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Asian Copperleaf: A New Weed Threat Arrives in Minnesota

Sithin Mathew, Weed Science Graduate Student, Matt Pfarr, Former Crops Extension Educator, Debalin Sarangi, Extension Weed Scientist Figure 1. Asian copperleaf growing in a corn field in Rice County, MN (Picture by: Debalin Sarangi, UMN Extension) A New Report from Rice County In the fall of 2025, a new and concerning weed species has been identified in a corn field in Rice County, Minnesota: Asian copperleaf (Acalypha australis). Until now, this invasive species had only been reported in a handful of Iowa counties and in Illinois in the Midwest. Its presence in Minnesota is a significant development for farmers; it signals that the weed is spreading and could become a serious problem in corn and soybean systems if not managed early on. The USDA already recognizes Asian copperleaf as a “high-risk invasive weed”, and its arrival in Minnesota should serve as a wake-up call to scout fields carefully this harvest season. Where Did It Come From? Asian copperleaf is native to Eastern Asia, ...
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Complexity in manure nutrient availability: Nitrogen, species & bedding

Manure nutrient management is uniquely complex, and we discuss some reasons why on today's Advancing Nitrogen Smart episode. What specific factors make manure management far more complex than applying standard chemical fertilizer?  How do digestive systems and diets cause nitrogen availability to differ across various livestock species ?  Why does nitrogen availability decline so rapidly when manure is left exposed on the soil surface, and how much may be lost to atmospheric evaporation within a just few days?  How can farmers optimize their fertilizer investments and evaluate whether their crops received sufficient nitrogen using late-season testing ? These questions and more on today's 42nd episode of  Advancing Nitrogen Smart . Read the full transcript here Guests: Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato) Melissa Wilson, Extension manure nutrient management specialist (St. Paul) Additional resources: How to put together a manure management plan Nitrogen ava...
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Grain Quality Concerns at Harvest after Extended Wet Weather

By Seth Naeve, Extension Soybean Agronomist, Jeff Coulter, Extension Corn Agronomist, Dean Malvick, Extension Plant Pathologist, and Liz Stahl, Extension Educator - Crops
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Registration open - Soil Management Summit January 27 - 28, 2027

Registration is now open for the 2027 Soil Management Summit! Registration gets you 1.5 days full of learning and networking with farmers, researchers, and agricultural professionals across Minnesota and beyond. At the Soil Management Summit you can explore topics such as cover crops, tillage, nutrient management, livestock integration, economics, and more! We have a variety of sessions to fit anyone’s preferences whether it’s panel discussions, breakout sessions, table talks, or built-in networking time. Although we think it’s a great event, don’t just take it from us. Here’s what some past attendees have said about the Soil Management Summit: This event allows for a great mix of networking with industry, farmers, and other professionals and has a good balance of time for building relationships and connections as well as providing valuable education to be used on farms." "All the sessions were very interesting, and each of them had very good topics that were hard to choose ...
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Managing dry edible beans: Insights from four Midwest experts

Dry edible beans are an important Minnesota crop, and we explore them further on today's Nutrient Management Podcast. We'll talk with four experts from around the Midwest about your dry bean questions; What are some similarities and differences managing for dry edible bean versus soybean, for example? What should farmers keep in mind about growing in the Red River Valley, or Southern Minnesota, or elsewhere in the Midwest? What does recent research indicate pertaining to dry bean? What major yield-limiting factors do farmers need to be aware of when growing dry edible bean? All this plus iron deficiency chlorosis, row spacing, macros, economics and more on today's episode of the  Nutrient Management Podcast . Read the full transcript Guests: Kristin Simons, research agronomist, North Dakota State University Ana Carcedo, broadleaf agronomist, North Dakota State University Bijesh Maharjan, Extension specialist, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutri...
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Can the harvest traffic affect your alfalfa field?

Beatriz Bizzuti, UMN Assistant Professor and Forage Extension Agronomist; Marta Kohmann, UW Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist; Brian Luck, UW Associate Professor and Extension Specialist This article originally appeared in the Midwest Forage Association’s Forage Focus newsletter, August 2025 edition. During harvest season, alfalfa fields experience frequent traffic from multiple pieces of equipment. Typically, four types of machinery (mowers, mergers, choppers, and trucks) enter the field, each contributing to soil disturbance and plant stress. Repeated passes of equipment across fields can significantly impact forage production, reducing both productivity and long-term stand health. Gaining a better understanding of how and why traffic affects alfalfa performance can lead to more effective management practices and improved productivity and persistence over time. More harvesting, more traffic Most alfalfa fields in the Midwest are harvested three to five times annually, dep...
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25th Annual Tri-State Drainage Research Forum Set for October 1, 2026

By Gary Sands, University of Minnesota Extension For a quarter-century, the Tri-State Drainage Research Forum has served as an essential venue for connecting agricultural producers, drainage contractors, agency personnel, consultants, and researchers across Minnesota, Iowa, and South Dakota. This year marks a major milestone as we host the 25th Annual Tri-State Drainage Research Forum on October 1, 2026. The event is brought to you by South Dakota State University, Iowa State University, and the University of Minnesota, in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. 25 Years of Drainage Innovation Agricultural drainage has evolved from basic field water removal to sophisticated, precision water management designed to optimize crop yields while safeguarding soil health and downstream water quality. Gary Sands (University of Minnesota) will kick off the forum with a presentation reflecting on 25 years of research updates, policy shifts, and technology adoption that have sha...
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