Minnesota Crop News

Until this year, I probably would have argued that it would be darn difficult to kill winter rye in a Minnesota winter. Last fall was dry, but eventually all six winter rye trial locations had excellent stands. They had reached at least the tillering stage before winter weather halted growth and development. The winter that followed was very open and dry, however, and resulted in enough winterkill that three locations were abandoned.  I suspect that desiccation, rather than the temperature, led to their demise. The average winter survival scores of the three remaining trial locations are summarized in Table 1.   My interpretation is that KWS Receptor, SU Erling, and Danko are slightly more prone to winterkill and thinner stands if there is a very open and dry winter, and that Hazlet, Rymin, and ND Gardner are the least likely to suffer stand losses in open and dry winters.    Table 1 - Average winter survival score of winter rye varieties at three locations...

By Liz Stahl, Extension Educator - Crops Join us at the North Central Research and Outreach Center (NCROC) in Grand Rapids (Agronomy Building, 31654 Harristown Road, Grand Rapids) September 19, for a field day highlighting the latest research and information around cover crops and perennial pasture management. Check-in will start at 8:30 with the field day running from 9:00 to noon, followed by lunch. Topics  Cover crop research Learn about research at the NCROC and across Minnesota on best practices to establish and manage cover crops, and how they may impact long-term crop rotations. See what cover crops are doing below ground, which can have a large impact on water runoff and infiltration. Perennial pasture research Hear the latest on best management practices for perennial pastures and the impacts of forage quality on animal fertility. Tools you can use Use a grazing stick to estimate yield and compare results to scissor cut data. Learn about the latest resources to assi...

Tom Peters, Extension sugarbeet agronomist and weed scientist, Debalin Sarangi, Extension weed scientist, Liz Stahl, Extension educator-crops, and Jeff Stachler, Extension cropping systems specialist, North Dakota State University. Waterhemp surviving late-season application  of Liberty in a Meeker County field. Photo: Debalin Sarangi I see broadleaf weeds standing tall above the canopies of low-growing crops, including sugarbeet, dry bean and soybean, as I travel across the countryside. Many of these escape weeds are waterhemp. Waterhemp has been prolific in eastern North Dakota and Minnesota in 2025 for several reasons, including an abundance of rainfall in the second half of summer.  Producers and other agricultural stakeholders have also noticed and have called my extension office looking for quick-fix solutions. Most are interested in a herbicide treatment that will make waterhemp go away or at minimum, reduce seed set. The logical candidate herbicides asked about inclu...

by Robert Koch, Extension entomologist, Anthony Hanson, Liz Stahl, Angie Peltier, and Claire LaCanne, Extension educators - crops The heavy rains and high temperatures have held soybean aphid numbers in check through much of the season. However, we are now seeing aphid numbers increasing rapidly in some fields. It is especially important to be scouting your soybean fields now and to make wise decisions about application of insecticides for soybean aphid. To assist you, the information below is updated from our Crop News article from last summer. Be thorough when scouting Aphids are likely distributed throughout the height of the canopy (not just on upper leaves), so examine entire plants. Scout weekly Weekly scouting of fields is often recommended, but more frequent scouting may be needed as forecasted weather conditions will be favorable for aphid population growth. Under typical field conditions, the time required for population size to double (doubling time) for soybean aphid has b...

It’s that time of year again; time for the Fall Fertilizer Outlook on the Nutrient Management Podcast . Given the overall economics of crop production right now, how should farmers be approaching their fertilizer decisions this fall? What are some regional differences with respect to fertilizer management this year? There has been a renewed focus on the issue of water quality in Minnesota -- how should this affect farmers’ decision-making? How many fertilizer decisions can be pushed off until spring? All of this and more on today’s show. Read the full transcript Guests: Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato) Lindsay Pease, Extension nutrient and water management specialist (Crookston) Jeff Vetsch, Research supervisor (Waseca) Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul) Additional resources: Are you overspending on fertilizer? Making sense of Minnesota's corn fertilizer guidelines: Frequently asked questions, and answers No P, no problem? Skipping phosp...

Summer is quickly coming to a close and we know you’re busy. That’s why we’ll get right to the point: The University of Minnesota Extension wants to make sure you get the agronomic information you need, exactly when and how you need it. And we can’t do that without your input. With the backing of the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council, we’re running a quick survey to learn how farmers and ag professionals in Minnesota prefer to get their updates. Whether it’s email, social media, field days, podcasts, or something else entirely—we want to hear what works best for you. The tools we use to share information have changed a lot in the past few years, but your time to hunt for that information has only gotten shorter. This survey will help us cut through the noise and make sure we’re reaching you in the ways that actually matter to you. Here’s the deal: Takes about 20 minutes. First 200 active farmers or ag professionals to complete it get a $50 prepaid card. Your feedback sha...

By Haley Johnson, MDA Pesticide Management Unit Supervisor, reviewed by Tana Haugen-Brown, UMN Pesticide Safety and Environmental Education Extension educator, and Sally Raymond, UMN Pesticide Safety and Environmental Education Extension educator Before you graze – check this first When planning to graze livestock on cover crops after herbicide use, it is critical to follow all pesticide label instructions. Understanding the distinction between different types of label statements is essential for making informed and compliant decisions. This is especially true given the presence of grazing livestock has been interpreted to mean that the crop is entering the food chain. Many herbicide labels include one or both of the following: Plant-Back Intervals (PBIs) : These indicate the minimum amount of time after a herbicide application before a particular crop can be planted. PBIs are designed to prevent crop injury due to herbicide residue in the soil. Rotational Crop Restrictions : These ou...

By: Anna Cates, Extension soil health specialist;  Liz Stahl, Extension Educator - Crops; and Axel Garcia y Garcia, Sustainable Cropping Systems Specialist   We’re nearing the end of a pretty solid growing season for corn and soybeans, and it will soon be time for harvest and other fall activities – like planting cover crops! Given the huge soil losses we saw with wind erosion across Minnesota last winter, this is a great year to start thinking about how to protect your soil from wind and water losses. Cover crops can also help manage water by building soil structure, which you need to both store and infiltrate water…because you never know when the next drought, wind storm, or 8 inches of rain will come along. Over the 2024-25 winter, we tested a few different combinations of cover crop species and seeding rates, and learned a few things worth sharing. Oats In one trial, we looked at oats at seeding rates from 10 to 60 lbs/ac, mixed with radish at 1 to 6 lb/ac. At our St. Paul...

Angie Peltier, U of M Extension crops educator and Dean Malvick, U of M Extension corn and soybean plant pathology specialist One can think of each crop year as a mulligan, a way to start with a clean slate. However, if your 2025 corn crop was seeded into a field that had been in corn recently, and the shorter the rotation away from corn, the greater the likelihood that pathogens able to survive the harsh Minnesota winter are there to challenge this year’s crop. However, not all pathogens that cause disease in Minnesota corn survive in corn residue. Today, we summarize key information about two corn diseases that have been observed in Minnesota in 2025 and request your help in understanding its prevalence. Northern leaf blight (NLB) General information NLB, caused by the endemic, fungal pathogen Exserohilum turcicum , is a disease favored by long periods of leaf wetness and moderate temperatures. This disease is polycyclic, a fancy term for multiple cycles of infection occurring in a s...

by Liz Stahl, Extension educator – crops, Tom Peters, UMN & NDSU Extension sugarbeet agronomist and weed scientist, and Dr. Jeff Coulter, UMN Extension corn agronomist Weed control issues during the 2025 season and status of the corn crop were topics of discussion on the August 13 University of Minnesota Extension Strategic Farming: Field Notes program. Dr. Tom Peters, UMN & NDSU Extension sugarbeet agronomist and weed scientist & Dr. Jeff Coulter, UMN Extension corn agronomist discussed these issues and more, with moderator UMN Extension crops educator, Dave Nicolai. Weed control challenges relate to weed biology There has been an uptick in questions and concerns around weed escapes this year, particularly with waterhemp, and what we should do in setting up for 2026. Peters notes we should look first to weed biology when trying to address these issues. Common ragweed, giant ragweed, and common lambsquarters are among the first weeds to germinate and emerge. Waterhemp e...

On today's  Advancing Nitrogen Smart Podcast , Brad Carlson and Melissa Wilson discuss aspects of laws and regulations surrounding manure application in Minnesota. What are the requirements for manure testing, and how often should you do it? What are some general restrictions for manure application in Minnesota? How do buffers and setbacks help you? What kinds of documents should be incorporated into a manure management plan? What contingencies should be put into place in the case of an emergency? All this and more on today's show. TRANSCRIPT Guests: Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato) Melissa Wilson, Extension manure management specialist (St. Paul) Additional resources: Land application of manure: Minimum requirements Manure management Manure sampling and nutrient analysis Manure sampling and testing: Variability, guidelines & testing for your operation ManureDB --- Click here to listen to all Advancing Nitrogen Smart podcast episodes. For the latest nutrient m...

Claire LaCanne, Extension Educator - crops, Bob Koch, Extension Soybean Entomologist, Fei Yang, Extension Corn Entomologist Western corn rootworm feeding on corn silks. Fei Yang, Extension Corn Entomologist and Bob Koch, Extension Soybean Entomologist joined moderator Liz Stahl, Extension educator - crops, to discuss insect updates and management during the August 6 session of Strategic Farming: Field Notes. Insect pests in corn Corn rootworm complex Both Western and Northern corn rootworms are present in Minnesota and come with unique management challenges. Larvae typically begin to hatch from overwintering eggs during May to June and then go through three instars during which they feed on corn roots for 4-6 weeks. Larvae feed on the roots of corn and adult corn rootworm beetles feed on corn silks and ears. Northern corn rootworm eggs are more tolerant to cold temperatures than Westerns and are predominant in northern Minnesota. Though growers traditionally think of corn rootworm as ...

By: Mehmet Ozturk, UMN research assistant; Anna Cates, Extension soil health specialist; & Lindsay Pease, Extension water and nutrient management specialist After harvesting sugarbeets, a major crop in west-central and northwest Minnesota, beet residue decomposes rapidly, leaving exposed soil vulnerable to the high winds that characterize the area. In a recent on-farm study, we looked at whether an overwintering cereal rye cover crop, drilled after sugarbeet harvest, can prevent soil loss. We worked with two farmers in Polk and Renville counties. Cover crops prevented the worst of the erosion in the windy, open 2023-24 winter in Polk County. Learn about the study results, and reducing wind erosion in Minnesota with cover crops, in this interactive StoryMap: z.umn.edu/WindStory For more on cover crop options after beets, see our recent blog post. --- For the latest nutrient management information, subscribe to the Nutrient Management Podcast . And don't forget to subscribe to ...

It’s not just you noticing it - the weather has been getting weirder. From bigger flips between wet and dry extremes to smokier skies to bigger storms, weather-related challenges are growing. Want to learn strategies for your farm to prepare for and bounce back from weather extremes? Attend this upcoming field day! Increased weather variability is making adaptation more difficult for many farmers across Minnesota. To help address the knowledge gap between what's happening and what can be done about it, we are hosting a field day on cultivating farm resilience on August 19 from 9am to 12pm at the Rosemount Research and Outreach Center. This field day will be all about how smart conservation practices like reduced tillage, cover crops, and better irrigation, can make your farm more resilient to changing weather patterns. Our experts will discuss research updates and strategies that attendees can start using immediately. If you want to attend, visit https://z.umn.edu/FarmResilience8-1...

The plot combines were rolling last week in barley, oats, rye, and wheat trials across the state. That means you can now get a sneak peek of the results of these trials at varietytrials.umn.edu .  When the weather straightens out and harvest resumes, more locations will be added as quickly as possible.

Eric Burkness, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Research scientist, reviewed by Tana Haugen-Brown, UMN Pesticide Safety and Environmental Education Extension educator, Sally Raymond, UMN Pesticide Safety and Environmental Education Extension educator, and Jolene Warnke, UMN Pesticide Safety and Environmental Education Extension educator Figure 1. Groundwater monitoring well. Groundwater monitoring is an ongoing project in Minnesota. To maintain a successful and productive agricultural economy while minimizing impacts on human health and the environment, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) each year monitors surface water (e.g., rivers, streams, and lakes) and groundwater throughout the state to determine if any of 185 pesticides and their breakdown products (also known as degradates) are present. If a pesticide is detected, the amount of pesticide in the water is compared to a reference value to determine if action is necessary. In the case of groundwater, reference value...

American Crystal Sugar’s pre-pile harvest campaign is scheduled to start on August 12. This early start creates an opportunity to establish a cover crop to reduce the potential of wind and/or water erosion throughout the winter and early spring. Winter rye may seem like the obvious choice as it is nearly foolproof to get established and is the most winter-hardy. Likewise, spring or winter wheat may look like an option too. If you, however, plan to seed spring wheat on this year’s sugar beet acreage (or seed wheat adjacent to this year’s sugar beet fields you plan to establish this cover crop), you may want to read the rest of this article. Three potential pest and disease problems in spring wheat can take advantage of a "green bridge" to overwinter and cause problems next season. The earlier seeding allows the cover crop to grow much longer, and thus taller, this fall. The earlier seeding, however, also creates this green bridge for barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV), wheat c...