Crop Production
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.
Meteorologist Eric Snodgrass says warmer Pacific waters - not just El Niño - could drive a wetter, stormier summer across much of the Midwest and central U.S.
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.
Agronomists say uniform but thinner stands often outperform starting over with corn and soybeans.
Corn stalks, straw and cover crops are impacting weed-control results, requiring farmers to make tactical adjustments.
The product is designed to address cercospora leaf spot.
Agronomist Phil Long explains the critical gap between air and soil temperatures and why the “heat engine” for corn and soybeans has stalled in some areas.
Seasonal weather models are beginning to hint at improved moisture chances across the western Plains, offering drought-weary producers cautious optimism heading into late spring and summer.
Using crop diversity, conservation tillage and a contract-first mindset, the Ruddenklau family works to keep their operation moving forward.
The problem is making it difficult for farmers to know which herbicide chemistries will still work in their fields.
With one survey showing 48% of Midwest corn and soybean growers are unable to afford traditional fertilizer sources, Extension and industry are responding with nutrient options that can lend support.
Tim Webster and Steve Crothers share their cropping plans, telling Ken Ferrie they hope to bounce back this season from record low rainfall and extreme heat in 2025.
Temple Rhodes explains how moving away from front-loaded fertilizer use to what he calls a “layered, systematic approach” — using nitrogen, phosphorus and biologicals — is helping him build corn yields despite increased regulatory demands.
Research shows skipping the right tank-mix partner can reduce control of tough broadleaf weeds and grasses by 25% to 90%.
University of Illinois researcher details scenarios in corn and soybeans where biological products can provide value.
Irrigation experts explain how tracking daily “deposits and withdrawals” can prevent costly watering mistakes and protect yields during critical growth stages.
A fast-developing El Niño could bring much-needed rain to the Plains, but timing and coverage remain uncertain. Brian Bledsoe explains what a strong event could mean for drought relief.
Sixth-generation Minnesota farmer Carson Kahler is putting homemade nitrogen to the test this season, evaluating its field performance and whether the investment truly pencils out.
Indiana farmer Jason Mauck uses his wheat crop as a “supporting actor” to increase soybean yields and boost profits.
The 1,200-acre farmer says earthworms are central to his success in growing no-till corn, soybeans and winter wheat.
Agronomist Eric Beckett shares strategies for managing tillage, product applications and budgets despite what’s shaping up to be a dry and potentially windy spring.
USDA’s March 2026 Prospective Plantings report produced no major surprises, but the bigger story may be the fact only 37.6% of farmers responded, the lowest participation in history for that survey.
From Mehlich-3 to Olsen P, the extractant method your lab uses can help you interpret the data and manage inputs for more ROI.
While an unexpected March freeze is causing some farmers in Mississippi to replant corn, a mild spring is spurring early planting, with some farmers reporting they’ll finish planting corn by the end of this week.
In Illinois and Virginia, Frank Rademacher and Paul Davis lean on cereal rye, no-till and patience to keep waterhemp and other tough weeds in check.