By WCM Staff on 2/12/2009 2:47 PM

There are three winter wheat workshops that will be offered in early March 2009 at Janesville, Fond du Lac, and Waldo, WI. 

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By WCM Staff on 1/29/2009 2:56 PM

Dramatic increases in soybean seed costs for 2009 (25 to 109%) have many growers rethinking their soybean seed options. The most drastic alternative being floated in the coffee shops is brown bagging or planting “saved” soybean seed. Before a grower considers this option we must revisit the legal issues and agronomic considerations associated with this practice.

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By WCM Staff on 1/29/2009 2:03 PM

Sainfoin (Onobrychis vicifolia) -- New varieties of sainfoin have been released in Montana with improved yield, however these varieties have not been tested in Wisconsin. The lack of yield in the seeding year, adaption to high pH, low tolerance of wet soils, and, susceptibility to crown rot causing short stand life indicate that this species is not likely to be useful in Wisconsin.

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By WCM Staff on 12/11/2008 2:45 PM

The purpose of this program is to provide unbiased performance comparisons of hybrid seed corn available in Wisconsin. These trials evaluate corn hybrids for both grain and silage production performance.

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By WCM Staff on 8/19/2008 2:05 PM

To maximize wheat yields in 2009 it is imperative that growers plant certified or private (professionally prepared) seed that is true to variety, clean, and has a high germination percentage (>85%).

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By WCM Staff on 8/7/2008 9:58 AM

Wisconsin saw a record number of winter wheat acres planted (350,000) in the 2008 growing season, up from the 290,000 planted the previous year. The estimated yield for the 2008 crop is 68 bu/a, down 1.5% from last year.

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By WCM Staff on 6/18/2008 12:37 PM

Unprecedented rainfall continues to cause flooding and ponding leading to problems for corn establishment on 5 to 10% of planted acres in southern Wisconsin. Flooded and ponded areas have existed long enough now so that plants have been killed and areas need to be replanted. Most planted acres are still in good shape, but fertilizer and herbicide treatments need to be applied as soon as possible since the majority of the crop is at the V4-V5 stage and lay-by (V-10) will be occurring within the next two weeks.

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By WCM Staff on 6/13/2008 2:47 PM

Recent rains have caused flooding and ponding in many cornfields. Growers are concerned about corn growth and development and any yield effects that might occur from short periods of flooding. The extent to which flooding injures corn is determined by several factors including: 1) timing of flooding during the life cycle of corn, 2) frequency and duration of flooding, and 3) air-soil temperatures during flooding

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By WCM Staff on 6/12/2008 6:37 AM

How to Work with Your Agent and Insurance Company: The demand for crop insurance claim adjustment will be significant this month across several states in the Midwest. Time is crucial, as potential crop yields decrease each day for late planted or replanted crops. As a result, farmers will want rapid and accurate loss adjustment and to move on to replanting or converting insured acres to other crop uses as soon as possible.

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By WCM Staff on 6/11/2008 11:46 AM

Farmers with crop insurance may trigger late or prevented planting coverage or may want to use replant provisions. This article briefly describes replant provisions and late and prevented planting coverage for APH and CRC and the forage seeding and forage production policies. The take home message is, if you have a question, contact your crop insurance agent and find out the rules and your options.

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By WCM Staff on 6/11/2008 10:40 AM

The recent heavy rainfall and flooding in parts of Wisconsin made national news, just like the flooding last August. Farmers with crop insurance will receive indemnities for their crop losses, but not all farmers have crop insurance and not all losses are to crops. This article is a quick summary of current federal assistance available from the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) for farmers affected by the recent flooding.

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By WCM Staff on 6/11/2008 10:05 AM

Severe flooding has many low-lying soybean fields underwater. As the water dissipates yield potential and replant questions will arise. Flooding can be divided into either water-logging, where only the roots are flooded, or complete submergence where the entire plants are under water

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By WCM Staff on 6/4/2008 1:47 PM

Commodity prices for new crop wheat ($5.86; 6/4/08, Southern WI) and new crop soybean ($12.30; 6/4/08, Southern WI) have some growers contemplating double cropping soybean after wheat in Wisconsin. Double crop soybean is a common and profitable practice across southern Missouri, southern Illinois, and Indiana and across much of Arkansas, Kentucky, and Tennessee.

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By WCM Staff on 5/21/2008 2:34 PM

Many of us, including myself, have planted under less than ideal soil conditions this spring. Often the ground was worked a little on the wet side leading to clods and variable seeding depths for our soybean crop. Early reports of variable and delayed emergence in conventional (more common) and no-till soybean is raising replant and seed viability questions in several areas across the Midwest.

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