Corn and Soybean Digest

Jen Bennett

Digital Editor

Email jbennett@csdigest.com

Jen grew up in south-central Minnesota and graduated from Minnesota State University, Mankato, with a degree in mass communications. She served as a communications specialist for the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association and Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council, and was a book editor before joining the Corn & Soybean Digest staff.

Articles by Jen Bennett

Tankmix App Available

As you ready for spring planting and spraying, add a new tool to your arsenal: a tankmix app to help manage mix formulas and record what's going on which field and when. Precision Laboratories has launched Mix Tank 2.0, a "complete spray management tool," says Rick Wohlner, president of the company. "We launched 1.0 a year ago and have had over 7,000 downloads. The new version is simple, fast and it works."

Coming Soon To A Field Near You: Corn Pests and Diseases 1

The scene: A beautiful, sunny afternoon. Walking through a flourishing cornfield with strong roots, green leaves and bright silks. Suddenly, clouds roll in, the leaves start browning and shriveling, worms eat away silks, stalks crumble in front of you as rootworms demolish the roots, and charcoal rot erodes the stalks. Your feel-good movie has turned into the latest horror flick.

There’s an App For That | Farm Apps for Smartphones Deliver Valuable Information Now 2

Apps: They’re not just a restaurant food choice. They’re applications; typically small, specialized programs downloaded onto mobile devices. That’s what dictionary.com says. And their popularity grows as two-thirds of Corn & Soybean Digest online polltakers use smartphone apps when farming.

End In Sight for 2011 Soybean Harvest; Corn Over Half Done

Today’s USDA Crop Progress report shows that 80% of the overall soybean crop has been harvested in the U.S. The corn crop is 65% harvested. Both crops area ahead of the five-year average pace, but well behind last year’s harvest pace.

Corn, Soybean Harvest Ahead of Average Pace

Despite late plantings and a rocky growing season, corn and soybean harvest is actually ahead of the five-year-average pace. The latest USDA Crop Progress report shows the corn crop is 47% harvested. The average percentage for this time of year is 41%. The soybean crop is 69% harvested; well ahead of the 61% five-year average.

Corn, Soybean Harvest Progress Increasing

According to the Oct. 3 Crop Progress Report from USDA, the U.S. corn crop is 79% mature, just one percentage point behind the five-year average. Maturity jumped 16 percentage points since last week. The 2010 crop was 92% mature by this time.

Holy Hybrids, Batman! | 2012 Corn Hybrid Guide

Sometimes Mother Nature is like the Joker. That’s evident from the 2011 growing season. Hopefully your hybrid choice is like Batman. From trait options to staygreen to stalk strength to pest and disease resistance, hybrids can bring an arsenal of tools to combat most enemies. Corn & Soybean Digest has compiled a list of top hybrids from top companies. Use it as a starting point for selecting hybrids for next year. Be sure to also consider university, independent and company trial data when making your decisions.

Remembering Sept. 11, 2001 1

Sept. 11, 2001: a day most people can remember exactly where they were and what they were doing when they heard or saw the news that planes had crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City. Much like those who remember when JFK was shot or when the Challenger space shuttle blew apart.

Product Spotlight: Residue Managers | Manage Crop Residue with These Tillage Tools

As conservation tillage gains popularity, growers will need equipment to manage the residue. Here is a roundup of residue managers and tillage tools to help corn and soybean farmers in the field.

What’s New from Agco?

Agco recently launched a number of new farm implements, from high-horsepower tractors to a new planter to new sprayer models.

Corn 86% Planted; Over Half of Soybeans in the Ground

Today’s USDA Crop Progress Report showed nice numbers for most states in regard to planted and emerged corn and soybean acreage. Corn planting is 86% complete, compared to a five-year average of 95%. The soybean crop is 51% planted, 20 points behind the 71% five-year average.

Planting Progress Picks Up with almost 80% of Corn and over 40% of Soybeans in the Ground

Finally it feels like progress is being made when it comes to getting the 2011 corn and soybean crops into the ground. Today’s USDA Crop Progress Report is showing 79% of the corn crop is in, while soybeans are 41% planted.

Corn and Soybean Planting Progress Continues

After weeks of delays and rain and flooding it looks like farmers in the soggy regions of the U.S., save for Ohio, are making great headway in getting crops into the ground. Today’s Crop Progress Report from the USDA is showing about 63% of the U.S. corn crop is in the ground. Still behind last year’s pace of 87%, and the five-year average of 75%, progress made a big jump from last week’s 40%.

Corn Planting Progressing; Soybeans on the Map, Too

Today’s USDA crop progress report showed some significant progress made in U.S. corn planting. Overall, planting percentage is at 40%, up from 13% last week, but clearly well behind last year’s pace of 80%. The five-year average is 59%.

How Will Late Planting and Saturated Soils Affect Corn Diseases and Pests?

Reports of late planting, flooding and saturated soils are inundating news sources right now, and corn growers need to take them seriously. All of these conditions will likely have an effect on which pests and diseases show up in your cornfields. Extension specialists advise keeping a close eye on crops as they emerge.