Minnesota Crop News

By Angie Peltier, UMN Extension crops educator, Anna Cates, UMN Extension soil health specialist and Ryan Miller and Dave Nicolai UMN Extension crops educators January 22, 2025, was a first for the University of Minnesota Extension’s Strategic Farming: Let’s Talk Crops program in that it was broadcast live, not from Extension offices throughout Minnesota, but from one of the largest agricultural conferences in Minnesota each year, the Minnesota Ag Expo in Mankato. Hosted by UMN Extension crops educators Ryan Miller and Dave Nicolai, the program featured Anna Cates, UMN Extension soil health specialist, Warren Formo, executive director of the Minnesota Agricultural Water Resource Center, Joe Smentek, executive director of the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association and Dan Coffman, Minnesota soil health specialist for the Conservation Technology Information Center discussing sustainable aviation fuel and other conservation topics. This was the third weekly episode of the 2025 Strategic Fa...

Fusarium head blight in oat. Photo: Jafar Razzaghian (NIBIO) Yes, that is correct. Generally, when we hear about Fusarium head blight (scab) issues or risk of scab and management decisions to be considered, we are talking about spring wheat and barley. Summer 2024, concerns in spring barley and wheat were certainly the case, but fast forward to fall of 2024 and spring wheat and barley were not the only crops with issues. Significant infections had occurred in oats and contamination of harvested grain was a concern. Fusarium head blight (scab) is caused by several fungal species in the Fusarium genus and is of particular importance because the disease can contaminate harvested grain with deoxynivalenol (DON). DON, a vomitoxin, is an important mycotoxin that can negatively impact human and livestock health. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends a 1 part per million (ppm) DON tolerance in oats to be milled for human consumption. FDA also recommends that DON concentratio...

Regenerative agriculture, resilient cropping systems, and soil health are just a few of the buzzwords that are busied a lot these days. One of the simplest and fastest ways to reach the goals that these concepts set out to accomplish is extending your crop rotation beyond the corn-soybean rotation that dominates much of Minnesota.  Can spring or winter wheat, hybrid winter rye, or oats be more than just cover and actually be that third crop? An outbreak of Fusarium head blight and challenges with pre-harvest sprouting this past season give pause on whether these risks are worth the rewards of an extended crop rotation. The University of Minnesota Extension is offering small grain workshops across Minnesota in February to address successful small grain production. Variety selection for spring wheat, oats, and winter rye, new and updated seeding rate recommendations for winter rye, and management of Fusarium head blight in wheat and oats will be discussed.  Bring your questions ...

Here we are in 2025. Today on the Nutrient Management Podcast, our panelists talk about how the practice of nutrient management has changed over the last quarter century. How have precipitation levels - and perceptions about precipitation - changed? What came before the current Maximum Return To Nitrogen management model, and what did the change address? How has U of M research contributed to sulfur nutrient management understanding? How has awareness of ground and surface water quality evolved? Finally, how has tech changed (or not changed) the practice of fertilizer management over the last quarter century? This and much more on today's show. TRANSCRIPT Guests: Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul) Carl Rosen, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul) Jeff Vetsch, U of M researcher (Waseca) Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato) Fabian Fernandez, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul) Additional Resources: Nutrient managemen...

By Chryseis Modderman and Brenda Postels, Extension educators  There are several upcoming opportunities for Minnesota commercial manure haulers, applicators and site managers, to attend the Commercial Animal Waste Technician (CAWT) recertification workshops. Five in-person workshops and an online course will be offered in 2025! In-person workshops will take place in Sauk Centre (Jan. 28th). Mankato at Pork Congress on Feb. 12th, Hutchinson (Feb. 20th), Slayton (Mar. 5th), and Farmfest in Redwood County (August 7th.) Online training will be available June 1st through October 31st, 2024. All training must be completed by November 1st in order to get CAWT recertification for licensure through the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA). Cost The registration fee is $10 for either in-person or online recertification training. For in person workshops, payment will be taken at the door by cash, credit card or check, payable to UMN Extension. Learn more at  z.umn.edu/cawt2025 More ...

We continue our conversation about nitrogen conservation and water quality on Advancing Nitrogen Smart. Today in Part 2, Brad Carlson and Jeff Vetsch continue discussing new technologies that may help address nitrogen loss, such as passive sensors and crop modeling systems. How might future tools such as AI play a part? How is precision testing affected by timing? In what ways can hybrid engineering, and further efficiencies in inhibitors be leveraged? This and much more on today's episode. TRANSCRIPT Guests: Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato) Jeff Vetsch, researcher at the Southern Research and Outreach Center (Waseca) Additional resources: 2025 Nitrogen Conference How to interpret a water test for nitrate Nitrogen Smart --- Click here to listen to all Advancing Nitrogen Smart podcast episodes. For the latest nutrient management information, subscribe to the Nutrient Management Podcast . And don't forget to subscribe to the Minnesota Crop News daily or weekly email n...

Liz Stahl, UMN Extension Educator - Crops Greeneye Technology targeting herbicide application directly to weeds. Are you curious about advances in targeted spray technology, or wondering if this system could work for you and actually lead to cost savings? These questions and more were addressed in the January 15 “Strategic Farming: Let’s Talk Crops!” program. Dr. Rodrigo Werle, Weed Scientist with University of Wisconsin-Madison, joined moderator Ryan Miller, UMN Extension Educator - Crops, for a discussion on “Targeted Spray Technology,” highlighting Dr. Werle’s research around this innovative technology. What is targeted spray technology? Targeted spray technology is a novel system that is coming our way. There are expenses involved, but the intent is to generate bottom-line savings and other opportunities. Werle’s research team has been working with a system (One Smart Spray – Bosch and BASF Digital Farming Joint Venture) that is already commercially available in Brazil. J...

Anthony Hanson, PhD - Regional Extension Educator - Field Crops IPM Recently, the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced a proposal to designate the monarch butterfly as a "threatened" species under the Endangered Species Act. This summary of that proposal is meant as an educational aid for understanding what the "threatened" status proposal is suggesting related to farming practices. A public comment period is open until March 12, 2025 . After the public comment period, USFWS will make a final determination up to one year later on whether to list the butterfly as threatened after evaluation of comments and any additional information about this species. Monarch caterpillar feeding on milkweed in Stearns County, MN. Photo: Anthony Hanson During the winter U of M Extension meeting season, a number of farmers have asked how their pest management planning might be affected by the proposed rules or what those rules entail. What does this mean for farmers an...

By Tana Haugen-Brown, Extension Educator and Private Pesticide Applicator Program Manager, PSEE, and Sally Raymond, Extension Educator and Commercial/Noncommercial Pesticide Applicator Program Manager Private Pesticide Applicator Recertification If you have a private pesticide applicator certification that expires on March 1, 2025, you need to recertify by February 28 to keep it current. The private pesticide applicator certification is for individuals who use Restricted Use Pesticides on land or sites for the production of agricultural commodities. Unsure if you need recertification? You can check your certification status at: https://z.umn.edu/PPAlookupMDA . Recertification options    There are several options to recertify in 2025. The cost is $100, regardless of the option you choose. Option 1: Attend a recertification workshop Workshops offer a great opportunity to review regulations and safety issues related to pesticide application while providing you with the l...

Registration is now closed, but walk-ins are welcome to attend the remaining 2025 Research Update sessions. Keep up with new crop production challenges with research-based knowledge and field-tested solutions that will help you in the field in 2025. The remaining Research Update session dates and locations include: January 14, Willmar January 15, Lamberton  January 16, Crookston  Program details including schedule, presentation titles and speakers for each session can be found on the  Research Updates  website. As always, we have applied for Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for Certified Crop Advisors. Registration The registration fee at the door is $70. On-site registration begins one hour before the start time at each location.  For more information If you have questions about the program content or any special accommodation requests contact Robert Koch (koch0125@umn.edu). If you need assistance with the online registration, contact Larisa Hohrman ( jenri001...

 Liz Stahl, Extension educator - crops The 6th season of “Strategic Farming: Let’s Talk Crops!” launched January 8th with a discussion on nitrogen management given current crop and input economics. Dr. Fabian Fernandez, Extension nutrient management specialist and Brad Carlson, Extension educator – water quality, joined Extension Educator - Crops, Dave Nicolai, for a discussion around this critical nutrient. Looking back at 2024 2024 was a year of extremes. The season initially started out dry and farmers were hoping for an early planting season. Then it rained, rained, and rained some more, making timely planting elusive for many. Excessive precipitation resulted in widespread N losses. Drainage issues were marked by yellowed corn in many fields. Although yields were respectable and even decent in some fields, yields were significantly lower than hoped for in others. Greater N mineralization than normal early in the season due to warmer than usual temperatures followed by ...

Join Extension entomologists and their graduate students from three midwestern universities to get the latest updates on soybean gall midge (SGM). This free, live webinar on February 27th from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. CST will feature updates from the experts. Several short presentations on a variety of topics will leave plenty of time for questions and discussion. Growers, crop consultants and scouts, educators and industry representatives are encouraged to attend. Get the latest research-based updates on biology, ecology, and management: Updates on SGM distribution and monitoring efforts Impact on soybean production Biology and ecology updates, including cold tolerance Latest in soybean host plant resistance Biological, chemical, and cultural control updates Certified Crop Advisors can earn two pest management (PM) CEUs by attending the live event.  Registration Registration is required. However, thanks to our generous sponsors, there is no fee to watch live or on-demand sessions....

Nitrogen conservation and water quality are the subject of today's Advancing Nitrogen Smart episode. There's lots to cover so we're splitting the episode up into two parts. Today in Part 1, Brad Carlson and Jeff Vetsch unpack different conservation solutions, and what might be achieved from their adoption. In what situations might buffer strips, cover crops, and corn genetics play their part? What about using technology-such as active and passive sensors? How do any reactive mitigation costs compare with proactive nutrient management planning? This and much more on today's episode. TRANSCRIPT Guests: Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato) Jeff Vetsch, researcher at the Southern Research and Outreach Center (Waseca) Additional resources: 2025 Nitrogen Conference How to interpret a water test for nitrate Nitrogen Smart --- Click here to listen to all Advancing Nitrogen Smart podcast episodes. For the latest nutrient management information, subscribe to the Nutrient ...