Minnesota Crop News

  In this episode of MN CropCast, hosts Dave Nicolai and Dr. Seth Naeve sit down with Bryce Nelson, a veteran independent crop consultant and the current president of the Minnesota Independent Crop Consultants Association (MNICCA). With over four decades of boots-on-the-ground experience serving southern Minnesota and northern Iowa, Bryce shares his unique perspective on how the crop consulting industry has shifted to meet the demands of modern agriculture. Key Highlights from the Episode: The True Meaning of Independence: Bryce explains the strict philosophy behind MICCA. By remaining completely separate from product sales, independent consultants act as unbiased advocates focused solely on maximizing the farmer's return on investment. Agronomic Evolution: A look at how weed management has come full circle—from the complex chemistry battles of the 1980s, through the simplicity of the Roundup era, and back to today’s high-stakes battle over resistance management. The Modern, Speci...

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 ...

Is the the future of corn production standing a little shorter? In this episode of the Minnesota Cropcast, hosts Dave Nicolai and Dr. Seth Naeve sit down with Dr. Jeff Coulter, University of Minnesota Extension Corn Specialist, to explore a novel (and highly visual) shift in corn hybrid technology: short stature corn. While traditional corn towers at 9 to 12 feet, new hybrids are keeping the canopy at 7 feet or less—without sacrificing the yields growers require. Dr. Coulter breaks down the history, the agronomics, and the cutting-edge research happening right here in Minnesota. Highlights from this Cropcast Episode : The Physics of Standing Tall: Why shorter, fatter stalks and deeper root systems may provide added resistance to lodging and green snap during severe wind events. Populations Drive Higher Yields: How these compact plants tolerate higher plant populations, allowing growers to pack more plants per acre to drive up grain yield. The Silage Advantage: Why short stature corn m...

By: Vasu Sharma, Extension irrigation specialist, Department of Soil, Water and Climate University of Minnesota Extension and the Minnesota Potato Growers Association (MNPGA) are pleased to announce the upcoming 2026 Irrigation and Nutrient Management Field Day. This event will showcase advanced agricultural practices and the latest field research conducted at the Sand Plain Research Farm (SPRF) in Becker, MN. Participants will have the opportunity to learn directly from University of Minnesota researchers and specialists. A complimentary dinner will be provided at the research station headquarters at the conclusion of the field tour. Event Details Date & Time Thursday, July 9th, 2026, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Dinner immediately follows the tour. Location:  Sand Plain Research Farm, 15003 157th St. SE, Becker, MN 55308 (Map) Cost:  This field day is free to attend, but please register by July 6th for planning purposes Featured Presentations & Research Topics The fi...

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...

By Liz Stahl, Extension Educator – Crops It is not too often – okay, it has never happened before – that I get an email with the subject line “Is any of this true”. However, that is exactly what I received last week.

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 ...

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...

Drone demonstration in St. Paul, MN. Photo: University of Minnesota Extension Brad Carlson and Jeff Vetsch talk about variable rate sensors on today's  Advancing Nitrogen Smart Podcast  episode. What is meant by the term 'active sensors' and what data do active sensors capture? Which specific brands of sensors have the Southern Research and Outreach Center (SROC) researched, and how did they perform? What stage does corn need to reach before sensors can best contribute to variable rate decision making? How do other field variables like soil texture or irrigation systems contribute (or not) to variable rate sensing? Join us today for part one of a two-part discussion on variable rate technology with Brad and Jeff. Read the full transcript Guests: Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato) Jeff Vetsch, Lead researcher, Southern Research and Outreach Center (Waseca) Additional resources: 5 Things to consider for sensor-based nitrogen management Variable ...

Photo: University of Minnesota Extension Have you ever been interested in testing out a new practice, product or research question that could improve the nutrient crediting and benefit you get from the manure you apply?  The Manure Management team at the University of Minnesota is currently partnering with farmers in southeast and southwest Minnesota who are interested in conducting on-farm research. This opportunity is part of a collaborative project with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture focused on improving and promoting manure best management practices that are regional and animal specific.  Farmers that join this research program can expect to receive compensation for their collaboration. The manure application costs are also covered by the University. Experiments are typically set to be easily integrated with the farmers current management practices and can start with spring or fall applied manure treatments. Current projects in Minnesota  Our researchers are ...

Photo: University of Minnesota Extension On today's episode of the Advancing Nitrogen Smart podcast , Brad and Dan talk about variable rate application - and zones in particular. What's the overall point of variable rate nitrogen application? How might an initial starting N rate be determined? How do farmers' fields and equipment introduce their own variables, and how can these variables be monitored? What's the difference between a yield map and a zone map, and should farmers rely on yield maps for zoning purposes? Do the best yielding spots always need the most nitrogen? All of this and much more on today's show. Read the full transcript here Guests: Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato) Dan Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul) Additional resources: With high nitrogen fertilizer prices and low corn prices, can you decrease your nitrogen rate for 2026?  www.cornnratecalc.org (Corn Nitrogen Rate Calculator) Is variable rate nitroge...

By: Anna Cates, Extension soil health specialist;  Liz Stahl, Extension Educator - Crops; and Axel Garcia y Garcia, Sustainable Cropping Systems Specialist   We’re nearing the end of a pretty solid growing season for corn and soybeans, and it will soon be time for harvest and other fall activities – like planting cover crops! Given the huge soil losses we saw with wind erosion across Minnesota last winter, this is a great year to start thinking about how to protect your soil from wind and water losses. Cover crops can also help manage water by building soil structure, which you need to both store and infiltrate water…because you never know when the next drought, wind storm, or 8 inches of rain will come along. Over the 2024-25 winter, we tested a few different combinations of cover crop species and seeding rates, and learned a few things worth sharing. Oats In one trial, we looked at oats at seeding rates from 10 to 60 lbs/ac, mixed with radish at 1 to 6 lb/ac. At our St. Paul...

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...

Today on the Nutrient Management Podcast  we discuss nutrient management for irrigated crops in Minnesota. How many irrigated acres are there in Minnesota? What are some of the benefits and risks of irrigation? In what ways can risks be mitigated - through timing, cover crop adoption and / or other general soil health practices? What should growers know about the latest irrigation research in Minnesota? If a farmer is considering adopting irrigation practices, what should they focus on first? This and much, much more on today's episode. TRANSCRIPT Guests: Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul) Carl Rosen, Extension irrigation specialist, Dept. of Soil, Water, and Climate (St. Paul) Vasu Sharma, Extension irrigation specialist, Dept. of Soil, Water, and Climate (St. Paul) Additional Resources: Irrigation Research shows precision irrigation technology can improve irrigation water productivity in corn Could adding irrigation to Minnesota corn fields ...

How is precision agriculture changing in the age of artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics? That’s the theme of the 2025 Minnesota Conference of Precision Agriculture, happening Thursday, June 5 in Saint Paul. The conference will also be available online. Register now! Registration Registration is now available for the 2025 Minnesota Conference on Precision Agriculture (2025 MCPA). The early bird registration fee is $30 (deadline extended to May 25). The regular fee is $50 (after May 25). Student registration fee is $20. It will also be available online, and the registration fee to attend the virtual conference is $20. A light breakfast and buffet lunch are included if you attend in-person. The deadline for registration is June 2, 2025. Register at: z.umn.edu/MCPA2025-register Location The conference will take place on Thursday, June 5, 2025 at the St. Paul Student Center on the U of M St. Paul Campus (2017 Buford Ave, St Paul, MN 55108; Google Maps ). More information The theme of...