Corn hybrid selection and fertility planning are key in alkaline, or high pH, soils. High-pH soils reduce the availability of plant nutrients, including zinc, iron and phosphorus. Interveinal yellow stripes on middle to upper leaves are signs of iron deficiency, while white stripes on young leaves are characteristic of zinc deficiency. Dark green or purple coloring of lower leaves indicates phosphorus deficiencies.

Fertilizer programs should begin with accurate soil testing. Growers who can self-sample reduce costs and better understand their soil situations. Review best practices so your samples lead to more reliable results and more educated management decisions.

As corn’s fifth micronutrient, boron is often an afterthought. Boron’s impact is most felt when it’s not available. Deficiencies or a complete absence of boron can cause stalks to become barren, ears to twist and yield to suffer. Monitor your crop for these symptoms and take action if a deficiency is determined to be present.

Utilizing winter cover crops for hay and corn production allows you to realize soil conservation benefits while increasing dry matter production per acre. Proper cover crop management in the spring can ensure the subsequent corn crop is successful, as well.

Between the V3 and V5 growth stages, corn transitions from deriving energy directly from the seed to acquiring energy from sunlight through photosynthesis. Visual appearances during these stages offer clues to overall plant health.

Many farmers feel it is a greater agronomic benefit to apply nitrogen (N) in the spring rather than in the fall, because it coincides with the nitrogen needs of the corn crop. With this thought, a key question of many growers is, “Is a spring nitrogen stabilizer application still needed?”

Nitrogen (N) can be lost from the soil between application and crop uptake. By managing applications, you can maximize yield by making sure N is available when corn plants need it most.

Before planting, producers planning to use Mycogen^® brand BMR and TMF corn hybrids should carefully select which fields will be used for corn silage in order to maximize quality and yield.

The optimum time to select corn hybrids for the next season is often in the fall, shortly after harvest is complete and your observations from harvest are still fresh in your mind or can be reviewed in your records. Additionally, early ordering often can help ensure availability of hybrids and seed sizes that best fit your farming practices.

Harvesting corn for silage leaves little plant residue on the ground to help control water runoff and soil erosion. A cover crop either interseeded before or planted immediately after silage harvest will help protect the soil from wind and heavy rains. An established cover crop also helps improve soil structure and uptake of nutrients.

When corn planting is delayed due to inclement weather and poor field conditions, you can still take advantage of the compressed growing season and achieve reasonable yield results by adjusting your hybrid selection and managing cropping activities with later planting dates.

When corn planting is delayed due to inclement weather and poor field conditions, you can still take advantage of the compressed growing season and achieve reasonable yield results by adjusting your hybrid selection and managing cropping activities with later planting dates.

An accurate soil map is important when efficiently managing fields and soil fertility levels. Grid sampling is an effective soil sampling method to use when fields have a high number of soil types or textures, and when previous cropping and management practices have changed or are unknown.

Demand for higher grain yields are helping to reinforce the importance of healthy, robust corn crops. Using a starter fertilizer can increase early plant growth, nutrient uptake and yield potential, as well as improve overall plant health. What is the best approach to applying a starter fertilizer?

Since the adoption of corn hybrids with biotechnology traits, growers have continued to see more consistent 200-bushel-plus corn crops in past seasons. However, increased yields have created the challenge of dealing with increased levels of residue when planting next year’s crop.

Each year, alfalfa stands risk being injured or killed by cold temperatures, ice sheets or heaving. Evaluating alfalfa stands for winter injury is crucial to crop rotation decisions.

As alfalfa stands age and thin, production can drop. Typically fields begin to decline in their third year of production. Field evaluation helps identify less profitable fields that need to be targeted for replacement.

Soil acidity is one of the primary fertility issues that can limit crop growth. High levels of acid can reduce nutrient availability, restrict root growth and increase the toxicity of some elements. Soil acidification occurs naturally as the result of rainfall, plant growth, breakdown of organic matter and the application of ammonia fertilizers. Applying lime reduces soil acidity and is a source of calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg).

Crop harvest removes valuable nutrients from the soil. Understanding the amount of nutrients removed is crucial to understanding how to fertilize for the highest yield potential next season. With high input costs, it can be tempting to skimp on nutrients to save cost. Over time, however, this approach can reduce yield potential and profitability.

Ensuring fertility is critical to maximizing sunflower yield and profit, but applying fertilizer improperly could result in crop damage and yield loss. Soil tests can help determine nutrient availability and deficiencies.

Poor nitrogen (N) application methods or application timing could result in a shortage of available N to meet your corn crop’s needs next season. Understanding proper N application methods can help maximize N efficiency on your operation.

Fair weather along with an early harvest provides conditions conducive for growers to fall-apply manure to their fields. Before applying manure, review your nutrient management plan to determine the appropriate amounts of nutrients needed to improve success in selected fields.

Grain sorghum is an attractive crop because of its water-use and nutrient efficiency. Before planting grain sorghum, consider the various environmental aspects and agronomic factors essential for high yield potential.

Iron deficiency chlorosis (IDC) of soybeans is a physiological disease caused by iron deficiency capable of sizable reductions in yield potential. Know and understand how to mitigate your risks.

Mastering foliar fertilizer application methods and timing help maximize your crop’s efficiency. Follow these guidelines for proper foliar fertilizer application.

Nutrient deficiency symptoms are not always caused by a lack of nutrients in the soil. Other factors can be to blame, such as poor root development, unfavorable soil conditions or weather. Plant tissue sampling helps identify the problem and determine corrective action.

Weed control is a bigger challenge in mixed forage crops than in monoculture. Overcome the challenge with proper stand establishment and aggressive management.

Applying a portion of your crop’s nitrogen (N) requirement with irrigation water is a best management practice to reduce nitrate leaching in coarse soils. New irrigation technology systems have made the process of chemigating easier.