Ken Ferrie
Agronomist Ken Ferrie provides agronomic insights, crop management tips, and practical advice for farmers to improve crop yields.
Ken Ferrie says fields with good soil health can have as much disease present as an unhealthy field, but healthy plants handle stress better than unhealthy ones.
Heavy rains and high winds are contributing to dangerous dust storms and other issues in farm country. Ken Ferrie offers his take on stewardship practices that can help growers prevent or minimize these problems.
Do not try to thicken a corn stand that’s in tough shape. You need to rip it out and replant it. If you can’t bring yourself to do that, ‘your stand is good enough,’” says Ken Ferrie.
2024 Farm Journal Corn and Soybean College: Learn How to Ride the Waves of Farming’s Economic Cycles
This year’s program focuses on practices growers can use to thrive and keep their farms on track. Make plans to join Ken Ferrie and team for the event, which is slated for July 23 and 24 near Heyworth, Ill.
Farmers are moving fast and furious in fields this week, trying to get crops in the ground. But Mother Nature is playing havoc with their best efforts. Ken Ferrie addresses six concerns to help farmers make progress.
Growing degree days (GDDs) are a more reliable method to predict corn emergence and development than calendar days. Start calculating GDDs daily the day after planting. Farm Journal Field Agronomist Ken Ferrie explains.
Don’t let the rush to plant cause you to be filled with regret and utter these five words at some point: “I wish I had waited.” Chilled seed corn struggles to emerge and grow. It can cost you 10% of your stand.
It’s a tale of two extremes this year. Some farmers report they can’t find soil moisture to plant into, while others are struggling just to get into their fields. Agronomist Ken Ferrie weighs in on both scenarios.
Along with too much moisture, high numbers of corn flea beetles are posing an early-season concern. Ferrie advises checking your Stewart’s wilt bacteria rating on hybrids. There’s no treatment option for infected corn.
Some Illinois farmers started planting soybeans in late March. Ken Ferrie offers tips to help you weigh the risks of planting now. Plus, be aware that poor saturated cold scores are impacting some seed corn hybrids.