Latest News From Crops

Two Ag Groups File Suit Against EPA Over Dicamba Registration
Two Ag Groups File Suit Against EPA Over Dicamba Registration

ASA president Bill Gordon said: Label conditions must include protections to ensure safe, responsible use of products like dicamba, but they also can't be so burdensome they won’t work for the farmers who need them.

With the new tool, Illinois farmers can predict how much nitrogen loss they might prevent using a cover crop such as cereal rye—and also assess field conditions to manage covers alongside cash crops such as corn and soybeans.
New Cover Crop Tool Assesses Field Impacts For Illinois Farmers

Illinois farmers can predict how much nitrogen loss they might prevent using a cover crop such as cereal rye—and also assess field conditions to manage covers alongside cash crops such as corn and soybeans.

Tool Helps Farmers Create Custom Cover Crop Mixes
Tool Helps Farmers Create Custom Cover Crop Mixes

Millborn Seeds is introducing the My SeedMix App to help farmers customize their cover crop mixes.

 Safeguard Your Cover Crop Seed By Eliminating Weeds, Dirt And Chaff
Safeguard Your Cover Crop Seed By Eliminating Weeds, Dirt And Chaff

Safeguard Your Cover Crop Seed By Eliminating Weeds, Dirt And Chaff.

Are you planting cover crops this year?
Lack of Cover Crop Seed Adds Stress to Farmers’ Season

Cover crop seed availability is tight this year.

Lake Erie's Champion of Soil Health
Lake Erie's Champion of Soil Health

With hundreds of thousands of Toledo eyes turned toward his farm, Les Seiler is ever-aware of his nutrient loading into the Lake Erie watershed.

This little guy can't wait to get started on his first day on the job!
Ruffing It As Farmers Near The Dog Days Of Summer

Despite rain challenges, summer will eventually get here—heat and all. It can be stressful for farmers waiting for Mother Nature to allow them to plant crops, or to wait to see if what they planted will survive.

USDA on Monday indicated just 19% of the nation’s soybean crop is planted.
Most Farmers Still Have Time To Plant Soybeans

While the weather is weighing down on soybean planting progress, most farmers still have time to get seeds in the ground.

Rain Could Cut 3 Million Corn Acres
Rain Could Cut 3 Million Corn Acres

With more rain in the forecast and prevented plant dates looming or past for corn, farmers will likely see fewer corn acres than USDA predicted in its March prospective planting report.

“But the moment you go to less than 73% planted on May 20, that's when we start to see statistical departure from that high probability of still having a trend line yield.”
Rain Washes Away Potential For Trendline Corn Yields

Some market analysts say the May 20 crop progress report from USDA will show the potential for trendline corn yields this year is now gone.

As Wet Weather Benches Planters, Farmers Eyeball Shorter Maturity Crops
As Wet Weather Benches Planters, Farmers Eyeball Shorter Maturity Crops

USDA’s Crop Progress report last week put farmers in the Midwest and Mid-South in double-digit deficits in certain crops compared to the 5-year average.

Late Planting: Don’t Hit the Panic Button Yet
Late Planting: Don’t Hit the Panic Button Yet

Nerves are at a high as farmers near the close of the optimal planting window—May 20, on average. With more rain in the forecast you might be wondering just how long it will take to catch up, or if you can.

NRCS Offering Funds to Plant Cover Crops on Damaged Cropland Acres
NRCS Offering Funds to Plant Cover Crops on Damaged Cropland Acres

After severe flooding, blizzards and other damaging weather events, USDA National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is providing EQUIP funds for Nebraska farmers to plant cover crops to manage cropland acres.

Farmers who are looking to combat disease and insect pressure in soybeans or reduce nematode damage and improve stand establishment in corn can look to new offerings from Helena Agri-Enterprises.
Helena Offers Two New Seed Treatments

Farmers who are looking to combat disease and insect pressure in soybeans or reduce nematode damage and improve stand establishment in corn can look to new offerings from Helena Agri-Enterprises.

Scout For These 4 Yield-Robbing Soybean Ailments
Scout For These 4 Yield-Robbing Soybean Ailments

As seed hits the soil and cold temperatures linger, farmers might be wondering what this means for seed emergence.

Planters Finally Roll for #Plant19
Planters Finally Roll for #Plant19

While it already seems like an arduous planting season, little seed has actually hit the ground. However, good weather has finally hit the Midwest and planters are rolling. Farmers took to Twitter to share how planting is going so far.

Stop Corn Yield Loss From The Start
Stop Corn Yield Loss From The Start

As corn pokes through the soil it’s susceptible to a wide variety of attacks. From insects to disease, attacking organisms see young corn as easy prey—and an attack could be detrimental to yield.

Cold Soils Mean Starter Fertilizer Could Pay
Cold Soils Mean Starter Fertilizer Could Pay

Make sure you have the right conditions before pulling the trigger on starter fertilizer. While it can provide positive ROI, it’s not always guaranteed. Learn what conditions are most likely to pay off.

Six Ways To Steward Treated Seed
Six Ways To Steward Treated Seed

As you prepare for planting, make sure you’re following treated seed stewardship guidelines.

6 Stretches and Exercises to Power Your Planting Season
6 Stretches and Exercises to Power Your Planting Season

Stretches and exercises to help during planting.

Flooding Damages Exceeds $12 Billion, Flooding to Continue
Flooding Damages Exceeds $12 Billion, Flooding to Continue

If the $12.5 billion estimate comes true it compares to damage caused by Hurricanes Matthew in 2016, and Irene in 2011.

Five Questions to Ask Before Planting
Five Questions to Ask Before Planting

For those in areas where harvest ran long, and field work ran short or didn’t happen, or for those who might have other planting delays you might have questions that need answered before planting.

10 Ways to Get Ready for Planting
10 Ways to Get Ready for Planting

If you’re one of many waiting to get out with a planter, there are a few ways you can get yourself as ready as possible in the shop.

Mustang Seed Partners with GDM Seeds
Mustang Seed Partners with GDM Seeds

To bring new genetics and innovative technology to its seed line-up, Mustang Seeds, Inc. and GDM have entered into a new partnership.

Flooded Fields – Consider the Benefits of Planting Soybean
Flooded Fields – Consider the Benefits of Planting Soybean

Farmland across the U.S. Midwest is experiencing flooding issues of immense proportion. In many cases, due to damage sustained by the soil, corn crop planting may be delayed or not done at all.

Grain Stocks Surprise, Acreage Report Underwhelms
Grain Stocks Surprise, Acreage Report Underwhelms

Analysts are telling farmers to take the planting intentions report with a grain of salt while the market reels from a higher-than-expected corn stocks report.

Why Plant a Corn Refuge?
Why Plant a Corn Refuge?

When you look at a bag of corn seed, somewhere you’ll find information about corn refuge requirements. In states or varieties without the in-bag refuge option follow refuge requirements.

Weather to Reduce ADM's Earnings up to $60 Million
Weather to Reduce ADM's Earnings up to $60 Million

Archer Daniels Midland Co. said weather will reduce its first-quarter pretax operating profit by $50 million to $60 million.

Flood outlook
55% of Corn and 60% of Soybeans Under Spring Flood Risk

Recent flood events mean many corn and soybean acres are at risk of late planting—if fields get planted at all.

Here’s What to Watch in the Markets from Flooding
Here’s What to Watch in the Markets from Flooding

Full losses in livestock and grain are not yet known—and could take even a year to uncover—but there are key factors to watch in the market even now.

2019 Flooding
Markets Overlook Flooding’s Estimated Near-$1 Billion in Losses

Hogs, cattle and corn are seeing minimal movement as questions remain about the total number of livestock lost and the impact on spring corn acres.

Flooding might prevent some farmers from planting altogether. This field picture is from last fall, flooding today is much worse.
Extreme Flooding Decimates Fields, Herds and Cities in its Path

In what weathermen are calling “historic” flooding, those along the Missouri, Elkhorn and Platte Rivers are enduring loss of homes, productivity and livestock.

Snowpack could lead to more devastating floodwaters for downstream residents and businesses.
Floodwaters Add Pressure To Dam Systems, Flood Lower Basin

As rain continues to fall and snow melt looms, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is increasing water releases from the Gavins Point Dam, near Yankton, S.D., to 90,000 cubic feet per second.

What's Your Weather Forecast For Planting Season?
What's Your Weather Forecast For Planting Season?

Water could be a problem at planting.

Do what you can to make the most of each morning.
Are You Managing Your Time Effectively?

As you near planting season, take a few moments to think about what changes could be made to improve your routine and make the most out of every waking minute.

Winter weather is making spring plant seem nearly impossible.
Wild Weather Makes #Plant19 Especially Challenging

Undoubtedly, wild weather has hit your state in one way, shape or form. These farmers took to social media to share their woes. What weather is ailing you?

AMVAC to Introduce a Multi-Product Prescription Application System
AMVAC to Introduce a Multi-Product Prescription Application System

To help farmers get the right input type and rate on each foot of field, AMVAC will launch Smart Integrated Multi-Product Prescription Application System (SIMPAS) in 2020.

'Epidemic' Of Poor Soybean Seed For 2019
'Epidemic' Of Poor Soybean Seed For 2019

You probably already know that soybean seed supplies are tight for 2019. Worse yet, Ken Ferrie says the quality of a lot of varieties is significantly below average.

New Nematicide to Hit Market by 2020
New Nematicide to Hit Market by 2020

Nufarm recently acquired Trunemco from BASF. The soybean, corn and cotton seed treatment provides defense against a variety of nematodes and can be added to current treatment programs.

#Plant19 Updates from the Field
#Plant19 Updates from the Field

While snow and cold temperatures still cover much of the Midwest, spring is just a couple short weeks away.

Five Critical Stages to Promote High-Yielding Crops
Five Critical Stages to Promote High-Yielding Crops

As farmers near planting season it’s a good time to think about what it’s going to take to get your crop to the finish line with the highest profitable yield.

What’s Your Seed Monitor Saying?
What’s Your Seed Monitor Saying?

Understand what the numbers mean to ensure your planter is doing its job

Soybean Seed: Lower Supply and Quality
Soybean Seed: Lower Supply and Quality

Poor growing conditions in 2018 will affect 2019 crop

Forecast Suggests Wet and Possible Severe Patterns into Spring
Forecast Suggests Wet and Possible Severe Patterns into Spring

Since January 12, 2019, AgriTalk host Chip Flory has seen 41” of snow at his Waterloo, Iowa home. It doesn’t look like relief will come anytime soon for him or farmers in the Midwest and Midsouth.

Don't Make the Same Mistake Twice: Lessons from 2018
Don't Make the Same Mistake Twice: Lessons from 2018

Farmer responses to challenges lended to, or detracted from, last season’s ultimate success. Learn from those decisions that didn’t work quite as well as hoped.

Avoid Soybean Agronomic and Financial Pitfalls
Avoid Soybean Agronomic and Financial Pitfalls

While frigid cold temperatures might make spring planting seem far away it will be here before you know it.

Sorghum Yield Winner Boasts 219 Bushels Per Acre
Sorghum Yield Winner Boasts 219 Bushels Per Acre

Farmers from 24 states competed for NSP's top honors in its annual yield contest. Winners are selected from five categories and the overall winner Michael Ball hails from Idaho at 219.1 bu. per acre.

La Crosse Seed Announces Wisconsin Seed Company Acquisition
La Crosse Seed Announces Wisconsin Seed Company Acquisition

Wedneday La Crosse Seed announced it would acquire the inventory and brands of Heritage Seed Company and will take over the service and support of its customers.

New Cotton Varieties to Consider
New Cotton Varieties to Consider

As winter rolls in it’s time for growers to review their seed options for next season.

Input costs could limit corn planting
Input Availability Could Limit Corn Acres

Multiple factors already raising questions about whether corn acres can steal significant acres from soybeans in 2019.