Minnesota Crop News

Science for Success soybean specialists  The Science for Success partnership brings together 26 Extension specialists from land-grant  institutions across the country, representing more than 80% of US soybean acres. These specialists contribute their own state-gleaned knowledge and research results to the program to bring you sound, research-based Best Management Practices (BMPs).  A new webinar series,  Keys to Early Season Soybean Success , will share up-to-date, data-driven recommendations that you can use this spring.  Join the new webinar series Science for Success invites you to attend three live webinars, “ Keys to Early Season Soybean Success, ” on March 17, 24, and 31, 2023. Please register and attend these great events. All webinars will begin at noon, Central Daylight Time. March 17, 2023 – When early planting doesn't work out: Do I replant, repair-plant or leave this pitiful stand?  Register: https://go.ncsu.edu/replantregister March 24, 2023 –  What's new in plant

Phyllis Bongard, Extension content development and communications specialist Tar spot of corn was problematic in portions of Minnesota last year. It can spread rapidly, develop quickly, and cause significant yield loss. Since tar spot is a relatively new disease, it’s one to watch for. Drs. Dean Malvick, Extension plant pathologist, and Darcy Telenko, Extension field crop pathologist from Purdue University, tackled these questions from tar spot basics to management in the March 8th Strategic Farming: Let’s talk crops session. Tar spot basics Distribution Tar spot of corn was first discovered in 2015 in northern Indiana and northern Illinois. For the first couple of years, it didn’t cause much concern. By 2018, however, it started to spread quickly around the Midwest. In Indiana where Telenko is based, tar spot can be found in 86 of 92 counties. Between 2018 and 2021, parts of the state saw yield losses between 20 and 60 bushels per acre, with some fields experiencing a 50% loss in 20

Craig Shaeffer, Extension forage agronomist, and Jake Jungers, Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics Kernza® is the commercial name of seed harvested from Intermediate wheatgrass (IWG) (scientific name Thinopyrum intermedium ), a new perennial grain. The grain can be used as a substitute for annual grains like wheat for production of baked goods, breakfast cereals, and snack bars. Kernza has also been fermented for beer production. More information on development and commercialization of Kernza can be found at https://kernza.org/kernzacap/ and https://forevergreen.umn.edu/crops/kernza-intermediate-wheatgrass . Other technical resources for Kernza production can be found at https://sustainablecropping.umn.edu/resources Production potential and strategies to reduce yield decline Figure 1. Between-row mechanical tillage in the fall has reduced intermediate wheatgrass grain yield decline. Kernza grain yields are maximized the year following fall seeding and can exceed 600 pounds p

By: Brad Carlson, Extension educator Split application of nitrogen fertilizer for corn has increased in popularity in recent years as new equipment has become available. The wide range of options available to growers can be confusing. Here are three key considerations for determining which sidedress practices are best for your farm. 1. Who will do the application and with what equipment? Many farmers have acquired their own application equipment. This will dictate what type of fertilizer is used and the placement of the fertilizer. If you intend to have it custom-applied, you will also be bound by the equipment options available, whether it be a fertilizer dealer, custom operators in your area, or even a relative or neighbor. Know the advantages of each type of application. Urea is likely to be cheaper than UAN. Additionally, in-season application with a spin spreader is probably the fastest application method. Most farmers are not set up to make a topdress urea application the

Aaron Lorenz 1 , Senyu Chen 2 , Seth Naeve 1,3 and Bruce Potter 3 1 Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics, 2 Department of Plant Pathology, 3 University of Minnesota Extension The most common source of SCN resistance in commercial soybean varieties adapted to Minnesota is PI 88788. Over 90% of the varieties entered into the 2022 UMN Variety trials carried this single source of SCN resistance. The PI 88788 resistance source provides good resistance to some races of SCN. Over time, however, the overuse of this resistance source has led to shifts in SCN populations to those able to overcome PI88788 resistance. There has been increased interest in alternative sources of SCN resistance such as Peking and PI 89772. The commercial availability of these varieties adapted to Minnesota has gradually increased in recent years. However, little independent information is available on their actual resistance to SCN races known to overcome the PI 88788 source. Study methods Starting in the spri

 Phyllis Bongard, Content development and communications specialist, and Jochum Wiersma, Extension small grains specialist Small grains are versatile since they can be grown as a profitable crop in the crop rotation or grown as a cover crop to provide ecosystem services or forage.  Dr. Jochum Wiersma, Extension small grains specialist joined Extension Educator Nathan Drewitz to discuss these and other small grain topics in the March 1st Strategic Farming: Let’s talk crops session. Small grains grown as cover crops Winter cereals Winter cereals – rye or wheat - are often used as cover crops in corn and soybean rotations. Winter rye, for example, is very winterhardy, relatively inexpensive, and easy to establish, making it an attractive option when wanting to provide ecosystem services. Winter cereals can provide many benefits. Their fibrous roots help hold soil in place to reduce erosion. The biomass that they produce can help suppress weeds and add organic matter to the soil. They can