Strategic Farming: Let's talk crops! session talked about the spring forecast and corn crop best practices
By Angie Peltier, UMN Extension crops educator and Jeff Coulter, UMN Extension corn agronomist
On March 26, 2025, Dennis Todey, USDA Midwest Climate Hub director and Jeff Coulter, UMN Extension corn agronomist, joined UMN Extension crops educator Angie Peltier for a discussion about current field conditions, the spring planting and summer forecasts and things to consider to have the most productive and economical corn and soybean crops in 2025. This was the last weekly episode of the 2025 Strategic Farming: Let’s talk crops! series of webinars.
To watch this and all episodes: http://z.umn.edu/StrategicFarmingRecordings
The Hub and their partners recently developed two new tools, including a soil temperature climatology tool and a historical freeze dates tool. Farmers know that soil temperature is very important for several reasons. In spring, soil temperature will influence when one can safely seed their crop. It is essential to find that ‘sweet spot’ between getting planted as early as possible to maximize a crop’s yield potential, but not so early that the crop is in jeopardy due to delayed germination and emergence which can increase the risk of stand loss due to seed and seedling disease. Come fall, soil temperature data is essential to protect one’s fertilizer investment. In the Upper Midwest, many farmers make at least a portion of their total nitrogen (N) application for the following growing season in fall. Microbes in the soil can convert this fertilizer into forms that are at risk of loss to the environment, risking both environmental quality and the loss of a significant input investment. When soil temperatures reach and then drop below 50 °F, these temperature-dependent microbial processes slow considerably, reducing the risk of N loss. The soil temperature climatology tool can help farmers to determine when -on average- a location’s soil temperature is likely to warm above or drop below 50, 45, 40, 35, 32 or 30 °F.
In addition to linking to a particular tool, the Hub’s webpage devoted to each tool houses a fact sheet about that tool and a webinar walking folks through how to use the tool.
Over the last 30-day period, portions of Minnesota have experienced either precipitation ‘feast or famine’ when compared to the 1991-2020 30-year normal (Figure 1). Western Minnesota has been abnormally dry, with between 10 and 75% of normal precipitation accumulating over the last month, while portions of central Minnesota have been wet, with up to 150% of average precipitation.
Six-inch soil temperatures are above freezing (as of March 26) in southern and some of central Minnesota, but remain below freezing in west-central and northwest Minnesota. With the snow deficit we have experienced for much of the 2024-2025 winter, the only snow remaining is spotty and in the northern 1/3 of the state; although the near-term forecast is for a more active weather pattern and more snow may be forecasted.
Soil moisture readings 1 meter deep indicate that -while not of tremendous immediate concern-, soils are on the drier side at the moment. This is born out in the latest US Drought Monitor Map valid for March 25, 2025. Only 5% of Minnesota, near the Twin Cities, is under normal conditions, 95% is abnormally dry, 66% is under moderate drought and 9% is under severe drought conditions (Figure 2). The period from 2015 through 2020 was one in which Minnesota for the most part did not experience drought conditions, however from late 2020 through today, Minnesota has experienced considerable drought conditions.
With drier soils and overall lack of snow cover, current frost depth is between 0 inches in southern Minnesota and 42 inches in Fargo, ND. It will take some time for the frost to come out of the soil and any fresh blanket of snow may slow this process further.
Looking ahead to the June through August forecast, Minnesota is forecast to have an 33-40% chance of above normal temperatures and a 40-50% chance of below normal precipitation. Anyone that has an interest in learning more about the near-term outlook for climate and drought, is urged to sign up to join a free, mid-monthly Midwest and Great Plains Climate-Drought Outlook webinar and consider subscribing to the Midwest Ag-Focus Climate Outlook.
With hotter and drier weather forecast for June through August, our 2025 crop will need as much moisture as we are able to preserve. If spring is as dry as the winter has been in your area, do your best to reduce soil moisture losses. Preparing the seedbed as close to planting, reducing unnecessary tillage passes, and avoiding tilling deeper than needed can all help to conserve soil moisture.
As long as one is planting after the earliest planting date for crop insurance and soil conditions are fit, one could consider planting soybean on well-drained fields before April 18. One should then consider switching to corn planting around April 18 to focus on maximizing corn yield potential. Then growers can switch to planting soybean after all their corn is planted.
A: Research out of the University of Nebraska has shown that when rye decomposes, a green leachate is released that when imbibed by corn seeds can inhibit germination and emergence. The risk for seed exposure to this green leachate is greatest in the 5 to 10 days after terminating rye. It is recommended that growers wait at least 2 weeks after terminating rye to plant corn, especially if rain has fallen after termination. While a riskier management plan, if one is set on planting corn ‘green’ or into a standing rye crop, do so but wait several days after planting to terminate rye so that seeds imbibing water are less likely to imbibe green leachate. Farmers in Nebraska that routinely plant corn green find that the risk of rye to corn also decreases with deeper planting depth as the leachate is shallower in the soil profile when seeds are imbibing moisture.
Rye residue can get wrapped around planter row-cleaners, creating problems at planting. It is also important to get out of the tractor and double check that your seed furrows are closing behind the planter.
Lastly, grass cover crops can attract migrating armyworm moths looking for a favorable location to mate and lay eggs. Timely termination followed by crop scouting can ensure that one is able to quickly make an insecticide application if needed to manage armyworm larvae, which in recent years have proven injurious to both corn and soybean stands.
For more information: https://cropwatch.unl.edu/2016/planting-corn-cereal-rye-cover-crop/
Q: What are some best production steps to improve profitability in 2025?
A: One should first strive to produce a high yielding crop, so timely planting into fit soil conditions to obtain a good and uniform stand is paramount. Planting very early rarely increases yield, rather it simply increases the chances that your last field is not planted too late. If you’ve already applied your N and that N gets lost due to denitrification caused by wet soil conditions, don’t be afraid to apply additional N, even when margins are tight. We saw this pay off during the excessively wet spring soil conditions in Minnesota in 2024 that led to N losses; those farmers that applied a little more N did often see significant yield responses to that additional N.
Achieving good weed control is also key because weeds can rob the crop of N and water, both of which are imperative for corn yield.
Q: Which expenses can farmers cut without hurting profitability?
A: Consider adopting University of Minnesota Extension fertility guidelines. These research-based guidelines can help to reduce costs without sacrificing yield or over-applying, which would both negatively impact profitability.
Consider foliar fungicide and insecticide applications, choosing to only spend money on these inputs when disease and pest pressure warrants and IPM thresholds have been reached. A recent Strategic Farming session talked specifically about prophylactic applications.
Unnecessary tillage passes in spring and fall are costing farmers unnecessarily. Consider not tilling after soybean in the fall and making a single pass with a field cultivator pass in the spring to prepare the seed bed. Strip-till is also a good option for growers looking to be more efficient with P and K fertilizers and reduce tillage costs.
Research in southern Minnesota over 3 years at two locations compared 34,000 versus 38,000 seeds per acre for corn and found no yield advantage to the higher planting rate. Additionally, on-farm variable-rate planting trials have recently shown that the economic optimal planting rate for corn was consistently below 35,000 seeds per acre. Higher than necessary planting rates can reduce profitability. seeds per acre.
Q: What are some practices for improving crop production on headlands?
A: Headlands often have considerable soil compaction due to grain or truck traffic and being turn-rows for tractor traffic. Avoiding any field work when soils are unfit due to excessive moisture can help to keep additional compaction from setting up. Using a deep tillage implement such as a ripper or a deep-rooted cover crop to break up plow pans can help to improve water infiltration and root development. Using controlled traffic, or always driving over the same wheel tracks with compaction-limiting tires inflated properly to limit compaction, can limit soil compaction – this strategy has become increasingly easier to accomplish with the wide-spread adoption of GPS/RTK-enabled auto-steer tractors.
Ensuring that headland crops aren’t limited by weed competition is also key. Oftentimes headlands will have higher weed densities and a more diverse array of weed species present than in the rest of the field and so may require a different and more diverse post-emergence herbicide mix than in the rest of the field to achieve good control. Headlands may also require a second postemergence herbicide application. Some growers also use a row cultivator on the headlands, especially for .
In headlands in the Red River Valley in fields that have not had drainage tile installed, water management can be a complicating factor. Water from field-adjacent ditches can be easily wicked back into the field, pulling dissolved salts along for the ride. These dissolved salts can then be wicked toward the soil surface, reducing both crop and weed seedling emergence and survival. These salty areas can increase in size during drought years. In compacted headlands in fields that do not have subsurface drainage where a crop will not grow, consider planting a perennial, salt-tolerant crop such as alfalfa or tall, slender, western or green wheatgrass to intercept the salts wicking in from ditch water before the salty zone increases in size. Consider planting one or a mix of these perennial crops and partnering with someone that raises cattle who can mow or hay the crop to favor strong root development.
Q: Has there been any research on systems to break down corn residue faster in no-till?
A: A few years ago, research at the University of Minnesota investigated spraying liquid N and sulfur (S) on corn stubble in an attempt to speed decomposition in a disk-rip tillage system in continuous corn. The research, carried out over 6 site-years, found that there was no impact of liquid N or S on either residue decomposition or the following corn crop’s yield. These results were similar to those observed in research plots in Illinois. Because residue break-down is mediated by soil-borne microbes, the primary drivers of residue degradation are temperature and moisture. In no-till systems, the residue is left standing and not in contact with the soil and those microbes that can aid in decomposition, which is why residue is slower to break down.
Q: Which soybean row spacing produces the highest soybean yields?
A: Soybeans grown in 22-inch or narrower rows have higher yields than soybeans grown in 30-inch rows, provided that growers manage white mold risk. A goal for growers should be to achieve canopy closure by the R3 stage, or when soybean begins to set pods. Canopy closure of soybeans grown in 30-inch rows take longer on average than in 22 inch or narrower row spacings and tend to be less competitive from a weed management perspective.
Q: How can we increase soybean yield?
A: Soybeans remove more potassium (K) per acre than corn does. Ensure that your soybean crop has adequate soil fertility, paying particular attention to providing adequate phosphorus and K.
Choose soybean varieties carefully. Select high yielding varieties that have stably high yields across multiple environments, and ensure the varieties you select have the herbicide-tolerance traits that you prefer and high levels of resistance to those diseases that typically reduce yields of Minnesota soybeans including white mold, soybean cyst nematode, and sudden death syndrome, along with iron deficiency chlorosis.
Narrowing up row spacings and timely planting maximize yield potential. Scouting fields to ensure that weed and pest management is timely is also key to ensuring that your crop is not losing yield potential.
Q: How does planting soybean green into a rye cover crop affect iron deficiency chlorosis (IDC)?
A: High nitrate-N content in soil, which often occurs when the previously grown crop is unable to use all N applied due to drought conditions, can increase IDC symptoms and associated yield losses. Provided that there is adequate soil moisture so that nitrate is in the soil solution, an actively-growing cover crop such as rye can take up nitrate-N (with larger biomass able to take up more nitrate-N) and should help to reduce IDC incidence and severity.
Additional questions addressed by this session’s guests included: How quickly can we replenish soil moisture?, How much precipitation is needed for a high yielding corn or soybean crop?, Are windy days more common now than 20 years ago?, Any recommendations to limit wildlife damage to crops?, Are El Nino and La Nina cycling faster?, Can we influence corn rooting depth? and Is there an advantage to short-stature corn?
Thanks to the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council and the Minnesota Corn Research & Promotion Council for their generous support of this program!
On March 26, 2025, Dennis Todey, USDA Midwest Climate Hub director and Jeff Coulter, UMN Extension corn agronomist, joined UMN Extension crops educator Angie Peltier for a discussion about current field conditions, the spring planting and summer forecasts and things to consider to have the most productive and economical corn and soybean crops in 2025. This was the last weekly episode of the 2025 Strategic Farming: Let’s talk crops! series of webinars.
To watch this and all episodes: http://z.umn.edu/StrategicFarmingRecordings
USDA Midwest Climate Hub
The overarching goal of the 10 USDA Regional Climate Hubs is to talk about recent, current and forecast weather and climate conditions with various stakeholders and to provide research-based tools to help crop and livestock producers to better mitigate risk. The Midwest Regional Climate Hub covers an eight-state region, including Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio. The Hub’s scientists synthesize weather data to develop practical products that folks that aren’t subject-matter experts can easily understand and use. These products are then communicated with stakeholders to enable them to make climate-informed decisions. The Hub also helps to make connections between different groups of researchers working in the climate space, facilitating engagement, discovery and exchange, resultingly saving time and money.The Hub and their partners recently developed two new tools, including a soil temperature climatology tool and a historical freeze dates tool. Farmers know that soil temperature is very important for several reasons. In spring, soil temperature will influence when one can safely seed their crop. It is essential to find that ‘sweet spot’ between getting planted as early as possible to maximize a crop’s yield potential, but not so early that the crop is in jeopardy due to delayed germination and emergence which can increase the risk of stand loss due to seed and seedling disease. Come fall, soil temperature data is essential to protect one’s fertilizer investment. In the Upper Midwest, many farmers make at least a portion of their total nitrogen (N) application for the following growing season in fall. Microbes in the soil can convert this fertilizer into forms that are at risk of loss to the environment, risking both environmental quality and the loss of a significant input investment. When soil temperatures reach and then drop below 50 °F, these temperature-dependent microbial processes slow considerably, reducing the risk of N loss. The soil temperature climatology tool can help farmers to determine when -on average- a location’s soil temperature is likely to warm above or drop below 50, 45, 40, 35, 32 or 30 °F.
The historical freeze date tool provides information about when each county from North Dakota to Kansas in the west to Virginia and Maine in the east has experienced freeze temperatures from 20 to 40 °F in spring and fall. The helpful webpage details how the tool can help one to answer questions such as, “On average, what day of the year does this county experience its first fall 32 °F freeze?, What would be considered an early last spring 28 °F freeze for this county?, When did the recorded latest first fall 32 °F freeze occur for this county?, How have the dates of the last spring 30 °F freeze changed over time across the region?, Has the growing season for this county gotten statistically significantly longer over time?”
In addition to linking to a particular tool, the Hub’s webpage devoted to each tool houses a fact sheet about that tool and a webinar walking folks through how to use the tool.
Current weather conditions
 |
| Fig. 1. Accumulated precipitation as a percentage of the mean from February 24 through March 25, 2025 (Source: Midwest Regional Climate Center, cli-MATE). |
Six-inch soil temperatures are above freezing (as of March 26) in southern and some of central Minnesota, but remain below freezing in west-central and northwest Minnesota. With the snow deficit we have experienced for much of the 2024-2025 winter, the only snow remaining is spotty and in the northern 1/3 of the state; although the near-term forecast is for a more active weather pattern and more snow may be forecasted.
 |
| Fig 2. US Drought monitor map valid on March 25, 2025 and issued on March 27, 2025 (authored by Brad Rippey). |
With drier soils and overall lack of snow cover, current frost depth is between 0 inches in southern Minnesota and 42 inches in Fargo, ND. It will take some time for the frost to come out of the soil and any fresh blanket of snow may slow this process further.
Spring and summer 2025 forecast
Precipitation is forecast throughout the state in the near term, and where soils have thawed a bit, this precipitation may be able to make its way into the soil profile, both replenishing soil moisture and helping the soil to thaw. The 30-day forecast for April shows no trend in either direction, with chances equal for above and below average temperatures and precipitation for Minnesota, with southeast Minnesota the exception, leaning toward a wetter period. Delays for spring planting aren’t foreseen at this point in time.Looking ahead to the June through August forecast, Minnesota is forecast to have an 33-40% chance of above normal temperatures and a 40-50% chance of below normal precipitation. Anyone that has an interest in learning more about the near-term outlook for climate and drought, is urged to sign up to join a free, mid-monthly Midwest and Great Plains Climate-Drought Outlook webinar and consider subscribing to the Midwest Ag-Focus Climate Outlook.
Top 5 considerations for corn this spring
1. and 2. Avoid tillage and planting when soils are too moist and strive for uniform seedling emergence. When either take place when soils are too moist, soil clods are formed and compaction occurs. Clods create air pockets that can reduce seed-to-soil contact and the speed at which seedlings imbibe water, which are essential for uniform emergence. When corn (or soybean) seedling emergence is uneven, those plants emerging earlier than their neighbors are better able to take advantage of limited resources including nutrients, water, sunlight and space, relegating their later-emerging neighbors to 80% of the yield potential that would have been possible had their emergence not been delayed. Soil compaction can reduce root development, also affecting water and nutrient uptake. A general guideline is that soil is fit for tillage when the soil crumbles 1 inch below the depth of tillage.
3. Consider soil temperature at planting. The minimum soil temperature for planting both corn and soybean is the mid-40’s °F and increasing or trending stable. A cold snap occurring soon after planting can negatively impact emergence.
4. Consider planting date. Research in Minnesota over the years has shown that, on average, the highest corn yields occur when planting takes place between April 24 and May 5. Planting before April 18 and after May 10 has reduced yield potential, with losses in yield potential increasing with each day of delay after May 10. The main benefit of beginning corn planting early is making sure that the last fields planted are not planted late. Early planting is possible if fields are fit, because the corn plant’s growing point remains below ground until a plant has developed its 6th leaf collar. This serves to protect the plant from frost damage that would necessitate replanting.
5. Planting depth and soil moisture conservation should also be considered. Planting at a 2-inch depth is considered optimal in most conditions other than when soils are very dry; under very dry conditions, consider planting to a depth of 2 ½ inches. Planting any shallower can increase the chances of poor nodal root establishment and lodging. Tillage practices and planter realities can result in differences between planter settings and actual seed placement depth. Just setting your planter depth to 2 or 2 ½ inches is only half of the process, the other half is getting out of the tractor and digging seeds to ensure that planting depth is indeed correct, acknowledging that seeding depth can be shallower towards the wings of the planter compared to directly behind the tractor. Check planting depth each time the planter moves between very different soil types or when there are major differences in residue or tillage practices between fields.
With hotter and drier weather forecast for June through August, our 2025 crop will need as much moisture as we are able to preserve. If spring is as dry as the winter has been in your area, do your best to reduce soil moisture losses. Preparing the seedbed as close to planting, reducing unnecessary tillage passes, and avoiding tilling deeper than needed can all help to conserve soil moisture.
The debate about which to plant first: soybeans or corn
University of Wisconsin-Madison agronomists have been featured in the ag press, suggesting that one should consider planting soybeans before corn as soybeans can tolerate early planting better than corn, provided seed and seedling disease and a hard frost aren’t experienced by the crop. Research has shown that planting dates between late April and early May produce the highest yields in Minnesota, and that soybean planting should be completed by May 15 to 20 to avoid more than a 3 to 6% reduction in yield potential.As long as one is planting after the earliest planting date for crop insurance and soil conditions are fit, one could consider planting soybean on well-drained fields before April 18. One should then consider switching to corn planting around April 18 to focus on maximizing corn yield potential. Then growers can switch to planting soybean after all their corn is planted.
Audience member questions submitted live or during registration
Q: Are there best practices for planting corn into winter rye?A: Research out of the University of Nebraska has shown that when rye decomposes, a green leachate is released that when imbibed by corn seeds can inhibit germination and emergence. The risk for seed exposure to this green leachate is greatest in the 5 to 10 days after terminating rye. It is recommended that growers wait at least 2 weeks after terminating rye to plant corn, especially if rain has fallen after termination. While a riskier management plan, if one is set on planting corn ‘green’ or into a standing rye crop, do so but wait several days after planting to terminate rye so that seeds imbibing water are less likely to imbibe green leachate. Farmers in Nebraska that routinely plant corn green find that the risk of rye to corn also decreases with deeper planting depth as the leachate is shallower in the soil profile when seeds are imbibing moisture.
Rye residue can get wrapped around planter row-cleaners, creating problems at planting. It is also important to get out of the tractor and double check that your seed furrows are closing behind the planter.
Lastly, grass cover crops can attract migrating armyworm moths looking for a favorable location to mate and lay eggs. Timely termination followed by crop scouting can ensure that one is able to quickly make an insecticide application if needed to manage armyworm larvae, which in recent years have proven injurious to both corn and soybean stands.
For more information: https://cropwatch.unl.edu/2016/planting-corn-cereal-rye-cover-crop/
Q: What are some best production steps to improve profitability in 2025?
A: One should first strive to produce a high yielding crop, so timely planting into fit soil conditions to obtain a good and uniform stand is paramount. Planting very early rarely increases yield, rather it simply increases the chances that your last field is not planted too late. If you’ve already applied your N and that N gets lost due to denitrification caused by wet soil conditions, don’t be afraid to apply additional N, even when margins are tight. We saw this pay off during the excessively wet spring soil conditions in Minnesota in 2024 that led to N losses; those farmers that applied a little more N did often see significant yield responses to that additional N.
Achieving good weed control is also key because weeds can rob the crop of N and water, both of which are imperative for corn yield.
Q: Which expenses can farmers cut without hurting profitability?
A: Consider adopting University of Minnesota Extension fertility guidelines. These research-based guidelines can help to reduce costs without sacrificing yield or over-applying, which would both negatively impact profitability.
Consider foliar fungicide and insecticide applications, choosing to only spend money on these inputs when disease and pest pressure warrants and IPM thresholds have been reached. A recent Strategic Farming session talked specifically about prophylactic applications.
Unnecessary tillage passes in spring and fall are costing farmers unnecessarily. Consider not tilling after soybean in the fall and making a single pass with a field cultivator pass in the spring to prepare the seed bed. Strip-till is also a good option for growers looking to be more efficient with P and K fertilizers and reduce tillage costs.
Research in southern Minnesota over 3 years at two locations compared 34,000 versus 38,000 seeds per acre for corn and found no yield advantage to the higher planting rate. Additionally, on-farm variable-rate planting trials have recently shown that the economic optimal planting rate for corn was consistently below 35,000 seeds per acre. Higher than necessary planting rates can reduce profitability. seeds per acre.
Q: What are some practices for improving crop production on headlands?
A: Headlands often have considerable soil compaction due to grain or truck traffic and being turn-rows for tractor traffic. Avoiding any field work when soils are unfit due to excessive moisture can help to keep additional compaction from setting up. Using a deep tillage implement such as a ripper or a deep-rooted cover crop to break up plow pans can help to improve water infiltration and root development. Using controlled traffic, or always driving over the same wheel tracks with compaction-limiting tires inflated properly to limit compaction, can limit soil compaction – this strategy has become increasingly easier to accomplish with the wide-spread adoption of GPS/RTK-enabled auto-steer tractors.
Ensuring that headland crops aren’t limited by weed competition is also key. Oftentimes headlands will have higher weed densities and a more diverse array of weed species present than in the rest of the field and so may require a different and more diverse post-emergence herbicide mix than in the rest of the field to achieve good control. Headlands may also require a second postemergence herbicide application. Some growers also use a row cultivator on the headlands, especially for .
In headlands in the Red River Valley in fields that have not had drainage tile installed, water management can be a complicating factor. Water from field-adjacent ditches can be easily wicked back into the field, pulling dissolved salts along for the ride. These dissolved salts can then be wicked toward the soil surface, reducing both crop and weed seedling emergence and survival. These salty areas can increase in size during drought years. In compacted headlands in fields that do not have subsurface drainage where a crop will not grow, consider planting a perennial, salt-tolerant crop such as alfalfa or tall, slender, western or green wheatgrass to intercept the salts wicking in from ditch water before the salty zone increases in size. Consider planting one or a mix of these perennial crops and partnering with someone that raises cattle who can mow or hay the crop to favor strong root development.
Q: Has there been any research on systems to break down corn residue faster in no-till?
A: A few years ago, research at the University of Minnesota investigated spraying liquid N and sulfur (S) on corn stubble in an attempt to speed decomposition in a disk-rip tillage system in continuous corn. The research, carried out over 6 site-years, found that there was no impact of liquid N or S on either residue decomposition or the following corn crop’s yield. These results were similar to those observed in research plots in Illinois. Because residue break-down is mediated by soil-borne microbes, the primary drivers of residue degradation are temperature and moisture. In no-till systems, the residue is left standing and not in contact with the soil and those microbes that can aid in decomposition, which is why residue is slower to break down.
Q: Which soybean row spacing produces the highest soybean yields?
A: Soybeans grown in 22-inch or narrower rows have higher yields than soybeans grown in 30-inch rows, provided that growers manage white mold risk. A goal for growers should be to achieve canopy closure by the R3 stage, or when soybean begins to set pods. Canopy closure of soybeans grown in 30-inch rows take longer on average than in 22 inch or narrower row spacings and tend to be less competitive from a weed management perspective.
Q: How can we increase soybean yield?
A: Soybeans remove more potassium (K) per acre than corn does. Ensure that your soybean crop has adequate soil fertility, paying particular attention to providing adequate phosphorus and K.
Choose soybean varieties carefully. Select high yielding varieties that have stably high yields across multiple environments, and ensure the varieties you select have the herbicide-tolerance traits that you prefer and high levels of resistance to those diseases that typically reduce yields of Minnesota soybeans including white mold, soybean cyst nematode, and sudden death syndrome, along with iron deficiency chlorosis.
Narrowing up row spacings and timely planting maximize yield potential. Scouting fields to ensure that weed and pest management is timely is also key to ensuring that your crop is not losing yield potential.
Q: How does planting soybean green into a rye cover crop affect iron deficiency chlorosis (IDC)?
A: High nitrate-N content in soil, which often occurs when the previously grown crop is unable to use all N applied due to drought conditions, can increase IDC symptoms and associated yield losses. Provided that there is adequate soil moisture so that nitrate is in the soil solution, an actively-growing cover crop such as rye can take up nitrate-N (with larger biomass able to take up more nitrate-N) and should help to reduce IDC incidence and severity.
Additional questions addressed by this session’s guests included: How quickly can we replenish soil moisture?, How much precipitation is needed for a high yielding corn or soybean crop?, Are windy days more common now than 20 years ago?, Any recommendations to limit wildlife damage to crops?, Are El Nino and La Nina cycling faster?, Can we influence corn rooting depth? and Is there an advantage to short-stature corn?
Thanks to the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council and the Minnesota Corn Research & Promotion Council for their generous support of this program!
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