8
Mar
2021
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.
Categories: Agronomy, Agronomy Talk
Tags:
What do row width and population have to do with weed control? As it turns out, a lot.
19
May
2017
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!
Categories: Agronomy, S Illinois
Tags: Beck's Blog, Beck's Agronomy, Agronomy Update, Beck's Agronomist, Water Management
16
There is no better time to experience the benefits of water management than after a big rainfall event. And Beck’s PFR site in Effingham, IL experienced 7.25 in. of rain over the course of a week.
Categories: Agronomy, PFR, PFR Reports
20
Oct
2015
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.
Categories: Agronomy Talk
Tags: Illinois, harvest, Agronomy, Jonathan Perkins, Agronomy Talk, Fungicide, harvest observations, field drainage
Sep
Wow, what a year 2015 has been! We have now gone from one extreme to the next in areas of southern Illinois. As we enter September and move into harvest, there are some things to take note of out in the field before/as the combine rolls. The biggest observation I have made from the truck is how many weeds are poking up out of fields. This season, some fields did not get timely post applications due to the weather, resulting in waterhemp and other glyphosate resistant weeds rearing their ugly heads. The shining stars this year are the LibertyLink® soybean fields, in particular the fields that had timely pre-applications followed by timely post applications!
Tags: Illinois, Agronomy, Jonathan Perkins, Agronomy Talk, Fungicide, Spray, Yield, Protection, Waterhemp, Weeds, glyphosate resistant weeds
Aug
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.
Tags: Illinois, Agronomy, Jonathan Perkins, Agronomy Talk, flooding fields, stay positive
Jul
As a kid, I remember my dad and grandpa saying “knee high by the 4th of July” was a goal to shoot for with corn. These days, we have corn tasseling or very close to tasseling by then if Mother Nature allows us to get in the field early. So why bring this up?
Tags: Illinois, Agronomy, Jonathan Perkins, Agronomy Talk, Fungicide, Spray, Yield, Protection
Jun
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.
The month of May is a busy time of year for most of us, to say the least. This does not allow much time for scouting, but it is important this time of year. To review some key points, let’s think about the crops in the field in May.
Tags: corn, soybeans, Jonathan Perkins, Southern Illinois, Missouri, Winter Wheat, Spring Scouting, May, Disease, Insects
Apr
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.
Tags: CropTalk, AgTalk, Agronomy, agronomist, Missouri Agronomy, Beck's Agronomist, Agronomy News, AgronomyTalk, Illinois Agronomy, Beck's Jonathan Perkins discusses
2014
Tags: AgTalk, Agronomy, Agronomy Update, Jonathan Perkins
7
Tags: Beck's Hybrids, Agronomy, Beck's Agronomists, Beck's Agronomy, Agronomy Update
1
Well-timed herbicide applications are key to a successful crop and managing resistance. To reduce the potential for weed reproduction and yield loss, it is best to start and stay clean throughout the season. As temperatures warmed up, the winter annual weeds became more noticeable. Burndown applications were made to control them in corn and soybeans, and herbicides were applied to wheat. Preplant/pre-emergence residual applications were also made to prevent weed growth in the early part of the growing season. So how do we maintain that control? Timely post-emergence applications of herbicides are critical to maintaining good weed control. Glyphosate resistant weed species like marestail, waterhemp and Palmer amaranth are difficult to control and must be sprayed prior to reaching a height that reduces herbicide effectiveness. Using herbicides with multiple sites of action are more effective for control as well as preventing further resistance of these weed species. Remember to scout your fields this season to control the weeds before they control your yields.
Tags: Agronomy, Beck's Agronomists, Beck's Agronomy, Agronomy Update
2
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!