The tales of young, tech-savvy entrepreneurs launching new ventures out of Silicon Valley are common. But what about three 20-something brothers who live — not in some high tech mecca — but near the small community of Wilderado, Texas, who started a new business venture?

After 30 years of rapidly expanding agriculture, South America is turning its focus from developing new fields to taking better care of those already in production. Victor Trucco remembers his father saying that soybeans would never be grown in their area. Yet Trucco became the first person to grow soybeans not long after he returned to the home farm in the mid-1960s.

Delayed maturity of corn due to late planting or simply cool growing seasons often translates into delayed or slow drydown of mature corn grain prior to harvest and, consequently, higher than desired grain moisture contents at harvest.

The latest outcome from the August 1 storm in Clay County is the germination of "good" kernels left on the ears that have been damaged by hail.

Corn is now in the seed filling growth stages (R2-R5) when nutrient demands are put on plant leaves as the seed kernels develop.

Plants in many fields have heavy ears, along with shallow roots because of abundant rainfall, and many of these plants could topple easily as they mature, especially if a late-season storm with high winds blows across the field.