Ever wonder how different tillage practices can affect weed management? Find out in this video. 
 

Planting depth for row crops is a main topic of discussion in the agricultural community. Beck’s PFR team has heard your questions and in response, has put planting depth to yet another test. You may have seen our planting depth data over the last few years, but this year we added a second planting date into the mix. For this study, we planted corn in April and in May. In April, we tend to see cooler, wetter soils whereas in May we sometimes experience drier periods with less rainfall and warmer soil temperatures. Soil temperature and moisture have a great effect on how plants emerge. In this study, we looked to evaluate how much soil conditions can affect plant emergence, and how much yield potential we lose with late-emerging plants.

#AskPFR:

How long can corn seed survive in the ground? 

February is a very busy month for most farmers. For those of us growing wheat, it is the time to start scouting and planning applications of our first round of nitrogen (N) to this year’s crop. The teams at the many of Beck’s Practical Farm Research (PFR)® sites, including Kentucky, are conducting a number of N studies this year including rates, timing, and forms. 

Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) has become a huge threat to farmers as it is one of the top yield-robbing diseases in the Midwest. And in years with weather swings and volatility like in 2016, the yield losses can be devastating. The most unfortunate thing about SDS is that once you have it in your fields, there is no rescue treatment or fungicide to slow its growth or reverse its affects. The best defense against SDS is to protect your crop from the start. And there is no better way to do that than with the use of ILeVO®.

As wheat harvest approaches, there are a few important things to keep in mind. First, we want to harvest wheat after the dough stage has passed. You can determine if your wheat is past this stage by threshing a wheat head in your hand and placing the seed either in your mouth or between your fingernail and forefinger. If the wheat is past the dough stage, it will be firm and not easily torn in two.   

Being a Beck’s Production Intern is far more than just scouting fields. I found this out for myself when I had a chance to tag along with Kaitlin and Brandt, two of this year’s interns, earlier this week. In just a few short hours, I got an up-close look at Beck’s Production Agronomy Department.

A hot topic for farmers throughout Ohio is soybean planting populations. After the mid-May planting period, we recommend that farmers increase plant populations by 10,000 to 15,000 each week past May 15.