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Dr. Jodi DeJong-Hughes has been doing strip till research in Minnesota for the past 20 years, comparing it to conventional tillage practices on both corn and soybeans. She says the two most common questions farmers ask are, “Does strip till allow my soils to warm up and dry out in the spring?” and, “Will crop yields suffer (decrease) with strip till?” Dr. DeJong-Hughes has set up her research trials to test these farmer assumptions. On strip till, about a 6-inch area where corn or soybeans are planted is tilled, either in the fall or spring. In standard 30-inch rows, about 80% (24 inches) remains no-till, with about 20% (6 inches) tilled. The benefits of strip till in corn include reduced soil erosion, improved soil structure, and better water infiltration. In a four-year study in Minnesota, known for its shorter growing season and colder spring soils, Dr. DeJong-Hughes tested sandy, silt-clay, and clay loam soils, taking weekly soil moisture and temperature readings. She compared stri...

  Roundup (chemical name glyphosate) is the most commonly used herbicide in the world. However, due to weed resistance and human health concerns, its days may be numbered. How will farmers control weeds chemically if this product is gone? The following is a highly technical summary of herbicide alternatives to using Roundup (common name) or glyphosate. One reason glyphosate was so popular was because crops like corn and soybeans were inserted with genetically modified genes that allowed the plant to survive the chemical application. Several crops now have genetically modified genes for various herbicides. The problem is that none are quite as good as glyphosate, either due to performance or lower cost. However, there are some options. Burndown chemicals are used at the beginning of the growing season to kill the first flush of weeds. Weeds compete with the main grain crop for moisture and nutrients. Killing weeds early is the best strategy. However, often cool soil and air temperat...

  With the selection of Robert F. Kennedy Jr as Secretary of Health and Human Services, many farmers are wondering how long Roundup (active ingredient glyphosate) will be around. On 298 million acres of USA cropland, 280 million pounds of glyphosate are used annually. Globally, Roundup (glyphosate) has increased 15X since its introduction in 1996 due the use of genetically modified crops which allow its use without killing the main crop.  The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has ruled glyphosate a carcinogen. The IARC says that glyphosate could cause Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, autism, and cancer. The USA has not outlawed glyphosate or even definitely said what health risks may or may not be caused by glyphosate use. Many legal and health questions remain about the use of glyphosate. In agriculture, weed resistance is becoming another problem, especially with glyphosate. Weeds over time genetically change to become re...

  The 2025 winter weather has been colder than most years. Temperatures in the teens and single digits have caused the soil to freeze deep. While this may reduce some insects and pests, it can also harm wheat and hay crops. How deep the soil freezes depends on the amount of snowfall received. Snow acts as a natural insulator, blanketing the soil and preventing deeper freezing. This year, the northern part of Ohio received less snow than some areas to the south. Reports from Toledo indicate significantly less snowfall than counties further south. Snow prevents wind from desiccating crops like wheat, barley, hay (alfalfa, red clover, etc.), and cover crops. Several northern farmers are already reporting wheat and barley damage. Cover crops may also suffer, and as thawing begins, expect damage to the crowns of hay crops, especially alfalfa roots, which tend to heave—just like fence posts. Slugs and voles tend to decrease in cold winters, with cycles occurring every 2-5 years. During d...