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Showing posts from December, 2022

There still is time...(to register for the Research Updates for Ag Professionals)

There still is time to register for one of the six   Research Updates for Ag Professionals  across the state .  In the first week of January, the updates will be held in Waseca, Oronoco, and Lamberton on January 3, 4, and 5. The following week there are updates in Willmar, Morris, and Crookston on January 10,11, and 12th. The program starts at 12:30 pm and ends around 5:00 pm at all locations.  The registration fee is $60 through the end of this year and $70 at the door.   Click  here  to start your registration. Make sure you select the location you want to attend.  We do not offer refunds for no-shows but do accept location changes.  Simply contact us when you need to attend the Research Update for Ag Professionals at a different location than the one you registered for this coming January.  O n-site registration begins at 11:30 a.m. at each location.    Email Larisa Hohrman ( jenri001@umn.edu)  directly for group registrations of groups larger than five people. Click below on the lo

The top 10 Minnesota Crop News blog posts from 2022

  As the year draws to a close, here's a look back at the top 10 Minnesota Crop News blog posts of 2022.  1.  Six observations from six years of tile sampling for nitrates in southeast Minnesota Extension educator Greg Klinger sifts through his data from six years of tile sampling in southeast Minnesota to figure out what it means for agriculture and water quality. 2.  Soybeans of other colors (SBOC): One more thing to think about this fall? Extension agronomist Seth Naeve, and Shawn Conley, UW-Madison agronomist explain the What, How and Why of SBOC, and the potential effects SBOC may have on growers. 3.  'Aged manure is not composted manure': Four factors for successful manure composting Chryseis Modderman, Extension manure management educator shows us again that aged manure is not the same thing as composted manure.  4.  Corn tar spot reported in southeastern Minnesota Tar spot of corn was detected in southeastern MN, and Extension plant pathologist Dean Malvick alerts u

Strategic Farming: Let's talk crops kicks off with weather and economic forecasts

By Dave Nicolai, Extension Educator – Crops and Phyllis Bongard, Content development and communications specialist Join us January 11th, 9-10 a.m.  for the Strategic Farming: Let's talk crops! webinar series kick off when we look ahead to 2023 and discuss weather, economic and supply chain forecasts with guests Ed Usset and Pete Boulay. Ed Usset, University of Minnesota Grain Marketing Economist, Center for Farm Financial Management will review and update price prospects for old and new crop grain. He'll also analyze the upcoming expansion of the soybean crushing industry and long-term impacts on Minnesota and national markets. Will there be any drought relief this winter? Pete Boulay, Assistant State Climatologist in the Minnesota State Climate Office, will discuss the outlook for temperatures and precipitation this winter and discuss how that may impact drought-stressed areas of Minnesota this spring and the potential for recovery before final soil freeze-up.  Bring your ques

What's new on the topic of biostimulants?

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, three University of Minnesota experts discuss biostimulants. What's new on the topic of biostimulants? What new research is there related to biostimulants? How should farmers go about testing biostimulant products? TRANSCRIPT Guests:  Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist  Carl Rosen, Extension nutrient management specialist Lindsay Pease, Extension nutrient management specialist (NWROC - Crookston) Additional resources: Compendium of Research Reports on Use of Non-Traditional Materials for Crop Production Should farmers consider biostimulant products? Biostimulants: What are they and do they work? U of M fertilizer guidelines by crop --- For the latest nutrient management information,  subscribe to the Nutrient Management Podcast  wherever you listen and never miss an episode! And don't forget to  subscribe  to the Minnesota Crop News daily or weekly email newsletter, subscribe to our  YouTube  channel, like

2023 Research Updates for Ag Professionals

Register soon to reserve your spot at one of the six   Research Updates for Ag Professionals across the state  sessions.  In the first week of January, the updates will be held in Waseca, Oronoco, and Lamberton on January 3, 4, and 5. The following week there are updates in Willmar, Morris, and Crookston on January 10,11, and 12th. The program starts at 12:30 pm and ends around 5:00 pm at all locations. The registration fee is $60 through the end of this year and $70 at the door. Follow the link below for online registration.  O n-site registration begins at 11:30 a.m. at each location. This year's speakers are Drs. Robert Koch,  Debalin Sarangi, Dean Malvick, Fabian Fernandez, and Jeff Coulter at the first five updates, and Drs. Ian MacRae,  Debalin Sarangi,  Andrew Friskop, Lindsay Pease, and Jochum Wiersma at the update in Crookston. All will share their latest research finding with you to allow you to develop the best management tactics and strategies for the coming growing se

Winter rye forage yield and nutritive value

Craig Sheaffer, Extension forage agronomist, Troy Salzer, and Nathan Drewitz, Extension educators Winter rye at anthesis. At this stage  of development, winter rye has high  yield but low nutritive value. Cereal winter rye is used in Minnesota as a winter cover crop following corn or soybeans. Because it's very winterhardy, it has the potential to reduce soil erosion and scavenge excess soil nutrients when used as a cover crop. Winter rye also can be used as an early spring forage source. While it has high yield potential, harvest timing must be managed carefully to obtain the desired forage nutritive value. Maturity affects yield and quality Maturity at harvest affects winter cereal rye forage yield and nutritive value. To obtain both reasonable forage yields and quality for hay and haylage systems, harvesting at boot stage is recommended.  Boot stage is just before seed head emergence when the head can be felt near the top of the last leaf.  Figure 1. Winter rye forage yield at

Nitrogen Smart: Interactive online courses can help farmers increase profitability, improve water quality

University of Minnesota Extension’s popular Nitrogen Smart program is now available as three interactive online courses, featuring short videos and quick quizzes to test your knowledge. Nitrogen Smart is better known for its in-person meetings around the state each winter. A survey of past Nitrogen Smart participants found that over 75% changed at least one practice as a result of attending the meeting. Our survey data and estimates show a value of at least $3,200 for each attendee when calculating acreage, fertilizer cost savings, and potential increased yield. The free online courses takes about three hours to complete but you can easily pause the session and complete it at another time. Nitrogen Smart Fundamentals course This educational program aims to help farmers improve their bottom line while also helping Minnesota meet environmental objectives on water quality. Participants will develop a deeper understanding of nitrogen and how it behaves in the environment. The online cours

2022 University of Minnesota variety crop trial results available now

The Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station (MAES) and the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) have published the 2022 Minnesota Field Crop Trials. Visit varietytrials.umn.edu/2022 to see variety trials for 9 different Minnesota crops. Crops included in this year’s trial include barley , canola , corn grain , corn silage , oat , soybean , spring wheat , winter rye , and winter wheat . Due to a delay in processing data, a full report for winter wheat will be available in mid-December. About the Crop Variety Trials When farmers are ready to make seed choices, the University of Minnesota field crop trials offer unbiased and trustworthy information. The annual Field Crop Trials are one of the keyways MAES works to bring valuable research into the hands of farmers and ultimately help improve farm profitability, improve the economy and overall quality of life in Minnesota. Since the late 1880s, MAES has published reports of crop variety trials but it wasn

Interested in upgrading your irrigation system? Cost-share program available in 19 Minnesota counties

The second round of a cost-share for irrigation system upgrades and associated practices is now available to producers in 19 Minnesota counties. This cost-share is available through a Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) awarded by the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). The program is available to producers with irrigation systems located within Becker, Benton, Cass, Dakota, Douglas, East Otter Tail, Grant, Hubbard, Kandiyohi, Meeker, Morrison, Pope, Sherburne, Stearns, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Wadena, Washington, and West Otter Tail Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD). Applications will be accepted through December 16, 2022, and are available through the 20 local SWCD offices. The program provides financial and technical support to irrigators looking to adopt and integrate proven precision irrigation technology and nitrogen management practices to help optimize irrigation system operation. This will help address groundwater quality and quantity issues