NEWS

In this GROW Farmer Forum, panelists led a discussion of the current state of drone scouting, mapping and herbicide applications for weed management, as well as the future of the technology. Dr. Steve Li, of Auburn University, served as the moderator, alongside panelist Rick Jordan, of CNY Drone Services.

The Soy Envoys provide an update on planting progress across Illinois, with both corn and soybeans at 11 percent completion as of April 21st. They discuss emerging concerns such as weed pressure, pest sightings, cover crop termination, and adhering to herbicide labels.

The EPA issued an update on the Herbicide Strategy, including more options for conservation measures and improved mapping to identify areas requiring practices. By using four tiers to describe mitigation effectiveness, the EPA aims to reduce the areas mandating specific conservation practices. The agency plans to release the complete strategy by August 30th.

Stephanie Porter shares more about identifying earthworm egg cocoons, emphasizing their role in soil health. She explains how lack of earthworms in a field doesn't always signify poor soil quality, and factors like soil type, pH, and moisture levels impact earthworm populations in agricultural fields.

As the 2024 growing season begins in Illinois, the Illinois Fertilizer & Chemical Association (IFCA) reminds applicators that the dicamba use restrictions mandated by the Illinois Department of Agriculture remain unchanged from those in 2023. Annual dicamba label training remains a prerequisite before applying dicamba over-the-top of soybeans.

Illinois Soybean Association Outreach Agronomist, Stephanie Porter, CCA, shares the challenges of winter annual weeds, highlighting henbit and purple deadnettle as alternative hosts of soybean cyst nematode. Research suggests that managing winter annuals in the fall, applying residual herbicides, and removing winter weeds before planting are crucial strategies for management.