- Author: Jeffrey P Mitchell
Folks,
We're going to put an end to CT Crop Quiz #99 right now due in part to the flurry of comments, concerns and wrong answers that came in, - everything from “This quiz is too hard,” to “You're too tightfisted with the $100 awards.” So to end this one now, - which I said was a bit of a weird one anyway, - here are the answers to the quiz questions. We'll need to wait for quiz #100 for a possible winner, I guess.
Jeff
From August 27, 2017
Folks,
OK. We've got a bit of a weird one here today in CT Crop Quiz #99.
Everyone by now knows the rules. Be the first to answer the following questions correctly and you'll receive our Workgroup's legendary $100 cash award at an upcoming event. Any CASI members directly associated with this quiz photo or any of their family members are not eligible to take part in the quiz process and will be disqualified from consideration.
An odd one here maybe. Following an early-season corn silage harvest, it was a one-pass harrowing tool and then a corn planter going right back over the planting beds and corn stubble line to establish the double corn crop. So, technically, - the spouse of the farmer who did this told me that they ‘clawed' the sparse residue from the first corn crop with a spike-toothed harrow to just loosen up the surface soil a bit, and then planted right into the first corn crop's stubble.
What is the CT-planted crop shown in this photo?
corn
How was this CT crop actually established? (What specific operation(s) were used?)
Following a harrow operation to loosen up the soil surface, the second corn crop was planted into existing corn lines and beds
Name the nearest US town to where this CT crop photo was taken.
Kingsburg, CA
What is the nearest street intersection adjacent to the field where this photo was taken?
SE corner of Mendocino Avenue and Kamm Avenue
Using the old definition for “CT,” would this field even be considered “CT?”
No. There is not much surface residue at all in this field. It therefore wouldn't conform to the old definition for “CT” that talked about the need for > 30% surface residue after planting time. In fact, it was pointed out to us by longstanding good colleague and CASI supporter, Don Reicosky, that we out to move forward and update ourselves with these “CT Crop Quizzes” a bit and not hang onto the outdated and confusing “CT” terminology. Please see Don's suggested reading that is attached. – I fully agree and henceforth, we'll move forward with the broader term, “conservation agriculture.” But this field and these photos are still then not a true representation of CA, as we know.
All the best,
Jeff
- Author: Jeffrey P Mitchell
Again, unfortunately no winners for CT Crop Quiz #97. Answers are below.
From June 17, 2017
Folks,
On the heels of last month's admittedly tough CT Crop Quiz #96, here you go with yet another installment in our series of conservation agriculture challenges. As always, be the first to answer the following questions correctly and you'll receive our Workgroup's legendary $100 cash award at an upcoming CASI event.
no-tillage cotton seeding
What is the CT-planted crop shown in this photo?
cotton
What were the reasons for planting this CT crop in this manner and context?
to double crop following wheat, increase crop income
Name the nearest US town to where this CT crop photo was taken.
Goodyear, AZ
For about how long have the CT planting seeding techniques that are shown in the quiz photo been used at this planting site?
twenty years
A You tube video on this CT planting field is available at https://youtu.be/04XJR1tzuGI
All the best,
Jeff
- Author: Jeffrey P Mitchell
Unfortunately, we had no winners for CT Crop Quiz # 96. This one might have been a more challenging quiz due to the image that was circulated and it no doubt frustrated many folks who routinely participate in our quiz series. Here are the answers for CT Crop Quiz #96.
This was an example of no-till planting.
What is the CT-planted crop shown in this photo?
Garbanzo (Cicer arietinum)
To evaluate opportunities for saving money, sustaining reduced disturbance, high residue production options in California's San Joaquin Valley, to diversify crop entries in the long-term NRI Project in Five Points, CA
Name the nearest US town to where this CT crop photo was taken.
Five Points, CA 93624
What was special about the planter that was used for this CT crop?
This planter that was used was an 8-row no-till John Deere planter that was specially equipped with a number of important features including the Delta Force down force after-market modifications available through Precision Planting (http://www.precisionplanting.com/#products/deltaforce/). The planter was loaned to our NRI Project research team by California Ag Solutions of Madera, CA. Matt Rossow, Cary Crum, and Silas Rossow of CAS helped us on the planting day with adjustments and settings. This was the third year in a row that no-till garbanzos had been planted and was a particularly challenging operation due to the high level of residues that needed to be negotiated from last year's grain sorghum crop.
The NRI Project 2017 garbanzo and sorghum field was showcased in our recent soil management training event that was held on June 6th at the site.
All the best,
Jeff