Nutrient runoff from agricultural production is a significant source of water pollution in the U.S., and climate change that produces extreme weather events is likely to exacerbate the problem. A new study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign looks at how extreme rainfall impacts runoff and suggests possible mitigation strategies.

In a new study from the University of Illinois, scientists document waterhemp’s resistance to yet another class of herbicides, known as Group 15s. The study provides the first documentation of a non-grass plant to be resistant to Group 15 herbicides.

If soils are too acidic, phosphorus reacts with iron and aluminum, making it unavailable to plants. But if soils are too alkaline, phosphorus reacts with calcium and also becomes inaccessible. However, liming can influence other ways by which phosphorus might become available to plants.

It’s clear that the spring of 2018 is not going to be one that allows a very early start for field operations.

Preventing off-target dicamba movement during application is the responsibility of the applicator, but what is less-than-clear is how far from the treated field off-target extends.

Research aims to track the contributing factors of nutrient management practices, such as cover crops, reducing nitrogen use and wood chip bioreactors.

If you’re running a farm yourself or managing someone else’s operation, yes, you’re a farmer, but you’re also a businessperson. After all, whether it’s a smaller, family-owned venture or a larger, corporate enterprise, the end game is some form of profitability.

Corn and soybean take up relatively large amounts of phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), and much of this P and K ends up in the grain that is taken off the field during harvest. In order to keep soil nutrient levels from dropping over time, the amounts removed need to be replaced by applying fertilizer or manure. In order to know how much nutrient a crop removes, we need to know how much there is in a bushel of harvested grain.