Botany Final Project

Agronomic Best Management Practices

Open this in the desktop version of word for maximum readability. Read all the instructions before proceeding. You have been tasked with the development of a management plan that must include the following:

- Cover page (10 pts)- 250 Word Summary of Problems/Solutions (10 pts)- Soil quality recommendations (20 pts)- Fertilizer/Pesticide Price Calculations (20 pts)- Integrated Pest Management Plan (40 pts)- Labels for any recommended products (10 pts)

In each scenario you will be given the following:

- Web Soil Survey – Soil type map, soil health properties, erosion, and chemical properties surveyed by the USDA for the area you are managing.

- Soil Nutrient Analysis (https://www.sare.org/Learning-Center/Books/Building-Soils-for-Better-Crops-3rd-Edition/Text-Version/Getting-the-Most-From-Routine-Soil-Tests/Interpreting-Soil-Test-Results)

- Plant Pest problems (http://www.cdms.net/Label-Database/Advanced-Search- Average expected yield for the crop

As an agronomist, your job is to help producers decipher meaningful information. The links above should help you identify these. One of your greatest challenges here will be in deciding which information is important and what is just junk. Please reach out with questions! Ask your “agronomy team” (aka the two other people who were assigned your crop!) for feedback and ideas. I encourage each of you to work together! Best of luck!

To access your farm’s information, click on the little arrow next to your assigned crop! The document should expand to show your information.

You must contact your Chemical Salesperson (Ms. Johnson) via zoom or the phone to get prices on your selected chemicals.

If you need help diagnosing deficiencies, check out this powerpoint: https://cals.arizona.edu/crops/presentations/2013/Parker9-24-2013.pdf

This source might also help you understanding potential plant diseases and IPM’s https://www2.ipm.ucanr.edu/agriculture/

Example IPM Plan for Ants (https://greenshieldcertified.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/GSC-LEED-Compatible-IPM-Plan.pdf)a. Ant problems will be prevented by maintaining our facility exterior to prevent vegetation

from touching building walls and providing travel routes for ants. We will seal gaps where ants might gain entry (e.g., vents, holes near windows, doors near food or trash handling areas). Rain gutters will be maintained in clean condition and proper working order to reduce water sources. Potential water sources (e.g., leaky pipes, condensation) will also be eliminated.

b. When an ant problem persists, the ants will be identified to species to aid in locating nesting sites, preferred food, habits and appropriate baits when necessary.

c. Ants inside buildings will be vacuumed and cleaned up with soapy water, including the areas ants are traversing to eliminate any pheromone recruiting trail, which ants deposit to help other ants find the location of food and water sources. Maintenance will be informed and the opening(s) providing entry into the building and/or sources of water for ants will be located and repaired.

d. Building and room occupants will be informed of any action they need to take to prevent future problems, e.g., cleaning up spilled food or drink more promptly or thoroughly, storing food in sealed containers, repairing leaking or dripping pipes or faucets, etc. Green Shield Certified LEED Compatible IPM Plan v. 6/23/2010 Reproducible with attribution - ©2010, IPM Institute of North America, Inc. 12

e. If the above steps fail to correct the problem, the contractor will inform the IPM Coordinator and discuss additional steps, such as more extensive repairs, changes in the food policy, changes in exterior landscaping to remove ant habitat, or the judicious use of less-toxic pesticide baits or gels, preferably in manufactured tamper-resistant bait stations placed in areas inaccessible to children or other building occupants. Placement and amounts of ant baits and/or gels are recorded to ensure removal once the problem is resolved. Over-application is wiped up immediately to reduce potential for exposure to staff, visitors and others

Scenarios Below. Click on the little arrow next to the SubTitle with your name!

Alfalfa – Trenton, Waycee, KailyFarmer Alonso has about 100 acres of no-till alfalfa north of Parma in Canyon County. He has hired you to analyze his alfalfa field. This is a 3rd year alfalfa field and seems to behind in terms of growth. According to the USDA Soil Survey, Alfalfa hay yields in this area should be approximately 6.2 tons/acre. As a proactive measure, you have already taken a soil sample and have walked the field to check for presence of pests. Please analyze the following test results to create a Best Practices Plan for Farmer Alonso.

Double click this to open a larger version with soil types ^^^

Soil Sample Report:

Field Name: Field A Measurement PPM Soil Test Category

Recommendation Summary

Sample Date: April N 6 Moderate 58 lbs/acreSoil Type: Sandy Loam P 3 Low 37 lbs/acreManure Added: none K 716 Very High None

Mg 340 High NoneHistory: alfalfa Ca Not Tested

pH 8.1 Alkaline No lime neededCrop to be grown: Alfalfa

CEC 3.2me/100gOM 2.1% Moderately Low Consider spreading

manure in fall

Plant Pest Report:

Weeds present: foxtail barley spreading from canal on southern part of field

Vertebrates present: Gopher holes sporadically in Northwest corner. Disbursed through about 30 square feet area

Insects present: Approximately 30% of plants inspected had pictured insects present

Wheat – Jordan, Maggie, SaraFarmer Brian has about 80 acres of irrigated wheat west of Parma in Canyon County. He has hired you to analyze his field. He planted his wheat in late February and has thinner areas in south/southwest portion of the field. According to the USDA Soil Survey, wheat production in Idaho yields should be approximately 110 bu/acre. As a proactive measure, you have already taken soil samples and have walked the field to check for presence of pests. Please analyze the following test results to create a Best Practices Plan for Farmer Brian.

Double click this to open a larger version with soil types ^^^

Soil Sample Report:

Field Name: Farm B Measurement PPM Soil Test Category

Recommendation Summary

Sample Date: May N 5 Low 170 lbs/acre

Soil Type: Loam –Sandy Loam

P 14 Low 37 lbs/acreK 620 Very High None

Mg 230 High NoneManure Added: none Ca Not TestedHistory: not disclosed pH 7.9 Alkaline No lime needed

Crop to be grown: Wheat

CEC 1.4me/100gOM .9% Low Consider cover

cropping, reduced tillage, and manure

Plant Pest Report:

Weeds present: Field Bindweed throughout field, particularly heavy on the northwest corner and along canal.

Vertebrates present: Robins nesting in trees in the southern portion of field.

Insects present: One of these pests were detected in a soil sample taken on the eastern side of the field. Crop has a 10 square foot bare spot in this area.

Disease present: While checking the crop, you see a few of these spots on the leaves.

Corn – Darcy, SiSi, AdriannaFarmer Connie has about 100 acres of irrigated corn west of Parma in Canyon County. She has hired you to analyze her field. She is about to plant corn for silage, which she sells to a local dairy. According to the USDA Soil Survey, barley production in Idaho yields should be approximately 92 bu/acre. As a proactive measure, you have already taken a soil sample and have walked the field to check for presence of pests. Please analyze the following test results to create a Best Practices Plan for Farmer Brian.

Double click this to open a larger version with soil types ^^^

Soil Sample Report:

Field Name: Field C Measurement PPM Soil Test Category

Recommendation Summary

Sample Date: April N 5 Low 180 lbs/acreSoil Type: Sandy LoamManure Added: none

P 12 Moderately Low 26 lbs/acreK 683 Very High None

Mg 374 High NoneHistory: corn Ca Not Tested

pH 7.9 Alkaline No lime neededCrop to be grown: corn

CEC 3.2me/100gOM 2.1% Moderately Low Consider spreading

manure in fall

Plant Pest Report:

Weeds present: Prior to tilling the soil for planting, you noticed that various amaranthaceae (Pigweed) type plants were sprouting throughout the field, including some volunteer grasses.

Vertebrates present: small holes are observed near the ditch, although it is unclear if these are active.

Insects present: One of these pests were detected in a soil sample taken on the eastern side of the field.

Best Practices Plan1. Give a concise statement of the problems facing your producer:

2. What recommendations do you have for your producer in regards to soil amendments?

3. What is the cost of your recommended fertilizer application?

Recommendations/acre Fertilizer Optionslbs of nitrogen Fertilizer #1: 13-0-45 @ $_________/tonlbs of P2O5 Fertilizer #2: 11-52-0 @ $_________/tonlbs of K2O Fertilizer #3: 46-0-0 @ $_________/ton

Lbs Fertilizer/acre Pts Cost/acre PtsFertilizer 1Fertilizer 2Fertilizer 3Total lbs/acre Total cost/acre:

Total field cost:

4. Are there any other restrictions or recommendations that your producer should be aware of?

Integrated Pest Management

1. What pests is your producer facing? 2. Please develop an IPM plan for each pest listed. Keep the following questions in mind when

creating an IPM plan:a. How should you/your producer measure the presence of pests?b. List any preventative measures you would recommend to your producer to manage

indicated pests?c. List any non-pesticide controls that you would recommendd. What indicators would you use to determine the use of chemical controlse. Identify a pesticide that could be used if the infection/infestation exceeded appropriate

limits.