A corn refuge is the key component of an Insect Resistance Management (IRM) plan. Proper implementation of an IRM plan is important and mandatory for corn products that contain B.t. (Bacillus thuringiensis) technology or insect protection traits. Grower compliance is critical to the success of an IRM plan, and new requirements have been incorporated in refuge assurance programs for the 2012 growing season.
Questions arise every year regarding effects of seed size and shape on plantability and yield potential. Following manufacturers’ recommendations and considering tools to enhance plantability can help limit the risk of poor plantability. If plantability concerns related to seed size are managed properly, the effect of seed size may not significantly affect yield potential under most conditions.
Nutrients are required for water transport and photosynthesis processes, and protein and oil production in the plant. Nutrient deficiencies are one of the causes of leaf discoloration and/or chlorosis that might be observed in a soybean field and can decrease plant growth and reduce yield potential. It is beneficial to understand the function of a nutrient and identify deficiency symptoms to know when to apply corrective steps. Diagnoses from visible symptoms should be confirmed with results from soil tests and plant tissue analysis in some cases.
Higher corn yields mean more minor nutrients are removed from the soil; thus, minor nutrient deficiencies may occur. Starter fertilizer is one way to help ensure nutrient availability to the crop early in the season. While sulfur (S) and zinc (Zn) are needed in smaller quantities than nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), it is important to acknowledge their contribution to corn development. Including S or Zn with starter fertilizer is being examined as a way to improve yield potential.
Agronomic Spotlight – Corn Starter Fertilizer with Sulfur or Zinc
Like most other things in agriculture, soybean seed size is determined by the interaction of genetics and environment. Hot and dry conditions, such as those experienced in some parts of the U.S. during the 2011 growing season, can result in smaller seed. Planting smaller seed may require adjustments to planting equipment.
Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) is considered one of the top four yield robbing diseases in soybeans. Yield losses from SDS have ranged from slight to nearly 100%, depending on disease onset and severity. Average yield losses in the United States were estimated at $190 million a year. Managing SDS includes several steps to potentially reduce its impact on soybean yield potential.
Agronomic Spotlight – Integrated Management for Sudden Death Syndrome in Soybean
Crop residue in continuous corn can be difficult to manage. If residue is not dealt with, it can decrease seed to soil contact, emergence, and vigor. Residue can also tie up nitrogen (N) during much of the season making it unavailable to the corn crop. Additionally, residue can harbor disease pathogens. While the speed of residue degradation is heavily influenced by weather and the environment, there are actions that can be taken during and after harvest, as well as in the spring to help decrease the negative effects of excessive crop residue.
Agronomic Spotlight – Managing the Effects of Crop Residue in Continuous Corn
Purple seed stain and Cercospora leaf blight are caused by the fungus Cercospora kikuchii. Both phases of the disease are favored by wet conditions late in the season. With severe weather in August and September affecting the Southeast U.S. and East Coast, purple seed stain is showing up in soybean growing areas from Louisiana and Mississippi to Missouri….
Dry weather and other stress factors can lead to premature ear drop. Scouting fields and planning for a timely harvest can help minimize preharvest losses. Weather stress can be a key factor of ear drop issues. Generally, the problem is most severe when extreme high temperatures occur at R1 (silking). These conditions can result in a weak shank attachment. Plants can recover from the initial stress at early R1 and produce normal grain on the upper part of the ear. Physically, this produces more weight on the ear tip than the weakened shank can support. The result can be ear drop shortly before normal harvest would occur.
Deciding the appropriate moisture level to harvest corn is often an economic decision, weighing excess harvest losses against energy costs for drying corn. Growers should consider the risk of severe lodging and yield losses when making harvest timing decisions.
Agronomic Spotlight – Considering Corn Harvest Losses and Drying Costs
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