Minnesota Crop News

By Liz Stahl, Extension Educator - Crops Join us at the North Central Research and Outreach Center (NCROC) in Grand Rapids (Agronomy Building, 31654 Harristown Road, Grand Rapids) September 19, for a field day highlighting the latest research and information around cover crops and perennial pasture management. Check-in will start at 8:30 with the field day running from 9:00 to noon, followed by lunch. Topics  Cover crop research Learn about research at the NCROC and across Minnesota on best practices to establish and manage cover crops, and how they may impact long-term crop rotations. See what cover crops are doing below ground, which can have a large impact on water runoff and infiltration. Perennial pasture research Hear the latest on best management practices for perennial pastures and the impacts of forage quality on animal fertility. Tools you can use Use a grazing stick to estimate yield and compare results to scissor cut data. Learn about the latest resources to assi...

Tom Peters, Extension sugarbeet agronomist and weed scientist, Debalin Sarangi, Extension weed scientist, Liz Stahl, Extension educator-crops, and Jeff Stachler, Extension cropping systems specialist, North Dakota State University. Waterhemp surviving late-season application  of Liberty in a Meeker County field. Photo: Debalin Sarangi I see broadleaf weeds standing tall above the canopies of low-growing crops, including sugarbeet, dry bean and soybean, as I travel across the countryside. Many of these escape weeds are waterhemp. Waterhemp has been prolific in eastern North Dakota and Minnesota in 2025 for several reasons, including an abundance of rainfall in the second half of summer.  Producers and other agricultural stakeholders have also noticed and have called my extension office looking for quick-fix solutions. Most are interested in a herbicide treatment that will make waterhemp go away or at minimum, reduce seed set. The logical candidate herbicides asked about inclu...

by Robert Koch, Extension entomologist, Anthony Hanson, Liz Stahl, Angie Peltier, and Claire LaCanne, Extension educators - crops The heavy rains and high temperatures have held soybean aphid numbers in check through much of the season. However, we are now seeing aphid numbers increasing rapidly in some fields. It is especially important to be scouting your soybean fields now and to make wise decisions about application of insecticides for soybean aphid. To assist you, the information below is updated from our Crop News article from last summer. Be thorough when scouting Aphids are likely distributed throughout the height of the canopy (not just on upper leaves), so examine entire plants. Scout weekly Weekly scouting of fields is often recommended, but more frequent scouting may be needed as forecasted weather conditions will be favorable for aphid population growth. Under typical field conditions, the time required for population size to double (doubling time) for soybean aphid has b...

It’s that time of year again; time for the Fall Fertilizer Outlook on the Nutrient Management Podcast . Given the overall economics of crop production right now, how should farmers be approaching their fertilizer decisions this fall? What are some regional differences with respect to fertilizer management this year? There has been a renewed focus on the issue of water quality in Minnesota -- how should this affect farmers’ decision-making? How many fertilizer decisions can be pushed off until spring? All of this and more on today’s show. Read the full transcript Guests: Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato) Lindsay Pease, Extension nutrient and water management specialist (Crookston) Jeff Vetsch, Research supervisor (Waseca) Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul) Additional resources: Are you overspending on fertilizer? Making sense of Minnesota's corn fertilizer guidelines: Frequently asked questions, and answers No P, no problem? Skipping phosp...

Summer is quickly coming to a close and we know you’re busy. That’s why we’ll get right to the point: The University of Minnesota Extension wants to make sure you get the agronomic information you need, exactly when and how you need it. And we can’t do that without your input. With the backing of the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council, we’re running a quick survey to learn how farmers and ag professionals in Minnesota prefer to get their updates. Whether it’s email, social media, field days, podcasts, or something else entirely—we want to hear what works best for you. The tools we use to share information have changed a lot in the past few years, but your time to hunt for that information has only gotten shorter. This survey will help us cut through the noise and make sure we’re reaching you in the ways that actually matter to you. Here’s the deal: Takes about 20 minutes. First 200 active farmers or ag professionals to complete it get a $50 prepaid card. Your feedback sha...

By Haley Johnson, MDA Pesticide Management Unit Supervisor, reviewed by Tana Haugen-Brown, UMN Pesticide Safety and Environmental Education Extension educator, and Sally Raymond, UMN Pesticide Safety and Environmental Education Extension educator Before you graze – check this first When planning to graze livestock on cover crops after herbicide use, it is critical to follow all pesticide label instructions. Understanding the distinction between different types of label statements is essential for making informed and compliant decisions. This is especially true given the presence of grazing livestock has been interpreted to mean that the crop is entering the food chain. Many herbicide labels include one or both of the following: Plant-Back Intervals (PBIs) : These indicate the minimum amount of time after a herbicide application before a particular crop can be planted. PBIs are designed to prevent crop injury due to herbicide residue in the soil. Rotational Crop Restrictions : These ou...

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...