Latest News From Rhonda Brooks

Weather conditions at planting, herbicide damage, insects and poor closure of the furrow are just a handful of the factors that can hinder corn emergence success.

The new technology is designed to improve seedling vigor, boost root biomass and contribute to yield increases – up to 15% in corn and 12% in soybeans. It will be commercially available starting in 2024.

Several factors converge making corn rootworm, black cutworm and true armyworm a high concern this season.

A concentration of smoke over a period of several weeks could contribute to lower temperatures and fewer growing degree units for row crops because of reduced solar radiation.

The latest Ag Economy Barometer shows farmer sentiment has soured as crop prices have tumbled over the past month, but it's not all gloom and doom. Strong working capital can help address the downturn in farm country.

With more than 90% of the corn crop now planted and growing in 12 key states, it's time to look for evidence of Pythium, Fusarium and Rhizoctonia. They're often overlooked because they work underground to steal yield.

Ken Ferrie is seeing potassium deficiency in corn this season because of dry soil conditions. It's easy to confuse with a nitrogen deficiency and even the carbon penalty and ugly corn syndrome.

Bill 3372 could lower greenhouse gas emissions, mitigate factors leading to supply chain backlogs, reduce damage to roads, and provide an extra set of brakes to improve stopping capacity and safety, one lawmaker says.

Farmers finding dead corn plants in their fields are texting pictures to Ken Ferrie, asking for help. Some of the culprits he's found include wireworm, the carbon penalty, rootless corn syndrome and herbicide carryover.

The U.S. Drought Monitor says 26% of corn acres, 20% of soybean acres and 47% of winter wheat acres are in drought. The wheat crop has little chance of revival, but corn and soybeans have a long runway ahead of them.

Reclaim is designed to help soils warm up faster, resulting in more uniform seed emergence and better plant stands. 

Despite the positive sentiment, local community bankers report concerns about lower commodity prices, the ‘big bank mess’ and another potential rate hike in June by the Fed.

Paul Schadegg, with Farmers National Company, shares his perspective on agricultural real estate demand, the impact of interest rates on the market and the outlook for land values later this year.

The agency recently launched a new initiative called Acres. Scientists plan for the data gathered through the program to help farmers with all kinds of decisions, from water use to what crops to plant and when.

Watch the 1-minute video by Farm Journal Field Agronomist Ken Ferrie and his agronomic team, showing how residue can be sized to protect soil surfaces to minimize dust and potential erosion.

Similarly, Ken Ferrie says to time your post-herbicide application in corn based on weed size and to address cutworm based on the level of damage you find. One pass in the field could work for both, but don't bet on it.

"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.

Agronomists are reporting high numbers of black cutworm and true armyworm moths in pheromone traps. Their offspring, the larvae, can do serious harm to corn. So can the offspring of four other common moth species.

Soil conditions, temperatures and weather outlook are aligned. "Let the big dogs run, and keep the planters running until you're finished," says Ken Ferrie. "This corn will fly out of the ground."

The change will not impact how farmers work with their current seed salesman in 2023, a Bayer spokesman tells Farm Journal. However, a different go-to-market approach is in the works.

Farmers in some states can expect BCW damage in corn by mid-May. One larva can ruin five corn plants in a 24-hour period. Rescue treatments are most effective and economical -- not seed treatments or Bt hybrids.

After seeing 25,000 sales of used disks come and go, Machinery Pete showcases three, each one from a different manufacturer, that have captured the highest prices farmers have ever paid for a tillage tool – so far. 

Soybeans planted from April 3 to April 10 were hit the hardest as they were snared by temperatures dipping below 28°F. Corn didn't dodge the damage, either. Ferrie says some corn crops at the V1 stage were smoked.

Don't let the rush to plant cause you to be filled with regret and utter these five words at some point: "I wish I had waited." Chilled seed corn struggles to emerge and grow. It can cost you 10% of your stand.

True armyworm (not to be confused with fall armyworm) is moving into Midwest wheat and corn crops now. Many are newcomers from the South, but homegrown populations are also concerning in Illinois, Indiana and Michigan.

When soybean seed sits in the ground for weeks, unable to germinate, the risk for Sudden Death Syndrome to develop trends higher. Yield losses upwards of 80% are documented.

The food system is being reimagined today and farmers can benefit by thinking about how to improve their ability to take advantage of opportunities in the process, says Rob Dongoski with Ernst and Young.

Be diligent to keep pesky and invasive weeds out of your field boundaries. Otherwise, those weeds can produce seed and drift to additional acres in future years. 

Both crops get a green light for planting this Wednesday and maybe even for Tuesday in central Illinois. Ferrie says let soil conditions, moisture and local weather forecasts drive your planting and tillage decisions.

Cutworm and armyworm moths are on the move, looking to lay eggs. Wireworms, grubs, flea beetles, gophers and voles are also looking to take up residence in your fields. Act now to stop them.

Farmers in Iowa and parts of Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska, Wisconsin and South Dakota are in the "red zone" for CRW pressure this season.

Kevin McNew says the company's survey of 2,000-plus growers shows they will plant 92.5 million acres of corn and 84.5 million acres of soybeans. Both estimates are counter to what USDA projected in February.

Iowa Senator encourages U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai to move toward instituting USMCA dispute settlement process.

Caution can help you avoid creating compaction or density layers. Plus, if you're applying anhydrous now, allowing 14 days between the application and planting can prevent dead or damaged plants and costly yield dings.

Industry experts say the new legislative package represents a 'generational opportunity' for conservation funding and needs to reach U.S. farmers and livestock producers sooner rather than later, starting this spring.

The company, known for its extensive work in soybeans, formally moves into the corn marketplace with its introduction of Maverick herbicide, now available for use this season.

Do some final noodling on hybrid selection, planting processes and agronomic practices to grow that big-yielding crop you want to harvest next fall. Here are five tips to help you make this season a success.

Envita offers corn growers season-long nitrogen availability, according to Azotic Technologies. The product retails for approximately $15 an acre.

BASF plans to launch Surtain herbicide for 2024 farmer use, pending EPA approval. It features two active ingredients that tackle up to 79 tough broadleaves and grasses, including Palmer amaranth, waterhemp and ragweed.

Marion Calmer says nutrient stratification in soil is a significant problem on his western Illinois farm — and it’s only getting worse.

Some farmers saw A 40-bu-per-acre yield surge across fields in 2022, thanks to nutrient efficiencies. They lost less N and had better mineralization. Now, they ask, how can they get a repeat performance this year?

The first-of-its-kind biotech trait is commercially available to farmers as Bollgard 3 ThryvOn cotton with XtendFlex Technology – just in time for the 2023 production season. 

If you're looking to replace some of your nitrogen this season, urea is an option. Volatility will be one of the things to address.

With organic matter above 3.5%, do you need to worry about applying sulfur? Ken Ferrie, Farm Journal field agronomist, is seeing financially positive responses. He shares several sulfur options to consider.

Problems like tar spot get tons of attention because of the highly visible yield loss they cause in-season. Seedling diseases can pack the same punch. Some experts claim Pythium is the No. 1 disease issue in corn.

If your spouse dies, look into filing Form 706 Federal Estate Tax Return with the IRS. Taking that step could help you protect farm assets so they pass to your heirs without estate taxes. The process isn't automatic.

Yes, basic insurance for the farm is pricey. But an umbrella policy is usually more palatable, and it could literally save your operation in the event of a wreck or other tragedy, says Purdue's Fred Whitford.

The food system is undergoing transformation, says Rob Dongoski, Ernst & Young. He pulled back the curtain on three ways it will change and how farmers can be ready during a presentation at the 2023 Top Producer Summit.

Profitability and efficiency are big drivers for growers evaluating conservation-based farming practices. Each farmer who spoke at the Trust In Food Symposium said they have adopted at least one such practice, to date.

Cornfields hit by the disease in 2021 are at risk from a homegrown infection in 2023, if you're in a corn-soybean rotation. Hard rains prior to crop canopy are an added concern. They splash inoculant onto corn plants.