The Sidney herald., 1957-08-29
Tr0reIing ~iA IL.
Agent

By Dean c. Davidson
Why Burn Stubble?
Every year we have severa
farmers who insist on controlling
wild oats by burning stubble
Burning of stubble has never
been recommended because the
percent of kill to wild oats /:
usually small and furthermore
you need the organic matter from
stubble to prevent soil erosion
retain soil moisture, to maintain
the tilthe of the soil and general
soil fertility. Remember that bac-
terra and soil organisms also need
organic matter which is produced
from rotting stubble to thrive.
In relation to any burning Bonnie
Dave, Richland County Fire
Chief, says that you must obtain
a permit from one of the rural
fire wardens in your community.
Be sure to think twice before
you burn. Remember, if the fire
gets out of control you r Ii
able. We certainly don't want to
see valuable rangeland burned
from careless fire settlers. One
rancher in the county told me
just recently that some range
land of his which burned three
years ago is still not producing
satisfactory.
For wild oat control we recon-
mend good cultural practices and
the planting of clean seed rather
than burning. Many farmers in
Richland county are doing an ex-
cellent job of controlling wild
oats by proper timing of tillage
and the planting of clean seed SO
we know the job can be done this
way.
Wild Oats and Cultivation
Wild oats comes in four ma
ior varieties. All of which vary
in time of heading, maturing OF
seed and growth habits.
They also vary in their resls-
lance to chemicals, their difficult
ty to control and their seed dor
nancy.
The basic principle in control
is to get the seed terminated
then to destroy the green plants
that result in the fall and early
spring months.
Tests at Fargo, North Dakota
have shown that it takes up to
81 months to get $40 OF the
seed terminated. That seed sub
iected to abrasive action of the
threshing machine weakens the
hard seed and causes earlier ger
mination 6 to 33 percent. Germl-
nation was also better following
fluctuating temperatures.
Tests in Montana were made to
determine how long the seed
would stay alive in the soil. Seeds
which we're buried 2 to IL and 10
inches under the sod and IN
cultivated land had 500 and 48%
of viable seed left after n year;
$40 and liz respectively after
Q years. About 500 of this seed
terminated readily. The remain
ing 500 terminated after the
bulls were removed.
We know that wild oats ger
inmate more readily in the
following a dry fall than
thev do when following a wet
fall.
Fall and early spring shallow
cultivation of the soil to get ger
nination followed by killing OF
resulting plants is indicated. Shall
.ow cultivation will keep the seed
nearer the surface and prevent
dormant seeds from being buried
below the surface for many years.
Seeding Winter Wheat
Considerable interest has been
developing on winter wheat IN
his r 1t might be OF value
discuss seeding dates and
Methods.
In Northern and northeast Mon
ana about September 10 is the
.arliest date that is recommend
d. Some producers rush the sea-
a bit and take their chances
hat all will turn out well. /;
There are certain risks in plant i
ne winter wheat too early. one :
$ the danger of grasshopper 8
Iamage. A green field Of winter ,
yheat is a tasty dish to them at ,
his time of year. :
Then too, early paintings have
cen known to head out in an :
pen late fall. !
Root rot and insects are also :
real danger on early planted :
ields. '
The furrow type drills have !
proven the best in the areas '
here winter killing is a prob :
I'm. In some cases they have =
,ade the difference between sue
ess and failure. There are areas :
Miles City and Billings \
nat have gone largely to winter ;
dT1l 1 II