Soybean Seed Inoculation Pays 

Source: Michigan State University

Research conducted at Michigan State University (MSU) and Ohio State University (OSU) and in Ontario has demonstrated that treating soybean seed with bacterial inoculants is a profitable practice...

Custom Farming Agreements 

By Kent Thiesse

An alternative to leasing farmland is a custom farming agreement. In a typical custom farming agreement, the custom operator agrees to perform all the machine operations on the owner’s land in exchange for a set fee or rate...

China's Grain Crop Forecast Higher 

By Richard Brock

China’s production of major grains may rise in 2008 due to higher yields, despite a reduction in planted area, the China National Grain and Oils Information Center (CNGOIC) said on Monday...

Nitrogen Strategies For A Wet Spring 

This true or false quiz comes from the Iowa Soybean On-Farm Network. It’s a part of their Nitrogen management handbook...

Short Soybean Seed Supply Increases Need For Good Planting Practices To Avoid Replanting 

Source: University of Missouri

Cool, wet soils can cause extra hazards to soybean seed being planted this spring. Caution should be taken at planting time to assure good stands, says Bill Wiebold, a University of Missouri Extension agronomist and soybean specialist...

Higher Price Of Glyphosate Herbicide Makes Pre-Emergence Chemicals Cost Competitive 

Source: University of Missouri

Rising input costs have crop farmers looking for price-competitive alternatives, says Kevin Bradley, a University of Missouri Extension weed scientist...

Custom Rates Increasing 

By Kent Thiesse

As would be expected with increasing fuel costs, average 2008 custom rates for farm work have also risen, compared to 2007 and 2006 custom rates...

USDA Seen Cutting Corn Carryout 9% 

By Richard Brock

The grain trade is looking for a substantial reduction in the projected 2007-2008 U.S. corn carryout and modest increases in soybean and wheat ending stocks when USDA releases its latest monthly supply/demand update...

CSD News: Sign Up for CSP Now, Conservation Winners, Soybean Oil Prices Take Nosedive  

COMPILED By GREG LAMP

Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer announces a sign-up for the Conservation Security Program (CSP) that will be available starting April...

March 31 Crop Report 

By Kent Thiesse

On March 31, 2008, USDA released its Prospective Plantings and Quarterly Grain Stocks reports. This was one of the most anticipated USDA reports ever, due to the strong grain prices in recent months...

Argentina Bids To End Farm Strike 

By Richard Brock

In a bid to resolve a 19-day farm strike that has produced severe food shortages and a major political crisis, Argentina’s economy minister on Monday announced measures to compensate ...

Prospective Plantings 

Source: National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA

Corn planted acreage down 8% from 2007; soybean acreage up 18%; all wheat acreage up 6%; all cotton acreage down 13%.
Corn growers intend to plant 86 million acres of corn for all purposes in 2008, down 8% from last year...

Operation Strip-Till Gets Rolling 

Source: Iowa State University

Two north-central Iowa men put their heads together and created an opportunity for farmers interested in trying strip-till on their farms...

Stand Establishment And Soil Compaction Challenges May Crop Up This Spring 

Source: Purdue University

Cool, wet weather conditions are expected to continue this spring, which may result in stand establishment and soil compaction concerns for many Hoosier farmers...

Argentine Farm Strike Continues 

The two sides in the Argentine farm strike appear to be digging in their heels as the protest enters its third week. Transportation into the nation’s main export ports has been blocked...