GIOVANI PREZA FONTES
URBANA, ILLINOIS
April ended with temperatures averaging 4 to 8 degrees above normal in Illinois, and despite several rainfall events across the state, planting progress continued to advance. Conditions have generally allowed for steady fieldwork, with USDA-NASS reporting...
KANSAS STATE AGRONOMY DEPARTMENT
MANHATTAN, KANSAS
If corn has been planted, standing water or saturated soil conditions in parts of a field can affect corn now or later. Periods of early-season water saturation can cause immediate problems for small corn plants...
BRUNO PEDREIRA
KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE
A year ago, I wrote in this column about the importance of correcting acidic soils to make sure our forages grow green and fast in Tennessee pastures. However, in the last few months, I have been receiving...
JAKE MCNEAL
JACKSON, TENNESSEE
Planting progress in 2026 has progressed (and in some cases finished) much faster than any year in my recent memory. While early planting has certainly increased in the last several years (particularly with soybean) this year still...
MARY HIGHTOWER
FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS
Farmers grappling with difficult risk management choices now have a powerful new online tool that’s born from years of data collection and months of refinement.
The Arkansas Crop Decision Support Tool was developed by Eunchun Park, assistant professor of agricultural economics and agribusiness and researcher for the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station. The experiment...
MARIANNE STEIN
URBANA, ILLINOIS
Conservation tillage practices, such as no-till and reduced till, are critical for sustainable agriculture, and they are gradually becoming popular with farmers across the Midwest. Monitoring tillage usage can provide insights into soil health, water levels, and...
LINDA GEIST
NOVELTY, MISSOURI
Heavy rainfall is becoming more frequent across Missouri, leaving producers dealing with saturated soils, ponded fields and flooding even before the 2026 growing season began.
Understanding how excess water affects crops – and what steps can help in...
MARY HIGHTOWER
LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS
While interest rates have declined from post-pandemic highs, higher input costs related to oil prices may add to farmers’ interest expense burden, said Ryan Loy, extension economist for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.
The Federal Open Market Committee of the Federal Reserve met March 18, voting...
ERICK LARSON
MISSISSIPPI STATE, MISSISSIPPI
Corn vegetative growth stages are designated by a V followed by a number representing fully emerged leaves. Only those leaves which have a leaf collar visible and are fully developed count as an appropriate growth stage. ...
JOHN LOVETT
FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS
Electricity and water don’t usually mix, but technological advancements in floating solar arrays open the potential to generate electricity while decreasing impacts on farm irrigation reservoirs and agricultural land.
Michael Popp with the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station is...
JORDAN STRICKLER
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY
A University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment researcher is leading a new project that could help farmers fight some of agriculture’s hardest-to-control insect pests with a method designed to hit the target and leave...
UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI EXTENSION
COLUMBIA, MISSOURI
University of Missouri Extension will host a free bilingual workshop aimed at strengthening sow production practices and supporting the state’s diverse swine workforce.
The Show Me Sow Production: Bilingual Workshop, organized by Mag Lopez, MU Extension...
HEATHER MARIE KELLY
JACKSON, TENNESSEE
This week I’ve gotten calls asking about fungicide decisions in wheat – is an application needed or not? While the initial conversation is on Fusarium Head Blight (FHB/scab) and the forecasting models available for FHB, I...
LARRY STECKEL
JACKSON, TENNESSEE
No-till without paraquat? That may be a possibility. Syngenta announced they will stop producing Gramoxone in June. This will leave only the companies that sell the generic paraquats to fill the demand. Will those companies be willing...
UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI EXTENSION
COLUMBIA, MISSOURI
Although many farms are starting the planting season with bulk tanks full of sub-$3-per-gallon diesel purchased over the winter, the first refill this spring could cost $1.50-plus per gallon more than they paid for their...
