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  Crops are starting to grow faster with warmer temperatures after a cool wet spring with entering rapid nutrient uptake and plant growth. Most plant nutrients are absorbed through the roots. Some nutrients get locked up in the soil making them unavailable to the plant. There are many factors that contribute to nutrient soil immobilization. If the fertilizer solution pH is too high or too low, nutrient deficient, or excessive; some nutrients might not be absorbed. Low soil organic matter, reduced microbial activity, damaged root systems, excessive water or a lack of water can all lead to lower rates of plant nutrient uptake and absorption. Many farmers regularly use some foliar feeding with herbicides or fungicides to enhance crop growth and yield. The leaves, and sometimes even the stems, of many plants are equipped with tiny, pore-like structures called stomata. Stomata open and close at certain times of the day. Stomata have two major functions. Stomata allow oxygen and water v...

About this time almost every year, we have to deal with high humidity and high temperatures. It is now officially summer, and it feels like it! After a cool, almost colder spring with plenty of moisture, the sun is shining and it is hot. Plants are starting to grow, but most fields are definitely behind schedule. Livestock also suffer during hot and humid periods of time. For livestock, staying cool depends on first getting plenty of water. Check your watering systems to make sure they are working correctly. Keep water supplies in the shade. Cool water helps animals dissipate body heat. Make sure stock tanks are secure and full of water. Sometimes animals will try to get in the tank to cool off or knock it over. Make sure the water flow is adequate. Check automatic waterers and increase the flow if necessary. Dehydrated animals may need electrolytes; consult a veterinarian for the proper dosage. Misters and sprinklers also provide a way for animals to cool down. In extreme heat, animal...

  As farmers struggle to finish planting and replanting due to excess rain and cooler temperatures, warmer or hotter summer weather may be coming soon. Farmers are facing another challenging year. Some new Ag innovations may soon change how farming is conducted. The whole Artificial Intelligence (AI) movement and machine learning is starting to be incorporated into agriculture. Farming is labor intense but also has huge amounts of data that can be harvested from each parcel of crops to make immediate decisions. Sensors, drones, and satellites provide trillions of bits of data to the farmer and/or consultant. This data base can be analyzed almost now with computers, software, and AI systems to easily and efficiently give farmers instant information to improve crop quality and yield. Here are some examples of how this affects agriculture, now and in the future. For predictive analysis; weather, disease and pests, and improving crop yields are important agricultural functions. Curren...

  After a wet and late planted spring, crops and weeds are starting to grow. Spraying weeds is important for getting good yields and reducing weed competition. Many farmers use commercial applicators to spray their fields, but a lot of farmers do it themselves or have applicators for spot spraying. There are factors that affect herbicide performance. Water quality; water pH; the temperature of the water, air, and soil; type and volume of water; size of weeds; and even time of day can impact herbicide effectiveness. In the Midwest, Purdue University is a leader on improving herbicide performance. For anyone spraying herbicides the following publications are a must read. PPP-86: The Impact of Water Quality on Pesticide Performance. PPP-107: Adjuvants and the Power of Spray Droplets. PPP-112: Water Temperature and Herbicide Performance. PPP-115: Compendium of Herbicide Adjuvants which explains how to prevent water minerals from tying up herbicides. Here are some tip: Check your wat...