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Why anhydrous ammonia is (still) an excellent nitrogen fertilizer source for corn

By: Brad Carlson, Extension educator Urea is now the most used nitrogen (N) fertilizer source in Minnesota. The switch away from anhydrous ammonia (NH3) has occurred for many reasons. Some of these include safety of the product, needing specialized equipment for storing, handling and applying, and a narrow range of soil conditions when anhydrous ammonia can be applied. Despite these issues, there are reasons to still consider anhydrous the best source of N in many situations. The science The N content of anhydrous ammonia is 82%, making it the most concentrated N fertilizer available, and therefore the most efficient with respect to its weight and the space it takes up. This means that less product needs to be transported and applied to the field to get the desired N rate. This results in savings of both time and money for the farmer. Anhydrous ammonia is the feedstock from which all other N fertilizers are produced. This means that every other product – such as urea and urea ...
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'A multivitamin for your soil': Some of the benefits (& challenges) of manure use

Photo credit: University of Minnesota Extension The benefits and challenges of manure use in general is the topic on this 40th episode of the Advancing Nitrogen Smart podcast series. What is it about manure that makes it good for the soil - and what makes livestock bedding an important addition? What's in manure that's organic but isn't living? What makes the benefits of manure usage long-term in nature? How should people think about manure use related to water quality issues? What kinds of tech might farmers want to be on the lookout for which affect manure use efficiency? According to panelist Melissa Wilson, manure is like a multivitamin for the soil. Find out why she thinks so on today show. Read the full transcript here Guests: Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato) Melissa Wilson, Extension manure nutrient management specialist (St. Paul) Additional resources: Manure management How to put together a manure management plan Nitrogen availability of different...
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Data Dump

Small grains harvest is progressing at a brisk pace, and so is the harvest of the small grain yield trials.  Only the spring wheat, barley, and oat variety trials in the two northernmost locations in the state are left standing, and those will come off sooner rather than later.  Curious how your varieties fared against the other entries this season? The preliminary results for grain yield of the winter wheat, winter rye, winter triticale, barley, oats, and spring wheat trials have been posted on varietytrials.umn.edu .  Simply follow the link and click on the nested Google Sheet tab labeled '2026 Preliminary Results'.  Check in (early) next week if the data for your favorite location isn't posted yet. I'll keep updating the  Google Sheets more or less the day I have new data in hand (well, actually, in a spreadsheet on my computer...)  Sin-cereal-y, Jochum Wiersma
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Final Field Notes webinar of the season to cover creative pest management tactics and late-season disease updates

Join us Wednesday, August 12th  for the final weekly Field Notes webinar of the summer when we welcome Anthony Hanson , Extension Field Crops IPM Educator, and Dean Malvick , Extension Plant Pathologist. Growers have been asking about interesting methods they have heard about for trying to control diseases or insects, such as using hydrogen peroxide or sugar applications on crops. This session will discuss what data exists on these topics. We'll also discuss late-season diseases such as tar spot and southern rust in corn and what has been seen recently, especially in southern Minnesota. If you aren't registered for these free webinars, visit: z.umn.edu/FN2026. Map of confirmed southern corn rust finds as of Aug. 10, 2026 from Corn IPMPIPE website . Some counties in southern Minnesota have had positive reports.   What is Field Notes? Crop producers and agricultural professionals face a host of challenges, including pest issues, agronomic concerns, and soil fertility...
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Strategic Farming: Field Notes – spider mites, aphids and weather impacts on the soybean crop

By Liz Stahl, Extension Educator – Crops, Seth Naeve, Extension Soybean Agronomist, and Robert Koch, Extension Entomologist
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MN CropCast: The Power of Independent Insights with Bryce Nelson

  In this episode of MN CropCast, hosts Dave Nicolai and Dr. Seth Naeve sit down with Bryce Nelson, a veteran independent crop consultant and the current president of the Minnesota Independent Crop Consultants Association (MNICCA). With over four decades of boots-on-the-ground experience serving southern Minnesota and northern Iowa, Bryce shares his unique perspective on how the crop consulting industry has shifted to meet the demands of modern agriculture. Key Highlights from the Episode: The True Meaning of Independence: Bryce explains the strict philosophy behind MICCA. By remaining completely separate from product sales, independent consultants act as unbiased advocates focused solely on maximizing the farmer's return on investment. Agronomic Evolution: A look at how weed management has come full circle—from the complex chemistry battles of the 1980s, through the simplicity of the Roundup era, and back to today’s high-stakes battle over resistance management. The Modern, Speci...
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Register for the 2026 Multi-State Forage Field Day in Morris

Find out about the latest in forage management at the Multi-state Forage Field Day on August 18  from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the University of Minnesota's West Central Research and Outreach Center in Morris, Minnesota. The field day is supported by Upper Midwest universities and forage associations as part of the I-29 Moo University , along with generous support from sponsors.  Learn from experts across Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa and Nebraska during hands-on field sessions and indoor presentations covering topics including:  • Grazing under solar panels • Virtual fencing • Manure application • Forage interseeding • Forage agronomy • Pest management • Nutrient management Early-registration includes lunch at $20 per person or $10 per person if you come as a farm or family group and both will increase by $5 after August 9th. Walk-in registration ($25) will be available the day of the event, but registration by August 9th is highly encouraged if you plan t...
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