Increasing Stalk Size

Farm Basics from Ag PhD Episode #1308 | Air Date 04/30/23 - Learn how farmers can reduce lodging in crops by increasing stalk size.

[rickk]

Hey y’all, got a quick question for ya’s. Has anyone ever looked at crop growth like from East to West rows compared to North or South planted rows?

I would think if rows were planted North to South compared to East and West that sunshine may help crop growth since it gives better sunlight? For instance, if corn is planted East to West that the stalks at some point block the sunlight in the morning and early evening, if the field planted North to South the ears would get more sunlight from early morning to early evening. Any knowledge if this has ever been looked at before? Thanks and to all the Farm Families out there, thank you all for helping feed the world, God bless and stay safe and please remember. Safety First!….. wash the clothes you spray in, true story about environmental emergencies. One would think that we should never have to worry about dying by poisoning.

A farmer feels Great after feeding and milking cows in the early wee hours. Starts getting the sprayer ready and starts to feel dizzy. The first few times everything works out and is fine. Unfortunately later on in the week the family finds him almost unconscious. By the time they rush him to the hospital he starts feeling better and after a few tests shows nothing wrong.

Keep in mind this is Springtime, so now after two more episodes of him passing out they call 911 because this time he’s unresponsive. We get there and we get him into our rig and it’s almost like he’s been drugged, incoherent at times and yet other times he knows everything from date to what he was last doing. He seems fine and we transport routine. Several days pass and this time we’re told he’s completely different, unresponsive and the family can’t wake him up. We get there and we start treating and asking questions.

When do all these instances happen? In the morning of course.

What’s he doing when he starts acting strange? He’s just finishing up milking and filling the sprayer.

At this point I’m starting to understand something, the pictures being painted, I look at my partner and he looks at me and we know exactly what’s taking place. His clothing he was wearing for filling up the sprayer was coveralls, we know we need to cut everything off him and in a hurt. Why? The chemicals he was mixing and spraying in the early mornings was saturating his clothing, his body was saturated with toxicity from the chemicals and the clothing. It’s no different than Fire Departments going to clean air cabs. No dirty turnout gear in the cabs. The stuff we entertain at fires weather carpeting, furniture, plastics, all leave toxins on gear. To make a long story short make sure your washing your outer wear in a separate washer and dryer not used for normal clothing. Don’t wear the same coveralls for months at a time before washing! We already know farming is inherently dangerous and when things go wrong, they’re deadly! These type of emergencies are called Environmental Emergencies, please make sure your Local Fire Departments know your addresses, and they’re in the CAD systems we use. Remember, when your out in the fields, giving us a home address and your 15 miles from there means death for the patient/patients know your farming neighbor’s. Sometimes it takes smaller Departments 10 to 15 minutes just to get a crew to respond to the station, 10 to 15 minutes response to the scene doesn’t give much time for what First Responders know as the Golden Hour. Chances of people getting to the hospital within 60 minutes in normal circumstances is with that hour. Now take a situation that requires a 10 to 15 minute response to the station, another 10 to 15 minute responding to the scene, and then when we get there we’re still 15 miles from you. Think this doesn’t happen? More than you know with farming accidents! Here’s one last thing, most of these smaller departments and some bigger departments don’t know anything about farm equipment. These First Responders are like a bull in a china shop, they have no idea how to shut off a PTO, a combine, put a tractor in park. This is why I said, know your neighbors, they may not be using the same manufacturer as you, but they understand equipment and know the ins and outs of it all! Last I’ll tell you this, if it’s a serious enough accident, don’t wait till fire shows up, ask the 911 Comm’s Specialists to get the helicopter up and head your way. It takes them 10 to 15 minutes for pre flight checks, then flying time, remember the Golden hour, I think it’s like 80% of the people that reach the ER in that time have almost 90 to 95% chance of survival, after that hour, it drops like there’s a 10ton boulder! Which means it’s a grim outcome!

Farmers, I ask all of you this. You don’t need to always give money to rural departments, sometimes the best gift of all is something simple. Invite your local Fire Department’s out, show them things, help them understand the equipment. Heck, if you have old equipment that’s not good for anything let teach them with it. From bailers to PTO’s, from mowing equipment to combines, silos, manure pits, teach them these things. In these worst case scenario’s where the farmers in the field, his arms been amputated call 911, ask for med vac to get them headed your way, then call your neighbor. I’ve been trying to get John Deere to use their GPS tracking to help pinpoint a farmers true whereabouts is! Ask John Deere and Case IH or whatever it’s called to assist us, heck they can even put in a an emergency beacon that could already all First Responders! God bless and stay safe out there!… Love you all!…

[josslab]

Some have opined that corn being a grass crop is not even supposed to have big stalk and massive root is enough to prevent lodging.
Is it not enough to have a thin stalk with massive root?

[kakaeriko]

amaranthus, the weed. (pigweed)
-it is a vegetable here east africa

[narayankulkarni]

Sir tell us more about sunflower how to protect sun flower from bugs

[conradesterhuizen]

Good day how can i grow a bigger corn head