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The weed control measures used in soybean production need to be overhauled. The development of resistance in weeds has made current technology and management increasingly expensive and comes accompanied...
Soybean cyst nematode (SCN) is a destructive pest that plagues the booming soybean industry. Since 1950, U.S. soybean production has increased sevenfold. Nowadays, after corn, soybean is the highest valued...
This article is part of a series on biological control and Integrated Pest Management written by UAV-IQ (www.uaviq.com). In agriculture, input distribution companies are essential stakeholders for their...
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Organic corn is both economically viable and technically feasible. Even though organic corn yield is 32% lesser, the prices are double that of conventional corn, guaranteeing attractive returns on investment...
In the previous article in this series we discussed classical biocontrol, which is the practice of identifying the origins of pests found in local fields, then finding the natural enemies of those pests...
Jason Mauck's intercropped soybeans growing between 19-inch quad rows of wheat. By focusing on the wheat for capturing nutrients, suppressing weeds and feeding soil life vs. high yields, Mauck has seen over 100-bushel soybeans with significant input savings. Photo by Jason Mauck.
In Gaston, Ind., Jason Mauck is farming a little differently from his neighbors. Unlike the typical corn-and-soybean monocropping system, for the last 5 years Mauck has been doing low population, wide-row...
CRISPR gene editing technology is a faster, cheaper way to get new agronomic traits to market.
The USDA began reporting corn yield estimates in 1866. That year, the average farm was harvesting 24.3 bushels per acre; today that same farm averages 176.6 bushels of corn per acre. One might think that...
It's almost time to plant which means it's time to make some varietal decisions...
It's that time of year again where planting prep is on the brain. Soon, things will be waking up from the doldrums of Winter...the grass will be greening up, pollen will be falling everywhere and even an...
Agriculture is one of the most competitive markets in the world, and in competitive markets every decision matters. Every season, farmers are faced with choices that can make or break their harvest, and...
Row crop markets post small gains in bid to consolidate following Thur/Fri sell off on combo of poor sales/soy concellations. All three markets post new lows overnight with wheat selling off post biscuit...
It seems like every spring the same thing happens. Many people attempt to predict the corn and soybean markets for the new growing season. Capitol Commodity Hedging Services does not make predictions, but...
Mulch is one of the most versatile and cost-effective materials that can be used to improve a property. It is a multi-purpose material that is used to conserve moisture in the soil, keep it cooler, reduce...
As we learn more about what goes on in the world beneath our feet, increased attention has been placed on soil organic matter.And for good reason. While it only makes up a small percentage of most soils,...
Good weed management practices include rotating herbicide modes of action and layering preemergence and postemergence herbicides with residual activity.
It’s been over two decades since the first Roundup Ready crops were planted in commercial fields. At the time of introduction, the technology was revolutionary for farmers, who found a highly effective...
Pea, used as a weeding tool, besides its effectiveness, progressively shows all its agronomic advantages in a rotation
From Direct Driller Magazine: Issue 2Written by Frédéric ThomasLike many farmers, Michel Mercier first got into direct drilling based on the economic savings it offered. He first worked with an SE Horsch...
Image by Mel Combs from Pixabay
Though most of the organic cotton in the world comes from Asia, Texas in the USA is also a major producer. Although specific growing methods may vary based on region and farm size, there are general principles...
One of the most common questions I receive as a tax professional is “What type of business entity should I choose?” Most new business owners are overwhelmed at this decision and do not fully understand...
Part 1: Know Your True Cost of Production Why Your TCOP Matters How to Calculate Your TCOP Part 2: Take the Emotions Out of Your Marketing Plan Why You Need a Plan How to Create a Marketing Matrix How to...
You probably know that having a crop rotation is a good thing. Growing different crops back to back provides several benefits, such as preventing pests and disease, improving soil health and reducing fertilizer...
Conservation easements have grown in popularity in recent years, partly due to the impactful tax benefits available to the donor. A conservation easement is a restriction on the use of land, voluntarily...
If someone asked you, “How do plants take up the water and nutrients they need?” you’d probably tell them through the roots. But did you know that for many crops, those roots aren’t working alone?That’s...
Wet conditions across the country forced many farmers to forgo their plans for the season and take prevented planting payments instead. The USDA says that as of July 8, 2019, its paid roughly $184 million...
The combination of increased risk and high-value assets makes fire protection at farms and ranches a high priority. The first step in minimizing the fire and wildfire risk is increased knowledge and awareness.It's...
Most farmers and ranchers have a decent understanding of tax depreciation. When a business purchases assets, the business entity is allowed to write off the value of the asset purchased over the life of...
The Delaware Statutory Trusts (DST) is a newer investment vehicle that allows real estate property owners, including farmers and ag landowners, to purchase tenants in common ownership in passive investment...
A common concern growers may have when they move to a no-till system is nutrient stratification.Without tillage to mix fertilizer into the soil, no-tillers may wonder whether the nutrients applied to the...
Some growers may have had no option but to plant green — as shown above — into their cover crops this year because of poor weather conditions. In this photo by Ted Kornecki, USDA Agricultural Research Service, the farmer is terminating his cereal rye with a roller at the same time he is planting his cotton.
With May 2018 to April 2019 being the wettest 12-month period on record, according to NOAA, many farmers across the nation were forced to delay planting. In fact, for the first time on record, less than...
Grasses like cereal rye are a good species for beginning cover crop users as they grow fast and have fibrous roots. Photo by Stephen Ausmus, USDA Agricultural Research Service.
In 1995, Pennsylvania farmer Steve Groff was speaking at an event when he asked the audience the question: Do cover crops pay off?His thinking at the time was that he had been no-tilling since 1982, and...
When it comes to cover crops and nutrient management, a lot of the focus is on what cover crops can do for soil fertility. Depending on the species being used, they can prevent leftover nutrients from running...
While there are numerous reasons for using cover crops, a primary one is improving soil health.In fact, it’s the one benefit most farmers using cover crops have experienced: In the most recent Cover Crop...
When it comes to creating a cover crop mix, the options are endless. You need to determine what kind of species you’ll use, how many you’ll use, and at what seeding rates. For anyone new to cover crop...
Experts warn that growing continuous peanuts or other legumes close in rotation to the peanut crop can have detrimental effects on peanuts — namely soilborne diseases. This includes leguminous cover crops. Photo by Jack Dykinga, USDA Agricultural Research Service
It’s common knowledge among peanut farmers that the farther out you space your peanut crops in your rotation, the better off the peanuts will be. Research backs this up. Jason Sarver, Extension Peanut...
Nine weeks ago I started writing a weekly series for my website. Getting back in the industry after a 15-year break raising kids and supporting my husbands' career I found myself traveling up and down...
A 1031 Exchange is a tax-deferred swap program in which farmers and others in the agriculture industry can participate. Farmland, vacant land, and certain agriculture assets are considered real estate assets...
In July of 2014, I sat in the audience on the last day of the InfoAg Conference in St Louis. It was my first major farm conference trip outside of somewhat local events that had been put on near my home...
This Week In Agriculture:A Mixed Bag of Information from the Week that Was: July 13, 2018· At this point we seem to be seeing ‘if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it’ when it comes to trade as selling...
It’s no secret that America’s farmers are aging. In the last 35 years, the average age of American farmers has risen more than eight years to over 58 years-old. While the U.S. farming population continues...
Taking inventory of your farm equipment Think about how long accumulating your farm equipment took. And about the money you spent on each piece. If a fire, flood, tornado or other covered disaster strikes...
Nitrogen loss pathways and management options to reduce risk of N loss. Image from University of Nebraska.
When it comes to fertility in crop production, nitrogen is one of the most critical nutrients involved. “Nitrogen plays an important part in many essential functions and compounds necessary for life,”...
Despite the fact that there is near-guaranteed job security, thanks to booming population growth, many beginning farmers face seemingly insurmountable obstacles to bringing a product to market. In this...
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