Sonja Begemann

Sonja Begemann provides information about seeds, chemicals and anything that affects crop production. A recent graduate of the University of Missouri (Science and Agricultural Journalism), Sonja is excited to help provide farmers with information they need to know. She has a strong background in row crop production and learned valuable agronomic skills in corn, soybeans, sorghum and alfalfa. Her roots in agriculture began with both of her grandparents, who were corn and soybean farmers and continued to grow throughout her childhood on a small family farm where she raised chickens and pigs for 4-H and FFA. When Sonja looks to relax she enjoys spending time with friends and family, cooking and doing anything outside.

Latest Stories
Anytime corn is stressed photosynthesis is reduced, which limits carbohydrate production and increases risk of stalk rot. The rots you see could be different depending on your stress, wet or dry
As Farm Journal Midwest Crop Tour scouts make their way farther into Illinois they’re seeing crop stress, but far less than what they saw the past two days. Compared to Indiana and Ohio, Illinois is in pretty good shape, but yield still might fall short of a normal year.
A 55-mph drive by your cornfields won’t cut it if you want to avoid surprises at the end of the season. Lace up your scouting boots and get into each of your fields to estimate yield.
Carcinogenic fungus is controlled by new traits in corn
Syngenta will sell corn and soybeans with Dow AgroSciences Enlist event following their agreement with Dow AgroSciences and M.S. Technologies.
As corn is setting kernels there are many factors that influence its success, pollination among the most critical. Weather, insects, delayed silk emergence and other stresses could all negatively impact the number of kernels on each cob.
Although planting might seem as if it were ages ago, its effects can show up now. While scouting corn in addition to checking ear size and kernel count, take a look at stand, roots and stalks, and re-examine your ears to determine what when right—or wrong—earlier this year.
Monday Syngenta announced it received Chinese approval for Duracade corn grain and processing co-products for food and feed use. The product received approval from USDA and EPA in 2013.
In the first of eight certified class actions against the company, jurors sided with plaintiffs and asked Syngenta to pay $217,700,000 in damages.
When it comes to fungicide, critically examine your opportunity for yield increases to determine whether two, one or any application is needed.