Monday, September 21, 2026

UK Researcher Works To Sharpen RNA-Based Defense Against Armyworms

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...

MU Extension Hosts Free Bilingual Sow Production Workshop April 29 In Columbia  

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...

Resources For Wheat Fungicide Decisions

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...

No-Till Without Paraquat?

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...

How Rising Diesel Prices Affect Crop Production Costs

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...

Early Planting And The Uniformity Of Seedling Emergence Of Corn And Soybean

 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...

Temple Grandin’s Mind Is A Gift To Livestock And Humanity   “

“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...

Tight Margins, Costly Inputs Shape Planting Intentions

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...

How AI And Drones Are Hunting For Hidden Crop Genetics

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...

Ryegrass Management In Emerged Corn And Soybean

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...

Tennessee Remains A Modest But Consistent Participant In Grain Crushing Activity

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...

Black Cutworm Moth Activity Detected In Missouri

IVAIR VALMORBIDA COLUMBIA, MISSOURI Black cutworm moth captures have started to show up across parts of Missouri, which is a sign that spring has officially arrived – not just for us, but for some of our early-season insect pests as well....

Traders Are Positioning For A Notable Shift In Planted Acreage

CHARLEY MARTINEZ KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE Ahead of next week’s USDA March Intentions report, traders are positioning for a notable shift in planted acreage. Corn acreage is expected to come in at 94.37 million acres, according to market expectations, which would represent a...

Arkansas Farmers To Drop Acreage In Four Major Crops In Favor Of Soybeans For 2026 

RYAN MCGEENEY LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS  Arkansas farmers plan to reduce planted acreage for four of the state’s five major crops, including corn, cotton, peanuts and rice, in favor of soybeans during the 2026 planting season, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Planned acreage...

From Dirt To Data: Precision Agriculture At The Data-Intensive Farm Management Project

SASHA ZVENIGORODSKY URBANA, ILLINOIS Precision agriculture first gained traction in the 1990s, when GPS technology made it possible for farm equipment to map and manage fields with a level of detail that was not possible before. Farmers could accurately apply fertilizer...

E-News Sign-up

Connect With Corn South