Minnesota Crop News

Sachin Dhanda, Weed science postdoctoral researcher, Sithin Mathew, Weed science graduate student, and Debalin Sarangi, Extension weed scientist Soybean field treated with postemergence Cobra  herbicide (within the label cutoff) showing  temporary leaf injury. Photo: Sithin Mathew) The erratic rainfall pattern this cropping season has led to disjointed soybean planting across Minnesota, with some farmers needing to replant their crops. As a result, soybean fields are currently at varying growth stages. Many acres are either receiving postemergence herbicides this week or have not yet been treated. It is essential to adhere to the growth stage cutoffs specified on herbicide labels for postemergence applications and to comply with the preharvest interval (PHI) which is legally required. The PHI represents the minimum time between the last herbicide application and the crop harvest. The restrictions are in place to prevent potential crop injury, herbicide carryover, environmental or food

Sachin Dhanda, Weed science postdoctoral researcher, Sithin Mathew,  Weed science graduate student, and Debalin Sarangi, Extension weed scientist Figure 1. Corn field planted in mid-May requires  postemergence herbicides for weed control. Photo: Debalin Sarangi This season’s erratic weather has resulted in very few good spray days in Minnesota, leaving some corn acres without a postemergence herbicide application. Many fields received postemergence treatments very early in the season, prompting farmers to consider a second application to control problem weeds like waterhemp. Herbicide labels typically specify growth stage or crop height cutoffs (whichever comes first) for herbicide application, and the preharvest intervals (PHI) indicate the minimum time required between the last herbicide application and crop harvest. The restrictions are crucial to prevent potential crop injury, herbicide carryover, environmental or food safety issues, and other potential concerns. When tank mixing h

Angie Peltier and Liz Stahl, UMN Extension crops educators, Seth Naeve, UMN Extension soybean agronomist and Jeff Vetch, UMN researcher at the Southern Research and Outreach Center The following information was provided during the June 26, 2024 Strategic Farming: Field Notes session. Use your preferred podcasting platform or listen online to a podcast of this Field Notes session hosted by UMN Extension crops educator Claire LaCanne. The concern with soybeans sitting in ponded or flooded fields Photo: Dean Malvick, UMN Extension Soybeans can survive under water for a couple of days, but the number of days or even hours that they are able to survive when submerged declines as temperatures increase. Those soybeans that were under water for more than ~2 days are likely dead. Soybeans that are not under water are still likely to have experienced saturated soil conditions for much longer than normal and so, depending upon a variety’s resistance, would have been susceptible to water mold pat

University of Minnesota Extension and Minnesota Area ll Potato and Research Council are planning an Irrigation and Nutrient Management Field Day on  Tuesday, July 16th, 2024 from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm  at the Sand Plain Research Farm (SPRF) in Becker, MN.  Different irrigation and nutrient management related topics will be covered including precision irrigation and nitrogen management in corn and potatoes, soil moisture sensing technology for irrigation scheduling, and enhanced efficiency fertilizers. Location: Sand Plain Research Farm  15003 157th St. SE Becker, MN 55308 Cost: This free field day will focus on advanced practices and research conducted at the SPRF featuring researchers from the University of Minnesota and North Dakota State University. This event will include a complimentary dinner.  Presentations: A superbug is not a superhero! Updates on the management of Colorado potato beetle Potassium management effects on yield and chloride cycling in potato cropping systems Develo

The Small Grains Summer Plot Tours  provide farmers and crop consultants with the tools to make small grain production successful and profitable. Tours are held in several northern Minnesota locations. Presentation topics  Production agronomics Variety selection Fusarium head blight Cereal leaf beetle Pest identification and management Fungicide use These programs are interactive with hands-on demonstrations of genetics, pests and growth stages. They feature tours of current research plots as well as discussions of on-farm experiences. Feel free to bring any field samples for diagnosis or discussion. 2024 Northern MN tour locations Humboldt, July 15, 9am-11am Oklee, July 16, 9am-11am Strathcona, July 19, 9am-11am For more information, visit  Small grains summer plot tours .

Fusarium Head Blight Risk Fusarium head blight risk for spring wheat varieties with a rating of 6 or worse will be moderate to high across all of Minnesota through the end of the week  (Figure 1). A marked difference in the risk of infection exists between highly susceptible and moderately resistant varieties (Figure 2). Figure 1. Fusarium head blight risk for very susceptible varieties for July 1 through 4. Darker orange indicates moderate risk and red indicates high risk. Figure 2. Fusarium head blight risk for moderately resistant varieties for July 1 through 4. Darker orange indicates moderate risk and red indicates high risk. One or Two Fungicide Applications to Suppress FHB? The continued wet weather has some of you wondering whether a second application of a fungicide to suppress FHB is warranted.  Dr. Andrew Friskop,  as part of one of the US Wheat & Barley Scab Initiative Coordinated Projects, evaluated the two-application strategy against the standard single application a