Minnesota Crop News

Anthony Hanson, Extension Educator - Field Crops Integrated Pest Management (hans4022@umn.edu), Angie Peltier, Extension Educator - Field Crops, &  Jochum Wiersma, Extension small grains specialist.  Since 2011, University Minnesota Extension has conducted a small grains insect and disease field survey in western Minnesota as part of a collaboration with North Dakota State University. This effort has been funded by the Minnesota Wheat Research and Promotion Council through wheat check-off dollars to inform producers and the research community of the presence of disease and pests (Fig. 1). This effort relies on  field locations volunteered by Minnesota wheat farmers .   Figure 1. Severe and widespread true armyworm infestations were found by scouts during late Julyin 2025 that resulted in yield loss due to defoliation or head clipping just prior to harvest. Photo: Jordan Hunnicutt, 2025 IPM scout. Through this program, UMN Extension gives individual alerts...

Brad Carlson and Jeff Vetsch talk about variable rate sensors on today's  Advancing Nitrogen Smart Podcast  episode. What is meant by the term 'active sensors' and what data do active sensors capture? Which specific brands of sensors have the Southern Research and Outreach Center (SROC) researched, and how did they perform? What stage does corn need to reach before sensors can best contribute to variable rate decision making? How do other field variables like soil texture or irrigation systems contribute (or not) to variable rate sensing? Join us today for part one of a two-part discussion on variable rate technology with Brad and Jeff. Read the full transcript Guests: Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato) Jeff Vetsch, Lead researcher, Southern Research and Outreach Center (Waseca) Additional resources: 5 Things to consider for sensor-based nitrogen management Variable rate nitrogen and nitrogen advisory tools: Do they work? Variable rate technol...

By Liz Stahl, Extension Educator - Crops, Phyllis Bongard, Educational Content Development & Communications Specialist, and Anna Cates, Extension Specialist in Soil Health Participants collecting biomass in small research plots during May 2025 meeting. Register now to reserve your spot with the University of Minnesota Cover Crop Academy! This innovative program is a year-long, hybrid course offered at three statewide locations during 2026-2027: Westport, Waseca, and Lamberton. If you advise farmers as a crop consultant, educator, or agronomist, or work for Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), or other agencies, this program is for you. Participants from the 2024-25 session claimed increased confidence around cover crop agronomics, enjoyed watching the field plots develop and planned to make use of their new connections with other advisors in their area. This unique opportunity takes a deep dive into cover crop challenges a...

Tana Haugen-Brown, UMN Pesticide Safety and Environmental Education Extension educator and Sally Raymond, UMN Pesticide Safety and Environmental Education Extension educator The University of Minnesota Extension’s Pesticide Safety and Environmental Education (PSEE) program has developed three new training videos designed to demonstrate important skills for pesticide applicators. The videos focus on demonstrating core skills essential for both new and experienced pesticide applicators to use pesticides safely and effectively. What the videos cover Each video in the Apply It Right series targets a critical step in the pesticide application process: Mix It Right: Product Measurement and Tank Mixing Learn how to properly measure and mix pesticides, follow label directions, and use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) to reduce risk during one of the most sensitive stages of application. Spray It Right: Calibrate Before Applying This video walks through sprayer calibration, sh...

Debalin Sarangi, Extension Weed Scientist, Navjot Singh, Weed Science Graduate Student, Lisa Behnken, Research Specialist and Retired Crops Extension Educator, Ryan Miller, Crops Extension Educator, and Tom Peters, Extension Weed Scientist This article documents the first confirmed case of glufosinate-resistant waterhemp in Minnesota, and likely the second case in the United States, following the initial report from Illinois in early 2026. Glufosinate is a non-selective, contact herbicide (site-of-action Group 10) used primarily in glufosinate-resistant crops. Glufosinate is the active ingredient in products, including Liberty® 280 SL, Liberty® ULTRA, Surmise®, Cheetah® Pro, and Interline®. Glufosinate inhibits glutamine synthetase (GS), a vital enzyme that helps combine glutamate and ammonia to form glutamine, and acts as a key regulator of nitrogen metabolism. Inhibition of GS in sensitive plants causes an excess accumulation of ammonia in plants, and as a result, sev...

By Angie Peltier, University of Minnesota Extension crops educator, Joe Ikley, NDSU Extension weed specialist, and Greg Dahl, director of adjuvant education, CPDA March 18, 2026’s Strategic Farming: Let’s Talk Crops session discussed how spray water quality impacts herbicide efficacy. This webinar series runs through the end of March and registrations are still being accepted: https://extension.umn.edu/courses-and-events/strategic-farming. To watch this episode visit: http://z.umn.edu/StrategicFarmingRecordings . Why do we need adjuvants? Weed control can be impacted by environmental conditions at the time of application, with temperature, relative humidity, rainfall and wind all capable of impacting efficacy. Similarly, the quality of the water used for spraying herbicides such as water temperature, pH, water hardness, and sediment load can impact herbicide efficacy. Specific adjuvants have been developed to overcome these water quality issues. Adjuvants can also combat foaming, reduc...

In this episode, Dave and Seth are diving deep into the DNA of the plants that feed us, and we are thrilled to sit down with Dr. Peter Morrell, a Professor of Computational Biology and Plant Genetics right here at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Morrell has had a fascinating journey to the U of M. He grew up in southern Oklahoma, earned his Ph.D. back in 1997, and spent time researching genetics in the corporate world at Monsanto in St. Louis before officially joining the Minnesota faculty in 2009. Today, he is essentially a master codebreaker for plant DNA. As an evolutionary geneticist, Dr. Morrell uses big data and computer science to figure out exactly how wild plants evolved into the reliable crops we rely on today—specifically focusing on crops like barley, soybeans, and common beans. His lab looks at the genetic fingerprints left behind by breeders and farmers to understand how plants mix, match, and mutate their DNA to survive. In fact, his work recently made waves in the jour...

By Liz Stahl, Extension Educator – Crops, Rodrigo Werle, University of Wisconsin Extension Cropping Systems Weed Scientist, and Debalin Sarangi, University of Minnesota Weed Scientist Waterhemp in soybean. Photo: Liz Stahl Waterhemp is widely considered the number one most troublesome weed across the North Central Region of the US, and experiences in MN and WI are no exception. Surveys conducted in Wisconsin show there has been rapid evolution of herbicide resistance in waterhemp to 2,4-D, dicamba, and atrazine. In screenings of populations in 2018, these herbicides could kill about 89 to 92 out of every 100 waterhemp plants. In contrast, follow-up testing of populations collected in the fall of 2023 revealed that about half of the waterhemp could survive 2,4-D and 80% survived atrazine. Farmers are seeing reductions in control with Enlist One, the Group 14 herbicide fomesafen (a.i. in Flexstar), and the Group 27 herbicide mesotrione (a.i. in Callisto). Surveys conducted in MN show...

Properly designed tile drainage systems are long-term investments that can significantly enhance field performance and water table management. This workshop brings together leading drainage experts to share science-based knowledge and practical insights that will help participants make well-informed drainage management decisions. The workshop is intended for farmers, landowners, crop consultants, local government staff, drainage contractors, and ag / conservation professionals interested in better understanding drainage system design, water management strategies, and improving field performance while avoiding costly mistakes.    This one-day event will focus on how subsurface (tile) drainage works, the basics of drainage design, and the financial and technical assistance for water storage, conservation and precision drainage practices. Participants will be introduced to tools to optimize drainage depth and spacing and the benefits of contour drainage patterns. Sessions will p...