap, guess again. Most labs charge $50 so you don’t usually just send everything in for a Haney Test. Again, the results are only good if you have several years’ worth of data to see if you are getting better.

Last, is the PLFA Test or Phospholipid Fatty Acid Test. This test measures the biomass of the microbes in the soil and is one of the tests that is currently being conducted to determine the microbial population of soil. Here’s an example:

Looking at this example you can see the microbial biomass, the diversity index with a rating chart, the different groups – bacteria, fungi, protozoa and undifferentiated (unknown). This test is not cheap either costing $75 per sample but it does help to know if you are putting in the right mix of crops and fertility to see microbes increasing.

The “take home” message is not soil testing only, but records of soil tests you can see over time!

New in 2022!

I first need to keep myself out of hot water with all the copyright police. This is a picture taken of a page in the American Fruit Grower magazine, February 2022! I like to subscribe to lots of publications and this is just one, but a special one since it has a section called, “Special Coverage Biologicals.”

There are lots of new products coming out this year for use in organic agriculture and it is a good thing. These companies are finding a good market for biologicals and the good market is driving them to research and test new products for the market. This list features soil amendments, fungicides, insecticides, fertilizers and more.

Here is another article I “stole” from Southwest Farm Press which they got from Wallaces Farmer. It is about a new company that has a botanical fungicide from the Soapbark tree in Chile. This new fungicide is not even approved in the US yet but has excellent control of botrytis blight commonly known as gray mold a problem in strawberries and many greenhouse and landscape crops. Syngenta is working with this company to bring products like this to market. The biological/organic world is changing fast!

Organic Rice Varieties?

The title is a little misleading since there are no specific organic rice varieties – at least not yet! There are several commercially available rice varieties that are planted by organic rice growers on a consistent basis simply because they have done well in an organic system. According to most organic growers two varieties seem to be planted more than most – RiceTec XL723 and RT7401.

RT7401 is a fairly new variety but is catching on quick while XL723 has been around several years and is known to produce in organic conditions. In fact, RiceTec promotes both as working well in organic conditions.

Dr. Qiming Shao, El Campo Research Facility (Photo Randy Ouzts)

Nutrien Ag Solutions Dyna-Gro Seed division introduced DG263L this past year and has had mixed results. Talking to Dr. Qiming Shao with Nutrien Ag Solutions, he thinks DG263L should do well in an organic system and recommends it. It is 120-day maturity with 88 days to 50% maturity.

So, are there organic rice varieties? Not really, but there are some really good commercial varieties for organic rice growers to choose!

Just remember always check with your organic certifier about any inputs you want to use in your organic program.

Two Rice Meetings in January

Rice producers will have two opportunities to learn more about rice production and get their private applicator CEU’s.

The Western Rice Belt Production Conference will be held at the El Campo Civic Center on Wednesday, January 19 starting with registration at 7:30 am and program starts at 8:10 am and lasts till after 2 pm. 2 TDA CEU’s will be given.

El Campo Civic Center

Speakers include Rice Variety Performance – RiceTec, Horizon Ag, and Dynagro; Rice dryer variety data – Corrie Bowen; Row Rice Production – Jarrod Hardke; Carbon Credit Economics – Luis Ribera; TDA Laws and Regs – Stephanie Theriot; Farm Policy Update – George Knapek; and Rice Market Update – Thomas Wynn.

The Southeast Texas Rice Symposium will be held at the Winnie-Stowell Community Building on Thursday, January 20 from 8:15 am to 2 pm. RSVP by January 14.

Winnie-Stowell Center

Topics include USRPA Update – Marcela Garcia; Louisiana Rice Update – Ronnie Levy; Volatility of Input Costs – Thomas Wynn; Rice Varieties – RiceTec & Horizon Ag; Rice Diseases – Young Ki Jo; Regional Weather Outlook – Patrick Vaughn; Carbon Credit Economics – Dr. Luis Ribera.

I look forward to meeting you at these two rice meetings!

B.I.G. Organic Hort Program Jan. 11

The 60^th Blackland Income Growth Conference will be held January 11-12 at the Extraco Events Center in Waco. The two-day event has a lot of programs on almost anything in agriculture and includes an equipment show. The Horticulture Section will be held on Tuesday, January 11 starting at 8:30 am and lasting till 11:15 am.

If interested in organic horticulture there will be two topics that will help you in your organic vegetable, fruit or nut operation. Dr. Jake Mowrer, Soil Nutrient & Water Resource Management Extension Specialist, will present information on Soil Health in organic systems. Dr. Mowrer will be followed by Bob Whitney, Extension Organic Specialist, discussing the organic program and using integrated pest management in organic horticulture production.

The program will include one (1) continuing education unit (CEU) in IPM for your TDA pesticide license.

To register or for more information you can call the District 8 Extension Center at (254) 974-9433 or email katherine.whitney@ag.tamu.edu.

Organic Cotton/Peanut Production Seminar to be held Jan. 26

Throughout West Texas agriculture producers will be attending the first ever Organic Cotton/Peanut Production Seminar, Wednesday, January 26, 2022 in Seminole, Texas. Organic production has continued to increase in West Texas and demand by consumers for organic peanuts and cotton is at an all-time high.

The West Texas area has developed a great reputation for their peanuts and cotton and both organic peanuts and cotton from this area are known world-wide for their outstanding quality in the organic market. Increasing demand, high producer prices and good growing conditions are improving farmer prospects in organic agriculture.

The increasing demand and high prices has more and more peanut and cotton growers interested in learning about organic production. Texas A&M AgriLife specialists, agents and researchers recognized the need for more education and has worked to put together this seminar to educate growers about production practices, marketing and organic rules.”

The Organic Peanut Production Seminar will be held at the Seminole Community Center, 801 N. Main, Seminole, Texas. The seminar will be held on Wednesday, January 26 starting at 8:30 A.M. and lasting till mid-afternoon. All peanut and cotton growers with an interest in organic production are invited to attend as well as allied peanut industry representatives. Four (4) Continuing Education Credits will be offered to pesticide applicators who attend. To reserve a spot or for more information call me at 979.571.2086 or email me at bob.whitney@ag.tamu.edu. Download Agenda Here

The seminar will feature several well-known speakers in the organic peanut industry. Dr. Emi Kimura, Extension Agronomist will discuss organic cotton varieties and production. Dr. John Cason, AgriLife Peanut Researcher and Dr. Dylan Wann, IPG Peanut Breeder will discuss organic peanut varieties and production. Dr. Cecilia Monclova, Extension Plant Pathologist will discuss organic seedling diseases and the problems with cotton FOV 4 disease. These speakers will then form a panel to discuss organic cotton and peanut production issues with growers. This will be followed by Dr. Katie Lewis, AgriLife Researcher discussing soil organic matter, carbon, cover crops and overall soil health.

After a sponsored lunch the program will switch to “Organic Certification Issues and How to Avoid Them,” by Brandi Chandler, Organic Certification Program Coordinator at TDA. Dr. Pancho Abello and Will Keeling, AgriLife Ag Economists will follow with organic crop budgets to use in crop planning. Dr. Justin Tuggle, Crop Consultant will address the common agronomic issues in organic crops in 2021 followed by Dr. Pancho Abello, Extension Economist giving farmers an Organic Crop Outlook for 2022.

Sponsors for the Organic Cotton/Peanut Production Seminar include the Texas Peanut Producers Board, Certis Bio, South Plains Compost, IPG Seed, Trico Peanut, Helena Agri-Enterprises, Algrano Peanut Shelling, Valent USA, Aqua-Yield & Texas Earth, New Deal Grain, Kunafin “the Insectary”, Viatrac Fertilizer, Wilco Peanut, BH Genetics, Marrone Bio Innovations, Mesa Irrigation, Advancing Eco Agriculture, and American Plant Food.