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Knowledge for lifeby Richard C. Snell Barton County Extension Agent, agriculture Kansas Knowledge for life! That's us, that is the motto for K-State Research & Extension. That's who I work for, although really I have two bosses that work cooperatively. The other group I work for is the Barton County Extension Council. On Oct. 30, we will be holding our annual election for this council. It will be held from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. at our office at 12th and Baker in Great Bend. There are twenty-four members on the extension council in the county. There are six members on each of four program development committees. These committees represent the four program areas of agriculture, family and consumer science, 4-H and youth, and economic development. These council members may serve up to a maximum of two, two-year terms. We elect twelve council members each year, although some are incumbents. All of this is part of the Kansas Extension Council law. Three people will be elected to each of the committees. All persons that reside in Barton County and are at least 18 years of age are eligible to vote. If you stop by and vote, we will have some refreshments for you. Extension is a three-way partnership between the county, state, and federal government. The federal government is represented by the United States Department of Agriculture Extension Service. They help provide funding to Kansas State University which is the Land Grant College in Kansas. The University helps pay salaries for extension agents, provide specialists, and publications. In Kansas, we are fortunate to have grass roots control for extension through the county extension council. In most states today, extension is mostly state controlled without much say so from the people. The elected program development committees meet two to three times per year to plan for extension programs. The 24 member council also meets once a year to elect a nine member executive board. This executive board is elected to meet once monthly and carry out the financial business of the council in cooperation with a representative of Kansas State University. Next week in this column, I will give you a list of the candidates on the ballot. More on field bindweed I want to pick up on the discussion of bindweed control that I started in last week's column. Bindweed is more of a problem in field crops, well-tilled gardens and vacant lots, than it is in lawns or pasture. Wonder why that would be? One good thing about field bindweed is that it does not compete well for sunlight. So a good, thick crop canopy is one of the best cultural controls we have for holding it back. So, while crops are growing during the summer in fall, it just kind of lays there semi-dormant. After harvest of fall crops, the crop canopy opens and the bindweed loves that open space and sunlight and if the soil moisture is there. We have seen weed shifts as we have gone to more no-till farming. Some have increased and some have decreased. Although bindweed is still a major problem in many conventionally tilled fields, bindweed has been vastly reduced with no-till because of a more continuous crop canopy. As I mentioned last week, there are several good herbicide choices and fall is one of the best times to control it, especially if you are in a fallow period or after harvesting a fall crop. Like most weeds, even though it loves moisture and freshly tilled soil, bindweed is very drought tolerant and has roots that can go down several feet deep. It also can tolerate temperatures down to about 22 degrees before it freezes back. That, however, gives us opportunities to apply herbicides many years until about Nov. 10 through 15 in our area. One newer product that has promise is Paramount. It does not have quite as many cropping restrictions as Tordon and you can plant wheat about a week after you apply the herbicide. In summary, here are some facts and tips on controlling bindweed. Uncontrolled field bindweed is a deep-rooted perennial weed that severely reduces yields and land values. If you can eliminate it in the seedling stage, control is much easier. Controlling it before it goes to seed really helps. This is why you want to hit it in the fall and late spring. The most effective control program includes preventative measures over several years in conjunction with herbicide applications and timely tillage. Tillage sooner than 3 weeks after treatment is discouraged with some herbicides as it may reduce bindweed control. Tillage after Landmaster products are applied may reduce their suppression of bindweed. Closely drilled, vigorous, competitive crops such as winter wheat or forage sorghum may also aid in control. A continuous canopy such as with no-till has been found to help. Good soil moisture is important when applying herbicides. Bindweed can harden off and not take up the herbicide if it is dry. In the fall the plant is taking down nutrients so it is most susceptible at this time, especially if you apply products that have some soil residual. Most herbicide applications are least effective when applied in mid-summer or when bindweed plants are stressed and not as actively growing. Banvel, Paramount and Tordon applications are most effective in the fall. Single herbicide applications rarely eliminate established bindweed stands. Persistency is the key. Date: 11/1/07
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