Minnesota Crop News

The plot combines were rolling last week in barley, oats, rye, and wheat trials across the state. That means you can now get a sneak peek of the results of these trials at varietytrials.umn.edu .  When the weather straightens out and harvest resumes, more locations will be added as quickly as possible.

Eric Burkness, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Research scientist, reviewed by Tana Haugen-Brown, UMN Pesticide Safety and Environmental Education Extension educator, Sally Raymond, UMN Pesticide Safety and Environmental Education Extension educator, and Jolene Warnke, UMN Pesticide Safety and Environmental Education Extension educator Figure 1. Groundwater monitoring well. Groundwater monitoring is an ongoing project in Minnesota. To maintain a successful and productive agricultural economy while minimizing impacts on human health and the environment, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) each year monitors surface water (e.g., rivers, streams, and lakes) and groundwater throughout the state to determine if any of 185 pesticides and their breakdown products (also known as degradates) are present. If a pesticide is detected, the amount of pesticide in the water is compared to a reference value to determine if action is necessary. In the case of groundwater, reference value...

American Crystal Sugar’s pre-pile harvest campaign is scheduled to start on August 12. This early start creates an opportunity to establish a cover crop to reduce the potential of wind and/or water erosion throughout the winter and early spring. Winter rye may seem like the obvious choice as it is nearly foolproof to get established and is the most winter-hardy. Likewise, spring or winter wheat may look like an option too. If you, however, plan to seed spring wheat on this year’s sugar beet acreage (or seed wheat adjacent to this year’s sugar beet fields you plan to establish this cover crop), you may want to read the rest of this article. Three potential pest and disease problems in spring wheat can take advantage of a "green bridge" to overwinter and cause problems next season. The earlier seeding allows the cover crop to grow much longer, and thus taller, this fall. The earlier seeding, however, also creates this green bridge for barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV), wheat c...

By: Vasudha Sharma, Extension irrigation specialist Late-season irrigation can make or break your yield, and your nitrogen. Learn how much water your crops still need, when to irrigate, and how to avoid costly mistakes like overwatering and nitrate leaching. 1. Crop stage and water demand in late season As of early August, most irrigated corn in central and west-central Minnesota is close to the R2 growth stage. Soybeans are progressing through pod fill (R3–R5), with seed fill just beginning. These stages represent a critical period for grain yield determination. Typically, corn at R2 (blister) uses approximately 6 to 7 inches of water to maturity; Soybeans at R4 (full pod) uses approximately 3 to 4 inches of water to maturity; and Potato at tuber bulking uses 4 to 5 inches of water to maturity. Daily crop evapotranspiration (ET c ) rates remain high at this time of the season, especially during hot and windy spells, but start declining after mid-August. Central Minnesota reference eva...

By: Dan Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist With low corn and soybean prices, I have been looking at some of our long-term data to figure out how growers can reduce fertilizer costs. One study I have not spoken much about is a long-term trial that was started in 2011 at the Southwest Research and Outreach Center in Lamberton, Minnesota. Data from this study show some interesting insights on starter fertilizer containing phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and zinc. About the study Initially, the study was established to look at fertilizer additives used in combination with starter fertilizer, and one thing that is unique about this site is that the soil pH is very acid, testing below 5.0. I have maintained the study over time to look at reduced rates of P and K with and without a P and K starter fertilizer in a three-year corn-corn-soybean rotation. The broadcast treatments for the first six years were similar, focused on application of removal rates of P and K for the corn cro...

Kathleen Hall, Ph.D., Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Research scientist, reviewed by Tana Haugen-Brown, UMN Pesticide Safety and Environmental Education Extension educator, Sally Raymond, UMN Pesticide Safety and Environmental Education Extension educator, and Jolene Warnke, UMN Pesticide Safety and Environmental Education Extension educator Monitoring is crucial for assessing and protecting water quality. Each year starting in May, Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) staff and their collaborators head out to rivers and streams across the state to begin collecting water samples. These samples are then sent to the MDA's lab, where analysts test the water for 185 pesticide chemicals, including a variety of herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides, as well as their breakdown products (also known as degradates). The results from these monitoring efforts provide valuable information that the MDA uses to evaluate the impacts of routine pesticide use on Minnesota's water r...