The Early Bird Catches the Worm When it Comes to Mycotoxin-management

Posted on September 28, 2011 by Kenneth Teeter (North Carolina)

Or maybe it’s better put to say that being the early bird results in less mycotoxins, as worms are only part of the equation in this story, but I’ll get to that in a minute. To be the “early bird”, in this case, really just takes early planning! Growers who plan in advance can apply Afla-Guard® biocontrol agent to corn between V10/V12 and R1 and significantly reduce aflatoxin levels.  A benign, non-toxigenic strain of Aspergillus flavus, Afla-Guard works by establishing … Continue reading →

Posted in Afla-Guard, Aflatoxin, Agrisure Viptera, Corn, Mycotoxin, Profitability, Syngenta | View Comments

A Deep Bench at the Demonstration Plots

Posted on September 16, 2011 by Mark Lawson (Indiana)

It’s “field day” or “plot tour” season in my world. I have, for several years, tried to make the traditional “pork chop” tour something more than just looking at the hot new hybrid release or the latest thing in soybeans. Coaches and sports commentators often refer to a team’s “deep bench” when the team has a large number of very talented players. The Syngenta spectrum of seeds, seed treatments, crop protection and disease control products makes for a deep bench. … Continue reading →

Posted in Disease, Fungicides, Indiana, Syngenta | View Comments

Storm Damaged Crops in the Northeast

Posted on September 9, 2011 by Dervin Druist (Pennsylvania)

Another year of extremes! We started the growing season in the Northeast with a very wet month of May, followed by a hot and dry summer. As we move into early September, we are getting more than enough rain. Over the past few weeks, we have had heavy rainfall in many parts of the Northeast, and it looks like it will continue. The weather forecast for central Pennsylvania is calling for 7-10 inches of rainfall this week. Many of you … Continue reading →

Posted in Corn, Harvest, Pennsylvania, Soybeans | View Comments

Is Water A Concern? Have No Fear! Visit Syngenta at Husker Harvest Days This Year

Posted on September 6, 2011 by Josh Erwin (Nebraska)

I hope you are all enjoyed the cooler temperatures this past week, I know I did. Just how hot has it been? The map shows that eastern Nebraska temperatures averaged 2-5 degrees higher in July than the 15-year average. Although most of the hottest conditions occurred over pollination, the corn that I have seen looks to be okay. We are lucky that most areas of eastern Nebraska have seen rain. But what would have happened if we hadn’t? That’s where … Continue reading →

Posted in Agrisure Corn Traits, Agrisure Viptera, Aphid Management System, Husker Harvest Days, Nebraska | View Comments

Crop Stress Continues to Mount… “Every Drop Counts”

Posted on September 1, 2011 by Gary Prescher (Minnesota)

Sometimes getting caught up in growing degree units (GDUs) can be too much of a good thing. In spite of the cooler temperatures, crop stress continues to mount for corn and soybeans. Heat stress created pollination and kernel tip back issues in corn and limited pod set for soybeans in July, but water is the name of the game during grain fill in August. The impact is a little different for each crop. Drought stress during R3-R5 in corn limits … Continue reading →

Posted in Corn, Minnesota, Soybeans | View Comments

Stress, Golf and the 2011 Indiana Corn Harvest

Posted on August 30, 2011 by Mark Lawson (Indiana)

Lee Trevino, the famous golfer once commented that “Stress is playing for $50 per hole and you don’t have $50”.  The amendment to Mr. Trevino’s quote could be “Stress is trying to produce a corn crop with 12 inches of total rainfall and you need 25 inches.” Indiana now shows up on the Palmer Drought Index maps as having moderate drought/extreme drought conditions over much of the state of Indiana. As frustrating as it is to watch, there are some … Continue reading →

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Time for a visit? Come to the 2011 Farm Progress Show!

Posted on August 29, 2011 by Barry Soliday (Illinois)

The 2011 Farm Progress Show is right around the corner, and so is harvest. What looked like a really promising crop just a few short weeks ago ran into some extreme heat and virtually no rainfall. To be honest, it wasn’t just the day time temps that got us but all those hot nights. Corn really likes or should I say needs some cool nights as “down time” to recoup from all of the heat and moisture stress during the … Continue reading →

Posted in Farm Progress Show, Illinois, Syngenta | View Comments

When is it Time to Say “Enough is Enough”?

Posted on August 26, 2011 by Josh Erwin (Nebraska)

I just got back from shutting off my east pivot, one of two that we operate on our family farm. It has definitely been a drier summer here in northeast Nebraska, thus the pivots have had a higher-than-normal workout. For those of you with all the rain, you could send a little my way every once in a while! As I was driving home I was thinking to myself, “I wonder how many more passes I am going to need … Continue reading →

Posted in Corn, Harvest, Irrigation, Nebraska, Profitability, Syngenta, Water Optimization | View Comments

Sudden Death Syndrome in Iowa-Is it Still There?

Posted on August 26, 2011 by Rich Lee (Iowa)

Sudden death in sports events usually means a quick and exciting finish to a game. You never quite know how things will turn out. Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) in soybeans may have some similarities to sudden death in sports: a quick finish, an unknown ending and the end of the season. Fortunately for growers, SDS is not always the season-ending event. In our area, we are now starting to see the familiar SDS symptoms of yellow leaves, which eventually turn … Continue reading →

Posted in Illinois, Iowa, Profitability, Scouting, Soybeans, Sudden Death Syndrome, Syngenta | View Comments

A Developing Drought in Southern Minnesota?

Posted on August 17, 2011 by Gary Prescher (Minnesota)

Precipitation for the month of July shows a developing dry pattern across southern Minnesota. Early July Areas colored yellow and orange on the map missed critical rainfall during early July and have the potential to be the most affected by heat stress during pollination and early grain fill. Compacted fields, corn on corn rotations, and coarser soils are currently suffering the most potential yield loss from dry top soil conditions. Keep in mind: Ear size is adjusted through R3. Lower … Continue reading →

Posted in Corn, Minnesota, Soybeans | View Comments