Agronomy

Look for the sensitive areas in your fields now, advises Steve Pitstick, who farms 50 miles west of the Chicago suburbs. Be proactive and be informed, he adds, so making product use adjustments won’t be a huge lift this season.

A corn grower asks: Will making a shallow application of 10-34-0 provide corn plants with sufficient phosphorus during early growth stages when corn is planted in cool soils with a soil Bray P1 of 35+ ppm? Ken Ferrie and Missy Bauer, Farm Journal field agronomists, share their recommendation.

Ken Ferrie says to batten down the hatches for this season by picking the right hybrids, placing them on the right fields and giving them the right management. He outlines the steps you can take now to do just that.

About 45% of U.S. corn production acres and 36% of the soybean ground are dry. The western Corn Belt needs moisture, in particular. A big, wet snowstorm could help, says Eric Snodgrass.

Farmers will need to be able to show farm records, receipts, delivery tickets, and any as-applied maps. Geo-stamp photos will also be required to prove the use of no-till and cover crops.

Farmers can benefit from evaluating fields now and making a game plan for complying with the agency’s requirements. One positive is that the herbicide strategy will be implemented over time, instead of on a specific date.

Long-time meterologist Gary Lezak says he can predict with 91% accuracy significant weather events that will occur for the next seven to eight months. Check out three of the predictions his team shares for this spring.

Among the independent field agronomists’ recommendations: Address your No. 1 yield-limiting factor, employ the 5% rule and fix soil pH.

Growers are trying to figure out what caused missing plants in their corn stands last season and what solutions they can use this spring.

A new map from the SCN Coalition can give you an idea of whether the pest is in your county. Soil testing this spring will confirm whether the pest is in your fields, dinging yields and dollars.