Here are this week’s top stories from Farm and Dairy:
1. Harvest delays increase odds of yield loss for corn growers
This year’s wet spring and fall have put a damper on harvest. Farmers have had no choice but to let corn dry in the fields, which increases the risk of yield loss.
If harvest is delayed beyond early to mid-November, corn is susceptible to stalk lodging, ear drop and ear rot. If left in the field much longer, there is an average loss of 11 percent from mid-November to mid-December
2. Ripen green tomatoes indoors
A mature, ripe green tomato will be pale green and will resemble jelly on the inside.
To get the best green tomatoes, knowing when to harvest them is key. There are some tricks to ripen them indoors, too, including bananas, newspapers and a temperature of 70 to 80 degrees. The result? Garden-fresh tomatoes long after the harvest season ends!
3. Gause Equipment is now Evolution Ag
Lisbon-owned Gause Equipment will remain at its Route 172 location and will still employ the same people, but the name will be changing. Due to too many demands from equipment manufacturers, Gause Equipment made the decision to sell to Evolution Ag.
Evolution Ag formed in 2012 and has headquarters in Delaware, Ohio. Over the years, Evolution Ag has dealt with Gause Equipment, which was one of the top 100 dealers of Cub Cadet in the nation for over two decades.
4. FARMS helps prepare equipment for winter storage
With winter on its way, farmers are reminded to prepare their equipment for the cold and snow.
AGCO introduced the acronym FARMS to represent the five steps that farmers should take to protect their equipment and get it ready for spring: fill tanks, adequately lubricate, repair damage, maintain and clean and store equipment.
By taking these steps, farmers will minimize the risk of equipment damage and will be able to extend the life of equipment.
5. Turkey time: Tips for preparing your Thanksgiving dinner
The holiday season is beginning soon, so it’s about time to plan the dinner menu. Turkey is commonly the main dish of Thanksgiving dinner, but it can be prepared numerous different ways.
While preparing for Turkey Day, be sure you know how much your turkey weighs to determine how long to defrost it. Once you decide how you’ll prepare it — and if you’ll stuff it or have dressing on the side — you’ll know how long it should cook.
