When it comes to weeds, not all things are equal. A “weed” is characterized as an unwanted pest in an undesirable location. Although these plants often annoy or inconvenience us, there are certain ones that can be very harmful. These are our noxious weeds. These little bundles of joy come packed with sharp prickles, toxic leaves, aggressive growth, and the ability to survive. When given the opportunity they can negatively impact the value of a crop or even the health of animals. In Oregon, “Noxious” weeds are defined as: “a terrestrial, aquatic or marine plant designated by the State Weed Board under ORS 569.615 as among those representing the greatest public menace and as a top priority for action by weed control programs.” These are no doubt a serious problem, not just a nuisance, so it is important to learn how to identify these plants.

Once you can identify what species you have, then you can look into control methods which may include herbicides, mowing, tillage or even cover cropping. Once controlled it is important to reseed the bare or weak areas to promote suppression through competition. Since not every plant reacts the same way there often is no “silver bullet” or blanket treatment. For example, Canadian thistle has a root system that, when cut, can develop into new plants. No, this isn’t something from Greek mythology. It is very real, so tillage may not be the answer, and in some cases, it can make matters worse. We urge you to get outside, take a look around, and get the upper hand on these weeds. Don’t let them be more noxious than they already are.

Finally, we must work on controlling these weeds!  Don’t be afraid to reach out to experts in your area for help. When it comes to taking on these noxious nightmares it is important to develop a plan, execute that plan, and FOLLOW UP. It may take several management practices to eliminate noxious weeds.

As the cost of farming rises, profitability also needs to rise. It’s perhaps more important than ever to use all possible resources available to try to increase yields. It’s vital to know what will grow best in your field, and what seeds to plant to increase your soil health and fertility. Did you know that an inoculated red clover stand can add up to 200lbs of nitrogen per acre, lowering your fertilizer costs? Or that each 1% increase in soil organic matter helps hold 20,000 gallons more water per acre? Soil analyses provide nutrient and soil pH information while tracking trends on your land. These trends, high or low, can greatly affect your yield and plant health.

Why Cover Crop?

Cover cropping is a long-term investment to improve soil health, cash crop yields, and farm management. Planting a cover crop can improve soil organic matter (SOM) and curb the long-term damage of cash crops.

Creating healthy soil requires management of the soil’s biology through SOM. The micro-organisms of organic matter create structure by converting into humus which gives soil it’s physical properties of particle aggregation, protection against erosion, water retention, drainage, aeration, and compaction resistance.

This blog was originally published at www.pggseeds.us

You know the brassica. It’s the vegetable that you used to hide under your dinner plate, or get the dog to eat at supper when your mother looks away. Brassica is broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage. It also the turnip, rutabaga, rapeseed, canola, arugula, and radish, in all its variations.

Brassicas are wide ranging and easily crossed for specific purposes. This adaptability to our modifications makes the brassica a valuable member of the domesticated plant community. Therefore, not all brassicas are created equal.

Take a walk through our Ennis Hazelnut orchard with Ioka Farm’s Production Specialist, Alex Duerst, and discover the benefits of a permanent creeping red fescue cover crop in orchard rows!

If you’d like more information or to get creeping red fescue seed for your orchard, give us a call at: 503-873-6498, or email Cher Gillson at cher@iokamarketing.com.

The most valuable asset to any farmer is their soil. Cover cropping can help speed up your soils recovery and health. Investing in your soil through cover cropping can increase yields, cut costs of fertilizer and herbicides, and create living soil for future generations.

There are a multitude of benefits cover cropping can offer your soil, we’ve picked a few to highlight.