Pasquotank County Center: News

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News

Extension Programs Can Make a Difference In Production Agriculture
Posted March 20th, 2009 in Agriculture & Food

Locating evidence of impact of educational programs is a challenge for Extension agents, but data from corn contest entries from the years 1998 to 2007 provided very useful insight. Extension Agent , Al Wood, from the Pasquotank County Center sought the assistance of Dr. Ron Heiniger, Extension Crop Science Specialist, North Carolina State University, in analyzing the data he compiled. What was found was that average yields of contest entries over the 10 years increased at the rate of over 7 bushels per years. That is about twice the yearly improvement in corn yields on the national level. What was also found was that the graph for plant population mirrored the yield graph and plant row width was inversely related. Not shown on this graph, but also an influence was the advent of the neonicotinoid seed treatments which were found to be effective against two of the most important insect pests of corn in Pasquotank County, which are wireworms and billbugs. This data shows that yields have increased as a result of higher populations, and narrower row widths, which would allow greater in-row plant spacing, The insecticide seed treatments have also contributed to the higher yields by preventing reduction in plant populations. Also, not included in this set of data is the contribution of well adapted higher yielding varieties that have been adopted by growers. As a result of the innovative nature of growers in Pasquotank County and the Extension educational programs conducted, the revenues of farmers in Pasquotank County have been enhanced.

Graph showing average yields of contest entries from Pasquotank County and it's progress as well as some of the factors that provided the increase

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