2026 Row Crop County Meetings
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Posts From Erick Larson, State Extension Specialist - Grain Crops
Cover Crop Termination and Preparation for Planting
Cover crops may improve soil health and water quality and are being grown on more acres. However, their growth extends into the spring and will present challenges for primary crops, depending upon how you handle them. We are researching cover crops, so you can manage them to optimize results for row crop systems.
2025 MSU Corn Hybrid Demonstration Program Results
Mississippi State goes to great lengths to evaluate corn hybrid performance, so you have good information to make decisions which improve the profitability of your farm. These Hybrid Demonstration trials are grown in numerous on-farm locations throughout the state so you can assess performance of our region’s most elite hybrids. Complete results, including yields and plant characteristics from this year’s trials are published here.
Row Crop Short Course Registration Reminder
This is your last chance to pre-register for the upcoming MSU Row Crop Short Course. Please take the opportunity to register free of charge.
How to Plant and Grow Wheat for High Yields
Wheat can be a relatively consistent and productive crop which offers opportunities and diversity for your cropping system. Thus, as fall begins to draw near, we address planting practices and key strategies needed to optimize profitability. For instance, unlike summer crops, early planting substantially increases risks for wheat grain production.
2026 MSU Short List of Suggested Corn Hybrids
This publication lists those corn hybrids which have demonstrated superior performance in the Mississippi Corn for Grain Hybrid Trials. No other source tests as many hybrids representing today’s choices in the market. Thus, this is a great starting point and barometer for you to judge performance and select the best corn hybrids for your farm.
2025 Yield Results from the MSU Corn Hybrid Demonstration Program
Mississippi State goes to great lengths to evaluate corn hybrid performance. These Corn Hybrid Demonstration trials are grown in numerous on-farm locations throughout the state where you can better analyze hybrid performance of our region’s most elite hybrids. Preliminary grain yield results from this year’s trials are published here.
Cover Crop Planting Methods and Seeding Rates
Cover crops can be seeded in agricultural fields using various methods used to plant small grains or forages. These seeding methods commonly range from using a grain drill, to broadcasting. Utilizing a drill offers more control of seeding rate, distribution,
2025 MSU Short List of Suggested Wheat Varieties
This publication lists varieties which have demonstrated superior grain production in the Mississippi Wheat and Oat Variety Trials and summarizes their characteristics. This independent information should help you select better wheat varieties for producing grain in different growing regions of Mississippi.
Cover Crop Species Selection
Cover crop seed selection can be confusing due to the numerous choices available. Different species have traits which let them serve specific purposes. Various goals can be achieved if you realize there are three primary groups of cover crops and consider the resulting benefits and limitations. This will greatly improve your cover cropping outcome.
Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring – Week ending 8/16/2025
Southwestern Corn Borer Trapping Program Week Ending August 9, 2025 County Traps Reporting Total Reported Avg/Trap Maximum/Trap Alcorn 3 0 0 0 Copiah 3 0 0 0 Lowndes 2 0 0 0 Madison 3 1 0.33 1 Marshall 2 0
Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring – Week Ending 8/9/2025
Southwestern Corn Borer Trapping Program Week Ending August 9, 2025 County Traps Reporting Total Reported Avg/Trap Maximum/Trap Alcorn 3 0 0 0 Desoto 2 0 0 0 Lowndes 4 0 0 0 Madison 3 0 0 0 Marshall 3 0
How to Estimate Corn Yield Prior to Harvest
Would you like to estimate your corn yield prior to the combine heading to the field? If you are willing to put in a little time, you can make a rough estimate by following these guidelines. While any such method leaves considerable opportunity for error, this process will likely be a good opportunity to learn more about your crop.
Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring – Week ending 8/2/2025
Southwestern Corn Borer Trapping Program Week Ending August 2, 2025 County Traps Reporting Total Reported Avg/Trap Maximum/Trap Alcorn 3 0 0 0 Calhoun 1 0 0 0 Desoto 2 0 0 0 Grenada 4 0 0 0 Hinds 2 0
Tips to Prepare for a Successful Corn Harvest
Corn harvest should ramp up soon as grain matures and dries down to an agreeable moisture for harvest. Understanding how weather and other factors affect grain drying, potential harvest losses, and moisture dockage can greatly help improve your harvest efficiency and success.
Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring – Week ending 7/26/2025
Eighty-three traps across 29 Mississippi counties detected very low southwestern corn borer activity. Only five counties reported the presence of moths, with Leflore reporting the highest count (8 moths in 9 traps). Since most of the state’s corn is approaching
Why did the Kernels near the Ear Tip not Fill?
Corn kernel set near the ear tip may vary considerably depending on a number of cultural and environmental factors. These kernels have issues when the plant can’t supply enough energy to support all of them. Therefore, if we want to improve our yields, we need to recognize why kernel set is less than desired, so we can improve management in the future.
MS Ag Industry Council – 2025 MAIC Row Crop Update
We welcome you to attend the Row Crop Update at the 2025 Mississippi Agricultural Industry Council Annual Convention. This event is hosted at Perdido Beach Resort in Orange Beach, Alabama on Tuesday, July 22 starting at 8:00am.
Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring – Week ending 7/19/2025
Southwestern Corn Borer Trapping Program Week Ending July 19, 2025 County Traps Reporting Total Reported Avg/Trap Maximum/Trap Alcorn 3 0 0 0 Calhoun 1 0 0 0 Carroll 2 2 1 2 Coahoma 4 0 0 0 Copiah 3 0
Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring Program – Week Ending 7/12/2025
Trapping results this week indicate very low southwestern corn borer activity across the state, with only a few isolated instances of minimal trap catches in Leflore, Madison, and Tallahatchie counties. These findings suggest that southwestern corn borer populations remain well
Will we need to Irrigate our Corn this Year?
As the corn crop nears maturity, knowing whether you need to roll poly pipe out or when you can safely terminate irrigation, without sacrificing yield, or wasting money is likely the most important decision that will affect your bottom line. This article outlines the steps needed to help make these decisions accurately and reliable.
Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring – Week Ending 6/28/2025
Southwestern corn borer trap counts continue to remain low across the state.
Identifying Corn Reproductive Stages and Management Implications
Corn progresses through six stages as ears develop through reproductive growth stages. Identification of these stages can help time development, make prudent decisions and anticipate crop response to management practices and environmental conditions.
2025 Grain Sorghum Hybrid Suggestions
This article lists those sorghum hybrids which have demonstrated superior yields in the Mississippi Grain Sorghum Hybrid Trials. Thus, this is a great barometer to select the best adapted sorghum hybrids for your farm.
