Strategic Farming: Field Notes

For August 18, 2021, special guests included Dr. Dean Malvick, Extension plant pathologist, and Dr. Angie Peltier, Extension educator-crops in northwestern MN, to talk about current disease issues in the state, even during drought conditions. Malvick described late-season diseases that are beginning to show up across the state, and Peltier showcased the Digital Crop Doc, a U of M online tool growers can use to identify crop disease. Dr. Seth Naeve also discussed soybean yield components in late August. Seed number may have been limited due to hot dry conditions earlier on, but soybean plants are still able to increase seed size and weight in late August into September.

Today is August 11, 2021, and earlier this morning we recorded another episode of the Strategic Farming: Field Notes program.  The Field Notes program is a weekly update on the current crop situation and crop management considerations.  Today’s session was moderated by U of MN Extension Crops Educators Ryan Miller and Jared Goplen.  The special guests included Dr. Debalin Sarangi, Extension weed management specialist and Dr. Tom Peters, Extension sugarbeet agronomist to discuss weed management observations from 2021. There are waterhemp, velvetleaf, ragweed, and grassy weed escapes throughout Minnesota. We discussed some of the reasons for these weed escapes, as well as how to address these issues going into next year.

Today is August 4, 2021, and earlier this morning we recorded another episode of the Strategic Farming: Field Notes program.  The Field Notes program is a weekly update on the current crop situation and crop management considerations. Today’s session was moderated by U of MN Extension Crops Educators Anthony Hanson and Ryan Miller.  This episode featured Dr. Ken Ostlie, Corn Extension Entomologist, and Dr. Bob Koch, Soybean Extension Entomologist, both with the University of Minnesota Department of Entomology as well as Bruce Potter, IPM Extension Specialist based out of Lamberton, MN. Drought conditions during the growing season have exacerbated some pest issues, such as spider mites. Soybean aphid so far has only been found at low densities in most fields across the state, but there is still potential for aphid populations to reach damaging levels in August. Growers have reported corn rootworm adults at noticeable densities, and pests such as armyworms have been moving into corn from nearby grasses.

Link to Crop Management Pest tour registration for 8/10/21

Today is July 28, 2021, and earlier this morning we recorded another episode of the Strategic Farming: Field Notes program.  The Field Notes program is a weekly update on the current crop situation and crop management considerations. Today’s session was moderated by U of MN Extension Crops Educators David Nicolai and Jared Goplen.  The special guests featured Dr. Craig Sheaffer, University of Minnesota Forage Agronomist, Nathan Drewitz, Extension Educator in Stearns, Benton, and Morrison counties, and Troy Salzer, Extension Educator in St. Louis County. The drought conditions in Minnesota and the Upper Midwest have continued to worsen. Crops are drying up, which has many concerned about the tightening forage supplies. Today’s episode discussed forage establishment, early corn silage harvest, utilizing alternative crops as forages, utilizing CRP hay, as well as how drought conditions affect forage yield and quality.

Today is July 16, 2021, and earlier this morning we recorded another episode of the Strategic Farming: Field Notes program.  The Field Notes program is a weekly update on the current crop situation and crop management considerations.  Today’s session was moderated by U of MN Extension Crops Educators David Nicolai and Jared Goplen.  The special guests included Dr. Debalin Sarangi, Extension weed management specialist, Dr. Tom Peters, Extension sugarbeet agronomist, Dr. Seth Naeve, Extension soybean agronomist, and Bruce Potter, Integrated Pest Management Specialist, to discuss cupped soybean leaves. The fact that many fields of Enlist and other traited soybeans are showing these symptoms has many wondering if dicamba drift or volatilization may be to blame. Yet, reports of isolated soybean fields that have been sprayed with simple one-product herbicides and now show symptoms abound. So, what is to blame for all this cupping in drought-stricken regions of Minnesota and the Dakotas in 2021?

Our University of Minnesota Extension staff: Dr. Dan Kaiser, Extension Soil Specialist and Brad Carlson, Extension Educator in Nutrient and Water Quality discussed the proper use of diagnostic tools such as crop tissue testing and nitrogen basal corn stalk testing to provide a checkup on current crop growth and nutrient needs in Minnesota. This summer Minnesota crop growers have been challenged given the variable weather and soil moisture conditions across the state. Dr. Kaiser outlined the proper timing if tissue testing for both corn and soybeans along and which crop nutrients were likely to be highlighted in the results of the corn tissue tests such as potassium. Brad Carlson reviewed the movement and utilization for nitrogen in corn given the drier than normal weather conditions and variable precipitation patterns. Brad also commented on the validity of corn basal stalk testing and its relationship to predicting present and future nitrogen needs in Minnesota crops.

Today is July 7, 2021, and earlier this morning we recorded another episode of the Strategic Farming: Field Notes program.  The Field Notes program is a weekly update on the current crop situation and crop management considerations.  Today’s session was moderated by U of MN Extension Crops Educators David Nicolai and Anthony Hanson.  The special guests included Dr. Dean Malvick, Extension plant pathologist, and Dr. Angie Peltier, Extension Educator-crops in northwestern MN, to discuss corn and soybean pathogens. Being in a drought does not mean diseases will entirely go away. This episode discusses which diseases will likely be problematic this year, and what management considerations may be needed.

Today is June 30, 2021, and earlier this morning we recorded another episode of the Strategic Farming: Field Notes program.  The Field Notes program is a weekly update on the current crop situation and crop management considerations.  Today’s session was moderated by U of MN Extension Crops Educators Jared Goplen and Anthony Hanson.  The special guests included Dr. Ian MacRae, University of Minnesota Extension Entomologist, and Bruce Potter, Extension IPM specialist, to discuss insect management issues to be on the lookout for this year. Hot and dry conditions can mean we may see different pest complexes than most years, such as spider mites and grasshoppers. Regulatory changes for insecticides, such as chlorpyrifos, are also pending and could significantly affect what insecticide options growers have left to use this year.

Water use for early season crops and the stress caused by drought are becoming key areas of focus in late-June as drought has intensified across the state. Some areas have received rain, but crops across the state are showing varying indications of water stress. In this episode, panelists discuss to what degree crops may be able to recover if they receive adequate rain and how to assess the severity of water stressed crops.

Today is June 16, 2021, and earlier this morning we recorded another episode of the Strategic Farming: Field Notes program.  The Field Notes program is a weekly update on the current crop situation and crop management considerations.  Today’s session was moderated by U of MN Extension Crops Educators Ryan Miller and Dave Nicolai.  The special guests included Dr. Dennis Todey, Director of the USDA Midwest Climate Hub, and Bruce Potter, Extension IPM specialist, to discuss weather and pest updates. Dr. Todey discussed the current, short- and medium-range outlooks for precipitation and temperature. Bruce Potter gave updates on pest activity, including alfalfa weevil, corn rootworm, soybean gall midge and spider mites, and gave a preview of SWROC's June 23rd Pest resistance webinar.