Minnesota Crop News

Eric Yu, UMN Extension Crops Educator, David Nicolai, UMN Extension Crops Educator, Debalin Sarangi, UMN Extension Weed Scientist “Use multiple modes of action” has long been a cornerstone of herbicide resistance management. However, that recommendation only holds up if those modes of action are effective on the weeds present in your field. In many cases, herbicide programs that look strong on paper can fall short in practice. For descriptions of each herbicide mode of action, download the free Iowa State Herbicide Guide (see pages 21–24). The new Check My Herbicide Plan tool was developed by GROW to help farmers and crop advisors take a closer look at their programs and determine how many active ingredients are truly effective against their target weeds. There are several reasons why herbicide programs may not perform as expected. Herbicide-resistant weed populations, such as waterhemp in Minnesota, can significantly reduce the effectiveness of certain products. In other cases, pre...

  New Extension Forage Specialist In Episode #66 of MN CropCast, we are thrilled to welcome one of the newest faculty members to the University of Minnesota Department of Agronomy! The hosts sit down with Dr. Beatriz Bizzuti Cremostim , our brand-new Extension Forage Agronomist and State Specialist. With her appointment in forage research and Extension, she is stepping into a crucial role for Minnesota's agricultural landscape. What you’ll learn in this episode: Meet the Specialist: Get to know Beatriz, her background, and what she brings to the U of M Agronomy Department. We'll dive into her plans for forage research and how her Extension work will support producers across the state. Forage Focus: A look at the current state of forage agronomy, highlighting the intersections of research and practical, on-farm application. Headland Highlights : After our chat with Beatriz, we pull in a special report straight from the field:  Troy Salzer, Local Extension Educator, Agricultur...

  Attention Minnesota farmers and agricultural producers! Are you up to speed on the latest state employment regulations impacting your operation? In Episode #65 of MN CropCast, hosts David Nicolai and Seth Naeve sit down with Rob Holcomb, Regional  Extension  Educator, Farm Business Management to discuss a critical and timely topic: Minnesota's new Paid Leave Program. While traditional corporate employers might be accustomed to navigating complex leave programs, these recent state mandates represent uncharted territory for many farmers. If your operation relies on hired help and you are issuing W-2s, this episode is a must-listen. What you’ll learn in this episode: The Basics of the Mandate: A breakdown of the new Minnesota paid leave program (at the highest level) and how it applies to agricultural employers Who is Affected: Whether your focus is on crops or livestock, if you manage labor and issue     W-2s at year’s end, these rules apply to you. ...

Eric Yu, UMN Extension Crops Educator, David Nicolai, UMN Extension Crops Educator, Debalin Sarangi, UMN Extension Weed Scientist Spring conditions across Minnesota are finally allowing soybean planting to begin in many areas. As planters start to roll, now is the time to make sure your pre-emergence (PRE) herbicide program is in place. PRE herbicides remain one of the most important, and often underutilized, tools for managing weeds and protecting soybean yield potential. In recent years, many soybean acres across the Upper Midwest have relied heavily on POST-only herbicide programs. However, this approach is increasingly risky. The spread of herbicide-resistant weeds, including resistance to glyphosate and other commonly used POST chemistries such as ALS- and PPO-inhibitors, has made a one-pass POST strategy unreliable in many fields. With the recent confirmation of glufosinate-resistant waterhemp in Minnesota, we are now facing the very real possibility of waterhemp populations with...

By:  Jodi DeJong-Hughes, Extension educator With tighter margins, high input costs, and ongoing market uncertainty shaping spring decisions, every pass across the field deserves scrutiny. Rock rolling soybean fields can still play a role in improving harvest efficiency, but this year especially, it’s worth asking: where does it truly pay? Rolling can help push rocks below the cutter bar, smooth the field surface, and break up corn rootballs, benefits that can reduce harvest losses and protect equipment. But those gains need to be weighed against added fuel, labor, and machinery wear at a time when profitability is already under pressure. As highlighted in a recent article from University of Minnesota Extension ( z.umn.edu/SpringTillage26 ), minimizing unnecessary field passes is one of the most direct ways to manage costs this season. From an agronomic standpoint, timing remains critical. A three-year University of Minnesota study found soybeans can be safely rolled up to the third...

Photo: University of Minnesota Extension Brad and Jeff continue their discussion of variable rate nitrogen technology by zeroing in on the pre-sidedress nitrate test (PSNT). What are key differences between the PSNT and the pre- plant nitrate test (PPNT)? What growth stage should the crop reach before taking a PSNT? How have sampling and storage procedures evolved from past years? How variable can samples actually be within the same zone and between zones? What should farmers watch out for when interpreting test results? Do different methods of N application produce different PSNT results? How about timing? Manure? What's N's 'critical value' in Minnesota? All these answers and more in-depth discussion on today's episode of the Advancing Nitrogen Smart Podcast . Read the full transcript here Guests: Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato) Jeff Vetsch, Lead researcher, Southern Research and Outreach Center (Waseca) Additional resources: What’s th...

In this special episode of Minnesota CropCast, the tables are turned as regular co-host Dr. Seth Naeve steps into the hot seat to share an inside look at his work on the international stage. As a University of Minnesota Extension Soybean Specialist, Seth doesn't just study how to grow a better bean—he travels the globe to convince international buyers why U.S. and Upper Midwest soybeans are the smartest purchase they can make. If you’ve ever been frustrated by the "low protein" knock on Minnesota soybeans, this episode is a must-listen. In this episode, we dive into: Busting the "Crude Protein" Myth: Seth explains why buying soybeans based purely on crude protein (nitrogen content) is an outdated practice. Discover the science behind why Northern soybeans, despite having lower overall protein quantity, boast a superior quality due to a concentration of highly digestible essential amino acids. Boots on the Ground in Asia: Get a look at recent trade missions to I...

Anna Freundschuch Le Sueur County employee, presents at the Minnesota Drainage Program. Photo by: Colleen Carlson, University of Minnesota. On March 25th 2026 University of Minnesota Extension debuted the Minnesota Drainage Program (MDP) in Le Center, the first in a series of presentations covering drainage basics, conservation drainage, and how 'precision drainage' might be the next frontier in precision agriculture strategies for Minnesota farmers and ag professionals. In Minnesota, farmers have installed drainage systems for well over a century. It is often a 50+-year investment with a payback and profit dependent on optimizing the design and installation. With new equipment and technologies more farmers are able to install their own, resulting in a wide range of skills and strategies.This results in some systems installed sub-optimally for crop production and may severely limit precision drainage benefits and water conservation options. To ensure farmers understand how to ...

Eric Yu, UMN Extension Crops Educator, David Nicolai, UMN Extension Crops Educator, Ryan Miller, UMN Extension Crops Educator, Debalin Sarangi, UMN Extension Weed Scientist As the growing season approaches, staying informed about the latest herbicide innovations is essential for effective crop management and maximizing yield. The agricultural landscape continues to evolve, with new products introduced regularly to improve weed control, protect crops, and address herbicide resistance. This article builds on last year’s Minnesota Crop News overview of new herbicides and includes a new section highlighting key updates, such as regulatory changes and label modifications that may impact herbicide use this season. It is important to note that many “new” herbicides are reformulations of existing active ingredients or new premixes. Below are several herbicides to watch in the coming season, including products from AMVAC, BASF, Bayer, Corteva, FMC, and Syngenta. We also recommend referring to ...

  Welcome to the inaugural episode of our periodic summer series, "Headland Highlights." These special brief and timely episodes will reside right within our normal MN CropCast feed. For these segments, Dave and Seth will be calling on folks from around the state to get real-time check-ins on the status of local field activities and crops. Today, Seth and Dave are joined by Ryan Miller, who is an Extension Educator based in Rochester and works throughout Southeast Minnesota. We discuss the severe weather that visited the area on the evening of April 13th and get a firsthand update on planting progress in his region. Episode Highlights: Severe Weather Impacts: Ryan confirms news reports of tennis-ball-sized hail and corresponding localized heavy rainfall events. Planting Progress: The region is off to a relatively slow start for row crop production. While most spring cereals were successfully planted during the very late March window, cooler temperatures, rain, and spring win...

Irrigation equipment near Becker, MN. Photo: University of Minnesota Extension By: Vasudha Sharma, Extension irrigation specialist With new irrigation cost-share opportunities available in Minnesota, more growers may be considering variable rate irrigation (VRI) this season. Recent funding announced through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) is intended to support improved irrigation efficiency, groundwater protection, and better nitrogen management on irrigated farmland across key Minnesota counties. This makes it a good time for growers to think carefully about how VRI can be used effectively in their fields. Variable rate irrigation is not for every field VRI can be a useful tool, but it is not something every irrigated field needs. The biggest advantage comes in fields with clear and repeatable variability, such as differences in soil texture, organic matter, elevation, or drainage. In those situations, applying one uniform irrigation depth across the whole field...

Anna Cates, Minnesota Soil Health Specialist, Jodi DeJong-Hughes, Extension educator, and Mary Nesberg, Extension educator Tandem disk tillage. Photo: Kuhn High input costs and tight margins are forcing Minnesota farmers to take a hard look at every pass across the field, and tillage is one of the first places real savings can be found. In 2025, Minnesota farmers made more money on no-till soybeans than tilled soybeans , and over the past decade, minimal tillage has been the most profitable system for corn . As I write this, diesel is $5.10 in Sleepy Eye and Litchfield, and $5.20 in Wadena. Now is a good time to take a hard look at tillage costs and consider practical ways to reduce expenses this spring. Operation 2025 Machinery cost estimates per acre University of Illinois * Fuel use (gal/ac) Current fuel cost/ac ($/gal diesel) Vertical till (43'6") $16.30 0.5 $2.50 Field cultivator (48...

Dr. Fei Yang – Extension Corn Entomologist, University of Minnesota Department of Entomology, and Bruce Potter – Potter Brothers, LLC and University of Minnesota Extension retired Early (2nd) instar black cutworm and its leaf feeding on 1-leaf corn. Photo: Bruce Potter Again in 2026, the University of Minnesota Black Cutworm and Ture Armyworm Cooperative Trapping Program will track the migration of black cutworm and armyworm moths into Minnesota. This project is funded by Minnesota farm families and their checkoff dollars. University and industry cooperators check their pheromone traps each day. Their trap captures help us determine the timing and relative size of moth arrivals into Minnesota. These data are helpful in identifying the timing and location of moth migrations that might threaten corn and other crops. Trap data and degree-days for larval development are analyzed each week, and updated on https://z.umn.edu/bcw-reporting . What conditions are needed for crop-threatening bl...

In this timely episode of Minnesota CropCast, hosts Dave and Seth Naeve are joined in the studio by Ed Usset, Grain Marketing Economist with University of Minnesota and Extension. Ed brings his decades of expertise to break down current market dynamics, domestic crush capacity, and the psychological hurdles of selling grain in a tight-margin year. Key Episode Highlights The "11th Commandment" of Grain Marketing: Ed explains why holding unpriced old crop in the bin past July 1st is a major risk, and how farmers can capitalize on recent soybean rallies. Making Sense of a Weak Basis: Despite ethanol and crush plants running at near-full capacity, local basis levels for corn, soybeans, and wheat are historically poor. Ed breaks down the local supply factors driving this trend. The Soybean Crush Boom: They take a dive into the massive nationwide expansion of soybean crush capacity driven by renewable diesel. Learn why soybean oil has officially overtaken meal as the primary value...

 As we all know, there are at least three false starts to spring in Minnesota each year. Contrast this with the desire/need to seed spring wheat, barley, and oats as early as possible, and it may feel like you have a disaster waiting to happen. This spring has not been an exception.  The first small grains in southern Minnesota went into the ground when the calendar was still in March.  The weather forecast at the time predicted a return of cooler, wetter weather with some overnight frost in the mid-twenties.  My project seeded trials in Becker and LeCenter on March 31st in ideal conditions, only to have it snow and sleet two days later and, more worrisome,  have the temperature plummet to 12 degrees Fahrenheit six days later.  Not ideal. Did it, however, kill the germination seed? I was back to both locations last Friday and found that no harm had come from the return to winter in the first week of April. I dug up seed and found no rotting seed; instead, e...

Fei Yang, University of Minnesota Extension corn entomologist, Yucheng Wang, University of Minnesota Dept. of Entomology, Postdoc Researcher The European corn borer (ECB), Ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner), has historically been one of the most economically important insect pests of corn in Minnesota. With the introduction of transgenic Bt corn in 1996, ECB populations have been significantly suppressed across the state for almost three decades. Recently, however, farmers have planted more acres with corn hybrids without Bt traits targeting ECB. In some areas of Minnesota, ECB populations have reached economic threshold levels in a small number of non-Bt corn fields. Photo 1. Tunnel damage of ECB in two Bt corn plants and Bt expression test During the first week of October 2025, we conducted the ECB statewide field survey and observed some feeding damage in one Bt corn plant. Upon revisiting the field, we identified a second Bt plant with ECB damage. This represents the first report of...