Yield
With summer patterns running up to four weeks behind schedule, meteorologist Don Day urges growers to plan in short windows for the second half of the growing season.
Heavy rains and hail have triggered widespread nutrient deficiencies, disease pressure and weed threats in parts of Illinois, Iowa and other states. Field Agronomist Ken Ferrie outlines some strategies for farmers looking to salvage their corn and soybeans.
As the crop enters rapid growth stages, Agronomist Missy Bauer tells farmers to confirm nitrogen and sulfur availability or risk leaving bushels in the field.
After waiting months for much-needed moisture, heavy rainfall is turning early-summer fieldwork into a high-stakes scramble for some Midwest farmers.
A two-pass boron strategy at bloom and pod set shows consistent yield payoffs across the Corn Belt, though agronomists warn the line between benefit and toxicity can be narrow.
Promising new technologies are entering the market, but large-scale corn and soybean farmers often face a frustrating bottleneck.
Ken Ferrie lays out a strategy for farmers struggling with ponded corn acres after rains soak parts of the Midwest.
Understand the growth stage cut-offs to keep your post weed-control practices on-label and effective.
Family partnership, peer groups and open-door networking have shaped Jake Drozd’s belief that farmers get better together.
As corn starts moving into the rapid growth stages, Farm Journal Field Agronomist Missy Bauer says now is the time for disciplined N assessments and applications — not reactionary rate cuts.
A true family affair, the Rathjens combine agronomy, management and teamwork into a winning formula that pushes seeds to their biological limits and delivers record-breaking yields.
East-central Iowa field agronomist says misjudging corn growth stage, not herbicide choice, can be the biggest risk in post-emerge passes.
Some of the easier entry points for corn and soybean farmers looking to capture higher returns can deliver $200 or more per acre.
U.S. farmers and ag economists remain concerned by mounting global competition and the reliability of recent trade agreements. However, some economists say emerging market shifts could create opportunities later this year.
From canola to hemp, recent history shows new crops only stick when margin and infrastructure line up for years—not seasons.
Nitrogen availability, root development and residue load determine whether crops stumble or race through June.
From dropping phosphorus to switching from corn acres to soybeans, growers are navigating a difficult “recipe for success” as fertilizer prices remain high and grain markets soften.
Agronomists explain why nitrogen must be present in the root zone well before the crop’s daily demand peaks.
Data shows late-planted corn can “cheat” the clock with GDU acceleration, making the case for holding the line on your original hybrids for now.
Given the weed’s yield-loss potential and long emergence pattern, farmers in its path are taking notice and putting control measures in place.
Sidedressing is often the best opportunity in-season to address corn nutrient needs, but Ken Ferrie urges caution if you plan to go with “blind sidedressing” before the crop emerges or at spike. He offers three considerations.
Now present in seven states, the small pest is taking a toll on soybean crops and making Midwest growers look beyond traditional insecticides for yield protection.
From $35 per acre cover crop incentives to $1.25 premiums, growers are finding ways that conservation and cash flow can mesh.
Randy Dowdy explains the importance of germination depth — how it can set up your corn crop to deliver more bushels without adding any costs in the process.
Record corn yields have risen 10x in 100 years. David Hula says continued genetic gains, along with a deeper understanding of what’s happening underground, could push yield potential far beyond what most farmers expect.
With cold, wet weather moving across parts of the Corn Belt, agronomists advise farmers to be ready to check high-yielding genetics for crown and stalk rot.
To raise your total farm yield average, Connor Sible recommends starting the planting process in your lower soil-testing fields, once they’re fit, and then transitioning to planting higher soil-testing ground.
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.