Eddie Funderburg, Ed.D. News
Eddie Funderburg
Growing up in Louisiana, this bayou boy loved fishing, football and a good shrimp etouffee. However, all these loves took a backseat to agriculture.
Fulfilling Their Destiny
Noble Research Institute consultation clients William and Karen Payne transformed
an abused farm into a showplace ranch.
Small Grains Breeding at Noble Research Institute
Small grains breeding has been an integral part of the Noble Research Institute work since the early 1950s.
Getting Back To Cattle
Joe and Jeannie Dobson return to their roots to enjoy the family land after years of city life.
Nitrogen Losses From Urea
There are many thoughts regarding how much nitrogen is lost from applying urea on pastures and hay fields. If applied incorrectly, up to 40 percent of the nitrogen applied as urea can be vaporized and lost as a gas.
Laboratory Analysis Changes
The Noble Research Institute has changed its contract laboratory for analytical services (soil, water, manure, lime and fertilizer) from Ward Laboratories, Inc., in Kearney, Neb., to Servi-Tech Laboratory Services in Amarillo, Texas.
Stretch Your Input Dollars
December can be a fairly slow month regarding soil and crops issues, and it may be a good time to plan your strategy for the use of fertilizer and herbicides in 2006.
Proper liming, fertilizing increases winter pasture profit
Lime and fertilizer make up a substantial portion of the costs of producing winter pasture. Lime may or may not be needed - only a soil test can tell you for sure. If lime is recommended, its application can pay good dividends.
What Does Organic Matter Do In Soil?
Organic matter serves as a reservoir of nutrients and water in the soil, aids in reducing compaction, and increases water infiltration. Yet, it's often ignored and neglected.
Proper management increases weed control success
A well-managed and properly stocked pasture should not need herbicides every year. A little time spent scouting may save you a lot of unnecessary time and money on spraying when your weed population is not high enough to justify it.
Jar test helps determine compatible chemical mixes
When two or more products are physically incompatible, an emulsion may form.
How to Take a Soil Sample
Why do you need to take a soil sample? How do you take a good soil sample? How often do you need to sample?
Is Fertilizing Native Grass Profitable?
A high percentage of the grazing land in our area is native grass. Most ranchers do not fertilize native grass because it is widely thought that it is unprofitable to do so. In fact, one of the appealing characteristics of native grass systems is that they do relatively well with minimal inputs.
Fertilizer rates affect bermudagrass varieties differently
There are many varieties of bermudagrass, and they respond to nitrogen fertilizer in different ways. A research study was conducted to see if fertilizer could be used more efficiently by fertilizing different varieties to their optimum response rate.
Research yields findings for greenbrier control
Most ranchers are aware that greenbrier can be a problem in pastures and rangeland, and is hard to control. There are various ideas on how to control greenbrier.
Does Lime Pay on Winter Pasture?
Let's say you look at the results from your soil sample and see there is a recommendation for lime. You check around and discover this is going to cost $40-$50 per acre. A normal person would question whether the value received from liming is worth the cost.
Herbicides control blackberries
June is usually the best month to control blackberries in pastures and rangeland in the Southern Great Plains.
Brush Control without Spraying Leaves
Some people want to control brush, but don't have a sprayer, have too much brush to use a sprayer or just want to do selective brush control. There are several options, each with advantages and disadvantages.
Have You Seen the Price of Nitrogen Fertilizer?
In April 2001, I wrote an article on high nitrogen prices. Ten years later, the question persists, and, yes, nitrogen fertilizer prices are even higher.
Profit Potential in Wheat for Grain
Since it looks like wheat may be $8 per bushel at harvest in 2009, many producers are considering planting it strictly for grain. This can be profitable in some situations with good management, cost control and high yields. Unfortunately, costs have increased at a very fast pace and have diminished profit margins.
Common Mistakes in Growing Alfalfa
With high protein prices, many people are thinking about growing alfalfa, some for the first time ever. While alfalfa can be very profitable, there are some common mistakes that can take you from profitability to loss quickly.
Poultry Litter for Fertilizer
There has been increased interest in using poultry litter as fertilizer since fertilizer prices have skyrocketed. Poultry litter has long been used near the point of production, but high transportation costs for its low analysis has limited its use to within about 50 miles of poultry houses.
Consider These Items Before Spraying
Spring has arrived, and many ranchers' thoughts turn to killing weeds. Before you hook up the trusty (or in some cases, rusty) sprayer and give 'er a go, think about the these things.
You May Not Need to Use Nitrogen on Wheat in 2011
As we approach the end of 2011, many soil sample results have considerably higher than average amounts of nitrates, especially in wheat and winter pasture fields.
Inventory Weeds Now for Control Next Year
Summer is a good time to identify problem weeds and work out a weed-control plan for the following year.
Organic matter serves important role in soil health
The contributions of soil organic matter and how to maintain or increase it.
Soil test values can vary across years
Following these steps should help you develop a better nutrient management program through use of soil testing.
Is Nitrogen Fertilizer Worth the Cost for Winter Pasture?
At the time of writing, urea costs about $750 per ton. This means that a pound of nitrogen from urea costs about 82 cents. This is a very high price and leads to the logical question, "Is it worth the cost to fertilize winter pasture for stockers?" I'll try to answer this question, but let's define the ground rules.
Herbicides control sandbur infestation
I've had more calls on sandbur control in 2014 than I can ever remember. While it is obviously too late to do anything about them this year, plans can be made for next year.
Hay Choices for Cattle Producers and Equine Enthusiasts
Cattle producers and equine enthusiasts in the Southern Great Plains rely heavily on introduced warm-season grasses for their winter hay needs. Primarily, these grasses are either bermudagrass or old world bluestem varieties.
Consultant shares best times to apply phosphorus, potassium
Sometimes, a rancher takes a soil sample, sends it to a laboratory and the recommendation calls for phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). The rancher knows nitrogen should be applied near the time of...
Sandbur Control in Bermudagrass Pastures and Hay Fields
Sandbur generally behave as summer annual grasses, although they will sometimes act as weak perennials. While they are different species, they all share the common trait of being undesirable in...
Using Aminopyralid Preemergent in Pastures for Western Ragweed Control
Western ragweed (Ambrosia psilostachya) is considered one of the most common weeds in pastures and rangeland in the Southern Great Plains. It is an aggressive competitor with grasses and is generally...
Effect of Nitrogen Rate on Yield of Nine Warm-season Introduced Perennial Forage Varieties
When ranchers think about planting an introduced summer perennial forage variety, there are usually two questions. One is, "Do hybrid varieties that do well in research tests with heavy fertilization...
Pasture and Hay Field Weed Control for Texas
Good weed control can be achieved in pastures and hay fields if attention to detail is followed. It is a matter of targeting the correct weed, at the proper growth stage, with a labeled herbicide,...
Pasture and Hay Field Weed Control for Oklahoma
Good weed control can be achieved in pastures and hay fields if attention to detail is followed. It is a matter of targeting the correct weed, at the proper growth stage, with a labeled herbicide,...
Effect of Fertilizer on Yield of Native Grass
Fertilization of native grass fields is generally not recommended in the Southern Great Plains region of the United States. The primary reason for not fertilizing native grass is the belief that the...
Greenbrier: Identification and Management
Greenbrier (Smilax bona-nox L.) is a native woody vine or shrub. It is a member of the Smilacaceae, formerly Liliaceae, family which includes approximately 12 to 15 species in the Smilax genus.
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Establishing Bermudagrass for Pastures and Hay Fields
A well prepared seedbed is critical to successfully establish bermudagrass from seed. A good seedbed should be firm, smooth, weed-free, and free of holes and ridges.
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Economics of Fertilizing Bermudagrass for Cow-Calf Production
Fertilizer prices have fallen in recent months. Unfortunately, so have cattle prices. Does it pay to fertilize bermudagrass pastures to increase carrying capacity in times like these? To answer this...
Grazing Alfalfa
Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) has probably been grazed for as many years as it has been planted. However, most of the grazing has been done as a minor component of a hay production system and not as a...
How to Control Winter Weeds in Summer Pastures
Eddie Funderburg, Ed.D., senior soils and crops consultant, reviews ways to control cool-season weeds, including ryegrass, thistles and henbit, in perennial warm-season pastures.
Bermudagrass as a Forage and Hay Crop in the Southern Great Plains
Eddie Funderburg, Ed.D., senior soils and crops consultant, presents a thorough overview of bermudagrass, a warm-season perennial grass, including recommendations for its establishment and management as a forage and hay crop.
Prussic Acid, Nitrate Poisoning and Grass Tetany in Beef Cattle
Eddie Funderburg, Ed.D., senior soils and crops consultant, offers a comprehensive summary of data on prussic acid, nitrate poisoning and grass tetany to aid beef cattle producers in health management and herd protection.
Should You Fertilize Native Grass Pastures and Hayfields?
Since there is economic risk in applying fertilizer, we generally do not recommend applying fertilizer unless there is a significant advantage to doing so. Therefore, the general recommendation of not fertilizing native grass is correct in most instances.
How to Take a Soil Sample
If you’re ready to start soil testing, but aren’t sure where to send your samples, you can send them to Noble Research Institute’s Ag Testing Services.
How to Interpret a Soil Test Report
Not all labs report the same information in a soil test, but most will report soil pH, any needed lime recommendations, and soil test phosphorus and potassium.