Southern Indiana took a hard hit from the remnants of Hurricane Ike with winds in excess of 60 mph causing severely lodged corn. These downed crops can have a variety of issues ranging from harvesting difficulties to premature black-layering. To learn more about the challenges some farmers are facing Click Here. 

When adjusting combines this year keep in mind the type of growing season the Midwest has experienced. Simple adjustments could reduce machinery crop losses up to one bushel per acre. Corn lodging and low soybean pod placement may impact your combine head settings. To learn more harvesting tips Click Here. 

Farmers are always looking for ways to cut costs and for good reason. Research was conducted on bin drying efficiencies and concluded that layering bins during drying is a good way to cut energy costs. To learn more and seed the research data Click Here.

Yield monitors can be very useful in determining variations in yields due to field location, different hybrids, late or early harvesting, etc… but yield monitors that are not calibrated regularly make the technology nearly worthless. For more information about how often to calibrate your yield monitor and other combine sensors Click Here.

DTN will be offering free online seminars throughout the fall.  Discussion will focus on various topics related to production and new technologies to help you make informed decisions about your operation. The topics include Field Tiling, Strip Tillage, Sizing Your GPS Investment, and Seed Quality Expectations. To register for any of these free seminars Click Here.

With harvest quickly approaching this year’s crop is not the only one to worry about. With good harvesting practices volunteer corn in next year’s fields can be significantly reduced while still managing harvest loss issues for this season. It’s a win-win situation. To read more about good harvesting techniques and how to manage volunteer corn next year Click Here.

Didn’t have the time to travel to Boone, Iowa to visit the 2008 rendition of the Farm Progress Show?  The Monsanto Technology Showcase has been one of the most talked about and interesting exhibits at the Show over the past few years.  Want to know what is being featured at this year’s Technology Showcase?  (Click here for details)

Torrential rains took their toll on Midwestern agriculture this year. While crops may not have been damaged as much as initially estimated, data released this week in Iowa revealed the loss of something much more important. Flooding that affected much of the Midwest this spring not only damaged crops but also washed away some of the region’s most valuable resource – soil. This week, the Iowa Department of Agriculture released information estimating that nearly 2.3 million acres within the state suffered severe top soil erosion estimated at 20 tons per acre. The agency also estimates that the flooding caused $40 million in damage to terraces, sediment control basins, and other conservation practices within the state. For more information about soil erosion Click Here.

Everyone has heard the buzz about increasing agriculture input costs. The University of Illinois started adding up the expenses. On average the non-land costs for corn will be $529 per acre, up $141 from the current year and 85% higher than the four year average. For soybeans, the non-land costs will be $321 per acre, up $82 from the current year and 78% over the four year average. On the up side, here at Fielder’s Choice Direct we will be offering very competitive seed prices. Call your seed advisor today at 1-800-321-3177 for more information. To learn more about 2009 crop expenses Click Here.

Corn seeding populations has been a focus of many university and seed company researchers for many years. As the cost of seed has increased, so has the need to make sure that you are maximizing the yield potential of the hybrids by increasing plant populations. For the past several years, plant breeders have been selecting hybrids that have superior performance at higher planting and harvest populations. These new hybrids are also superior to older generation hybrids for drought tolerance, standability and late season plant intactness. To read the article that was recently written by Dr. Emerson Nafziger, at the University of Illinois, showing the relationship of seeding rates to hybrid performance and the cost of seed Click Here.

Additional great articles about seeding populations can be found at the following links:

Integrated Crop Management, What is the best seeding rate for corn based on seed prices and yield level? By Roger Elmore and Lori Abendroth, Department of Agronomy

University of Illinois The Bulletin, Should We Increase Corn Plant Populations? By Emerson Nafziger