Minnesota Crop News

Today we discuss cover crop usage and explore factors which can impact water quality and reduce residual soil nitrate loss on the Advancing Nitrogen Smart Podcast. How do cover crops help capture residual soil nitrate that corn leaves behind late in the season before it can be lost to water runoff? Why are early-harvested crops like corn silage and small grains ideal scenarios for getting sufficient cover crop germination and biomass growth in Minnesota? What makes winter annuals like cereal rye the top-performing choice for overwintering and protecting water quality in northern climates? How can farmers prevent potential agronomic risks from cereal rye, such as nitrogen tie-up, moisture depletion, and crop seedling diseases? What do long-term drainage plot studies reveal about the actual percentage reduction of soil nitrate and edge-of-field water loss when using cover crops? All this and more in our 43rd episode of the Advancing Nitrogen Smart podcast series. R...

By:  Sarah Roth, Research & Extension Coordinator at the Water Resources Center;  A. Marcelle Lewandowski, Senior research and Extension coordinator at the Water Resources Center &  Anna Cates, Extension soil health specialist In fall 2024, the Minnesota Office for Soil Health surveyed nearly 1,100 farmers across Minnesota to better understand their perspectives on soil management and soil health practices like cover crops, strip-till and no-till, and diversified rotations. The goal was to help agronomists, conservation professionals, and other farm advisors provide more useful, relevant support. The results offer a statewide snapshot of what motivates farmers, the challenges they face, and how they think about soil productivity, profitability, and environmental stewardship. Here are five key takeaways from the survey. Respondents were similar to the overall population of Minnesota farmers in terms of demographics, size and types of farms, and regions. However, re...

Debalin Sarangi, Extension Weed Scientist, University of Minnesota, Ankit Yadav, Weed Science Graduate Student, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Amit Jhala, Extension Weed Management Specialist, University of Nebraska–Lincoln Weed management is at a crossroads. Herbicide resistance is limiting chemical weed control options, while emerging technologies such as camera-guided “see-and-spray” sprayers, laser weeders, electric weeders, and autonomous machines, are creating new opportunities for weed control. Scientists at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln are conducting a survey to learn about your perceptions of these technologies. We invite farmers, crop consultants, and other agricultural professionals from Minnesota and beyond to complete a short, anonymous survey about your weed management practices, your views on emerging weed control technologies, and the research priorities you would like to see addressed. Why your response matters Your input will help guide future weed science rese...

Photo: University of Minnesota Extension Crop and livestock integration is an intriguing idea, but it might feel challenging to make it work on your own operation. Join us for Virtual Farmer Shop Talks, where you can meet up with other farmers interested in crop and livestock integration.  Each session will start with a farmer pitching their question to the group; the rest of the session is what you make of it. Share your experience with others, ask your own questions, or sit back and learn from your farmer peers.  Whether someone has 2 or 20 years of experience with integration, they have valuable knowledge to share and insightful questions to ask the group.  Register here These Virtual Farmer Shop Talks are free to attend, and once you register you'll have access to all three Shop Talk sessions: November 9, 2026 How can you maximize your row crop ground and pasture to extend the grazing season? Pitched by Amber Britz 12 - 1 p.m. CST November 12, 2026 How do you make ann...

Photo credit: Nancy Bohl Bormann, University of Minnesota Extension It's early / mid October in Minnesota, which means it's time for the fall manure outlook on the Nutrient Management Podcast. Minnesota's manure application rate guidelines have been updated for corn-corn and corn-soybean rotations. What are some of the results of these changes? What was the reason to update the guidelines? What weather conditions might we experience with the predicted 2026 Super El-Nino? Knowing these, are there changes that farmers should make to their fall best practices? ManureDB (the online manure nutrient database) recently had a large data set added to it. What does the new data mean for the end user? Are micronutrients included in ManureDB's data? In the world of on-farm research what’s currently happening - and how can farmers get involved? Important upcoming events for manure technicians, and farmer questions round out today's episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast . ...

Beatriz Bizzuti , Assistant Professor and Forage Extension Agronomist As summer comes to an end and temperatures cool,  it is time to start preparing the stand for winter. How an alfalfa field enters winter can have a major influence on its ability to survive cold temperatures and produce forage the following spring. Fall management is especially important in the Upper Midwest, where alfalfa can be exposed to freezing temperatures, ice formation, snow cover, saturated soils, and rapid temperature changes. The goal of fall management is not simply to produce one more harvest. It is to balance the value of late-season forage with the need to allow plants to build reserves and develop adequate winter hardiness.   Why does fall management matter? Alfalfa stores carbohydrates and other reserves in its crown and roots. These reserves help the plant survive winter and support regrowth in the spring. As plants approach dormancy, they gradually allocate resources to their crown a...