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Jason Haegele

Are Your Crops Networking?

In my blog from July 26, 2021, I discussed ‘The Hidden World Beneath Your Feet,’ a look at some of the microscopic inhabitants of the soil that influence soil health and crop productivity. In this article, we will take a closer look at mycorrhizal fungi to understand what they are and why they might be important to crop productivity. Are your crops networking? I am not suggesting that your soybean plants should attend a cocktail party or join a popular online networking app. Instead, I am referring to the presence of mycorrhizal fungi in the soil and the association [...]

By |October 1, 2021|

The Air You Breathe

In last month’s blog ‘The Hidden World Beneath Your Feet,’ we looked at some of the microscopic inhabitants of the soil that influence soil health and crop productivity. In this article, we will take a closer look at how soil microbes participate in soil nitrogen cycling, and ultimately the movement of nitrogen from the atmosphere into forms that enable life on earth. The air you breathe – that may seem like an odd way to begin a discussion about soil biology, but have you ever paused to consider where most of the nitrogen present in our environment is located? [...]

By |September 14, 2021|

The Hidden World Beneath Your Feet

At first glance, soil looks rather uninteresting. It might be brown, red, gray, white, or other colors depending on organic matter content and mineral characteristics, pieces of crop residue may be present, and if you are lucky, you might also see an earthworm. Have you considered, however, that each teaspoon of soil contains billions of bacteria and countless other microscopic organisms? This world, hidden in plain sight, influences many aspects of soil productivity, nutrient cycling, and crop yields. Let’s dive in and take a look! Farmers and gardeners have long recognized that healthy, productive soil is the foundation of [...]

By |July 22, 2021|

Weed Control Using The Xtend Herbicide System

*DISCLAIMER: The Illinois Soybean Association does not make product recommendations and is supportive of the safe use of approved technologies available to farmers.* Dicamba tolerant (Roundup Ready 2 Xtend® and XtendFlex®) soybeans are not new, but the labels for approved dicamba formulations continue to evolve. As in-crop applications of herbicide products like XtendiMax®, Engenia®, and Tavium® begin for the 2021 season, let’s review a few of the key label requirements and application best practices. First introduced in 2016, Roundup Ready 2 Xtend® soybeans (tolerance to glyphosate and dicamba) and the more recent XtendFlex® trait platform (tolerance to glyphosate, dicamba, [...]

By |May 18, 2021|

PODCAST: High-Yielding Soybean Fertility Programs

CCA Soy Envoy, Jason Haegele, joins the show to discuss the components of a high-yielding soybean fertility program. We also discuss application timing and nutrient amounts to help soybean growers make the most of their crops this growing season. ILSoyAdvisor Podcasts · High-Yielding Soybean Fertility Programs

By |May 6, 2021|

Planning For Hungry Soybean Plants

Planting season has begun and with it comes the anticipation of in-season crop management decisions. Optimizing fertility management is one of the cornerstones of a high yielding soybean crop. The knowledge of how much nutrition a soybean plant requires, the timing of when it is taken up, and how the plant distributes nutrients internally are a few of the details that contribute to effective pre-season and in-season crop fertility management planning. A soybean crop is no different than an elite athlete. Before you dismiss this as nonsense, let me explain. High yielding crops and athletes both require balanced nutrition [...]

By |April 23, 2021|

Begin Controlling Weeds Now for 2021 Soybean Acres

The sight of crop fields brightly adorned with blooming weeds in April and May is becoming an increasingly common occurrence in Illinois. While this is not a new observation for no-till fields, particularly in Southern Illinois, winter annual weeds are becoming increasingly common due to a trend toward reduced tillage as well as unpredictable fall and spring weather patterns that may delay planned tillage operations or herbicide applications. While winter annual weed species do not directly compete with the crop during winter months, there are several factors to consider that may make fall control of winter annuals a beneficial [...]

By |October 18, 2020|

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 [...]

By |September 8, 2020|

Fungicide Chemistry 101: What Do All of Those Terms and Chemical Names Mean?

The sights and sounds of airplanes, helicopters and ground sprayers in Illinois corn and soybean fields during July and August usually means one thing: foliar fungicide application season has begun. While fungicides have been common practice in high value crops for many years, the use of these chemistries in row crops like soybean has expanded rapidly during the last 10 to 15 years. There are many excellent articles and sources of data explaining the benefits of using fungicides in corn and soybean, so let’s instead focus on the language of fungicides and a few insights into how fungicides work. [...]

By |August 15, 2020|

Is Your Soybean Crop Thirsty?

Rain. Depending on the season and whether you do not have enough of it or perhaps too much, rain can lead to disappointing failure or a record-breaking crop. Agriculture is inextricably linked with water, yet those of us without irrigation have very little ability to control the amounts and timing of water that our crops receive. It is a critical ingredient to a soybean plant’s growth and development, but fortunately the combination of relatively good soils throughout Illinois and usually ample rainfall allow for high yield potential in many years. From time-to-time, however, rain may be insufficient, and your [...]

By |July 10, 2020|
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