5
Oct
2021
Tar Spot is a relatively new disease in the US but is one that can cause severe yield loss if conditions are right.
Categories: Agronomy, Agronomy Talk
Tags: Beck's Agronomy, Beck's, Corn Disease, tar spot
12
May
2020
This agronomy brief covers the damage caused by the most common early-season corn pests, how to identify them, and how to manage them.
Tags:
3
2019
Harvesting downed corn is one of the worst jobs on the farm. Year in and year out, there are many abiotic stresses or plant pathogens that will affect standability and ease of harvesting a corn crop. One of the most prevalent issues causing decreased standability of corn is the presence of crown rot and stalk rots. These diseases take advantage of compromised stalk tissue, and degrading it below the ear causing lodging and stalk breakage. There are, however, ways to improve the process of harvesting downed corn that can make it much smoother.
Tags: harvest, corn, Agronomy, stalk rot, down corn, standability
1
Mar
The planter pass is the most important pass of the season. It sets the stage for everything else. Equally important is the time spent doing planter maintenance, prep, and set up. Each planter or row unit manufacturer has specific guidelines as to how to set and adjust specific equipment, so always reference the owner’s manual, but the following holds true for most planting implements.
Tags: planting, planter prep, #plant19, equipment preparation, planter preparation
Apr
2017
With planting just days away, now is a great time to look over your final planting details to ensure you are setting yourself up for maximum yield potential with the upcoming crop. Becks Practical Farm Research (PFR)® continues to provide us with unbiased guidelines and insights to help maximize yield and return on investment (ROI) on every acre.
Categories: Agronomy, N Illinois, S. Wisconsin
Tags: planting, Practical Farm Research, Agronomy, Planting Depth, Illinois Agronomy, PFR, Wisconsin Agronomy, Jon Skinner, Planting Date, AgChat
Every year when the calendar flips to April, I sit back and think about how awesome it would be if I could tell you the exact crop plan and weather to obtain maximum yields in the season ahead. Sadly, I can’t do that, but I can at least pass on a few reminders that will set the foundation for a high-yielding crop. In my opinion, the planter pass is the most important pass of the season, and should be treated as such.
Categories: Agronomy Talk
21
Feb
With unseasonably warm weather predicted over the next week in northern Illinois and Wisconsin, I anticipate seeing equipment hit the field for early spring field work. These early field applications can benefit any farming operation when done properly. Patience is very important as most of the compaction during a season occurs with the first pass of the year.
19
2016
For most farmers in Wisconsin and northern Illinois, the spring planting season seems like a long distant look into the future, but prepping for that time should start from the seat of the combine. With increases in yield, plant population and stalk quality, residue management has become one of the most important aspects of farming.
23
Sep
As harvest progresses, it’s important to take time to look at what the corn crop has to tell us. Walk your fields and evaluate hybrids for disease, stalk quality, and nutrient deficiencies. Not only will a last minute scouting session help us evaluate the farming and management practices implemented this past year, but it will also help us plan for harvest work. Now is also the time to explore options for residue management and fertilizer decisions.
22
Conditions throughout many parts of Wisconsin and northern Illinois have been favorable for the development of corn ear molds. Ear molds are of particular concern because of the adverse effects they can have on grain storage. They also result in the development of mycotoxins, which can have detrimental effects on feed value and animal health.
Tags: harvest, corn harvest, Agronomy, Ear Rot, Illinois Agronomy, Wisconsin Agronomy, vomitoxin, Ag Chat, Ag Talk, Jon Skinner, corn ear molds, mycotoxins, evaluating ear molds, corn ear rot, Diplodia Ear Rot, kernel mold, Fusarium Ear Rot, fumonisins, Gibberella Ear Rot, zearalenone, pink mold on corn, Aspergillus Ear Rot, aflatoxin, kernel moisture, harvest 2016
31
Aug
Greetings, I am Jon Skinner, your new field agronomist for northern Illinois and Wisconsin. Born and raised on a row crop farm in central Illinois, I was ingrained with a passion and fascination for agriculture. This lead me to northern Illinois nearly nine years ago.
Jun
Protecting corn from yield-robbing pests is one of the greatest concerns for farmers each year. From late June to mid-July these pests include foliar diseases and silk clipping insects. Properly managing these pests is crucial, and we can start by getting a better understanding of the economic and agronomic factors of each specific field.
Categories: Agronomy
Tags: corn, Agronomy, Illinois Agronomy, Fungicide, AgTalk. Jon Skinner, Foliar Diseases, Managing Pests