Soybean disease on agenda of 2025 Midwest Crops Conference in St. Joseph

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – At the Midwest Crops Conference, growers can learn about a soybean disease confirmed for the first time in Missouri. The two-day event is Jan. 21-22, 2025, at Stoney Creek Hotel in St. Joseph. University of Missouri Extension state plant pathologist Mandy Bish will discuss how red crown rot disease can significantly affect soybean yields.

Midwest Crops Conference set for Jan. 21-22

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The Midwest Crops Conference promises updates from three Midwestern universities on ways to improve farm yields and profits in 2025. “This conference offers a comprehensive exploration of current and critical crop topics,” says Denice Ferguson, agricultural business and policy specialist with University of Missouri Extension.

Strip trials an effective way to test nitrogen rates on cornfields

COLUMBIA, Mo. – On-farm strip trials are an effective way for farmers to test their nitrogen fertilizer rate on corn. “A wet May has lots of farmers wondering about the nitrogen status of their corn crop,” said John Lory, University of Missouri Extension nutrient management specialist. “Wet conditions and warm soils can lead to nitrogen loss of fertilizer.”

MU Extension to hold crop and forage chat in Palmyra

PALMYRA, Mo. - Producers in northeastern Missouri can hear crop and forage updates from University of Missouri Extension specialists at a free event in August.The MU Extension Crop and Forage Chat will be 9-11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 11, at the Shawn Kiefaber/Kenny Lovelace Farm, 1 mile west of Palmyra, off U.S. 61 on County Road 318. In the event of rain, the event will move to the fairgrounds livestock barn at Flower City Park, 1000 W. New…

MU Strip Trial Program sees results in foliar fungicide applications

COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Integrated Pest Management coordinator Mandy Bish often hears farmers say, “A treated acre is an acre I’m not losing sleep over.”That is a good mindset for residual herbicide applications, she says, but it may or may not pay off when it comes to foliar fungicides, depending upon circumstances.

Managing potassium and phosphorus when prices are high

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Farmers understand fertilizer prices fluctuate with time. “We are living through a substantial shift in potassium and phosphorus prices, from low prices in the 2020 growing season to the highest prices in the past decade for fertilizer purchased now for the 2022 growing season,” says John Lory, University of Missouri Extension nutrient management specialist.

Should soybean be planted before corn? MU research still favors corn

COLUMBIA, Mo. – In recent years, the agriculture community began discussing whether it makes sense to plant soybean first and delay corn planting.The University of Missouri Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute predicts a 7% increase in soybean acres planted in 2021. That leaves farmers wondering whether they could, or should, plant soybean before corn.

MU Strip Trial Program seeks participants for fertilizer trials

COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension is looking for farmers to participate in fertilizer trials as part of the “MU Certified” Strip Trial Program.MU Extension nutrient management specialist John Lory, who leads the program, said this year’s farmer panel approved trials focused on improving management of fertilizer in corn and soybean rotations, wheat and forages.

New MU plant pathologist talks seed treatments and SCN

COLUMBIA, Mo. – New University of Missouri Extension plant pathologist Kaitlyn Bissonnette brings research on soybean cyst nematode (SCN) management to Missouri.SCN numbers are growing in Missouri as farmers devote more acres to soybean production. SCN infests about 75 percent of Missouri fields, according to a recent survey by MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources researcher Melissa Mitchum. Many of these fields have…