Minnesota Crop News

Minnesota — along with Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio — uses the Maximum Return to Nitrogen (MRTN) approach to corn N rate guidelines. In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, we discuss the Maximum Return to Nitrogen (MRTN) approach to corn N rate guidelines. What is the MRTN and why was this system implemented?  What are the pros and cons of the MRTN approach and how is it performing?  What should corn growers know about alternative approaches to the MRTN?  Will there be any changes made to the MRTN approach in the future? Listen to the podcast View the podcast transcript Guests: Dan Kaiser, Extension soil fertility specialist Fabian Fernandez, Extension soil fertility specialist Jeff Vetsch, U of M SROC researcher Brad Carlson, Extension educator  Additional resources: Corn nitrogen rate calculator High nitrogen fertilizer costs: What should corn growers be thinking about? Corn fertilizer guidelines Nutrient Management Conference (Feb. 8, 2022) Nit

by Angie Peltier, Extension educator - crops Nothing reveals soil compaction better than crops grown during a historic drought, as Minnesota experienced throughout the 2021 growing season.   During periods of drought or excessive soil moisture when plants are under stress, compacted soil adds an additional source of plant stress.  Jodi DeJong-Hughes, UMN Extension water quality educator and Aaron Daigh, associate professor of soil physics and hydrology with the Department of Soil Science at North Dakota State University, joined UMN Extension educator Angie Peltier for a wide-ranging discussion of how compaction happens, how to avoid compacting soil in the future and how to remediate compaction that has already occurred. This was the second of the 2022 Strategic Farming: Let’s talk crops! webinars in this series. Watch a recording of this webinar:  Strategic Farming 2022: Let's talk soil compaction How compaction happens Soil is largely made up of sand, silt and clay particles and

There are several upcoming opportunities for Minnesota commercial manure haulers and site managers to attend the Commercial Animal Waste Technician (CAWT) recertification workshops. This year, there will be both in-person workshops and an online course. In-person workshops will take place in Morris (Feb. 15), Lamberton (Mar. 9), and Waseca (Mar. 23). A hybrid workshop where participants attend in person and speakers are remote will be held in Hutchinson (Feb. 17). Online training will be available starting late spring and will be open until November 20th, 2022. Learn more & register: z.umn.edu/CAWT2022 Due to University of Minnesota building COVID protocols, masks are required and seating is limited for all in-person locations. Register early to ensure a seat. No Walk-ins. Companies can now register multiple employees at once (in-person training only). The registration fee is $10 for either in-person or online recertification training. Sign up to receive CAWT updates The Mi

Since its discovery as a new species in 2019, soybean gall midge (Fig. 1a) continues to be found in new counties across five states in the Midwest. For some growers, the presence of soybean gall midge had a significant impact on soybean yield (Fig. 1b). The persistence of this new pest in existing areas and its presence in new counties highlight the need to stay up-to-date on the latest research-based information. Figure 1. Soybean gall midge larvae (1a) and soybean gall midge infested soybean (1b). Webinar series Researchers from four midwestern states have developed a two-part webinar series consisting of several short talks with time for discussion. Growers, consultants, educators, and industry representatives are encouraged to join these free webinars. Registration is required and two CCA credits will be available. On Feb. 15th , you can get the latest multi-state update on the distribution of soybean gall midge, important scouting tips, and information on the ecology of soybean ga

The Small Grains Update offers the latest recommendations for production and pest management. These workshops will be discussion-based meetings, so bring your questions. Topics include production agronomics, variety selection, soil fertility, and economics. Register now for any of the following locations: January 17, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m., Morris January 31, 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m., Roseau  (combined with PPAT) February 1, 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m., McIntosh  (combined with PPAT) February 14, 9 - 11:30 a.m., New Prague February 14, 1 - 3:30 p.m., Rochester February 15, 1 - 3:30 p.m., Floodwood February 17, 1 - 3:30 p.m. Slayton February 18, 9 - 11:30 a.m., Cold Spring February 18, 1 - 3:30 p.m., Benson February 23, 9 - 10 a.m. Strategic Farming webinar  Panelists include Jochum Wiersma, Extension small grains specialist, and Jared Goplen, Extension educator - crops. Registration There's no cost to register or attend any of the in-person Updates.  Lunch is included.  Register for an in-person Upd

 by Phyllis Bongard, Educational content development and communications specialist Soil sampling for the PSNT test. With high fertilizer prices following the 2021 drought, you may be looking to adjust your nutrient management for the 2022 crop. Dan Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist, and Brad Carlson, Extension educator – water quality, joined Extension Educator Ryan Miller for a wide-ranging discussion in the launch of the 2022 Strategic Farming: Let’s talk crops! webinar series.  Watch a video recording of the webinar below, and check out some highlights with links below the video. Nitrogen adjustments Capturing residual nitrate Historically, nitrate concentrations in surface water can spike following a drought. While an environmental concern, it also indicates that residual nitrate is still in the soil profile. In light of the high fertilizer prices, you may have the ability to utilize that residual nitrate as part of your total fertility package going into 2022. B