Usda - Articles

USDA Reports 79% of Corn Silking in the U.S.

July 26, 2021 | Posted in Seeding Practices

According to the most recent USDA crop progress report, some 79% of corn crops were reported silking as of the week ended July 25, in line with the 79% reported silking in the same week last year. The 5-year average for corn silking in the week was 73%.

Minnesota Grower Turns to Covers to Battle Erosion

July 26, 2021 | Posted in Seeding Practices

Source: Winona Post

The emergence of no-till and cover crop farming practices on farms like Sheldon Luehmann’s near Altura might mean that farmers might soon be able to turn their plowshares into something else entirely. Although young, Luehmann already is confident enough to begin experimenting with unconventional techniques. Read more in this article from the Winona Post (Winona, Minnesota).

Develop Mutually Agreeable Lease Terms to Reap Soil Health, Yield Rewards

Tenants and landlords should work together to resolve the many logistics around cover crops, including the number of acres planted, expenses, profits and other issues.

By Libby Wawzenek posted on July 22, 2021 | Posted in Grazing

Statistics show that cover crop adoption is on the rise across the U.S. There was a 50% increase in the amount of land on which farmers planted cover crops between 2012 and 2017, according to the USDA’s 2017 Census of Agriculture.

USDA Reports 26% of Corn Crops Silking in the U.S.

July 12, 2021 | Posted in Seeding Practices

According to the most recent USDA crop progress report, some 26% of corn crops were reported silking as of the week ended July 11, in line with the 26% reported silking in the same week last year. The 5-year average for corn silking in the week was 30%.

USDA Reports 10% of Corn Crops Silking in the U.S.

July 6, 2021 | Posted in Seeding Practices

USDA has reported some 10% of corn crops silking, above the 9% reported silking in the same week last year. The 5-year average for corn silking in the week was 14%.

USDA Reports 4% of Corn Crops Silking in the U.S.

June 28, 2021 | Posted in Seeding Practices

Some 4% of corn crops were reported silking, in line with the 4% reported silking in the same week last year. The 5-year average for corn silking in the week was 6%.

USDA Reports 91% of Soybeans Emerged in the U.S.

June 21, 2021 | Posted in Seeding Practices

According to the report, 91% of soybeans have emerged, above the 86% reported emerged in the same week last year. The 5-year average for soybean emergence in this week was 85%.

[Video] Carbon Sequestration Has Positive Impacts on Soil Health

June 15, 2021 | Posted in Seeding Practices

Research soil scientist Hal Collins with the USDA ARS explains how plants use photosynthesis to sequester carbon and why growers will need to store more carbon in the soil as organic matter.

USDA Reports 96% of Corn Emerged in the U.S.

June 14, 2021 | Posted in Seeding Practices

According to the latest Crop Progress report from USDA, some 96% of corn was reported emerged, above both the 94% emerged last year and the 90% emerged in the week prior. The 5-year average emergence rate for this week was 91%.

[Podcast] Weigh the Factors When Selecting Cover Crops

This week’s podcast, sponsored by Bio Till Cover Crops, features Mike Henderson, Iowa State Agronomist with USDA-NRCS. Henderson will discuss how to prioritize cover crop goals when choosing species, which cover crop species can accomplish multiple goals for growers, how management preferences influence cover crop selection and more.

June 4, 2021 | Posted in Seeding Practices, Soil Health

This week’s podcast, sponsored by Bio Till Cover Crops, features Mike Henderson, Iowa State Agronomist with USDA-NRCS. Henderson will discuss how to prioritize cover crop goals when choosing species, which cover crop species can accomplish multiple goals for growers, how management preferences influence cover crop selection and more.