Although insect pest problems have been relatively minor this year, farmers should stay vigilant and continue to scout corn and soybean.

Correcting acid soil conditions through the application of lime can have a significant impact on crop yields, especially with alfalfa. Liming is one of the most essential, but often overlooked, management decisions a producer can make.

A journal article published recently (July 2014) confirms that rotation-resistant and rotation-susceptible western corn rootworms are affected by Bt root tissue in a similar fashion.

As early corn comes to market in July, growers are reminded that timing counts for a lot when it comes to planting corn. That's why Mississippi State University scientists are researching the effects of planting date, plant population and hybrid selection on field corn yields.

Summer is in full swing. Soybeans are beginning to bloom, corn is tasseling and sunflowers will start to show their flashy yellow flowers soon.

Following the field day at western last week, we received some excellent questions about the pathogen that causes frogeye leaf spot.

To till or not to till? Mini-Cassia farmers are answering that question as more lean toward alternative methods to grow crops. Always looking for a way to boost crop yields and reduce water usage, many farmers are shaking up the established method of preparing fields and planting seeds. Greater yields, less water use and richer soil are some primary benefits they see from new methods.

Soybean aphid colonization has been slow to start this year, however, we are beginning to get reports of soybean aphids in southwest Minnesota and a few other states.

As you travel over your field with your herbicide this season, you may be considering adding a fungicide to that pass. If so, there are a few things to think about. In general, early fungicide applications on corn (V5-V7) have not been shown to provide much yield benefit over no treatment (average is +1 bushel per acre). In repeated trials across the country, we see the best opportunity for yield response with a treatment at tassel (average: +8 bushels per acre). However, there are some situations in which an early treatment may be more economical.

We recorded our first western bean cutworm moth capture in Nebraska at Concord on July 7, and a western bean cutworm egg mass was reported in Adams County the same day.