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It’s time to talk about
how and when to prune

[MARCH 11, 2002]  With the calendar pointing to spring, it’s time to think about finishing up pruning chores. It doesn’t seem possible that we need to be gearing up for the outdoor season. But it is time, and one of the first items of business is pruning.

Let me start by saying that pruning is an art rather than a science. There are some basic rules of pruning that should be followed, and the rest is more personal taste than scientific fact.

Starting with the proper tools, you should have bypass hand shears (for cutting twigs up to one-fourth inch), bypass loppers (for those in-between cuttings of one-fourth inch to 1¼ inch), and a good pruning saw for larger limbs. Bypass, rather than anvil-type, pruners are recommended.

Next for the general rules that should be followed:

1.  Remove dead and broken branches.

2.  Remove diseased branches or diseased parts of branches.

3.  Remove water sprouts (rapidly growing young shoots that grow straight up).

4.  Remove suckers (that grow from roots or at ground level).

5.  Eliminate competition between branches.

6.  Eliminate "v" branching (where two branches of similar size form a narrow "v").

7.  Remove weak, slow-growing, drooping, non-productive branches.

8.  Remove branches, or parts of branches, that touch the ground.

9.  Avoid selecting main branches that grow toward the direction of prevailing summer winds (southwest in our case.)

10.  Particularly with fruit trees, do training-only pruning for the first five years (severe pruning early on will tend to delay fruit onset).

Now that we have the rules, we need to know when to do pruning. Ornamentals with high sap-flow rates (such as maples and sweet gums) should be pruned in December; other ornamentals should be done in February or early March. Common fruit trees (such as apples and pears) should be done in February or early March; stone fruits (such as peaches and apricots) are best done after flowering (since we get a crop only every so often to begin with); and evergreens are best done in late June.

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When making cuts, leave at least a one-sixteenth inch collar for proper healing. On large branches, make two cuts, with the first leaving a foot-long stub. These cutting procedures will reduce injury to tissues in the trunk or main branches. Don’t bother with "pruning paint." This sealant will not prevent diseases from entering, since they probably were present as soon as the branch was cut, and any sap flow will loosen the covering.

There are a few other things to keep in mind when pruning:

1.  Disinfect pruning tools with rubbing alcohol or bleach solution between each cut if you suspect diseases that can be transmitted.

2.  Be very careful about pruning apples or mountain ash infected with fire blight.

3.  Ash trees should not have much pruning done for about 10 years, due to potential borer infestations.

4.  Expect lots of sap flow this year on most things due to the warm winter we have had. This actually makes us feel worse than the effect on the plant.

For all you grape growers, the February or early March period is a good time to prune grapes. Train them to your trellis by leaving three good buds per branch. This number of good buds promotes grape and cluster size.

A final rule of thumb is this: "If you think you pruned too much, you’re about right!"

[John Fulton]

[MARCH 8, 2002]  Illinois Ag Leadership Foundation has launched its 2002 International Travel Seminar.  The trip allows Illinois agricultural leaders to experience and understand agricultural issues on a global scale. This year the group has gone to China. One of the participating delegates is Marty Ahrends of Lincoln. 

[Click here to follow the group to Beijing, China, and beyond.]

[LDN]

Farm Foundation involved in $2 million study in agricultural biotechnology

[MARCH 5, 2002]  Farm Foundation, based in Oak Brook, is one of the collaborating institutions receiving a $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for a national study of university-industry relationships in agricultural biotechnology. The grant is funded from the Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems under USDA’s Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service.

The three-year project, "Public Goods and University-Industry Relationships in Agricultural Biotechnology," will assess university-industry research, licensing and other partnerships, with special emphasis on the mix of public and private goods provided through agricultural biotechnology. While the project will be headquartered at Portland State University and headed by Project Director Dave Ervin, a professor in Portland State University’s Environmental Sciences and Resources Program, Farm Foundation will have a major role in disseminating project findings to policymakers and private sector decision-makers.

"With agricultural biotechnology research being carried out increasingly in the private sector, often in collaboration with university researchers, questions about the relationships between universities and companies to develop agricultural biotechnology products are the subject of much speculation and little scientific information. Farm Foundation is pleased to be involved with one of the first studies to improve our understanding of the relationships, their effects on products and appropriate policies to address any potential issues," according to Walter J. Armbruster, president of Farm Foundation.

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Farm Foundation’s mission is to improve the economic and social well-being of U.S. agriculture and rural people by helping public and private sector decision-makers identify and understand forces that will shape the future.

Agricultural biotechnology has the potential to improve production and human health and reduce pollution. The project investigators will interview university and industry personnel; conduct a survey of university scientists, technology officers and administrators; and undertake socioeconomic analysis to identify problems and potential policies to foster the development of products with traits that promote widespread public benefits. Project findings will inform key stakeholders about the manner in which agricultural biotechnology research is planned, coordinated and rewarded; and stimulate constructive dialogue among academics, commercial firms and policymakers.

[Farm Foundation news release]

Farm-related computer workshops

[MARCH 4, 2002]  University of Illinois Extension and the McLean County Farm Bureau are offering nine computer classes to assist farm owners and operators on using today’s computers and software on the farm.

The course offerings will be the week of March 11-15 on the ISU campus. All of the classes are offered as half-day sessions, between 9 a.m. and noon and from 1 to 4 p.m., with the option attending the entire day.

Preregistration is required, and at least five participants are needed to have each class. The cost of each session is $15. Registration is being handled through the McLean County Extension Office, (309) 663-8306.

Instructors include University of Illinois Extension educators and the McLean County Farm Bureau director of programs.

The class schedule is as follows:

Monday, March 11, morning session — Ag Computers 101 — Designed for those thinking of buying or having recently purchased a computer. Introductions to word processing, spreadsheets, and what it takes to get Internet and e-mail.

Monday, March 11 afternoon session — Farm Spreadsheets (using Microsoft Excel) — A how-to session with examples of spreadsheets on the farm.

Tuesday, March 12, morning — Take a virtual tour of agronomic websites.

Tuesday, March 12, afternoon — A virtual tour of agricultural information beyond the university, and hints and helps to search for that information you’ve been looking to find.

Wednesday, March 13, morning — Quicken 101.

Wednesday, March 13, afternoon — Best Kept Secrets of the FarmDoc.com (ag economics) website.

Thursday, March 14, morning — Quicken 102.

Thursday, March 14, afternoon — FAST Tools — Financial analysis software from the University of Illinois.

Friday, March 15, morning — PC Mars Farm Accounting Software (FBFM-provided instructor).

For further information, please contact the McLean County Extension Office, (309) 663-8306.

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Soybean cyst nematode clinic

Logan County will host a soil analysis clinic for soybean cyst nematodes on Monday, March 11, from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Extension office. Nematode counts will be done for two soil samples at no charge. Additional samples will be done at $5 each.

Soil samples should be taken the same as for soil fertility analysis. For predictive analysis, take soil samples from fields that will be planted to soybeans this year. For determining if you have the pest, take samples that were planted to soybeans last year.

For more information, please call the Extension office, 732-8289, or e-mail John Fulton at fultonj@mail.aces.uiuc.edu.

College of ACES open house

Check out the University of Illinois College of ACES open house information on the web at http://www.aces.uiuc.edu/openhouse/. The open house runs this Friday and Saturday at various locations on campus.

[John Fulton]

Honors & Awards

Ag Announcements

[MARCH 11, 2002]  At a local event sponsored by the Land of Lincoln Soil Savers, two Illinois farmers will give presentations about agriculture in Brazil and Argentina.

People attending will have an opportunity to learn "the true story of the New Frontier" and evaluate the competition.

Greg Lepper, an Ashland producer, visited the Mato Grosso area in west central Brazil in January.

Tom Martin, a Mount Pulaski producer, visited Brazil and Argentina in February.

Their presentations will be at the Lincoln Rec Center, 1400 Primm Road, from 8 to 11 a.m. on Monday, March 18.

Coffee and doughnuts will be served.

The public is invited. Call (217) 732-2010, Ext. 3 for reservations.

[News release]

[FEB. 18, 2002]  The Midwest Equipment Dealers Association, through its educational foundation, Midwest Equipment Foundation, will provide two $1,000 scholarships and four $750 scholarships for the 2002-03 school year to students enrolled in association-approved community college training programs.

A copy of the scholarship announcement brochure with scholarship rules, application form and listing of approved training programs has been provided to all high school vo-ag instructors and community colleges that provide MEDA-approved training programs. The deadline for scholarship applications is April 1.

Scholarship information can also be picked up at Central Illinois Ag’s Atlanta store, 200 Sharon St., 1 (800) 762-2325, or from MEDA directly at 1 (800) 236-6332.

[News release]

[JAN. 30, 2002]  Trees for spring planting are available through the Logan County Soil and Water Conservation District, 1650 Fifth Street Road. Evergreens are sold in bundles of 25 and hardwood is sold in bundles of five, but individual trees may also be purchased. The trees are scheduled to be delivered in April. Click below for an order form to print out, complete and return to the SWCD office with your payment by March 15.

[Click here for order form.]

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