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...
DENNIS B. EGLI
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY
It’s that time of the year – producers are done tinkering with their planters and are ready to hit the field, hoping to get that perfect ‘picket fence’ stand where every plant is equally spaced and...
“We need all different kinds of minds.”
JENNIE ABBOTT
URBANA, ILLINOIS
Temple Grandin’s neurodivergence is one of her biggest strengths. As a consultant and professor of animal sciences, she has led groundbreaking work in animal behavior and livestock handling, breaking barriers for...
NATHAN GREGORY
STARKVILLE, MISSISSIPPI
Mississippi farmers are planning fewer acres of most major row crops in 2026, reflecting continued pressure from falling commodity prices and rising production costs, according to new data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The USDA’s Prospective Plantings...
TODD GLEASON
URBANA, ILLINOIS
Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed an innovative artificial intelligence method designed to mine massive amounts of drone-captured field data, revealing hidden, highly heritable genetic traits in crops.
For decades, agriculture has relied on visual cues...
LARRY STECKEL AND HAYDEN LOVE
JACKSON, TENNESSEE
There was a significant emergence of ryegrass during the middle of March in many fields (Picture 1). This coupled with all the early planting has led to fields infested with ryegrass along with emerged...
CHARLEY MARTINEZ
KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE
We got a lot of information this week, below covers the highlights from the planting and grain crushing report.
In the prospective plantings report, Tennessee farmers intend to plant approximately 17.1 million acres of crops in 2026, a...
