Many Midwest cornfields are signaling, with a slightly lighter green leaf color, they’re running low on nitrogen. Low chlorophyll levels show before the bottom leaves start firing. The firing signals that the stalk is cannibalizing nutrients in bottom leaves. August 3, 2018 — A quick, low-cost scouting tool that makes an objective measurement of leaf “green-ness” is the atLEAF […]

When one of our eastern Corn Belt clients asked us that question, we quizzed a few specialists with inside knowledge of the seed corn business. The essence of their answers: Killing seed fields before seed maturity can lower test weight, cut germination and reduce seedling vigor. Aug. 2, 2018 — Your seed rep may tell you

British farmer Jim Thompson’s test of four beneficial rhizobia bacteria resulted in a one-third increase in weight of sugarbeets while maintaining sugar content.His Allpress Farms in Cambridgeshire Fen tested a new bacteria mix on about 15% of his beets last season. Aug. 1, 1018 — This season, Thompson is followup up with the organisms on all

In February 2016, Successful Farming launched a feature series with a daring theme for a mainline farm magazine. Title: Meet Your New Boss. It pointed out that future food buyers who are leading the retail food industry will be health-conscious moms who choose natural, non-GMO and organic foods.  July 27, 2018  By Jerry Carlson — This week I

A machine shed on the Dave Schwartz farm just west of Guthrie Center, Iowa is the venue for a farmer meeting where we expect to learn a lot about unleashing the yield power of soil biology. This farm is mostly highly erodible ground with corn suitability ratings downward from 60 points.  July 24, 2018 —

Yesterday, July 18, one of our northern Iowa clients counted 60 pods per plant on his thriving soybeans. They’re loaded with blooms. Three weeks ago those beans were yellowing and wilting, with fungus attacking roots in rain-soaked soil. July 19, 2018 — This 114-acre field of beans is an especially valuable variety grown for seed, and the

Yesterday an experienced casualty insurance agent in our farming area told us, “Farmers will soon have to understand that herbicide damage claims could have a huge impact on the cost of their liability policies.” July 17, 2018 — The ag insurance specialist brought up this subject himself. He told us his next appointment was with a farmer

We work closely with crop consultants who’ve tackled challenges like this season’s excess rain, nitrogen loss and crops which look yellow and chlorotic because of saturated soil. Here are some of the consultant’s answers to the questions we’re getting as growers scout corn and soybeans. 1. Question: In this county, there aren’t enough high-clearance sprayers equipped with Y-drops available