Pivotal Issues Blog

By: Industry Voice by Beck’s Hybrids It’s important for farmers to get a good start on their season while ensuring that their crops have the greatest potential for success from the moment they are planted. And as temperatures warm and spring planting begins, many farmers have contemplated different starter fertilizer options. Starter fertilizers typically include various […]

By: Soil Health Institute The initial methods cooperating scientists will use to assess soil health indicators has been released. According to Dr. Steven Shafer, Chief Scientific Officer of SHI, the lack of widely-applicable measurements and methods for assessing soil health are significant barriers to adopting soil health practices and systems. “Something you often hear scientists and […]

By: Stoller Kris Ehler of Ehler Brothers Co. in Thomasboro, Ill., has advised multiple yield champions over the years, specifically Illinois’ soybean champions the past three years. So, he believes he knows the key to ensuring soybean plant yields are maximized at every stage of the growing season. In fact, he personally tests products in his […]

By: Anna McConnell In areas where rain doesn’t come regularly or when growing water-hungry crops, farmers are forced to get creative when deciding how to keep fields green and lush. Irrigation uses groundwater, surface water, and water delivered directly to farms to hydrate thirsty plants. Evapotranspiration and wind are issues farmers face when trying to get […]

By: Beck’s Hybrids Over the past year, agronomists have fielded as many questions about foliar fertilizers. The presumption is that some of this attention is because foliar applications were a component in the recipes used by recent national yield contest winners. Another possible explanation is that with tight margins, farmers are looking for ways to cut […]

By: Successful Farming Staff If you’re having difficulties obtaining nitrogen fertilizer (anhydrous particularly and sometimes urea) during this spring that’s compressed in many areas, you’re not alone. “One farmer I talked to could only get one tank per day,” writes Dave Franzen, North Dakota State University (NDSU) Extension fertility specialist, in this week’s NDSU Crop & […]

By: Beck’s Hybrids As harvest starts to approach and we are working to get combines and grain bins ready, don’t forget to keep an eye on your corn fields. Many of us are hoping for a great crop, but as this year continues to look more like the crop of 2009, there are a few things […]

By: Beck’s Hybrids Beck’s Hybrids PFR program conducts more than 75 different studies across multiple locations (500+ acres) to learn how different management practices and new technologies perform in field environments. Simply put, it is research focused with the farmer in mind. To see the entire study, please download the PFR Book and see page 228. […]

By: Jessie Scott On a sunny day in late March when the neighbors are prepping their planters, you can find Trey Hill planting corn into a foot of green clover, cereal rye, and a mix of other cover crops. The Rock Hall, Maryland, farmer uses cover crops on all of his 13,000 acres and he plants […]

By: Raylene Nickel Cover crops are no magic bullet for controlling weeds, but they can go a long way in helping to keep weeds in check. “By planting cover crops, you can reduce the density of weed populations as well as the size of the weeds,” says Kansas State University (KSU) agronomist Anita Dille. “While trying […]