Minnesota Crop News

Liz Stahl, Extension educator - crops, and Phyllis Bongard, Educational content development and communications specialist Photo: Liz Stahl Reminder! If you haven’t done so yet, it’s time to register for the 2026 “Strategic Farming: Let’s Talk Crops!” winter webinar series. Key issues and questions facing Minnesota farmers today around commodity crop production will be discussed through this live, interactive, online program.  Sessions will be held over Zoom, which can be accessed via your computer, phone, or other mobile device, and will run from 9:00 to 10:00 am Wednesdays, January 7 through March 25, 2026. Register once for all sessions at:  z.umn.edu/SF2026 . Sessions will be very informal and open to all interested. Each session will start with a brief presentation by the discussion leaders for the day, followed by discussion framed around farmer/participant questions on the topic. If you can’t join us live, all sessions will be recorded...

In recent years, Minnesota alfalfa growers have been reporting increased issues with alfalfa insects to Extension staff. Especially for alfalfa weevil, there have been reports of reduced pesticide efficacy for this pest along with issues persisting past first cutting and concerns about how to manage other insects in addition to alfalfa weevil. In order to respond to these concerns and assess how widespread these issues are, University of Minnesota Extension is hosting a multi-state survey focused on alfalfa grower perspectives and needs for alfalfa weevil management and other related insects. The short 22-question online survey covering the 2021-25 growing seasons can be found at https://z.umn.edu/alfalfapestsurvey . Reduced alfalfa regrowth due to prior feeding under windrows near Morris, MN. Photo: Anthony Hanson This online survey lets you voice what issues you are seeing in the field first-hand for alfalfa pests. Participating in the survey will help determine what areas of the...

Are you curious about the latest independent and unbiased research findings of your Land Grant Universities and how those findings pertain to advising your clients to best manage their crops? The UofM and NDSU agronomy, entomology, plant pathology, soil, and weed science extension faculty are going on the road in the first half of January to share their data, interpretations, and conclusions with you at the Research Updates for Ag Professionals in Crookston, Waseca, Willmar, Farmington, and Lamberton.  Registration Preregistration is strongly encouraged. The registration fee is $60 through the end of this year, and $70 at the door. For crop producers  only at Waseca and Lamberton,  use code “Standard” for free tuition thanks to support from Minnesota Corn Growers and the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council. On-site registration begins one hour before the start time at each location. Follow this link for online registration: Register online   Be sure...

Join University of Minnesota Extension for the first annual Grain Gathering on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, at Aune Hall on the Olmsted County Fairgrounds in Rochester. As demand for food-grade oats grows, this event focuses on how small grains can strengthen both profitability and resilience in Upper Midwest farming systems. Sessions will cover oat variety trials & breeding, agronomic recommendations, development & fungicide application, economics of a three-crop rotation, soil health benefits, market opportunities, and more! Registration link: z.umn.edu/GrainGatheringRegister Event webpage: z.umn.edu/GrainGathering A farmer panel will highlight real-world experiences with integrating oats—from choosing varieties to managing cover crops and harvesting. Attendees will also have opportunities to connect with researchers, Extension specialists, and fellow growers. Come and find out how high-quality oats are fitting profitability into crop rotations in southeast Minnesota farms....

It's December and we're rounding out the year with an in-depth discussion on cover crops here on the Nutrient Management Podcast . What are panelists' observations on covers with lower seeding rates? What are some pros and cons relating to erosion, or nutrient uptake? Does planting early at a lower seed rate vs. planting later with a higher seed rate result in the same outcome? What are some weed control characteristics of cover crops? What advice do our panelists have for farmers new to cover crops? What kinds of state and local resources are available for farmers? All this and lots more on today's show so be sure to tune in. Read the full transcript Guests: Anna Cates, Extension soil health specialist (St. Paul) Ryan Beutow, Minnesota NRCS State Agronomist (St. Paul) Eric Yu, Extension educator (Farmington) Additional Resources: UMN Cover Crops row crops UMN Cover crops in vegetables Cover crop Academy MN Agronomy Technical Note 33 Single species cereal rye cover crop...

We want to hear from row crop and forage producers and agriculture professionals who work with producers! The University of Minnesota Extension Crops team would like to better understand the educational needs and wants of our row crop and forage producers. To customize our educational programs to the interests and preferences of producers, we would appreciate your input in following survey. We would also like to hear from crop consultants, seed salespeople, pesticide applicators, grain buyers, and other agriculture professionals who work with crop growers. This survey is anonymous and should take 12-15 minutes to complete. The University of Minnesota Extension Crops Team would like to learn more about your operation, learning preferences, and how you want to engage with Extension. Your responses will help the Crops Team develop and deliver programming that meets your needs. Please complete this needs assessment survey ( https://z.umn.edu/CropsNeedsSurvey ). Your input will help us ref...

Staying on top of emerging crop production challenges is essential for a successful season. The 2026 Research Updates sessions will deliver research-based insights and field-tested solutions to help you address these challenges in the field throughout 2026. Join us at one of the Research Updates sessions offered across the state this January. Session dates and locations include: Tuesday, Jan. 6: Crookston (Northwest Research & Outreach Center) Thursday, Jan. 8: Waseca (Southern Research & Outreach Center) Tuesday, Jan. 13: Willmar (Willmar Conference Center / Best Western Plus Willmar) Wednesday, Jan. 14: Farmington (Dakota County Extension & Conservation Center) Thursday, Jan. 15: Lamberton (Southwest Research & Outreach Center) Full program details—including schedules, presentation titles and speakers for each location—are available on the Research Updates website . Register early to reserve your spot! The registration fee is $60 through the end of this year, and $70 ...

In this week’s Minnesota CropCast, hosts Dave Nicolai and Seth Naeve sit down with University of Minnesota Extension Corn Agronomist, Dr. Jeff Coulter. Together, they review the 2025 Minnesota corn crop and discuss how this year’s unique challenges should inform producer decisions for 2026. The 2025 season was distinct: it began with a very short and early start with a long stretch of moderate weather, only to be interrupted by a cool August and significant late-season drought in West Central Minnesota. The group breaks down how these environmental swings impacted corn yields and analyzes the unusual disease pressure faced by growers—specifically the heavy hit of Southern Rust in addition to routine corn diseases. Looking ahead, Dr. Coulter explores the trait landscape for 2026, including insect and disease resistance packages and the rising interest in "short stature" corn hybrids. Join us today for a full breakdown on Minnesota CropCast. Listen to the podcast What is Minnes...