Crop Production
Release the rat reapers. Joseph Carter operates the most unique farm pest control service on the planet, ridding farms of rats by deploying mink—rodent slayers extraordinaire.
Getting rid of your unused pesticides or pesticide containers takes time and proper steps. As such, it can take awhile to get to the top of your to-do list.
From drought to flooding, farm fields outside of St. Louis are proof too much rain isn’t a good thing, especially when it falls in only hours. As much as 14.1 inches of rain fell in some locations triggering flooding.
Back in the first few months of 2012, signs of trouble were starting to pop up for U.S. agriculture. High temperatures in Chicago on St. Patrick’s Day hit 82 degrees Fahrenheit, the warmest for the day in 141 years.
Cold temperatures may or may not reduce populations.
From too much rain to not enough, to the intensity and direction of the wind, weather plays a vital role in the the amount of pests farmers see from year to year. Agronomists and entomologists debunk myths with facts.
Emerging pest pressures can create problems for farmers every year. And as certain pest pressures build, Farm Journal Associate Agronomist Missy Bauer says the issues are often geography based.
As Arkansas farmers work to battle an outbreak of fall armyworms, entomologists say the pest is proving to be devastating in later planted crops. And as farmers see increased pest pressure, the costs are adding up.
With farmers across several states enduring drought conditions, it’s prime time for spider mites to make their move.
Recent dry weather increases risk of spider mite infestations.
With drought causing spring wheat to shrivel, the heat next week will be lethal for that portion of the crop barely hanging on. Now, grasshoppers are preying on battered fields, possibly shrinking the crop to zero.
Scouting fields for pest problems is a vital component of crop health and yield outcome.
Look for signs of this early-season nuisance this spring.
Last year showed how dry conditions create the perfect playground for a few yield-robbing pests. The conditions could be ripe again for drought-loving pests to emerge.
Look for signs of this troublesome mollusk this spring.
Ground squirrels and voles take tiny bites from soybean fields.
This pest can cost you 15% to 50% in yield loss.
USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey is concerned about the impact this week’s high heat could have on corn production as the majority of the crop was planted late. The August forecasts are also concerning for soybeans.
The condition of the U.S. corn and soybean crops are holding steady, at least for now.
We are in the heart of fungicide application season, with airplanes, drones, and sprayers crawling the countryside. Here are the key things to think about when making fungicide applications.
Growers face countless decisions each growing season. While choices may vary, all the answers seem to point in one direction: how to get the best return on the acre.
Triple digit heat blankets the Southwest this week, and forecasters expect the ridge of high pressure to park over the western Corn Belt next week. AccuWeather projects U.S. corn production could be severely impacted.
Nebraska sorghum growers are bucking the trend of lower acres and drought with this year’s crop.
Another red flag is being raised for the farm economy. In June, the Ag Economy Barometer, by Purdue University and the CME Group, fell to a reading of 97.
Gold Eagle Cooperative in Hardy, Iowa suffered a scare on Tuesday afternoon when the bin under its fertilizer building exploded.
The core of the Corn Belt is forecast to see above normal temperatures and below normal rain next week, and it could hit as the crop is in prime pollination with 50% of U.S. corn planted in a two-week period in May.
With tar spot’s ability to rapidly spread, agronomists fear another wave of the disease will hit the Midwest again this season.
Farmer DIY: Low-cost, weed-specific automated sprayers built on-farm are on the near-horizon for agriculture.
Corn and soybean yield potential took another hit across the U.S. this past week, according to the USDA Crop Progress Report.