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.

As crop consultants, it is important to be able to evaluate not only field crops but also strategically utilize soil diagnostics to evaluate soil function.  Proper soil function is essential to water infiltration, nutrient cycling and many other key processes that occur in our soil ecosystem.  To fully understand soil function, we need to start with a better understanding of soil health because soil, like humans, cannot function to its fullest potential if it is not healthy.  This session will go through key diagnostic tools that can be used in field to assist farmers in better understand what soil functions they are lacking and suggestions to build soil health to improve function.

Implementation of conservation best management practices can be enhanced by payments from different programs. These unique Partnerships between public and private conservation organizations allows farmers to explore the installation of practices necessary to address items such as soil degradation, water quality, wildlife and to build climate resilience.

Soil health is now widely regarded as the foundation for sustainable production systems. This presentation will provide evidence to support this assertion by summarizing results of recent studies demonstrating clear relationships between soil management practices, soil microbial communities, nutrient cycling and susceptibility of crops to plant and human pathogens. Strategies that growers can use to improve the health of their soils and better support beneficial microbial inoculants will also be covered.

The reasons producers incorporate cover crops into their rotation is as varied as their responses on how it may impact profits.In this session learn how different cover crop management scenarios may impact farm profitability with specific examples from a Midwest diversified crop and livestock operation.

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

Significant advances have been made in our understanding of the genes that contribute to crop performance; however, more work is needed to determine how phenotypes or traits emerge from the interaction of genome and environment. To address this question, multidisciplinary research teams representing the Colleges of Agriculture and Engineering and the Purdue Polytechnic at Purdue University are developing aerial and ground-based sensor platforms for growth chamber, greenhouse, and field-based studies of... 

The science of weather prediction is rapidly advancing. New computing technologies, high-resolution satellite imagery, and increased weather observations are increasing our ability to manage in-season weather risk. Yet weather prediction has its limits, and as we chase yields and profitability, fluctuations in weather during the growing season force growers to constantly adjust their strategies. In this talk, we will discuss the dominant weather factors that cause yield variance across the cornbelt. We will first focus on...

Global climate change may impact various environmental factors that influence the yield potential of corn grown in the U.S. While some of these factors may trend negative, others have positively pushed yield trends in corn over the last 50 years. In this presentation, both negative and positive impacts of global climate change on U.S. corn production will be discussed. Strategies to optimize crop production during 21st century climate change through applied research and on-farm management options will be outlined.

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...

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...

This presentation will cover economic considerations for agronomic decisions. The focus will be on nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium exclusively.

Would you like to produce 15% more corn with 30% less nitrogen fertilizer? In the upper Midwest, that is the average difference in grain yield and optimum nitrogen fertilizer rate between corn following corn and corn following soybeans. Where does this yield and nitrogen come from? The soybean nitrogen credit? We will explore the source of the soybean nitrogen credit and opportunities for biological fixation of atmospheric nitrogen to contribute to your nitrogen needs.

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...

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.

The economic sustainability of any farm is dependent on maximizing crop yield. The number one pest that impacts yield is weeds. Several factors can affect a crops ability to compete with weeds: variety selection, planting date, row width, and plant population. Additionally, weed type, density, and time of weed emergence can influence yield. This session will focus on management strategies that will maximize weed control without impacting yield.

Both the Xtend and Enlist soybean systems have key herbicide and trait approvals for the 2021 season. One popular discussion point of these systems continues to be the potential for off-target movement (OTM) of the improved dicamba formulations versus 2,4-D choline. This presentation will share recent research comparing OTM of these herbicides and the sensitivity of high-value specialty crops to dicamba and 2,4-D.

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...

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.

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.

Many farmers in the Midwest are looking for ways to increase profits on their family farms. Organic row crop production can be the answer. But take note: realizing financial rewards requires a solid plan and outstanding execution powered by a systems-based approach. In this talk, 5th-generation organic farmer Bryce Irlbeck covers the importance of balancing economics, agronomics, and management. In particular, he demonstrates how agronomics supported by the right crop rotations are the foundation for long-term success with organic farming.

Soil borne diseases pose a significant threat to stand establishment and can result in yield reducing root rot. We will discuss ROI of seed treatments, and research seeking to better understand the cause of seedling disease and when and where seed treatments pay. With emphasis on research focused on oomycetes (Pythium and Phytophthora) and fungal diseases including Fusarium virguliforme which causes soybean sudden death syndrome.