Prepared and updated annually by Christina Difonzo at MSU, this is your one-stop resource for deciphering Bt corn trade names and knowing which insecticidal traits are in your corn hybrids.
407 articles tagged "Agronomy Tips".
Corn is often harvested at grain moisture contents higher than the 15% moisture typically desired by grain buyers.
There have been many reports of black areas in soybean fields in Indiana this season.
Fall and cooler temperatures have arrived. Soon after that, a frost will occur.
Although yield is always at the forefront of many corn farmers and agronomists’ minds during harvest, another important discussion topic each fall is that of grain test weight.
As corn advances through grain fill and approaches physiological maturity (black layer), one thing to watch for is premature ear declination or premature “ear drop” (Figure 1).
I received a phone call from a shepherd many years ago. He was confused as to why his ewes refused to eat what appeared to be beautiful alfalfa hay.
It is now time to evaluate fields for any stalk or ear rot symptoms. This will aid in making assessments about field harvest order and if there is a risk of mycotoxin contamination.
Soybean development in 2024 has been about 10 days ahead the 5-year average from flowering to pod development to leaf drop (USDA-NASS, 2024). Fast stand establishment and high accumulation of heat units (GDDs) during May and June certainly set the pace. Now in many areas, harvest is fully in gear based on the combinations of early maturities, early plantings, and late season heat and dryness. Timely planting is foundational for maximizing soybean production. Growing up in the Midwest, the mindset was to plant corn first followed by soybean (as long as it was planted by Memorial Day you were “fine”). That sentiment has changed based agronomic research, Extension recommendations, and farmers’ experience. Indiana planting of soybean shifted dramatically in 2018 to within ~4 days of corn planting where it had averaged 14 days behind corn the previous ten years. In fact, Indiana farmers continue to place high priority on soybean[Read More…]
Under-utilized forage management practices in the beef, small ruminant, and horse businesses are forage analysis and ration formulation based on the forage test. If these practices are done properly, they will result in correct livestock body condition, wellbeing, and improved profit. The Indiana Forage Council organized the opportunity for hay producers to enter samples in the “Hoosier Hay Contest”. The deadline for hay and baleage sample submission is September 30. Forage quality results for the categories that a producer enters will be shared with them. Quality results will also be shared with all entrants in a specific category, but results of others will be anonymous. Details about the “Hoosier Hay Contest” can be found at the Indiana Forage Council’s website (https://indianaforage.org/) Later in the fall, a hay quality seminar on “Forage Quality” will be offered. Details will be shared when known by Purdue Extension and the Indiana Forage Council.
