Corn
Agronomists explain why nitrogen must be present in the root zone well before the crop’s daily demand peaks.
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.
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.
As the Iran war drives fertilizer prices up 40%, the Trump administration is warning against price gouging. A new survey shows only 60% of corn farmers have secured their nitrogen needs for 2026.
Purdue’s Dan Quinn explains how using strategies like moisture-seeking planting and the critical N:S ratio are keys to higher yields.
Corn growers and agronomists share their top five strategies for staying ahead of problems such as northern corn leaf blight, tar spot and the much-dreaded southern rust.
He says a simple ratchet strap and an open-furrow diagnostic strategy help him achieve the best planting depth and seed germination.
Understanding how and when corn reacts to nutrient stress can help you make every pound of N earn its keep this season, says Missy Bauer, Farm Journal Field Agronomist.
Ken Ferrie warns that anhydrous ammonia won’t help young plants fight the carbon penalty this spring. He details how to bridge the nitrogen gap and protect your yield potential.
Beetle capture data reveals pest numbers are rising, with 31% of sampled fields exceeding economic thresholds.
From planting depth to using low-salt in-furrow products, David Hula and Randy Dowdy detail management practices that help drive uniform, rapid emergence and early growth.
While farmers are facing higher fertilizer prices due to the Iran conflict the inability to move fertilizer through the Strait of Hormuz is also threatening spring supplies.
Prioritize timing and placement to ensure young corn plants have access to enough N to withstand any disruption from microbial immobilization.
The situation in Iran drove fertilizer prices higher this week while raising shortage fears. Analysts warn higher input costs could shift up to 1 million 1.5 million acres from corn to soybeans this spring.
USDA is urging farmers to respond to 2026 acreage surveys as skepticism grows over recent corn acreage revisions. Officials say stronger participation is key to maintaining the accuracy and credibility of crop reports.
Barbell, beer can and banana are descriptive names for abnormal ear shapes that show up every season and cause yield losses — problems growers could avoid more often by tuning into three factors researchers refer to as GEM.
How you manage the mix in cornfields can determine whether the nitrogen feeds your crop or disappears into thin air.
Unlock higher corn yields and more profit potential by aligning N applications with peak uptake windows.
Bigger roots, higher populations, and easier in-season access mean fertility programs should look different for these new hybrids.
Ken Ferrie explains how to prioritize planter attachments, why digging cross-sections is essential for ground-truthing planter performance, and the hidden risks of excessive closing wheel downforce.
The winning yield in the 2025 NCGA Corn Yield Contest further solidifies Hula’s long legacy of achievement and commitment to corn production excellence.
In many areas of the Corn Belt, farmers experienced 10-to-50-bu.-per-acre yield losses from disease pressure this year, says Ken Ferrie. In a period of tight margins, timely treatment decisions were more crucial than usual.
Because every growing season is unique, agronomists are encouraging corn growers to make a management plan for the “driver diseases” they’re most likely to encounter in fields next year.
Number of bushels per acre is high on their list of priorities, but it’s not necessarily their No. 1 concern going into 2026.
As crops go into bins, growers will be looking to maintain quality until their marketing opportunities improve. Some ongoing management practices are vital to the process.