Harvest
There is still up to 55% of the kernel dry weight left to be accumulated by many corn hybrids at this point — starch that can contribute significantly to grain fill and higher test weights.
Marion Calmer is renown for his corn harvesting innovations. The fourth-generation Illinois farmer also has a wealth of practical knowledge about how to take more beans to the bin — and freely shares some of his insights and ideas here.
With at least four weeks left in the growing season, Ferrie encourages farmers to stay ahead of heavy disease pressure in fields, particularly in what he calls D hybrids — those that punch their yield card late-season.
Corn yield estimates in seven counties surrounding the community of Bloomington indicate farmers there will harvest an average crop, at best. That’s counter to what USDA predicts for Illinois yield results statewide.
Just as corn growers were ready to put their pollination problems behind them, another one comes along. This time, the issue had to do with moisture occurring at the wrong time, and the results are significantly impacting yield.
This year’s program features all new agronomic content to help farmers grow and harvest high-yielding crops. Two of the key sessions: selecting a corn planter that’s right for your farm, and developing a systems approach to success with early-season soybeans. We look forward to seeing you there!
Wheat streak mosaic virus decimated some fields this season, say K-State Extension specialists. The problem is also showing up and expanding in other key wheat-producing states. What farmers do this fall will determine whether the disease is reined in or takes off again next season.
From emergence to maturity, nitrogen is a crucial nutrient for corn, but plants have different nitrogen demands at different growth stages. Consider how corn yields are influenced by nitrogen at VE, V6, V10-V12 and R5-R6.
Parts of the Central and Southern Plains are seeing some beneficial rains, but did they come in time to improve the winter wheat crop? Farmers will know soon, as harvest generally begins in early to mid-June.
David Cogen partnered with John Deere during the 2024 growing season to till, plant, spray and harvest a small field at Deere’s Boundurant, Iowa, test farm. In the process, he says he learned a lot about farming and how difficult it truly is.
With planting season right around the corner, David Hula and Randy Dowdy challenge farmers to reevaluate the ‘why’ behind their crop production practices and use real information to back up their decisions.
Avoid applying anhydrous ammonia prematurely and losing its availability for next year’s corn crop. Good application decisions can save you a lot of money, time and effort.
With harvest in full swing, “Unscripted” welcomes agronomic expert Ken Ferrie who explains what he’s seeing in the fields of Illinois. Forecasts call for record-breaking corn and soybean yields despite late-summer drought and the largest infestation of corn aphids that he’s dealt with in his career.
Our brief video takes you through evaluating stand losses from pest pressure, disease issues and dry conditions in a central Illinois cornfield. These insights can help you plan for next season’s bumper yields.
Reduce the risks by putting together some practical steps to prevent fire from happening, while also educating employees and family members on what to do if one occurs.
Take a tour through ISU’s Kent Feed Mill and Grain Science Complex, and you’ll encounter state-of-the-art technology advancing the feed industry.
According to the team at Heartland Ag Solutions, taking the time now to prep equipment for spring is vital.
God bless grain cart drivers. They are great mind readers, understanding all those hand signals that are hard to interpret and hard to see, and the person who generally takes all the blame.
Corn is coming in wetter and with lower test weights than normal. For many farmers this might mean they don’t have the drying capacity to keep up with harvest—but does the local elevator?
Moisture levels are going to be all over the board when combines roll this fall. In high-moisture situations, a few simple combine adjustments can minimize grain damage.
corn headers and soybean auger and draper platforms for harvest
No component on a combine functions independently; the header, feeder house, thresher, separator, cleaning fan and straw chopper all interact with effects that can reach all the way to planting.
Ken Ferrie offers five practical agronomic tips you can use during harvest this fall. These practices can help you improve corn performance and yield outcomes across your farm.
The number of total cases this year is also less than the 5- and 10-year averages.
Leading into the report, surveys showed analysts expected USDA to decrease yields. Instead, the agency bumped the national corn yield by a half a bushel.
As the 2024 growing season starts to wind down in the Midwest, the weather to this point has been “uneventful,” describes Brad Rippey, USDA meteorologist.
There’s a big crop in the field for many Midwest growers, and it requires fuel. N supplies ears with the energy they need to add kernels all the way to their tips and to pack on weight.
Here’s how to get the biggest ROI from your layers of data — and use the information to spot issues in time to improve this year’s crop.
Data — a word that packs a punch but can be hard to define. From planting to irrigation, it’s necessary to have a digital record of these field activities to participate in sustainability and crop traceability programs.
USDA cut its estimate for Brazil’s soybean production by 1 MMT in the March WASDE report, which was less than what the trade expected. USDA didn’t make any cuts to Brazil’s corn.