Minnesota Crop News

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...

Register today for one or both sessions of the Minnesota Drainage Program at Farmamerica, August 13th in Waseca, MN. z.umn.edu/MDPFarmamerica The University of Minnesota Extension will host a session of the Minnesota Drainage Program on Thursday, August 13, 2026, at Farmamerica ( 7367 360th Ave, Waseca, MN ). The workshop is designed for farmers, agricultural drainage contractors, local government unit (LGU) staff, commissioners, SWCD staff, and drainage engineers.  Participants can attend the morning session, the afternoon session, or the full day. Registration is $25 and includes a catered box lunch and access to vendor displays.  Morning Session: Drainage Basics and Precision Drainage (9:00 AM – 11:45 AM)  The morning program focuses on moving beyond traditional uniform grid tiling to precision drainage designs tailored to field contours, soil percolation rates, and crop root zone needs.  Basics of Drainage Design : Dr. Gary Sands (UMN Extension) will cover key ...

Photo: University of Minnesota Extension We're examining the effect of recent heavy rainfall on input decision-making in today's  Nutrient Management Podcast . What adverse or severe weather conditions did parts of Minnesota recently experience? How does it compare to past events? It's currently mid-July; what did the Minnesota Drought Monitor say about our drought levels before the rainfall? Was the soil profile able to accept more water as a result? What effect did the heavy rain have on nutrients in the field? At this point in the season, are corn crops past the risk of damage? What effect do soil types have on both the amount of N recommended, and the speed at which the N can potentially leave the field? All this and more on today's episode. Read the full transcript Guests: Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato) Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul) Jeff Vetsch, U of M researcher (Waseca) Additional Resources: Minnesota Drought Mo...

Irrigation in Minnesota. Photo: UMN Extension Irrigation is the topic of discussion of today's episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast . What are current irrigation conditions in Minnesota? How is the aquifer in the Central Sands region recharged, and why is it so important to manage nutrients efficiently when irrigating? What new irrigation and nutrient management research is being conducted by the University of Minnesota? What are some of the benefits and risks associated with irrigation - and what practices might a farmer want to focus on first? What partnerships and financial resources are available for Minnesota farmers interested in adopting irrigation practices? Are there smaller practices that a grower new to irrigation might want to consider? What have farmers reported back to our panelists after having adopted irrigation practices? What are irrigation practices like throughout the rest of the country, and how does Minnesota differ? All this and more on today's epis...

By Tim Gieseke, Ag Water Management Extension Educator, University of Minnesota Extension “Precision” has been the trend in agriculture for the last few decades. Advancements like auto-steering, yield monitors, remote sensing/imagery, and variable rate technologies have allowed farmers to be more efficient and productive, and to lessen impacts on water, natural resources, and the environment. So, how does “precision” apply to drainage? Advancements in technology can mean greater access. Farmers now have access to equipment to install their own drain tile systems, such as tile plows to install plastic corrugated tile with high-horsepower tractors (bypassing the need for commercial self-propelled trenching machines), and GPS technologies enabling the centimeter-level, real-time vertical slope accuracy for gravity-fed systems. However, farmers should proceed with caution. Precision drainage is much more than using the latest tech to ensure the correct depth and pitch of drainage lines. Pr...

Eric Yu, Extension Educator – Crops, Beatriz Bizzuti, Extension Forage Specialist, Troy Salzer, Extension Educator – Ag Production Systems, Tim Gieseke, Extension Educator – Ag Water Management Forage producers across Minnesota are making important management decisions as the first alfalfa harvest is underway and grazing season ramps up. During the University of Minnesota Extension Strategic Farming: Field Notes webinar on June 3 , Dr. Beatriz Bizzuti, Extension Forage Specialist, discussed factors to consider before first-cut alfalfa harvest, while Troy Salzer, Extension Educator, provided updates on pasture conditions and grazing management. Tim Gieseke, Extension Educator – Agricultural Water Management, joined the second half of the session to discuss precision drainage and emerging opportunities for managing water more efficiently across agricultural landscapes. The webinar was moderated by Eric Yu, Extension Educator – Integrated Pest Management. Evaluating alfalfa stands before ...

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 ...

Photo: University of Minnesota Extension 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 c...

Nutrient Management Conference, February 3, 2026. Photo: UMN Extension You can now watch video recordings of each of the presentations from the 2026 Nutrient Management Conference held Feb. 3rd in Mankato, and the 2026 Nitrogen Conference from Feb. 17th in St. Cloud. Learn about the latest fertilizer, manure and water quality research from Minnesota and around the Midwest. 2026 Nutrient Management Conference   Soil C, N, and P After Subsurface Tile Installation Lindsay Pease, University of Minnesota   Harnessing Biologicals: Foundational Concepts for Farming  Paulo Pagliari, University of Minnesota    Adding Up the Cl: Fertility, Tillage, and Cover Crops  Anna Cates, University of Minnesota    How Much Phosphorus Do I Really Need?  Dan Kaiser, University of Minnesota Chloride Cycling & Potassium Response from Fertilizer & Manure Carl Rosen, University of Minnesota   Liquid Separated Dairy Manure in a Sugar Beet Rotation Meliss...

Photo: University of Minnesota Extension By: Gabriel Dias Paiao, graduate research assistant, and Fabian Fernandez, Extension nutrient management specialist This blog post was originally published June 2021 Many people believe that split-applying nitrogen (N) rather than doing a single application near planting is a better approach to N management, but is it really?  Inconsistent weather causes inconsistent crop response Split applications of N fertilizer are undoubtedly beneficial in areas of Minnesota with sandy soils that have low nutrient and water holding capacity. However, the utility of split applications in other parts of the state has been inconsistent and is largely influenced by weather conditions. In very general terms, recent studies in fine-textured soils across Minnesota and other Midwestern states show that excessive precipitation after a single pre-plant N application results in greater susceptibility for early season N loss. On the other hand, a lack of preci...

Healthy soil (left) vs compacted soil (right) By: Bailey Tangen and Gabi Bolwerk, Extension educators Fall is a great time to start thinking about how to adjust your management practices to reduce erosion and improve soil health. A good first step is to understand the current state of your soil. To do this, you can perform a quick in-field soil health assessment. In this visual guide, we’ll walk you through how to conduct your own in-field soil health assessment. In an in-field soil health assessment, we look at the biological and physical properties of soil as they relate to soil function. This assessment can be done in 15-20 minutes and should be done in a few spots in your fields to get a full picture of how your soil functions. To learn more and to get help doing an assessment, call your local NRCS or SWCD office. These folks are willing to come out to your field, do an assessment, and provide management recommendations to protect the vitality of your operation and the producti...

Today on the Advancing Nitrogen Smart Podcast we take a close-up look at bioreactors as an edge-of-field practice. How does this important tool work, and how does it mitigate nitrate loss? What types of carbon sources have traditionally been used in a bioreactor, and what types of carbon could be used in the future? How are bioreactors incorporated in to a farmer's operation? How are they maintained? How effective and efficient are bioreactors? What's on the horizon for the next generation of bioreactor technology? All this and more on today's episode. Read the full transcript here Guests: Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato) Jeff Strock, Extension soil scientist (Lamberton) Additional resources: Nitrogen and phosphorus removal from agricultural drainage water by a modular bioreactor Bioreactor Research 3 takeaways from the Conservation Drainage Network’s annual meeting Edge of field N and P reduction strategies: What to know about conservation drainage ...

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...