Session will discuss current findings on linkage of nutrients losses at edge of field to water quality impacts. Results will include discussion of 4R Nutrient Stewardship and other edge of field practices. Participants will have a better understanding of some agronomic and landscape features that impact nutrient losses and potential conservation practices to mitigate these losses.

Cover crop adoption in the Midwest has significantly increased within the last decade. However, critical questions remain that relate to impacts of cover crop management on nitrogen availability, cash crop production, and water quality. Therefore, this presentation will share results of Dr. Armstrong’s investigation of next generation cover crop management to increase crop production, while advancing water quality.

The presentation introduces the use of biological stimulants in soil. Motivation to use the diverse portfolio of products available based on market demand is reviewed and along with a few examples of how these projects are intended to work. Although interest in this field is strong, on farm results are highly variable including negative responses. In addition to the use of biological stimulants, the use of biochar applied to soil is introduced. The properties of biochar are reviewed along with a discussion about when it is appropriate to use biochar as a soil amendment.

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In the first part of my presentation, I will present experimental results on crop roots from a variety of soils. The data will include a) speed of root growth, b) maximum depth, c) factors affecting root growth, d) root mass and its distribution and how root mass is related to crop yields. In the second part, I will use a well calibrated simulation model (APSIM) and measured soil moisture data to shed light into complex questions regarding a) water availability in soils with and without the influence of shallow water table, b) water uptake by soil layer and c) the relationship between evapotranspiration and yield.

Digital agriculture continues to rapidly evolve globally. Currently, there are over 150, commercial digital technology offerings in North America with these technologies requiring access to farmer data to provide information and services back to the farm operation. At the same time, agriculture technology is advancing in particular for the application of nutrients and other inputs. This presentation will cover current agriculture technologies and how they provide farmers contemporary approaches for the placement of inputs, in particular nutrients. Further, survey results will be shared on the adoption of digital technologies by US farmers along with challenges they face on creating value back to the farm.

Our research is determining the ability of sUAS to assess soybean stands as it relates to optimal plant population and growth stage. We describe our processes for assessing soybean plant stands with sUAS imagery and vegetative indices with the promising results centered around minimal canopy coverage by growth stage with practical flight patterns. - Shaun Casteel

Optimizing corn foliar fungicide applications can be particularly challenging due to field and crop-based limitations that affect coverage and timing with ground and aerialequipment. Drone fungicide application technology will be discussed in this presentation, with a focus on fungicide efficacy of these applications. Benefits and limitations of the technology will be discussed. - Kiersten Wise

This presentation will provide an overview of the National Organic Program, organic transition and certification process, and considerations in transition and organic grain crop rotations. Historical crop yields, gross revenue, total expense, and net returns for conventional and organic crop enterprises will be compared. We will also use recently developed crop budgets to compare the crop breakeven prices and rotation net returns of a conventional and organic corn/soybean/wheat crop rotation.

Interest among farmers and their consultants for conducting field scale on-farm research has grown with the availability and adoption of a range of precision agriculture technologies that lessen the logistics of conducting many types of trials. However, conducting sound field research is not just about simpler logistics. It also requires an understanding and appreciation for the statistical and practical details of designing the trial, collecting the data, yield monitor calibration, yield data processing and cleaning, and fundamental statistical analysis. This presentation will shed light on many of these topics.

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North Dakota was primarily a wheat state until the early 1990’s. A string of wheat crop failures due to disease and insects, and the simultaneous development of early-maturing corn and soybean varieties, as well as the ease of weed control from their glyphosate-tolerant genetic traits spurred a great increase in corn and soybean acreage, with soybean now the dominant state crop and corn number 3 behind spring wheat/durum. The cropping change resulted in a corresponding decrease in soil K test values, since the previous small grain rotation removed very little K, while corn and especially soybean remove up to 4 times more K per season. A K rate study was conducted from 2014-2016 in fields with K soil tests between ~100-200 ppm. Data were collected...

This presentation will give detailed guidance on what a 4R certification audit looks like and how to prepare for this voluntary process. The 15 core requirements that are common to any geography will be covered, with special attention paid to requirements that are unique to Indiana and/or Ohio. The emphasis will be on practical tips and ideas that have proven useful for current 4R certified participants. In addition, a "big-picture" outlook will be laid out, to help with the many gray areas that can occur during an audit.

Corn nitrogen requirement varies in both space and time. We should understand the components of nitrogen fertilizer requirement, soil nitrogen processes, and nitrogen fertilizer response to develop a strategy that addresses the variability in requirement. This presentation will discuss strategies and tools currently available and ongoing research.

Nitrogen fertilization is critical to maximize corn productivity and replace nitrogen removed during harvest. Because nitrogen fertilizer inputs increase corn growth and residue return to the soil, agronomic optimum nitrogen fertilizer inputs help to sustain or increase soil organic matter over time, which may improve soil functioning. In this session, we will discuss how nitrogen fertilizer inputs affect soil organic matter levels, soil productivity, and fertilizer N recovery in continuous corn and corn-soybean systems.

Best management practices for the use of manure nutrients from an economic and environmental standpoint are discussed with emphasis on nitrogen and phosphorus. Changes to the Tri-State Fertilizer recommendations that will impact manure P management will be presented. Adjustments for the pre-sidedress nitrate test will be shown to adapt it to the current experiment-based nitrogen recommendation system. The meaning of different levels of the late-season stalk nitrate test will also be discussed.

Corn hybrids change rapidly and most Corn Belt hybrids have a 2-3 year commercial lifespan. Seed company claims often suggest, based on their internal research or grower field experiences, that certain hybrids respond more to higher rates of fertilizers than others. There are also known hybrid differences in grain nutrient concentrations, and therefore in actual crop removal at particular yield levels. In this talk I will review preliminary evidence for possible hybrid differences in total nutrients taken up and in how the nutrients are allocated within corn plants at maturity. I will also briefly look at plant population impacts on nutrient uptake and nutrient partitioning during the...

Fungicides are an important tool for managing the threat of losses due to plant diseases. Unfortunately, the use of fungicides can lead to the selection of strains of plant pathogenic fungi that are resistant or less sensitive to the fungicides. This presentation will focus on the basic principles of fungicide resistance and will provide a case example of the frogeye leaf spot pathogen of soybean and its resistance to fungicides. Best management practices for delaying or slowing the selection of fungicide-resistant plant pathogenic fungi also will be discussed.

This presentation will focus on the geographic distribution of soybean gall midge, its impact on soybean, scouting tips, and management challenges. As a new pest of soybean, the lack of knowledge on its biology, ecology and environmental interactions makes it difficult to define solid strategies for mitigating injury. Although soybean gall midge has not yet been detected in Indiana, it is critical to be aware of the insect's symptoms and distribution of injury in the field.

Rye cover crop adoption has increased in recent years as a mechanism to reduce erosion, improve soil health, and mitigate nutrient losses. This talk will focus on the insect management implications of rye adoption (specifically winter or cereal rye), including impacts on pests and beneficial arthropods. Preliminary results will be presented from a series of field studies conducted in Illinois to survey cover crop fields for insect damage, pest species, and beneficials. In addition, the implications of practices such as spring termination timing will be discussed, as well as management recommendations for specific pests.

Farmers in the eastern cornbelt are faced with the increasing challenge of controlling weeds that are resistant to more than one herbicide side of action. Over the next 5 years, I believe we will need to incorporate more mechanical cultural and weed control tactics into our currently used herbicide programs. In this presentation I will share results from our research program on the incorporation of cover crops with traditional weed control tactics.

Tar spot of corn, caused by Phyllachora maydis, is a newly established disease in Indiana corn. It has had significant yield impacts on corn production in Indiana. The 2018 tar spot epidemic was the first time yield losses were documented in the U.S. Prior to this epidemic; no field research had been done in North American for tar spot. A summary of our experiences in Indiana will be presented, including an update on 2020 research, as we continue to improve our understanding of this new disease in corn.

This presentation will explore how cropping system strategies can solve and prevent problems in organic grain production systems. A major focus will be overcoming bottlenecks such as inadequate N availability, high weed pressure and tight windows of opportunity for field work that frequently impede success in organics. Novel cropping systems such as solar corridors, intercropping and cover crop based rotational no-till will be explored as well as more traditional practices.

No-till planting soybean into rolled-crimped cover crops can be an effective strategy for improving soil health and reducing labor and fuel requirements, but it is important to use a systems approach and adaptive management. Participants will learn about cultural management practices and new tools that can be used to optimize production. New research on no-till planting winter wheat into rolled cover crops and the possibility of extended sequences of no-till crops will also be discussed.

Cover cropping can positively impact several aspects of a healthy agricultural system, including reducing soil erosion, improving water quality, facilitating weed management, and providing habitat for beneficials and pollinators. However, in the upper Midwest, with its short growing season and unpredictable weather, intensifying cover crops across the rotation can be challenging. In this session, we will discuss some of the strategies we’ve researched at UW-Madison and how farmers have integrated these practices into their rotations, including interseeding into corn and cereal grains, managing cover crops as weed suppressive mulches, and utilizing intensive cover crop fallow/grazing phases as weed management tools.

Seed treating equipment began with the never ending demand for higher yields. Some of the first seed treating equipment were designed by farmers in a barn and now have the capabilities to be run remoting from a phone. Learn about the types of seed treating equipment available today and how it effects the seed industry.

Biologicals products are inputs derived from naturally occurring substances and is a rapidly expanding market. This presentation will provide an overview of the category and illustrate examples of commercial biological products and how they work. Implementing biological products into existing production systems and an overview of techniques to evaluate product performance will be highlighted.Biologicals products are inputs derived from naturally occurring substances and is a rapidly expanding market. This presentation will provide an overview of the category and illustrate examples of commercial biological products and how...

Neonicotinoid seed treatments have been a part of US field crops production for almost 20 years. This presentation will highlight research into what we know about the pro’s and con’s of this approach, including how/where seed treatments are most efficacious in preserving yield and whether concerns of non-target impacts are relevant.