Minnesota Crop News

Jared Goplen, Extension educator - crops When it comes to putting up quality hay, the money is in the details. Improper equipment settings can leave hay in the field, add dirt to hay, cause long-term damage to forage stands, and shorten hay storage life. Proper equipment settings can provide big payoffs in maximizing forage yield and quality. Cutting hay Cutting height Forages should be cut at 2.5-3 inches in most conditions to maximize yield and stand longevity. Shorter cutting height results in slightly more yield but decreases quality. Cutting shorter than 2.5 inches increases soil contamination of forage (ash) and shortens stand life of grasses. Newly-seeded grasses (or mixed stands) should be cut slightly higher (4”) in the establishment year. Cutterbar settings Sickle cutterbars Sickle and guard maintenance is key to minimizing field losses. Adjusting the position and reel speed to match ground speed and crop conditions will minimize field losses, especially in lo

Bruce Potter, IPM specialist, Bob Koch, Extension entomologist and Ken Ostlie, Extension entomologist Twospotted spider mites adults and eggs. Photo: David Cappaert, Michigan State University, Bugwood.org Two-spotted spider mites are taking advantage of the 2020 growing season’s hot weather. Mite infestations have been observed in soybean fields in Brown, Carver, Dakota, Le Sueur, McLeod, Lac Qui Parle, Redwood, Stearns and Yellow Medicine Counties. Several of these infestations have been economic. Spider mites are likely present in other areas as well, particularly where conditions have been dry. At this time, soybeans appear to have the heavier infestations although spider mites also attack corn and other crops. Conditions that favor spider mites In most years, two-spotted spider mite populations are kept in check by predators, fungal disease, and adequate moisture. Warm, dry weather and moisture stress of the crop favor mite reproduction. When conditions are favorable f

Seth Naeve, Extension soybean agronomist, Dave Nicolai, Extension educator and Liz Stahl, Extension educator Updated and adapted from various postings by Jeff Coulter, Extension Agronomist, Seth Naeve, Extension Agronomist and Dave Nicolai, Extension Educator Hail-damaged soybean from July 11, 2020. On Saturday July 11, 2020, a routine summer thunderstorm spawned severe weather across an exceptionally long streak in western Minnesota. With high winds and rain, a significant swath of large hail fell from near Willmar and continued into Nicollet County leaving devastated corn, soybean, and sugarbeet crops in a two- to six-mile-wide path. Hail as large as 2.5 inches in diameter was reported in areas of southwestern Minnesota as well, including a stretch in Jackson County, resulting in significant crop damage. With an early planting season and unseasonably warm temperatures in late June and early July, the corn and soybean crops are developmentally more advanced relative to rec