Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring – Week ending 7/5/2025
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Posts From Erick Larson, State Extension Specialist - Grain Crops
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.
Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring Program – Week Ending 6/14/2025
Trap deployment began this week, so minimal trap numbers are being reported. However, no corn borers were detected in the limited traps that were reported.
Corn irrigation initiation and strategies for 2025
At the first hint of summer weather, there is often a rush to replenish moisture in corn fields with irrigation. However, this year rains have delayed needs for corn irrigation much later than normal. Since most corn has now tasseled, how will this affect irrigation management?
Managing Tassel Shots and Nitrogen Concerns for Corn
As the Mississippi corn crop approaches tassel, crop health and weather may greatly affect crop response to various management inputs, including nitrogen fertilizer or other products. This article will discuss factors that may affect your strategy and improve your chance for a profitable response.
Video – How to Identify Corn Vegetative Growth Stages
This video shows how to identify vegetative growth stages of corn or sorghum in the field. In this case we inspect two different examples of corn that have progressed into rapid growth stages.
How to Determine Corn Vegetative Growth Stages
Vegetative growth stages of corn are determined by counting the number of fully emerged leaves with leaf collars present. It is important to appreciate this methodology since it is a basis for timing many management practices, including herbicide application, sidedress fertilizer, and others.
Improving Corn Response to Nitrogen Fertilizer
Corn response to nitrogen fertilizer is a dynamic situation that becomes considerably more challenging when rain is plentiful. This article gives recommendations to improve corn response to nitrogen fertilizer and reduce risks in the Midsouth.
How late can we plant corn?
When rain or other issues limit planting opportunities, you may be wondering how to proceed with crop planting intentions. This publication helps address that question by explaining how corn responds to late planting when grown in different production systems based upon research conducted at Mississippi State University.
Three Proven Methods to Improve Corn Profitability
In these tough economic times we devote considerable effort to trimming the fat and focusing inputs where they will improve return on investment. The limiting factors will vary, but these are some of many potential factors which are very important.
Spring Nitrogen Fertilizer Recommendations for Wheat and other Small Grains
Our moist climate challenges our ability to fertilize wheat and other small grains. This article outlines best management practices for nitrogen application timing, fertilizer sources, rates and other important practices which can greatly enhance wheat or oat productivity. Nitrogen recommendations are also included for cereal rye grown for seed or grain production.
Cover Crop Termination and Preparation for Corn Planting
Cover crops can improve soil health and water quality and are being grown on more acres. However, their growth extends into the spring and may present challenges for primary crops, depending upon when you decide to terminate them with a burndown herbicide. We have been researching these dynamics so that we may implement strategies to realize benefits while minimize risk for corn production.
2024 MSU Corn Hybrid Demonstration Program Results
Mississippi State goes to great lengths to evaluate, assess and analyze 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 where you can better evaluate hybrid performance of our region’s most elite hybrids. Complete results, including yields and plant characteristics from this year’s trials are published here.
2025 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.
2024 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.
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.
Cover Crop Planting Methods and Seeding Rates
Cover crops can be successfully established using a variety of seeding methods depending upon your cropping and tillage system, cover crop species, and perhaps other factors. This publication offers guidelines to help ensure favorable results.
2024 MSU Short List of Suggested Wheat Varieties
This publication lists those wheat 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 varieties which are suited 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.
Burning Stalks – What does it Really Cost?
Tight margins and high expenses tempt us to consider managing crop residue with fire, rather than tillage or other alternatives. However, fire will reduce recycling of organic matter and nutrients. Thus, burning produces several negative consequences that can definitely diminish profit.
