More in Seed

“It all comes down to the planter. If you don’t get it in the ground right the first time, nothing else matters.” That simple philosophy is at the heart of what Minster, OH, Crop Consultant Bill Lehmkuhl says is one of the most important parts of the crop cycle: getting ready for planting season....More

While not entirely explaining increased yields for corn and soybeans over the past 15 years, one Ohio State University agricultural economist said statistical evidence on linear yield trends shows biotechnology could play a role....More

Weather conditions at planting and harvest seemed to plague farmers in 2011. Despite frustrating meteorological developments, Ohio State University (OSU) experts say continuous improvements in corn genetics and traits allowed producers to record impressive yields this year....More

Americans for Choice and Competition in Agriculture, a coalition dedicated to increased choice and competition in the multi-trait seed marketplace, was launched recently in Des Moines, IA. Former Iowa State Senator and U.S. Ambassador to Latvia, Charles "Chuck" Larson will serve as the Coalition's executive director....More

Sometimes Mother Nature is like the Joker. That’s evident from the 2011 growing season. Hopefully your hybrid choice is like Batman. From trait options to staygreen to stalk strength to pest and disease resistance, hybrids can bring an arsenal of tools to combat most enemies. Corn & Soybean Digest has compiled a list of top hybrids from top companies. Use it as a starting point for selecting hybrids for next year. Be sure to also consider university, independent and company trial data when making your decisions....More

Bunge North America, a major buyer and exporter of grain and oilseeds, recently announced a purchasing policy in which it will not accept Agrisure Viptera – MIR162 biotech corn variety developed by Syngenta. The rationale behind this decision is the regulatory approval status of the product in the global marketplace – specifically, China....More

Chinese orders for U.S. corn increased this year and recently began to include the 2011 crop. China has not previously represented a substantial portion of the U.S. corn export market. The Chinese regulatory system has not approved the Agrisure Viptera trait (Event MIR162). This situation has caused concern among some grain traders....More

It’s not a question as to whether John Lindamood plants treated corn and soybean seed. That’s a given. It just gets down to which fungicide and insecticide products are most cost effective to his northwest Tennessee operation....More

It's inevitable when corn and soybean acreages remain unplanted on June 1 to hear the question, "When is it too late to plant?" Although prevented-planting insurance changes things, there's no "drop-dead" date for planting, says University of Illinois Extension Agronomist Emerson Nafziger....More

As of Sunday May 22, corn was 11% planted in Ohio, which was 76% behind last year and 69% behind the five-year average (http://www.nass.usda.gov/). Given the saturated soil conditions of many Ohio fields and the potential for more rain this week, it’s likely much of the crop acreage will be planted in June. Ohio State University Extension has developed a decision aid, Estimated Yield and Profit by Planting Date – Corn, Soybeans or Preventative Planting Crop Insurance, to assist producers in exploring the option of late-planted corn, switching to soybeans or accept preventative-plant payments....More

Conducting fieldwork after wet weather can cause soil compaction, and in particular sidewall compaction in the seed furrow, says DeAnn Presley, Kansas State University Research and Extension soil management specialist. This is especially true if the weather then turns dry after planting, she adds....More

Soggy, cool conditions have kept farmers out of the field, and the optimal planting dates for soybeans, April 25 in southern Iowa and May 1 for the northern half of the state, have come and gone. The average rainfall in the state of Iowa for April 2011 was 5 in. – about 1.36 in. above normal. In April 2008, the second wettest April recorded, the precipitation totaled 5.88 in. – 2.55 in. above normal....More