Latest News From Agronomy

Farmers are asking, ‘Do I chisel first and then apply anhydrous? Or will I get better results doing the opposite?’ Get Ferrie’s answer and his insights on addressing hybrid weaknesses to harvest more corn in 2023.

Highly productive areas with adequate soil moisture are where you can usually trim seeding populations, says Matt Duesterhaus, Crop-Tech Consulting agronomist. He offers seven additional recommendations.

At first blush, water, or lack thereof, is the supreme bushel thief in the majority of corn and soybean fields. But, according to several farmers, the answer is not quite so simple.

Some Iowa growers saw huge yield losses this season from a so-called edge effect. Illinois farmers also report seeing it ding yields. Agronomists are working to confirm contributing factors but haven't nailed them down.

The Wilton, North Dakota site consolidates and elevates the opportunities for diversified field crop research which had been previously scattered and in smaller scale.

Harvest is wrapping up for the Farm Journal Test Plots. Ken Ferrie shares preliminary observations on soybean planting date, 15" versus 30" rows, sulfur products, corn planter fertility and corn fungicide plots.

Ken Ferrie says fields with good soil health can have as much disease present as an unhealthy field, but healthy plants handle stress better than unhealthy ones.

Nitrogen might be the king of yield, but if a corn plant is sulfur deficient, it won’t reach its maximum potential.

If you are adding a new farm for next season, take a hard look at soil health. Missy Bauer, Farm Journal Field Agronomist, says start with the canvas rather than the paint.

In a moisture deficit area like southwest Nebraska conservation and regenerative practices have long been a staple for farmers.  That's important especially in drought years like 2022. 

Farmers getting started on a path to improving soil health can only accomplish that if they Flip their Soil to make it more alive.  

Soli health practices can help Flip Your Soil from good to great.  These practices are also part of the new push for Climate Smart Agriculture practices to sequester carbon.  

Harvest is underway with corn yields showing a wide range of results, particularly based on how much moisture the crop received and when it was received. Planting population and stresses also shed light on the results.

Sprayers are being outfitted with new products and configured in new ways to make applications quicker, cheaper and more precise.

Can Matt Miles grow three crops in one year on the same field? Soybeans to soybeans to wheat? Don’t bet against a farmer whose name is synonymous with stellar yields.

There are 10 different species of forage grasses, four species of turf grasses, and two species of legumes being evaluated.

Originally launched in 2013, the company sought investment and support to help develop its business with expertise in fuels, soybean crushing, logistics and crop sciences.

The company branches out to provide crop consultants with a suite of tools: soil testing software, in-field automation and on-site soil analysis

Last year, farmers who bought nitrogen fertilizer early received lower prices. Will the same pattern play out this year?

Soybean cyst nematode can ravage a crop and destroy up to 80% of its yield potential. Two partners encourage farmers to take action between now and early September to address the pest.

The pest injures corn most often during the VE through V5 growth stages. Timing foliar insecticide applications is critical. They are only effective when the larvae migrate and are exposed to the pesticide.

Figure out which 'sins of spring' are plaguing your cornfields. Also, sign up for Corn & Soybean College. It's just a few weeks away. We have all new agronomic topics to help you take more grain to the bin this fall!

Match hybrids to offensive and defensive management zones.

Yes, the problem could also be a nitrogen deficiency or even a phosphate deficiency. Check out the photos provided to identify which deficiency your crop is encountering now and determine next steps.

You may need more nitrogen to fuel this year's crop adequately. Also, cutworms are on the move. Ferrie advises dropping your threshold tolerance to 1.5%.

As farmers are looking to maximize crop revenue with higher commodity prices, NAAA has updated its “Find an Aerial Applicator” tool.

With a territory the spans Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland, Erin Hardin covers a diverse geography, and she says the reception to new technology tools varies.

In April, Truterra announced a springboard for its focus in soil health. A network of agronomists will facilitate implementation of agronomic practices alongside its retail agronomists and their farmer customers.

Be proactive and go to the field sooner rather than later. Once that crust hardens, it can hinder or even prevent crop emergence. Either or both will cost you money.

"Plant early for optimum yield" is a common refrain soybean growers hear from agronomists and other crop production experts today. But when you can't get into the field, regroup and go to Plan B.

Biden administration wants more total planted acres with a focus on soybeans and wheat. That is the clear conclusion from what the administration is proposing as part of its latest wish list for Congress. 

Post-emergent herbicide supplies can be hard to find this year. To overcome this challenge, make a plan and consider a new approach to weed management.

Apply product when and where you need it at the optimum rate.

Look for signs of this early-season nuisance this spring.

An adjuvant based on wood waste reduces herbicide drift.

No crop is more influenced by the weather than soybeans. The good news is you can minimize risk by planting soybeans earlier than what you’re used to.

Here is a guide to the products available in the corn and soybean markets.

Historic prices of fertilizer have farmers looking for alternative solutions in 2022. Here are four possibilities that one day may change the way agriculture thinks about N.

Concern about water quality has spurred nutrient reduction incentive programs and, in some cases, regulations. If you haven’t been affected by one, you probably soon will be.

From tech analyst Shane Thomas, “The consistent topic I have brought up when writing about Farmers Edge has been around execution."

Preview 2.1 SC herbicide from UPL targets tough broadleaf weeds and will be available for use on about half a million soybean acres this season.

If you’re thinking about cutting starter fertilizer this year because of surging costs, Ken Ferrie has three words of advice: Don’t do it.

Here are a few considerations for your 2022 weed controls strategy.  

Play the long game; draw up a plan that pays.

Understanding your nutrient goals will keep you inside the Sustainable Triangle.

Machinery drives input efficiency

There's plenty of disease inoculum in cornfields across the Midwest. It's just a matter of whether Mother Nature will unleash the devastation this season that many farmers saw in 2021.

If you normally use starter fertilizer, keep using it, advises Ken Ferrie. "Five gallons of 10-34-O will give you a bigger kick than 300 pounds of broadcast DAP, due to placement and timing," he says.

These charter members bring a range of expertise and the drive to share the financial and ecological benefits of carbon programs. 

Evaluate cropping choices on physical, natural and human factors.