Crops
Farmers across the Texas High Plains received a deluge of rainfall right at planting, and while the moisture was needed, the sudden switch prevented some farmers from planting their intended cotton acres this year.
The USDA reports provided a bullish surprise for soybeans with acreage down 4 million from the March intentions. Corn acreage was bearish coming in more than 2 million higher than March. Where did the shifts occur?
USDA released a few big surprises in the June acreage report, including a spike in corn acres and a large reduction in soybean acres. The agency also forecasts grain stocks below trade expectations.
Hurricane-force winds swept from northern Missouri and Iowa all the way east to Illinois and Indiana. The derecho brought wind gusts up to 100 mph, flattening cornfields, but it also drenched soils with crucial rains.
The pest is showing up in early-season soybeans. Current numbers don’t necessarily warrant treatment. Because the pests can double in population in only a few days, scouting is the only way to stay on top of them.
Cover crops, reduced tillage and a simple water infiltration test help Adam Chappell capture and hold water and nutrients.
Even with rains sweeping the Northern Corn Belt last weekend, the latest drought monitor shows drought continues to spread across Illinois with D2 (Severe Drought) taking a 28-point jump in a week.
Can skip row corn add bushels to the bin? James Hitchcock wants the answers from one trusted source—his own fields.
Farmers with cornfields affected two years ago need to be ready this season, based on a corn-soybean rotation. Fields with high levels of residue are more susceptible, and beware heavy rains just prior to canopy.
Bayer Crop Science has unveiled a novel approach to the discovery and development of crop protection solutions, called CropKey. Company officials say it is helping them bring new products to the marketplace faster.
Despite weekend rains sweeping the northern Corn Belt, corn and soybean conditions sit at the second-lowest level in history. Sizable declines hit key areas of the Corn Belt as corn enters a critical time for production.
After a record-breaking planting pace for a lot of farmers, optimism seems to be shifting as the drought expands across the Midwest.
Paying attention to the “right place” component of the 4Rs can help minimize yield loss due to nitrogen deficiency in a cost-effective way.
Regenerative agriculture strives to work with nature rather than against it. It’s about reversing degradation and building up the soil to make it healthier than its current state.
Nematodes are frequently discussed in soybeans with the soybean cyst nematode. However, nematodes pose an equally damaging threat of yield loss to corn fields as well.
Corn has a high demand for zinc, and zinc is the most common micronutrient deficiency in corn production.
Corn prices sunk as forecasts turned more optimistic for the weekend rains in the northern Corn Belt. USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says the rains aren’t enough to change the potential production problems in Illinois.
Corn prices fell more than 30 cents on Friday, a change from the rapid run-up in prices the past two weeks, but even with chances of rain across the northern Corn Belt, drought continues to eat away at crop conditions.
Drought is deepening across the Midwest with 64% of the corn crop and 57% of the soybean crop across the U.S. now covered in drought, a sizable jump in just a week after NASS showed a historic drop in condition ratings.
An intrepid Kansas mother and her Johnny-on-the-spot son found one of the most stunning Indian artifacts of recent history. Welcome to the impossible tale of the Oehm Blade.
Farmers in Iowa are trying to stay optimistic but say the next two weeks are critical for getting some rain or they’ll be seeing significant yield loss.
Illinois crop ratings have dropped like a rock with only 33% of soybeans and 36% of corn rated good to excellent in this week’s USDA crop progress report.
Many Midwest farmers are seeing their corn crop struggle from compaction, nutrient deficiencies and herbicide carryover. Some of these issues can be addressed yet this season.
The updated drought monitor indicates dryness will continue to expand across eastern Missouri, eastern Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
November soybeans shot up $1 in just two days. The December corn contract skyrocketed 50 cents during the time. Drought and dryness concerns are fueling the grain markets, is it only weather impacting prices?
Drought continues to deepen its grip across the Corn Belt, with Iowa and Illinois seeing large jumps in the moderate and severe drought categories. Now, more of the U.S. corn and soybean crop is covered in drought.
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.
We recently asked farmers what’s the most random thing they’ve found in their fields. Here are a few of the responses.
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.
Dry conditions in some parts of the Midwest are putting a strain on yield potential early this season. But some stands are thriving. Practices such as continuous covers and no-till are making the difference.