Application of corn and soybean crop chemicals and application methods | Corn and Soybean Digest

Application of nutrients and chemicals plays a big role in the life of corn and soybean crops, and of a farmer. Applying at the right time, at the right rate and in the right place is critical.

May 15, 2012

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The Rule of Ten

The lead-in to this topic came from a farmer who had heard me speak about the Rule of 10 a number of years ago, and had experienced it in his own business. The gentleman is over 50, and has operated the farm for more than 30 years. Let’s explain the rule....More
May 14, 2012

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Monitor Weed Control with Aerial Imagery

It’s been another abnormal spring and many farmers have had to adjust some of their management practices. Specifically, the combination of the unusual weather and a need to get control of glyphosate-resistant weeds has increased the need to more closely scrutinize weed-management programs....More
May 14, 2012

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Tips for Nitrogen, Herbicide Application on Emerged Corn

The rapid pace of planting in late April followed by rain has resulted in many fields having emerged corn before pre-emergence herbicide and nitrogen applications have been completed. Of particular concern are no-till fields where planting was completed prior to killing emerged weeds....More
May 11, 2012

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Customize Postemergent Herbicide Applications

"In general, postemergent applications should be made before weeds get taller than 2-4 in., because that's when competition can begin to impact yields," says WinField Regional Agronomist Steve Barnhart. "Plus small weeds are a lot easier to control than larger ones." Because every field is different, there isn't a one-size-fits-all approach to turn to when it comes to planning postemergent herbicide applications....More
May 4, 2012

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Apply Postemergence Herbicide to Small Weeds in Corn

"The smaller the weed, the better," says University of Illinois Associate Professor of Weed Science Aaron Hager. Proper timing of the application of postemergence herbicides provides the corn crop with the best opportunity to express its full genetic yield potential. Allowing weeds to compete with the crop for too long reduces its seed yield. Yield losses can accumulate very rapidly, and the associated costs can far exceed the cost of an integrated weed management program that includes a properly timed application of a postemergence herbicide....More
May 2, 2012

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Nation's 100 Largest Ag Co-ops Post Near-Record Sales, Margins

The nation's 100 largest agriculture cooperatives reported near-record revenue of $118 billion in 2010, USDA Rural Development Under Secretary Dallas Tonsager has announced. This was an increase of 4% over 2009 figures. Net income for the 100 top agriculture co-ops was also up more than 10% in 2010, reaching $2.39 billion, up from $2.16 billion in 2009....More
May 1, 2012

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Perspectives From Canada

My road warrior travels recently took me north of the border to Canada. It is amazing how many Americans know so little about our biggest ally to the North. I laugh when U.S. weather maps stop at the U.S./Canadian border like Canada does not exist. The 10 Percent Rule applies to Canada as compared to the U.S.: the Canadian population is 10% of the U.S. population; the Canadian economy is 10% of the U.S. economy; and farm and ranch numbers and agriculture are about 10% of U.S. agriculture....More
Apr. 24, 2012

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2012 Custom Farming Agreements

An alternative to leasing farmland is a custom farming agreement (CFA). In a typical CFA, the custom operator agrees to perform all the machine operations on the owner’s land in exchange for a set fee or rate. The landowner pays for all seed, fertilizer, chemicals, crop insurance and other input costs; receives the all grain produced and all eligible farm program payments on the land; and is responsible to store and market the grain....More
Apr. 19, 2012

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Options to Control Emerged Corn Before Replant

University of Illinois associate professor of weed science Aaron Hager says that the below-freezing temperatures last week damaged some emerged corn in some parts of Illinois. “While the damage appears not to be widespread, it is very likely that some growers will opt to replant damaged stands,” he says. Losses of the initial corn stand could range from complete to partial, so farmers may need to control existing corn plants before replanting....More
Apr. 6, 2012

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Are Your Multiple-Mode Herbicides Effective?

Interest in using multiple modes of herbicide action in weed management programs is increasing, according to Aaron Hager, University of Illinois associate professor of weed science. However, each component of a herbicide premix or tankmix with multiple modes of action is not necessarily effective for every weed or under all application conditions....More