Soil Health
Illinois grower Stephen Butz is uber-focused this season on removing the hidden barriers that have kept his bean crops from reaching their true potential.
The 1,200-acre farmer says earthworms are central to his success in growing no-till corn, soybeans and winter wheat.
By digging deeper into the details, farmers can use the information to make more informed input decisions and drive better yield outcomes.
As planting dates shift earlier, the nutrient is delivering significant yield responses and surprising protection against sudden death syndrome.
Fifth-generation farmer Justin Wylie is testing algae to rebuild soil health in orchards. By boosting soil microbes through irrigation, he hopes to improve water infiltration, reduce inputs and build resilience in high-cost Central Valley agriculture.
Bigger roots, higher populations, and easier in-season access mean fertility programs should look different for these new hybrids.
As herbicide resistance builds, Extension urges farmers to diversify control tactics and use as many tools as possible this season.
New high-speed disk models offer autonomous operation while See & Spray provides new upgrades, delivering more ways for farmers to manage heavy residue and stubborn weeds.
High-yield growers David Hula and Randy Dowdy say three things deserve your sharpest focus now: your planter, fertility program and seed.
Crown rot is showing up more frequently in Midwest cornfields. Plant pathologists say it’s likely a multi-pathogen disease and offer five practical ways to address it this season.
Planning for next season? Review the expert insights and recommendations from farmers and field agronomists on how to reduce costs and strategically reallocate resources.
Leadership says the new program aims to lower farmer production costs while tipping a hat to Secretary Kennedy’s MAHA initiatives.
Several years of low commodity prices, high input costs and thin margins have taken a toll on soil stewardship in some parts of the country. As a result, farmers need to use caution and do their homework before renting ground that’s coming available in their area for 2026.
For the past 10 years, Wayne Honeycutt has led the organization he founded, The Soil Health Institute, to elevate the concept of science bringing improved environmental stewardship and yield potential via a focus on the soil. At the beginning of 2026, he’ll retire and hand over the reigns of the organization. Here he shares reflections on a career focused on sustainability.
Farmers wanting to hang onto the soil moisture in their fields are struggling to address compaction and ruts where there has been little to no recent rainfall. Anhydrous ammonia applications are also difficult to get sealed in fields where moisture is minimal.
Agronomists answer farmer questions about the role of nitrogen and other nutrients in lessening the potential impact of yield robbers such as southern rust and tar spot in corn.
Corn yield champs say annual soil testing is the best way to make sure fields are up to the goal of delivering profitable high yields every season.
With low commodity prices and higher input costs, identifying hybrids that are a good fit for your soil types and environmental conditions is more important than ever – and can give you a leg up on yield performance from the get-go next spring.
Serial entrepreneurs Jack Oslan and Nate Storey have a thesis that artificial intelligence can provide real-time soil nutrient analysis for row crop agriculture.
The microbial product works as part of an integrated strategy to address SCN, the No. 1 yield-reducing pest problem in soybeans. Farmers routinely see yields cut by 5 bushels or more per acre in affected fields.
Survey results from University of Illinois ag economists show how farmers are making corn and soybean nutrient plans for 2026 and what current price trends are for N, P and K.
Use one or more of these tips to reduce expenses, reallocate resources and build a fertility program that works well for your farm and gives you some peace of mind in the process.
The Association of Equipment Manfacturers (AEM), in partnership with leading ag groups, has released an updated report detailing the significant benefits of precision agriculture across the United States.
The online platform currently has about 500 programs and service providers in the Midwest participating and is a free resource for farmers, ranchers and their advisers.
Find out how one leader in Congress is advocating a grounded approach to the Make American Healthy Again agenda.
With an aim to bring new tools to advance regenerative agriculture, these companies see microbiome soil tests as complements to traditional soil testing.
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!
Are crop biologicals poised for a parabolic growth spurt? Pam Marrone, co-founder of Invasive Species Corp., dove deeper into the topic with certified crop advisers during a recent webinar hosted by the Science Societies.