Jerry Carlson

By Bob Streit, Crop Consultant, Boone, IA   515-709-0143     Specific observations as of July 16:   Now is when we are saving or adding yield. There are still lots of decisions and actions to make on the 2015 crop. Hopefully the weather will cooperate. Here’s an update around Iowa.   1. So far only about

Kevin Korus, Coordinator of the Plant and Pest diagnostic Clinic at the University of Nebraska (Lincoln), told us today that Goss’ wilt “attacked corn early in Nebraska” this season.   Stormy weather and moderate temperatures (below 90 degrees) create optimal growing conditions for the bacteria and encourage disease, he says. “The time of infection appears to

A broad-based scientific study released today at a Washington, DC press conference finds that genetic engineering of soybeans leads to accumulation of formaldehyde — a known carcinogen with zero tolerance in foods — and depletes glutathione, a vital anti-oxidant. The research report was published today in the journal Agricultural Sciences. Researcher Dr. V. A. Shiva

The Monday, July 13 Wall Street Journal published a “Big Issues” section on food, with the lead feature titled: “Should Companies Be Required to Label Genetically Modified Foods?”  (This link may require a subscription to view the full article) Alongside that story, WSJ reported its own poll which found that 63% of its readers favor

We’ve been enthusiasts for rebuilding healthy soil biology and productivity. And you can see one of the most amazing examples of how that’s done by reading or viewing presentations by Gabe Brown, who ranches with his family near Bismarck, North Dakota. Visitors from around the world are flocking to the ranch to see how Gabe

Howard Garrett, consultant and publisher of the website www.dirtdoctor.com,  sent his clients the following e-mail making key points about foliar feeding. It aligns with what we’re regularly recommending to farmers.   Here’s Howard’s advice: Foliar feeding has been used since 1844 when it was discovered that plant nutrients could be leached from leaves by rain.

Dr. Roch Gaussoin, foliar feeding scientist at the University of Nebraska, cites research showing that corn absorbs 31% to 99% of leaf-applied nitrogen. However, only 10% to 40% of soil-applied nitrogen is absorbed. On average then, crops recover only about 20% of soil-applied nitrogen such as anydrous or broadcast ammonium sulfate. Roughly 80% of your