Fall is a perfect time to sample soybean fieldso for soybean cyst nematodes

Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief Dave White today visited a family-owned farm in Ohio to announce the start of a USDA effort meant to highlight the benefits of improving and maintaining America's soil.

Dry soil conditions have sparked many questions from growers on how best to establish their winter wheat crop.

In addition to the weed plants, some crop plants have been tested with Ohio populations and found to make good hosts for SCN.

In addition to the weed plants, some crop plants have been tested with Ohio populations and found to make good hosts for SCN.

Emerged volunteer corn at this time of year is normally considered to be a good situation, since all the volunteer plants will winterkill, but if a killing frost does not occur soon, they could be an impediment to farmers who would like to sow wheat this fall.

21st annual gathering of innovative no-tillers in Indianapolis offers valuable management tips from more than 40 speakers over 4 information-packed days in January 2013

With this years drought conditions there is less residue than normal in many fields. In some, the crop was harvested as a forage or cut as silage, leaving very little residue at all. Without residue to absorb the energy of raindrop impact and keep the wind off the soil surface, soil erosion will be greater and surface crusting could be a problem. Also, without the water-conserving residue mulch, soil moisture losses by evaporation will be much higher.

A study published this week by Washington State University research professor Charles Benbrook finds that the use of herbicides in the production of three genetically modified herbicide-tolerant crops - cotton, soybeans and corn - has actually increased. This counterintuitive finding is based on an exhaustive analysis of publicly available data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agriculture Statistics Service. Benbrooks analysis is the first peer-reviewed, published estimate of the impacts of genetically engineered (GE) herbicide-resistant (HT) crops on pesticide use.

More corn acres brought on by high corn prices in recent years could tempt winter wheat growers to plant the crop into corn stubble, but a Purdue Extension pathologist says the practice puts wheat at risk for head scab development.