All posts in Mid-Atlantic

Soybean Planting Tips to Start the Season Right
April 6, 2017 · No comments

With spring in sight, soybean planting is just around the corner. As growers begin planning for the season, they should consider these tips before getting out into the field: Plant early: Typically, most soybeans are planted between late April and early May. In a Purdue University study, soybeans that were planted in early May consistently produced higher yields than those planted later, across all regions in Indiana. However, before planting, growers should make sure to...

4 Winter Wheat Management Tips
April 5, 2017 · No comments

With areas of the country experiencing warmer weather earlier than normal, winter wheat is already breaking dormancy. If you are seeing this in your winter wheat fields, here are four areas to pay attention to as green-up continues: Determine soil nutrients. Nitrogen is a key component to winter wheat. The Michigan State University Extension recommends answering two questions – Can N be delivered to the plant in a timely fashion? And, can opportunities for N...

You’ve made your corn seed investment. Now what?
March 29, 2017 · No comments

The list of factors that can impact yield during the season is a long one, which is why it’s critical to begin with as much yield potential as possible. Careful preparation and planning now – before the seed hits the soil – will go a long way toward end-of-season success. With corn planting just around the corner, here are some key things to keep in mind: Note the genetics. Growers should get to know their...

Pest Alert: Rust Strikes Wheat in Multiple Regions
March 13, 2017 · No comments

Wheat growers across the U.S. need to be prepared for stripe rust this season. Already having been identified in multiple regions, it’s important to be on the lookout for this disease, especially as temperatures get warmer. According to the University of Wisconsin, wheat growers should be prepared for continued stripe rust pressure throughout the Midwest this season. Since this disease has already been confirmed in Nebraska in late January, it’s likely that stripe rust will...

Managing Phytophthora Blight in Peppers
March 10, 2017 · No comments

According to Penn State University Extension, Phytophthora blight may be the worst disease vegetable growers can encounter. It can be bad enough that some growers consider selling their Phytophthora infested farms and moving to a ‘clean’ farm. When this disease sneaks into your fields, it settles in with the intentions of establishing a permanent home. According to the same article, Phytophthora blight can live in the soil for 7 or more years by setting up its own...

Expect These Top Soybean Pests in 2017
March 9, 2017 · No comments

With record-shattering temperatures and the warmest February the South and Midwest have experienced in years, expect a season full of yield-robbing pests. Kelly Estes, agricultural pest survey coordinator with the University of Illinois, in a recent Prairie Farmer article, named top pests to pay extra attention to going into the 2017 growing season. One pest to be scouting for early on is the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), which could wreak havoc on soybeans. With...

Watermelon Vine Health is Key to Increasing Yields
February 16, 2017 · No comments

Maintaining healthy vines is key to increasing watermelon yields and profits. According to a University of Georgia Cooperative Extension vegetable specialist, healthy vines supply more energy and photosynthate to fruit, and also increase the length of harvests and the size of the fruit. They also help control sunburn. What can you do to protect vines and increase profit? Experts recommend the following: Turn vines back in drive rows Avoid trampling vines when walking through fields...

Fight Herbicide Resistance in Soybeans
February 8, 2017 · No comments

From giant ragweed in Minnesota to Palmer pigweed in Mississippi, the reality is that there are a number of herbicide-resistant weeds in soybean fields across the U.S. Herbicide-resistant weed species can become a serious problem when a single herbicide or when multiple herbicides with similar modes of action are used repeatedly – this puts pressure on species to develop resistance. Uncontrolled weeds compete with crops for water, nutrients and sunlight, and have the potential to...

Five Considerations for Planning Corn Weed Control Programs
February 7, 2017 · No comments

It might not look identical from state to state, town to town or even field to field, but weed pressure is just about everywhere. According to an Iowa State University Extension field agronomist, weeds are developing herbicide resistance faster than ever. Since no new herbicides are expected to solve these resistance issues in the near future, it’s important to use current options as effectively as possible. We recommend planning a comprehensive weed control program that...