Crops
“Plant early for optimum yield” is a common refrain soybean growers hear from agronomists and other crop production experts today. But when you can’t get into the field, regroup and go to Plan B.
A perfect stand sets the stage for high ear count at harvest. But what if, despite your best efforts, a stand starts out troubled?
The May WASDE report is the first look at the new crop balance sheets. As old crop demand continues to be an area of concern, the trade was watching to see how aggressive USDA would be with new crop supply and demand.
With alfalfa being one of the most important forage crops on the farm and feed prices on the rise, it’s critical to ensure your stand is harvested in a timely manner to maximize quality while preserving quantity
Planting has been going full steam the last two weeks in Iowa and farmers now have 70% of the corn and 49% of the soybeans planted which in both cases are nearly 20% ahead of average.
Farmers made significant headway in planting progress last week. USDA shows nearly half of the country’s corn crop is planted and 35% of the soybean crop is now in the ground. There are several states setting records.
Agronomists are reporting high numbers of black cutworm and true armyworm moths in pheromone traps. Their offspring, the larvae, can do serious harm to corn. So can the offspring of four other common moth species.
Grain farmers might have started their Cinco de Mayo celebration early on Friday, with grain prices seeing some big gains.
The change will not impact how farmers work with their current seed salesman in 2023, a Bayer spokesman tells Farm Journal. However, a different go-to-market approach is in the works.
Soil conditions, temperatures and weather outlook are aligned. “Let the big dogs run, and keep the planters running until you’re finished,” says Ken Ferrie. “This corn will fly out of the ground.”
According to USDA-NASS, farmers in eight states are currently planting soybeans at the quickest pace farmers have ever seen, including Illinois and Missouri.
Farmers in the Southern Plains are finally starting to see much-needed moisture hit their fields. It may be too late for winter wheat, but it’s a hopeful sign for those needing the rain to even plant summer crops.
Winds topping 55 mph, along with dry soils, recently planted fields and the direction of the fierce winds, all created the “perfect storm” to cause the major dust storm that turned fatal Monday in Illinois.
Farmers in some states can expect BCW damage in corn by mid-May. One larva can ruin five corn plants in a 24-hour period. Rescue treatments are most effective and economical -- not seed treatments or Bt hybrids.
According to John Phipps, the legendary Third Crop has been the Holy Grail for many corn and soy growers for decades. He explains why more Midwest farms moved away from diversified crops and livestock operations.
BASF says ONE SMART SPRAY’s camera-based system detects weeds and sprays only where necessary and only as much as needed, providing customized agronomic recommendations and automated documentation.
Even with the cold spring farmers in Indiana are making good planting progress, but many have been planting soybeans ahead of corn and that showed up on this week’s USDA crop progress report.
If you’re applying a tank-mix of Enlist One® and Liberty® herbicides on Enlist E3® soybean or Enlist® cotton acres, ensure you’re following these tips to optimize the application and take control of weeds.
USDA’s latest Crop Progress report shows while corn planting is now right on track with average, the soybean planting pace is well above average despite North Dakota and South Dakota farmers who are still sidelined.
“We have a pretty deep trough of low-pressure that’s kind of parked over the Midwest, which is leading to below-normal temperatures,” says Brad Rippey, USDA meteorologist. Here’s a look at the 30-day forecast.
If you’re applying a tank-mix of Enlist One® and Liberty® herbicides on Enlist E3® soybean or Enlist® cotton acres, ensure you’re following these tips to optimize the application and take control of weeds.
Mississippi River Flooding Expected to Peak at the 7th Highest Level Ever Near Quad Cities Next Week
As the upper Mississippi River continues to rise, USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says the worst is yet to come, with a top 10 flood crest not expected near the Quad Cities for as much as two more weeks.
China canceled more corn purchases this past week. As the country switches to cheaper sources from places such as Brazil, it puts more focus on a possible demand problem in the U.S. and causing beginning stocks to swell.
Record snowfall is catching up with several states as snowmelt starts to flood rivers. It’s already impacting traffic and the movement of ag goods on the upper Mississippi River.
Planting has been running smoothly, but you notice a few rows are consistently planting a higher or lower population. Here are things to check.
Soybeans planted from April 3 to April 10 were hit the hardest as they were snared by temperatures dipping below 28°F. Corn didn’t dodge the damage, either. Ferrie says some corn crops at the V1 stage were smoked.
Modern, high-tech planters can produce “picket fence” stands of corn with seedlings so uniform they look like they’ve been photocopied. But does precise planting pay?
As more farmers start planting, possible problems with weeds, such as waterhemp, are already impacting decisions. An Iowa State Extension field agronomist says farmers might need to be more aggressive in their approach.
In the biggest con in agriculture history, Anthony De Angelis stole over $1 billion, shook Wall Street to its core, humiliated big banking, embarrassed USDA, and ushered in the rise of Warren Buffet.
For a developed country as large as the US, we are almost unique in our lack of robust rail capabilities. John Phipps answers a viewer’s question about the possibility of updating the rail system to move grain faster.