Crops
How can you know whether your corn crop has strong yield potential? It doesn’t have to be a mystery, say David Hula and Randy Dowdy. Their practical tips will help you make good input decisions this season for better outcomes at harvest.
While most states anticipate a reduction in their total number of cotton acres, some exceptions exist. Farmers in Arizona, Virginia and Kansas are expected to plant more cotton than their respective 3-year averages.
According to USDA’s latest Crop Progress Report, 74% of the Illinois corn crop is planted, which is three points behind average, but a 20-point jump in just a week. Illinois farmer Brent Johnson says his May planted corn has been his best yielding corn the past few years.
If you have corn and soybeans affected by recent wind and dust storms, consider pushing pause for a few days to evaluate crops before applying post herbicides and making other product applications that could create additional stress for the plants.
USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says climate models have consistently shown a ridge across western North America that could lead to drought development, drought continuation or even drought expansion across portions of the Plains and West.
Be proactive in evaluating crop emergence and uniformity. That information will help you make timely, informed decisions that are best for your farm and your financial needs this season.
Sponsored
Discover the symptoms of soybean nutrient deficiency and management solutions to help prevent yield reductions.
Knowing the final plant population as well as the uniformity of the stand can guide you in deciding whether you will benefit most from keeping the current crop or ripping it out and replanting, says Missy Bauer, Farm Journal Field Agronomist.
Sponsored
79 million bushels of corn were impacted by corn ear rot in 2024. Learn how to help prevent these toxic fungal infections from affecting yield and grain quality.
2025 has been a record setting planting season for Mike Madsen and many farmers in Southern Minnesota.
Record-breaking heat hit areas of the U.S. this week with snow in the forecast for the weekend. As the disparity of moisture plays out, Nutrien’s Eric Snodgrass says he’s still concerned about the risk of drought.
Make adjustments as you plant because when those final steps are done poorly, corn germinates unevenly and there’s no way to go back and undo the damage.
Parts of the Central and Southern Plains are seeing some beneficial rains, but did they come in time to improve the winter wheat crop? Farmers will know soon, as harvest generally begins in early to mid-June.
Sponsored
Don’t sleep on tar spot of corn. Learn how proactive management throughout the growing season can combat tar spot infections.
The forecast for May is pointing to a rapid warm up with rains across the drought-stricken Plains, but there’s a drier forecast for the heart of the Corn Belt. One meteorologist is concerned about the amount of dryness entering the picture.
One farmer who was chased out of fields by rain this past weekend told Farm Journal, “This is the wettest drought I have ever seen.” There are some silver linings, though: soil-applied herbicides are being activated, the U.S. corn crop won’t all pollinate the same week and you have time to make stand counts where the crop has emerged.
Learn how this first-generation Ohio farmer changed his in-season nitrogen management program to boost yields.
Sponsored
Nutrien Ag Manager Todd Harris shares tips for helping farmers reach their yield goals
Analyzing both old and new growth, a sap test measures nutrient levels in the plant’s vascular tissues to identify current and soon-to-occur deficiencies.
Sponsored
Don’t miss the White mold treatment window. Learn when soybeans are at risk for White mold and when to apply fungicides for maximum efficacy.
Vietnam has a 100 million people and a growing middle class looking to add protein to their diet. With limited soybean crushing capacity, the country currently depends on soybean meal imports for their livestock and aquaculture feed needs.
Total Farm Marketing’s Naomi Blohm says based on her research, corn growers will likely have an opportunity to lock in better corn prices over the next few months.
USDA’s latest crop progress report puts the country at 24% of corn and 18% of soybeans in the ground. Farmers are sharing timely rains and great conditions to start the season.
GDUs offer a more reliable method to predict corn emergence and development than using calendar days, according to yield champions David Hula and Randy Dowdy. They also offer their pro tip on how to assess planting and germination depth.
Learn about an Iowa plot trial that is looking at the yield boosting potential of strip cropping corn and cover crops.
“Sunlight drives photosynthesis, which drives starch production, which drives yield,” explains Ken Ferrie. If sunlight hits the ground, it’s wasted, so maximizing sunlight capture requires closing rows as quickly as possible.
Drew Lerner, founder of World Weather, Inc., says the summer of 1968 had some strong patterns, including a wetter bias in the western and north-central U.S., but drier in most of the Atlantic Coast states and parts of the eastern and southern Midwest.
Sponsored
Don’t let tar spot steal your yield. Learn how residue management and other tactics can combat this fungal infection.
Soil conditions, temperatures and weather outlook are finally aligned for planting in much of the Midwest. In the hurry to get the job done, keep in mind that to get a 300-bu. corn yield, you need to start with at least a 300-bu. picket-fence stand.
Shell Rock, Iowa, farmer Jeff Reints started planting corn on April 8 — the earliest ever on his farm. He got 50% of his corn and soybeans in the ground before 3 inches of rain parked the planters.