More in Seed Traits

The next several decades will bring hybrids to battle more pests and diseases, optimize inputs and provide specific end-use traits....More

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....More

Bunge North America, a major buyer and exporter of grain and oilseeds, recently announced a purchasing policy in which it will not accept Agrisure Viptera – MIR162 biotech corn variety developed by Syngenta. The rationale behind this decision is the regulatory approval status of the product in the global marketplace – specifically, China....More

Chinese orders for U.S. corn increased this year and recently began to include the 2011 crop. China has not previously represented a substantial portion of the U.S. corn export market. The Chinese regulatory system has not approved the Agrisure Viptera trait (Event MIR162). This situation has caused concern among some grain traders....More

It’s not a question as to whether John Lindamood plants treated corn and soybean seed. That’s a given. It just gets down to which fungicide and insecticide products are most cost effective to his northwest Tennessee operation....More

It's inevitable when corn and soybean acreages remain unplanted on June 1 to hear the question, "When is it too late to plant?" Although prevented-planting insurance changes things, there's no "drop-dead" date for planting, says University of Illinois Extension Agronomist Emerson Nafziger....More

As of Sunday May 22, corn was 11% planted in Ohio, which was 76% behind last year and 69% behind the five-year average (http://www.nass.usda.gov/). Given the saturated soil conditions of many Ohio fields and the potential for more rain this week, it’s likely much of the crop acreage will be planted in June. Ohio State University Extension has developed a decision aid, Estimated Yield and Profit by Planting Date – Corn, Soybeans or Preventative Planting Crop Insurance, to assist producers in exploring the option of late-planted corn, switching to soybeans or accept preventative-plant payments....More

Conducting fieldwork after wet weather can cause soil compaction, and in particular sidewall compaction in the seed furrow, says DeAnn Presley, Kansas State University Research and Extension soil management specialist. This is especially true if the weather then turns dry after planting, she adds....More

Soggy, cool conditions have kept farmers out of the field, and the optimal planting dates for soybeans, April 25 in southern Iowa and May 1 for the northern half of the state, have come and gone. The average rainfall in the state of Iowa for April 2011 was 5 in. – about 1.36 in. above normal. In April 2008, the second wettest April recorded, the precipitation totaled 5.88 in. – 2.55 in. above normal....More

As of Sunday April 24, only 1% of Ohio’s corn crop was planted, which is 38% behind last year and 13% behind the five-year average. Weather forecasts indicate more rain this week possibly continuing through Thursday. As prospects for a timely start to spring planting diminish, growers need to reassess their planting strategies and consider adjustments. Since delayed planting reduces the yield potential of corn, the foremost attention should be given to management practices that will expedite crop establishment. The following are some suggestions and guidelines to consider in dealing with a late planting season....More