Minnesota Crop News

Robert Koch, Extension Soybean Entomologist, Eric Yu, Extension Educator – IPM Crops Midsummer heat helped keep soybean aphid populations in check across much of Minnesota, as temperatures above 90°F can limit aphid reproduction and survival. However, more moderate temperatures have recently created favorable conditions for aphid population growth, and numbers are increasing rapidly in some areas. Rainfall has also been uneven across the state. While some areas have received much-needed moisture during pod and seed development, other soybean fields remain under significant drought stress. These dry conditions can also favor two-spotted spider mites, making careful, field-by-field scouting important. Below are several considerations for scouting and managing soybean aphids as fields approach the later reproductive growth stages. Scouting strategies Continue scouting based on soybean growth stage rather than the calendar. Aphid populations can continue to increase late in the season, par...

Robert Koch (Extension Entomologist), Angie Peltier (Extension Crops Educator), Anthony Hanson (Extension IPM Educator) and Arthur Ribeiro (Researcher, Entomology) As we move through July 2026, high temperatures and dry conditions across parts of Minnesota are creating prime conditions for two-spotted spider mite outbreaks. Daily highs are expected to frequently be near or above 90 °F the last week of July with little chance of rain in the forecast. We are beginning to receive reports of spider mite activity and field infestations in several areas of the state. Here, we provide an overview of how to identify this pest and its injury to soybean, and how to scout for and manage the pest. IDENTIFICATION & PLANT INJURY Appearance: Spider mites are extremely small (nearly invisible without magnification), appearing as tiny yellow, green, or brownish moving specks on leaf undersides (Fig. 1). Spider mites are significantly smaller than soybean aphid and other common insects found in soy...

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...

By Liz Stahl, Extension Educator – Crops, Seth Naeve, Extension Soybean Agronomist, and Debalin Sarangi, Extension Weed Specialist

 In this timely episode of Minnesota CropCast, hosts Dave Nicolai and Seth Naeve welcome Ken Franzky from Centrol Crop Consulting out of Marshall, MN. Ken Grew up on a farm in West Central Minnesota and graduated from the University of Minnesota. He worked in the seed industry under several brands for both Syngenta and Pioneer before joining Centrol in 2015. At Centrol, his primary roles include: Technical Training : Managing agronomic competency standards and training for consultants. Education & Diagnostics : Leading internal cross-department training and providing in-field diagnostic assistance. Industry Relations : Handling interactive product training with agricultural companies and acting as a communication bridge with university personnel. Ken discusses his managerial role at Centrol and highlights some of the challenges faced by a complex and evolving agricultural system in terms of implementing a detailed training system for Centol’s crop consultants to maintain...

by  Regina Stacke ( Researcher, Dept. of Entomology ), Arthur Vieira Ribeiro (Researcher, Dept. of Entomology), and Robert Koch (Extension Entomologist) Cutworms and soybean aphids were detected in soybean last week in Dakota County, Minnesota. We have also heard reports of cutworms in soybean from other locations in Minnesota and neighboring states. Field scouting performed by our team on June 3, 2026, revealed soybean seedlings that had been cut. Digging around near the plants uncovered caterpillars that were collected and identified as dingy cutworm and variegated cutworm .  Cutworms can cause stand losses by cutting young soybean plants at or near the soil surface. The risk of cutworm infestations are often greater in fields with dense early-season vegetation, such as fields with significant weed growth or those planted under no-till practices.  Scouting for cutworms should be performed once or twice a week from plant emergence until plants are past the V5 stage. Insp...

By Liz Stahl, Extension Educator – Crops, Jeff Coulter, Extension Corn Agronomist, and Matt Pfarr, Extension Educator-Crops Corn emerging in field. Photo: Liz Stahl

By Angie Peltier, UMN Extension crops educator, Thomas Peters, UMN Extension sugarbeet agronomist and Eric Yu, UMN Extension IPM educator The following information was presented during the inaugural Strategic Farming: Field Notes session of 2026. Use your preferred podcasting platform or listen online to a podcast of this episode. Budgets are tight in 2026 Producers frequently ask questions about managing inputs to make projected crop budgets in 2026. Managing inputs is a grower-by-grower and field-by-field proposition and can not be answered in a single statement. However, we know that managing weeds must be a priority.   Weeds: a) rob yield; b) persist in the soil for up to 20 years; and c) are alternate host plants to soil borne and foliar pathogens. UMN Extension encourages producers to actively manage weeds using integrated weed management strategies.   Crops and weeds are emerging Weed seedlings have begun to emerge in Minnesota crop fields. With research confirming t...

University of Minnesota Extension nutrient management specialist Dan Kaiser recently finished a four year study on potassium (K) fertilizer application for corn and soybeans. The study aimed to determine the optimal K rate for both crops, assess if spring application of potash (potassium chloride, KCl) negatively impacts soybean yield (potentially due to too much chloride), and evaluate the accuracy of current plant tissue and soil testing guidelines. About the study The study was conducted from 2022 through 2025 at locations around Minnesota with various soil types. There were six trial locations each year totaling 24 site-years of data. Five K fertilizer rates were tested: 0, 40, 80, 120, and 160 lbs K 2 O per acre. Fall versus spring application timing was compared at each rate. Potassium was applied as potassium chloride (KCl), commonly known as potash. Researchers targeted locations with low soil test K levels, specifically those testing at 150 ppm or less (ideally 100–120 ppm or...

By Liz Stahl, Extension Educator – Crops, Seth Naeve, Extension Soybean Agronomist, and Dave Nicolai, Extension Educator-Crops

By:  Jodi DeJong-Hughes, Extension educator With tighter margins, high input costs, and ongoing market uncertainty shaping spring decisions, every pass across the field deserves scrutiny. Rock rolling soybean fields can still play a role in improving harvest efficiency, but this year especially, it’s worth asking: where does it truly pay? Rolling can help push rocks below the cutter bar, smooth the field surface, and break up corn rootballs, benefits that can reduce harvest losses and protect equipment. But those gains need to be weighed against added fuel, labor, and machinery wear at a time when profitability is already under pressure. As highlighted in a recent article from University of Minnesota Extension ( z.umn.edu/SpringTillage26 ), minimizing unnecessary field passes is one of the most direct ways to manage costs this season. From an agronomic standpoint, timing remains critical. A three-year University of Minnesota study found soybeans can be safely rolled up to the third...

In this special episode of Minnesota CropCast, the tables are turned as regular co-host Dr. Seth Naeve steps into the hot seat to share an inside look at his work on the international stage. As a University of Minnesota Extension Soybean Specialist, Seth doesn't just study how to grow a better bean—he travels the globe to convince international buyers why U.S. and Upper Midwest soybeans are the smartest purchase they can make. If you’ve ever been frustrated by the "low protein" knock on Minnesota soybeans, this episode is a must-listen. In this episode, we dive into: Busting the "Crude Protein" Myth: Seth explains why buying soybeans based purely on crude protein (nitrogen content) is an outdated practice. Discover the science behind why Northern soybeans, despite having lower overall protein quantity, boast a superior quality due to a concentration of highly digestible essential amino acids. Boots on the Ground in Asia: Get a look at recent trade missions to I...

By Liz Stahl, Extension Educator – Crops, Jeff Coulter, Extension Corn Agronomist and Seth Naeve, Extension Soybean Agronomist Economics are top of many farmers’ minds as the 2026 planting season is upon us. Although there are forces at work affecting key input costs that are out of an individual’s control, things one can do to help optimize returns was the topic of discussion on the March 25 Strategic Farming: Let’s Talk Crops program. Dr. Jeff Coulter, UMN Extension Corn Agronomist, and Dr. Seth Naeve, UMN Extension Soybean Agronomist, joined moderator Matt Pfarr, UMN Extension Educator in Crops, to discuss strategies as we prepare for the 2026 planting season. Optimizing corn returns Consider crop rotation effects Researchers who studied 750,000 USDA Risk Management Agency yield records from across the nation for the impact of rotation on corn yield (2007-2012) found there was an average of a 4.3% yield penalty for planting corn continuously. This yield penalty was more severe in ar...

Eric Burkness, Research scientist, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Sally Raymond, UMN Pesticide Safety and Environmental Education Extension educator & Tana Haugen-Brown, UMN Pesticide Safety and Environmental Education Extension educator Figure 1. Soybean field being sprayed with pesticide. Over-the-top dicamba use returns to Minnesota for the 2026 season. On Feb. 6, the EPA approved the federal registrations for the following dicamba products Engenia® Herbicide (EPA Reg. No: 7969-507) , Stryax™ with VaporGrip® Technology (EPA Reg. No: 264-1241) , and Tavium® Plus VaporGrip® Technology (EPA Reg. No: 100-1753) 1 .  The new registrations are for over-the-top (OTT) use on dicamba-tolerant (DT) soybeans for the 2026 and 2027 growing seasons (Figure 1). New mitigation measures are required for use to reduce drift, minimize volatility, and protect the environment. As in previous years, state-specific restrictions will be in place for OTT applications of dicamba in Minnesota. Th...