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Could reducing your soybean seeding rate increase profit per acre by $40 per acre? In the right situation, yes, according to results from 2023's Farm Journal Test Plots. Of course, [...]

For years, governments have channeled their support for agriculture through incentives that nudge you in directions they feel are beneficial, such as erosion control, clean water and wildlife habitat. In [...]

For years, governments have channeled their support for agriculture through incentives that nudge you in directions they feel are beneficial, such as erosion control, clean water and wildlife habitat. In [...]

Government incentives aimed at mitigating climate change are almost sure to motivate you, and your landlords, to move toward no-till and cover crops. That's the reason for our series of [...]

You're almost ready. You've removed dense and compacted soil Layers, balanced fertility and pH through the profile and set up your soil for vertical farming. That's how you'll need to [...]

As farmers begin to rein in production costs, big ticket items like fertilizer naturally get a lot of scrutiny. Agronomists at this year's Farm Journal Corn and Soybean College say [...]

For decades, moldboard plows, disks and field cultivators, all horizontal tillage tools, have been the go-tos for fieldwork. That's changing as fears about climate change come into focus. Sooner or [...]

In some vertical farming systems, such as no-till and strip-till, you will no longer mix nutrients deep into the soil profile with horizontal tillage. Much like you prepared soil density [...]

Government incentives, spurred by climate change fears, will likely nudge you toward reduced tillage programs and cover crops in the near future. On-farm tests conducted by Farm Journal field agronomist [...]

According to the old saying, some people make things happen; others watch what happens; and still others wonder what happened. It pays-literally-to be in the first group. That cliche brings [...]

Before yield monitors, farmers knew where to find the best- and worst-yielding areas of each field. After yield monitors came along, farmers knew the yield from pass to pass, but [...]

Corn yield results from the number of ears in your field, not the number of plants. And ear count begins in the furrow, says Farm Journal Field Agronomist Ken Ferrie. [...]

Everybody seems to be talking about cover crops. Rightfully so because, managed correctly, they can provide environmental benefits. Higheryield? Well, maybe, but probably not, at least in the near term, [...]

There's something good happening in soybean fields across the U.S. Since 2013 (average soybean yields have exceeded the trend line, with an average above-trend yield of 3.7 bu. per acre, [...]

How can you reap higher yields this fall? Spend the next couple months fine-tuning your plan and prepping for challenges. Consider these tips from Farm Journal Field Agronomists Ken Ferrie [...]

If you're aiming to farm in the sustainable triangle, technology can help you get there. New planter technology, designed to create that perfect furrow, can be a game-changer in terms [...]

Who would have guessed there's a bright side to climate change, at least for some farmers? A long-term Farm Journal study suggests Midwestern crop producers can turn today's more extreme [...]

A simple step can create a major yield jump. At least that's what a Farm JournalTest Plot study revealed. The research shows removing layers before switching to no-till can add [...]

Of the many factors that impact yield, two stand out above the others, says Farm Journal Field Agronomist Ken Ferrie. 'The biggest factor is water management,' he says. 'The second [...]

You manage the weakness of each field or soil type by choosing the best hybrids, varying plant population and fertilizer rates and selecting the appropriate herbicides and disease-control measures. That's [...]

Farming today Is more than shooting for big yields. Instead, you must look past average field yields and realize the lower-yielding areas are holding down the average, says Farm Journal [...]

It's a good idea to pay a visit to your doctor every year--even if you're feeling fine. A complete physical exam can give you the peace of mind to keep [...]

There's no doubt planting soybeans early can increase yield, but we're still in the learning stages, says Farm Journal Field Agronomist Ken Ferrie. 'The purpose of planting earlier is to [...]

Introducing a new production system to your existing practice (for example, adding no-till to conventional horizontal tillage to protect erodible land or please a landlord) probably will require acquiring new [...]

Although the battle to prevent crop nutrients from being lost to streams and water bodies is far from over, some good news has Farm Journal Field Agronomist Ken Ferrie feeling [...]

Farming success requires operating inside three environments-natural (weather), physical (conditions in each field) and human. Where they overlap is the Sustainable Triangle. As we mentioned last issue, the human environment [...]

To reach your destination, it helps to know where you are starting from. With that in mind, let's review how we maximize soybean yield today in our quest to reach [...]

From the coffee shop to the elevator, the talk these days is about high soybean yields. And for good reason: 'We are seeing higher yields in fields where we have [...]

There are easy harvests and hard harvests, short harvest seasons and long ones. As many were reminded this past fall that's the nature of farming. But saying 'harvest all depends [...]

There's no quick and easy way to move from conventional farming--using the same management and a few hybrids on all acres--to variable-input technology (VIT) management. In fact, it might take [...]

With the advent of multi-hybrid planters, in addition to GPS and variable-rate applicators, you now can plant the ideal hybrid on every type of soil you farm and manage each [...]

The key to benefiting from Variable Input Technology (VIT) is to plant the ideal hybrid in each soil management zone, then manage each one appropriately. Understanding how each hybrid flexes [...]

Planting has come and gone and your com is standing knee-high. At this point, it's turned the corner and is entering the home stretch. Now you must weatherproof com through [...]

By now, it's basically too late to do anything about the past season's weeds. But it's the perfect time to start evaluating what worked and what didn't for every field. [...]

Nitrogen's elusive behavior makes it challenging to produce top yields while minimizing the escape of nitrate. But understanding how soil influences the presence or absence of nitrogen during the growing [...]

In the October issue, we explained how you farm in three environments. The physical environment is each field's individual properties. The natural environment is climate and weather. The human environment [...]

Success in one area often creates challenges in another. Early results from studies conducted by Farm Journal Field Agronomist Ken Ferrie suggest that could be the situation with no-till and [...]

Here's a new way to visualize your goal as a farmer: 'Keep your operation within the Sustainable Triangle,' advises Farm Journal Field Agronomist Ken Ferrie. You operate in three environments, [...]

This fall could offer an easy harvest or a hard one. Don't just hope for an beautiful fall days. Instead, follow these tips from Farm Journal Field Agronomist Ken Ferrie. [...]

Variable-input technology (VIT) is exciting because it allows you to apply exactly the right kind and amount of inputs on every zone of your field to minimize cost and maximize [...]

Farmer interest in no-till and cover crops has probably never been higher. That interest is fueled by stewardship and, in many cases, government incentives such as USDA's Conservation Stewardship Program. [...]

Every field is different, with unique strengths and weaknesses. We don't spend much time thinking about the strengths because they make farming easy. But the pest boss--the person on a [...]

Often, a search for knowledge not only answers a question, but also raises new ones. That's the case with a nine-year study, in which Farm Journal Field Agronomist Ken Ferrie [...]

As seed selection for 2018 continues, make a point to include your operation's pest boss--the person in charge of all aspects of weed, disease and insect management--in the discussions. The [...]

Use actual stand and projected ear counts to see if a stand can be saved or if you should replant. A perfect stand sets the stage for high ear count [...]

A perfect stand sets the stage for high ear count at harvest. Knowing the quality of your seed lets you avoid or manage potential stand problems. 'Most tags list the [...]

Yield is what results when corn plants negotiate with their environment, and the process becomes especially intense from emergence to tasseling. Just as when humans negotiate with each other, stress [...]

Someday you might be able to mark a spot in a field, return to it year after year and measure your progress improving soil health. After studying the state of [...]

Soil compaction and density changes instigate undue stress on plants by interrupting water movement and ultimately reducing yield. Once you locate impediments to water movement at or beneath the soil [...]

More ears at harvest is the key to higher yield. That requires starting with a picket-fence stand with photocopied plants, achieved by adjusting your planter as conditions change from field [...]