25
Nov
2020
Data from Beck’s Practical Farm Research (PFR)® studies show that there are several multiple mode of action (MOA) fungicides, that when applied at VT/R1, have provided a positive return on investment (ROI). When applying a fungicide, farmers not only expect to protect their crop from yield-robbing leaf diseases but also to improve late-season standability by reducing stalk rot infection and maximizing harvestability.
Categories: Agronomy, Agronomy Talk
Tags:
11
Feb
Non-GMO corn production requires additional management considerations, particularly in areas with strong insect pressure. With careful planning, scouting, and season-long management, non-GMO corn production can be successful.
29
Apr
2019
In the past, plant nutrition management was largely focused on nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and calcium, since these nutrients are needed in the greatest quantity. Reports and field observations of early-season “striped corn” have become more common across the Midwest over the past decade.
Tags: tissue testing, plant nutrition, striped corn, sulfur in corn, nutrient deficiency, manganese in corn
26
Jun
2018
The corn in my area is at, or approaching, the VT growth stage with plants starting to tassel. It's typically this time of year that I often get a lot of questions regarding fungicides
Categories: Agronomy, E Central Illinois
8
Do you know what herbicide damage in soybeans looks like? Over the past week, I have responded to a number of calls from farmers whose soybeans were showing symptoms of damage from metribuzin herbicide.
Tags: soybeans, Chad Kalaher, Agronomy Update, Illinois Agronomy, Herbicide Damage
23
May
Do you need a refresher on growth staging corn and why it’s important to check the herbicide labels prior to application? What to learn more about what’s happening physiologically to corn at this growth stage and how it can impact your yield this season?
Categories: E Central Illinois
21
Recent scouting has show that the suboptimal planting conditions experienced in McLean County, Illinois are having some impact on the corn crops in the area. As corn approaches the V3 growth stage, I have found that populations are lower than what was planted due to issues with sidewall compaction.
Tags: corn, Chad Kalaher, Agronomy, Illinois Agronomy, sidewall compaction, low populations
17
I wanted to share with you some observations I have seen in corn after fielding some chemical complaints over the last few days.
Tags: corn, Agronomy, Illinois Agronomy, herbicide injury, . Chad Kalaher
15
2017
Many areas of the Midwest have been experiencing a significant amount of dry weather over the last few weeks. Because of this I have received a number of calls and questions from farmers regarding floppy corn (rootless corn) syndrome. In this video, I am in East Central Illinois in a field that was planted on May 10, 2017. Since planting, this area has gone through a significant dry spell, which is uncommon for the area.
Categories: Agronomy, NW Indiana, E Central Illinois
7
While scouting fields in Northwest Illinois last week I assessed a corn field that suffered from severe damage that resulted from a storm that brought 3 in. of rain and softball sized hail when the corn was at the V4 growth stage.
31
Did you know that Septoria brown spot (SBS), also know as brown spot, is the second biggest disease threat to soybean yield after soybean cyst nematodes? Since SBS has the potential to reduce soybean yields more than most farmers and agronomists realize, it's important to implement additional attention and control measures to manage this disease.
While scouting fields these past few weeks I have spotted some presence of soybean Pythium seedling blight across east central Illinois as a result of the cold, wet conditions we have experienced.
1
One of the most common questions this year has been what effects will the warm winter have on crop production for 2017? Will we see increased insect pressure, weeds, diseases, and crop stres? Only time will tell, but the lack of frozen soils usually means more issues with insects and diseases that can overwinter.
Categories: Agronomy Talk
Mar
Beck’s agronomist, Chad Kalaher, provides an update to last week’s wheat webinar on freeze damage.
Categories: Agronomy, NE Illinois, NW Indiana, E Central Illinois
Tags: Chad Kalaher, Agronomy, Agronomy Update, Wheat, freeze damage
19
Oct
2016
With harvest completion just around the corner, fall field work including fertilizer applications and tillage operations will be top priority. If you are applying dry fertilizer this fall, now is the best time to utilize yield maps for VRT applications based on crop removal.
Sep
Categories: Agronomy, NE Illinois, NW Indiana, S. Wisconsin
Tags: Beck's Blog, AgTalk, Chad Kalaher, Agronomy Update, Beck's Agronomist, indiana agronomy, Illinois Agronomy, Winter Wheat, winter kill in wheat, Wisconsin Agronomy, MIDWEST WHEAT, Hessian fly-free date
As the growing season comes to an end, it’s always a good idea to review weather records and the various practices that you experimented with on your farms. Once again, weather events created challenges throughout the 2016 growing season that were beyond our control.
Aug
Disease levels have been low in both corn and soybeans compared to this time last year. In corn, early observations near tasseling showed very light amounts of gray leaf spot, northern corn leaf blight, and common rust. Septoria brown spot has been observed in soybeans.
20
Jul
I have received a number of calls from customers over the past few weeks, so I wanted to provide some updates on a few of the hot topics as we continue to monitor the development of our corn and soybean crops.
Categories: NE Illinois, NW Indiana
Tags: Beck's Blog, AgTalk, Chad Kalaher, Agronomy, Agronomy Update, agronomist, Beck's Agronomist, indiana agronomy, Illinois Agronomy, Fungicide, Insecticide, Disease Development, Nitrogen Uptake
13
During July, many farmers usually focus their attention on weather patterns and hope for timely, adequate rainfall. While weather is usually the single largest contributing factor toward final yield, many management practices should still be considered to help maximize and protect your crop’s yield potential.