Enhancing Soil Health to Improve Nutrient Management
Regardless of your operation’s soil health system, nutrient management is impacted by it in one way or another. There’s no debate that improving crop yield, soil health and water quality is synonymous with good nutrient stewardship and heightened conservation practices. Achieving sustainable crop productivity depends on minimizing disturbance and maximizing nutrient use efficiency. For years, we believed nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and soil organic matter content are good predictors of plant growth and high functioning soil, but that is no longer true. “Contrary to belief, the fungal-bacteria ratio is the best indicator of soil health,” says Doug Peterson, Regional Soil [...]
Planning for Success: G.R.I.T.
The fifth and final week of the Agribusiness Management Program (AMP) Summer Webinar Series featured Bob Rhea, CEO of Illinois FBFM. Rhea presented on the elements of G.R.I.T. that farmers have demonstrated and will need to continue to focus on to ensure success of their operations. G – GRIND to succeed Each of the previous few years has brought a set of unique challenges that force farmers to grind through tough situations to make ends meet. 2020 has taught us that we all need to be prepared and flexible enough to work differently than we may be used to. [...]
Why Are My Soybeans Turning Yellow?
For many, the arrival of September brings anticipation of school, fall sports, a variety of pumpkin flavored beverages and beautiful fall weather. In agriculture, September ushers in rapidly maturing crops and the culmination of the successes and disappointments of the 2020 season. Soybean fields beginning to turn color are an indication that harvest is fast approaching, yet yellowing or leaf senescence can be caused by a variety of agronomic issues in addition to being a natural maturation process. Let’s explore what causes soybean leaf senescence and how to identify some of the causes of premature leaf senescence. Pre-mature senescence [...]
Soil Biology: Shaping the Future of Your Farm
In recent years, regenerative agriculture has been all the buzz. While the concept is not new, awareness of enhanced soil biology is more prevalent now than ever. So, how do you achieve soil that’s not only deep and rich in color, but also draws down carbon and is resilient in the face of numerous issues? There’s no single solution, but healthy soil practices can rebuild organic matter and restore degraded soil biodiversity. Currently in the U.S., 1.6 billion metric tons of topsoil erodes every year, according to Dr. Kris Nichols, soil microbiologist, KRIS Systems Education & Consultation. If that [...]
Much Ado About Bean Leaf Beetles
In my most recent ILSoyAdvisor post, while discussing late-season scouting for insects, I mentioned bean leaf beetles. I wrote that they rarely are present in high enough numbers to warrant control action. But once again 2020 has thrown a curveball at us, and there are numerous reports in the central and northern portions of Illinois of heavy infestations of this normally minor pest. The damage can be significant in some cases, so how can a farmer decide whether a spray will be cost-effective in the current, challenging commodity environment? First, the pest Adult bean leaf beetles are around ¼-inch [...]
Potassium’s Critical Role in Soybean Production
Potassium is critical in determining soybean yields as it supports protein synthesis, turgor potential and stomatal function, and increases enzyme activation. Potassium deficiency starts by yellowing at the leaf tip and continues down the leaf margins to the base; symptoms start on older leaves first. Photo credit: fieldcropnews.com In soil, the majority of potassium is not readily available. Thus, applications must be made to support the plant. This is critical because once deficiency symptoms show up during the growing season a corrective treatment doesn’t return on the investment. For the future soybean crop, potassium fertilizers can be added to the [...]
Look Beyond Cash Rent: Growing Your Leased Acres
The second webinar in week four of the Agribusiness Management Program (AMP) Summer Webinar Series featured Jonah Kolb from Moore & Warner Ag Group. Kolb presented on what farmers can do to grow their leased acres and position themselves to be a counterparty of choice for farm managers or investors. Before jumping into specific tips for farmers, Kolb offered some common myths that may cause farmers to lose focus in this area of their business: I don’t need to grow to survive. While it may not always be necessary to grow your acreage, some type of growth is necessary, [...]
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