Minnesota Crop News

University of Minnesota Extension nutrient management specialist Dan Kaiser recently finished a four year study on potassium (K) fertilizer application for corn and soybeans. The study aimed to determine the optimal K rate for both crops, assess if spring application of potash (potassium chloride, KCl) negatively impacts soybean yield (potentially due to too much chloride), and evaluate the accuracy of current plant tissue and soil testing guidelines. About the study The study was conducted from 2022 through 2025 at locations around Minnesota with various soil types. There were six trial locations each year totaling 24 site-years of data. Five K fertilizer rates were tested: 0, 40, 80, 120, and 160 lbs K2O per acre. Fall versus spring application timing was compared at each rate. Potassium was applied as potassium chloride (KCl), commonly known as potash. Researchers targeted locations with low soil test K levels, specifically those testing at 150 ppm or less (ideally 100–120 ppm or l...

You didn't need to be in Kansas or like the band with the same name yesterday to come up with the title for the blog post. There was dust in the wind.  Visibility in parts of the Red River Valley was measured in feet rather than the usual miles at times.  Below are two pictures of a wheat field that was damaged by yesterday's dust storm.    Photo 1 - A field of spring wheat in the 2-leaf stage after yesterday's dust storm Photo 2 - A close-up of the 2-leaf spring wheat with damaged leaf tissue as a result of yesterday's dust storm This damage will be temporary as new leaves emerge from inside the leaf sheath of the second leaf, and tillers will appear in the axils of the first, second, and third leaves in the coming weeks.  It's unlikely there will be any yield losses as a result of this dust storm.

Photo: University of Minnesota By: Jackie Estrem, UMN Extension Educator- Sustainable Agriculture, Stearns, Benton, Morrison, & Sherburne Counties and Taylor Herbert, UMN Extension Educator Crops, Wright, McLeod, & Meeker Counties With the weather and current soil conditions, the Alfalfa Harvest Alert Project , also called Scissor Cut , is having a slow start to the year. The cooler temperatures we have been experiencing have slowed alfalfa growth this spring. Fields in the south central region have hit the 14 inch mark while fields in north and west central Minnesota are lagging behind at 3 to 9 inches tall. We have also received reports of some significant winter kill, especially on sandy soil with farmers considering interseeding with cool-season grasses or calling it a day and tilling fields under. We have also seen some minor frost damage with slight browning on leaf edges. The first Scissor Cut samples were taken on May 7th and 11th. The warmth over the next few days sho...

Liz Stahl, Extension Educator - Crops and Axel Garcia y Garcia, Sustainable Cropping Systems Specialist  Register now for the 2026 University of Minnesota Cover crop research trial at Lamberton, 2025. Photo: Liz Stahl   "Cover Crop Field Day: Setting up for Success" at the Southwest Research and Outreach Center by Lamberton on Thursday, June 25.

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 has been hosting a multi-state survey focused on alfalfa grower perspectives and needs for alfalfa weevil management and other related insects. The survey is set to close in early June, so now is the time to add your perspective to the survey and let University of Minnesota Extension know how your alfalfa fields and financial decisions are affected by alfalfa pests. 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 p...

Photo credit: Anna Cates, Minnesota Office for Soil Health We’re talking all about nitrate management and placement as important factors for reducing nitrogen loss to water on today's episode of the Advancing Nitrogen Smart Podcast series. Different forms of nitrogen have their own potential for loss. How does nitrogen already in the nitrate form differ from ammonium for example? How does basic soil science slow down or speed up nitrogen transformation? Why can't nitrates be easily stabilized in the fall in Minnesota? How do other factors like pH affect nitrogen transformation? This and much more in today's discussion.  Read the full transcript here Guests: Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato) Dan Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul) Additional resources: Nitrogen placement: What MN farmers should know about depth, incorporation, loss pathways, and more How 4R Nutrient Stewardship can help Minnesota farmers Four things I’ve learned about nitrog...

By Liz Stahl, Extension Educator – Crops, Seth Naeve, Extension Soybean Agronomist, and Dave Nicolai, Extension Educator-Crops

UMN Extension Educator Dana Adams estimates alfalfa quality using a PEAQ stick By: Jackie Estrem, UMN Extension Local Educator, Crops - Stearns, Benton, Morrison, and Sherburne Counties and Taylor Herbert, UMN Extension Local Educator, Crops - Wright, McLeod, and Meeker Counties With the recent stretch of spring weather, alfalfa fields are greening up and it won’t be long before we are thinking about the first cut of hay. This also means we are getting ready to take alfalfa scissor cut samples for the Alfalfa Harvest Alert Program.  This program helps forage producers determine the best time to cut the first crop of alfalfa to optimize forage yield and quality. This project is in its 30th year and is a collaboration between the Central Minnesota Forage Council and University of Minnesota Extension with support from area agribusiness sponsors and farmer collaborators. This year, samples will continue to be collected from fields in Stearns, Benton, Morrison, Wright, McLeod, Meeker, S...

  In Episode #67 of MN CropCast, we bring you another " Headland Highlights " to get you up to speed on planting progress across the state. The hosts sat down with three Extension Educators (Angie Peltier, Anthony Hanson and Matt Pfarr) on April 30 to discuss how farmers are navigating the spring of 2026 in their respective regions. What you’ll learn in this episode: Northwest Minnesota: Angie Peltier describes the challenges facing northern farmers. While the central Red River Valley and areas further south are off to a strong start, progress north of Fargo-Moorhead remains slow. Heavy snowpack and recent rains have stalled field work in Polk County and the surrounding region. In the far Northwest, only 10–15% of wheat and sugar beets are in the ground, with a significant push expected over the next two weeks. West Central Minnesota: Anthony Hanson highlights the impact of varying soil types. While corn and soybeans were planted on lighter soils during the final weeks of A...

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. If you are interested in registering for the University of Minnesota Cover Crop Academy but have not yet done so, now is the time! Registration responses will determine at which locations we will be offering this course.  For the 2026-2027 season, this hybrid, year-long course is currently planned to be offered at 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 2024-2025 session said they had increased confidence around cover crop agronomics, enjoyed watching the field plots develop and planned to ...