This week’s University of Minnesota Extension CropCast host Dave Nicolai has as his guest Dr. Tom Peters, Extension Sugarbeet weed specialist for the University of Minnesota and North Dakota State University. Tom provided an update on sugarbeet harvest progress and challenges this growing season for both the Red River Valley and southern Minnesota sugarbeet growing areas. In addition, Tom reviewed the major weed problems, herbicide options and what the future may hold in terms of new herbicide technologies. Finally, Tom provided an in-depth update about his 2024 weed control research programs and recommendations to consider when planning for 2025 weed control in rotated crops in sugarbeet programs. Listen to the podcast What is Minnesota CropCast? Hosts David Nicolai and Seth Naeve discuss the progress and challenges of Minnesota's agronomic crops in this new podcast. They are joined by a diversity of specialists representing all crops and agronomic disciplines to discuss their res
By: Vasudha Sharma, Extension irrigation specialist The number of irrigated acres in Minnesota is increasing as more and more growers look for ways to ensure high crop yields during dry years. This blog post provides an update on an ongoing field research study being conducted at two irrigated corn sites in Minnesota’s central sands region. I will focus on how different reduced irrigation strategies impact nitrate leaching and residual soil nitrate. After four years of data (one wet year and three dry years) at one of the sites, we’ve seen some interesting results on how different irrigation strategies could alter water usage and nitrate leaching losses, saving farmers money and benefiting the environment. Where is this study conducted? A field research study is being conducted at two locations in central Minnesota: The Sand Plain Research Farm in Becker, Minnesota, and the Rosholt Research Farm in Westport, Minnesota. Both sites are situated in the heart of Minnesota’s irrigated acres