Pivotal Issues Blog

By: Tom Bechman Disease will factor prominently into the story when agronomists summarize the 2016 growing season for corn across the Corn Belt. Especially in the southern half of the Corn Belt, disease reached high levels late in the season. Foliar diseases such as gray leaf spot and southern rust set cornfields up for stalk […]

By: Keith Robinson Guidance offered in Water Temperature and Herbicide Performance is based on research by Purdue University weed scientists who studied the effectiveness of certain herbicides on several weed species when mixed with spray water at various temperatures. The researchers concluded that moderate to warm water — but not hot — was better than cold. […]

By: Southeast Farm Press Planting has come a long way from the days of scattering seeds on the ground and hoping for the best. For two decades, Randy Taylor has paid close attention to new farm equipment technology, especially planters. Taylor is assistant director of agriculture programs at Oklahoma State University. Previously an extension machinery […]

By: Southeast Farm Press Thanks to precision agriculture and advancements in equipment and computing technology, America’s farmers are building a treasure trove of production information that will help fuel future innovation. A new organization, the Agricultural Data Coalition, plans to help farmers better control, manage, and maximize the value of their data. The ADC is […]

By: Weed Science Society of America | Southeast Farm Press You may think weeds resistant to herbicides are a new phenomenon linked to the overuse of glyphosate in genetically engineered crops, but nothing could be further from the truth. Next year will mark the 60th anniversary of the first reports of herbicide-resistant weeds, while this year […]

By: Farm Progress, Nebraska Farmer Balancing risks and rewards when evaluating seed options is more important than ever in times of economic uncertainty and lower commodity prices. Maximizing profitability requires choosing a corn hybrid with traits and disease tolerance packages that match the needs of your field history and environmental conditions. “Choosing the right seed […]

By: Farm Progress, Michigan Farmer Farmers’ Almanac, in partnership with the American Farm Bureau Federation, announces its search for three farmers or ranchers to be recognized as “Farmers’ Almanac Farmer of the Year.” The contest, announced in the special 200th Collector’s Edition of the 2017 Farmers’ Almanac, seeks to recognize and share the dedication, hard […]

By: Kristin M. Gunsolus Farmers, as well as other business owners, have various options when it comes to choosing a form of business organization. Choosing the correct form depends on many considerations, including income tax implications, flexibility, ease and expense of recordkeeping, exit strategy and liability protection. I will focus on using an entity for liability […]

By: Jim Patrico If you plan on buying farm equipment soon, also plan on an in-depth discussion with your lender. That’s the gist of what Jerry Lehnertz, senior vice president of AgriBank Farm Credit in St. Paul, Minnesota, told DTN/The Progressive Farmer recently. During a recent market outlook session, in which experts also discussed emerging […]

By: Farm Progress, The Farmer Nitrogen, an essential nutrient for optimum corn production, can be supplied from soil organic matter, a previous legume crop, livestock manure and commercial fertilizers. However, N management in soils is challenging. Improper use can cause environmental implications. Too often, when these events surface, farmers’ land use practices are questioned by the […]