Minnesota Crop News

Anthony Hanson - Extension Educator Field Crops IPM The ninth session of Strategic Farming: Field Notes for 2026 was held on July 15 covering corn reproduction and nitrogen use and availability, especially considering the hot weather and localized heavy rainfall in some areas of the state.  Ryan Miller, Crops Extension Educator, discussed these topics with Jeff Coulter - Extension Corn Agronomist, and Brad Carlson - Extension Educator in Nutrient Management. To listen to the full podcast, visit  https://strategicfarming.transistor.fm/episodes . Two Wednesday webinar sessions remain for 2026 on Aug. 5. and 12, and you can register at  z.umn.edu/FN2026 . Corn Coulter mentioned that crop development has progressed quickly this season with tasseling happening about a week ahead of normal. Consistent moisture across much of the state has kept stress on corn to a minimum, but it is starting to dry out with little chance of rain looking forward.  A couple questions were ask...

By: Ryan Miller, University of Minnesota Extension Educator - Crops, Jeff Coulter, University of Minnesota Extension Corn Agronomist, Brad Carlson, University of Minnesota Extension Educator - Nutrient Management and Water Quality, and Dean Malvick, University of Minnesota Extension Pathologist - Field Crops Environmental stresses The “heat dome”, hot temperatures during the early reproductive stages of corn development, what does it mean for Minnesota’s corn crop? The Minnesota corn crop is about a week ahead of normal and currently has adequate moisture but limited precipitation or chances for precipitation means things are drying out. Fortunately, the temperature conditions are expected to be cooler this coming week. So how is the heat affecting corn that is pollinating or starting to pollinate? Current high temperatures have been in the low 90’s, and corn can tolerate those temperatures without issue. Things have been drying out with the lack of precipitation and during hot dry ...

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...

Clockwise from upper left: oat, seeds, wintermax mixture, winter rye, alfalfa Nitrate reduction with perennial plants is the topic on today's  Advancing Nitrogen Smart  podcast. What are some pros and cons of covers like rye, oat and alfalfa for reducing nitrate? How do they compare in terms of biomass or establishment? What sets alfalfa apart as a cover crop candidate? How does our Minnesota climate affect a strategy for perennials? How could cover crop benefits stack up when used in conjunction with a dairy operation for example? Do some areas of the landscape benefit from perennials more than others? All this and more on the 38th episode of Advancing Nitrogen Smart . Read the full transcript here Guests: Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato) Dan Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul) Additional resources: Cover Crops Best management for cover crops in unfavorable weather patterns Growing cover crops in Minnesota: 4 great resources...

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...

Sulfur-deficient corn. Photo: UMN Extension As commercial corn yields continue to climb, optimizing input efficiency is no longer just about deciding how much nitrogen (N) to apply. Today, there is a lot of information out there that focuses on nutrient interactions – specifically the biological partnership between N and sulfur (S). But a common question persists among agronomists and progressive growers alike: If you crank up your nitrogen application rates, do you need to scale up your sulfur rates in tandem? Extension nutrient management specialist Dan Kaiser addressed exactly this question over ten study locations in Minnesota. From 2011 to 2013, Kaiser led a rigorous research project conducted across central and southern Minnesota. By examining leaf chemistry at silking (R1) and nutrient concentration in the harvested grain, the study provides definitive insights into managing this complex nutritional duo. The nitrogen-sulfur partnership: What happens in the plant? Biochemically, ...

Sidedress application in Faribault, MN. Photo: UMN Extension Brad Carlson and Dan Kaiser discuss sidedressing in today's Advancing Nitrogen Smart Podcast episode. What's the big-picture rationale behind sidedressing? How can sidedressing or split-applying be beneficial in terms of avoiding nitrogen loss? Since nitrogen uptake isn't linear, what growth stages coincide with peak daily demand for nitrogen? Are there any significant risks in starting a sidedress or topdress application early in the season? What have past experiments shown regarding positive and / or negative responses to sidedressing? How should inhibitors be used with sidedress / topdress? What should farmers know about soil types and tile drainage when making sidedress decisions? This and much more on the 37th episode of the Advancing Nitrogen Smart podcast series. Read the full transcript here Guests: Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato) Dan Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul) ...

Photo: University of Minnesota Extension Minnesota is the nation's top producer of sugarbeets by acreage. Today we're discussing sugarbeet nutrient management on the Nutrient Management Podcast . What are the fertilizer guidelines for sugarbeets right now, and how are they revised? What sugarbeet research studies are currently underway at the University of Minnesota? Are there any considerations when fertilizing sugarbeets with manure? What should farmers know about micronutrients, or about timing? What makes sugarbeets such effective nitrogen scavengers? All this and more on today's episode. Read the full transcript Guests: Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul) Melissa Wilson, Extension manure nutrient management specialist (St. Paul) John Lamb, Professor Emeritus in Department of Soil, Water and Climate (St. Paul) Additional Resources: Sugarbeet fertilizer guidelines New sugarbeet fertilizer guidelines for Minnesota: What to know about nit...

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...

Photo: University of Minnesota Extension Brad and Jeff continue their discussion of variable rate nitrogen technology by zeroing in on the pre-sidedress nitrate test (PSNT). What are key differences between the PSNT and the pre- plant nitrate test (PPNT)? What growth stage should the crop reach before taking a PSNT? How have sampling and storage procedures evolved from past years? How variable can samples actually be within the same zone and between zones? What should farmers watch out for when interpreting test results? Do different methods of N application produce different PSNT results? How about timing? Manure? What's N's 'critical value' in Minnesota? All these answers and more in-depth discussion on today's episode of the Advancing Nitrogen Smart Podcast . Read the full transcript here Guests: Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato) Jeff Vetsch, Lead researcher, Southern Research and Outreach Center (Waseca) Additional resources: What’s th...

Anhydrous ammonia application in Waseca, MN. Photo: University of Minnesota Extension Early April means it's time for the spring fertilizer outlook here on the Nutrient Management Podcast . Our panel of four specialists and researchers begin by discussing current field conditions throughout Minnesota. World events affecting farmers and other ag professionals are top-of-mind right now. How is price volatility impacting input planning - or is it? Should farmers consider changes to their management plans, and /or potentially cut back on specific inputs? If so, which ones and why? Does soil testing become more important during times when other costs are high? As our panelists talk with farmers across Minnesota, what silver linings and bright spots have they noticed in today's ag environment, and why is it important to keep these in mind? All this and much more on today's episode. Read the full transcript Guests: Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato) Daniel Kaiser, Exte...

Photo: University of Minnesota Extension Did you know that the Advancing Nitrogen Smart podcast series has episodes which focus exclusively on manure? Learn about manure's nutrient characteristics, potential pros and cons, and its role in a comprehensive nitrogen management strategy in these three episodes. Join Brad Carlson, Extension educator and Melissa Wilson, Extension manure nutrient management specialist as they discuss manure management, testing, safety measures, documentation, rules and more for Minnesota farmers and ag professionals. Episode 1. Fall manure application: Optimal strategies for Minnesota farmers Brad and Melissa discuss fall manure application. What are the most important dos and don'ts of fall application? How much time can nitrification inhibitors buy you after application? What's the optimum soil temperature for application, and what if you can't wait? What are characteristics of manure from different sources, and how can they work to your ad...

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 ...

Graduate student collecting biomass samples near Rochester, MN. Photo: UMN Extension By: Bailey Tangen, Extension educator, Etienne Sutton, University of Missouri, and Kevin Kuehner, Minnesota Department of Agriculture How much biomass are your cover crops producing, and what does that mean for nutrient retention and soil health? Through the Great Lakes Cover Crop Project, Minnesota farmers are helping to answer that question using a simple protocol based on photos and height measurements. Results will help build practical, local data to guide better cover crop management and nutrient decisions. In this blog post, explore last year’s data from 133 Minnesota fields and how you can participate in 2026. The project and new method for farmers As part of the Great Lakes Cover Crop Project , farmers participate as community scientists by collecting cover crop measurements in their fields. Measuring cover crop growth, or biomass, has historically involved clipping plants within a defined area...

Tilled field in St. Paul, MN Photo: University of Minnesota Extension Today on the Advancing Nitrogen Smart podcast we speak in-depth about the recently-revised Minnesota Nutrient Reduction Strategy with Matt Drewitz from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. What are the goals of the MN Nutrient Reduction Strategy, and how are they being addressed specifically? Are we on track to meet our objectives? How have environmental changes over the years affected our progress? How have wastewater treatment plants contributed to the effort, and what have we learned from them? What kinds of other practices can be leveraged to meet the goals of the NRS, and how should farmers approach these ideas? Who's a farmer's point of contact with questions about adopting these practices? All of this on today's episode, recorded on the road from the recently held Nutrient Management Conference in Mankato, MN. Read the full transcript Guests: Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankat...