In this video, Jonathan Perkins discusses our 2020 Tillage Weed Management Study which was set up as a prevent plant scenario stemming from the 2019 season.

There is no better time to experience the benefits of water management than after a big rainfall event. And Mother Nature has provided more than enough of those this season.

Fields across the Midwest have been flooded and tractors put on standby as farmers across the Corn Belt waited out torrential rains and wet fields over the last few weeks. Some fields however, fared better than others. Their secret you ask? Well water management of course!

When the combine hits the field, I always feel a sense of accomplishment. On the research farm, harvest is one of the most exciting times of the season. We get to see the results of our hard work come to fruition. During harvest, we remain observant to provide you with agronomic explanations. This season, we will likely see every ditch or change in slope of ground that may have been wet longer. We will take note of this and evaluate how it affects our plots to bring you the most accurate information to help you make better management decisions on your farms! I encourage each of you to do the same on your own fields as you go through harvest.

As excessive rainfall continues to fall in areas across the Midwest, questions are being asked about the impact on crops. Dependent on geography, some areas have been impacted worse than others, and flooding has been a major setback as well. By July 4, some parts of Illinois were yet to be planted and some acres will possibly be preventive planting. In years like this, it is easy to get discouraged. But try to remember that a positive outlook and attitude is a much better option.

In the month of June, corn and soybeans are growing and wheat is nearing harvest. But what else might be growing? Weeds! Yes, those yield robbing pests that must be controlled to maximize yield potential. Hopefully your herbicide program is working flawlessly and you can concentrate on other important matters on your farm. If not, being proactive is a much better management strategy than being reactive. 

Hopefully by now, the snow has melted and the countryside has started to green. The 2015 season is about to begin! Are you ready on your farm? To help keep on target and avoid last minute quick fixes, let’s review a short checklist of what we need to get started.

Thus far in 2014, moderate amounts of field activity have taken place compared to normal. In the state of Illinois, according to the USDA weekly crop progress estimates for the week ending April 13, one percent of the corn crop is planted compared to the recent five year average of 10 percent at this point.

For most parts of southern Illinois, spring pre-plant nitrogen applications began around the end of March and were completed in some areas before storms put a halt on progress in the first week of April. A small amount of corn was also planted in that timeframe. From I-70 to the south, wheat fields have moved right along in light of recent warm weather and are looking much better than initially expected coming out of the harsh winter we experienced. To the north of I-70, most wheat is looking better, although advancing slower.

Looking ahead, please keep agronomics in mind with all field activities. Even though the calendar says it is time, the right soil conditions and environment play a huge role in the success of your 2014 crops!