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Posts From Erick Larson, State Extension Specialist - Grain Crops

2026 MSU Short List of Suggested Wheat Varieties

2026 MSU Short List of Suggested Wheat Varieties Updated

🕔11:29, 23.Sep 2026

This was recently updated to include variety evaluations for leaf rust resistance.

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 regions of Mississippi.

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Cover Crop Planting Methods and Seeding Rates

Cover Crop Planting Methods and Seeding Rates Updated

🕔16:01, 18.Sep 2026

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. Using a drill offers more control of seeding rate, distribution,

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Cover Crop Species Selection

Cover Crop Species Selection Updated

🕔16:30, 11.Sep 2026

Cover crop seed selection can be confusing due to the numerous choices available. However, there are simply three classes of cover species which affect their primary purpose and benefits. Understanding these differences, as well as the suitability of specific species will greatly improve your cover cropping outcome.

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Burning Stalks – What does it Really Cost?

Burning Stalks – What does it Really Cost? Updated

🕔10:25, 20.Aug 2026

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. Accordingly, burning may produce several overlooked issues that can cut profit.

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Tips to Prepare for a Successful Corn Harvest

Tips to Prepare for a Successful Corn Harvest Updated

🕔16:46, 5.Aug 2026

Corn harvest should continue to ramp up as grain dries down to lower moisture content. Understanding how weather and other factors affect grain drying, potential harvest losses, and moisture dockage can greatly help improve your harvest efficiency and success.

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2026 Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring Program – Week ending 8/1/2026

2026 Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring Program – Week ending 8/1/2026 Updated

🕔16:29, 31.Jul 2026

Southwestern Corn Borer Trapping Program Week Ending August 1, 2026 County Traps Reporting Total Reported Avg/Trap Maximum/Trap Calhoun 1 0 0 0 Chickasaw 1 0 0 0 Clay 1 0 0 0 Grenada 4 0 0 0 Marshall 2 0

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2026 Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring Program – Week ending 7/25/2026

2026 Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring Program – Week ending 7/25/2026 Updated

🕔08:10, 25.Jul 2026

Southwestern Corn Borer Trapping Program Week Ending July 25, 2026 County Traps Reporting Total Reported Avg/Trap Maximum/Trap Alcorn 3 0 0 0 Amite 2 0 0 0 Calhoun 1 0 0 0 Chickasaw 1 0 0 0 Claiborne 1 0

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2026 Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring Program – Week ending 7/18/2026

2026 Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring Program – Week ending 7/18/2026 Updated

🕔08:47, 18.Jul 2026

Another week of extremely low numbers of SWCB detected across the state. As good growing conditions continue, many areas of the state are nearing physiological maturity, essentially outrunning any SWCB related issues. For this reason, traps will begin being picked

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How to Estimate Corn Yield Prior to Harvest

How to Estimate Corn Yield Prior to Harvest Updated

🕔16:33, 15.Jul 2026

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.

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MS Ag Industry Council – 2026 MAIC Row Crop Update

MS Ag Industry Council – 2026 MAIC Row Crop Update Updated

🕔10:29, 11.Jul 2026

We welcome you to attend the Row Crop Update at the 2026 Mississippi Agricultural Industry Council Annual Convention. This event is hosted at Perdido Beach Resort in Orange Beach, Alabama on Tuesday, July 21 starting at 8:00am.

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2026 Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring Program – Week ending 7/11/2026

2026 Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring Program – Week ending 7/11/2026 Updated

🕔17:47, 10.Jul 2026

Southwestern Corn Borer Trapping Program Week Ending July 11, 2026 County Traps Reporting Total Reported Avg/Trap Maximum/Trap Alcorn 3 0 0 0 Amite 2 0 0 0 Calhoun 1 0 0 0 Chickasaw 1 0 0 0 Claiborne 1 0

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2026 Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring Program – Week ending 7/4/2026

2026 Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring Program – Week ending 7/4/2026 Updated

🕔13:42, 3.Jul 2026

Southwestern Corn Borer Trapping Program Week Ending July 4, 2026 County Traps Reporting Total Reported Avg/Trap Maximum/Trap Alcorn 3 0 0 0 Amite 2 0 0 0 Bolivar 1 2 2 2 Calhoun 1 0 0 0 Chickasaw 1 0

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Why did the Kernels near the Ear Tip not Fill?

Why did the Kernels near the Ear Tip not Fill? Updated

🕔11:19, 27.Jun 2026

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.

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When can we Terminate Irrigation of Corn?

When can we Terminate Irrigation of Corn? Updated

🕔11:15, 27.Jun 2026

As our early corn crop nears maturity, knowing when you can safely terminate irrigation or even roll out poly pipe without sacrificing yield, time and 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.

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2026 Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring Program – Week ending 6/27/2026

2026 Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring Program – Week ending 6/27/2026 Updated

🕔17:30, 26.Jun 2026

Southwestern Corn Borer Trapping Program Week Ending June 27, 2026 County Traps Reporting Total Reported Avg/Trap Maximum/Trap Alcorn 3 0 0 0 Amite 2 0 0 0 Calhoun 1 0 0 0 Calhoun 1 0 0 0 Chickasaw 1 0

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2026 Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring Program – Week ending 6/19/2026

2026 Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring Program – Week ending 6/19/2026 Updated

🕔16:49, 19.Jun 2026

Very low incidence of southwestern corn borers across trapping locations during the week of June 14th to June 20th. Southwestern Corn Borer Trapping Program Week Ending June 20, 2026 County Traps Reporting Total Reported Avg/Trap Maximum/Trap Alcorn 3 0 0

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Identifying Corn Reproductive Stages and Management Implications

Identifying Corn Reproductive Stages and Management Implications Updated

🕔10:35, 13.Jun 2026

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.

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2026 Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring Program – Week ending 6/13/2026

2026 Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring Program – Week ending 6/13/2026 Updated

🕔08:26, 12.Jun 2026

Very low incidence of southwestern corn borers across trapping locations during the week of June 7th to June 13th. Southwestern Corn Borer Trapping Program Week Ending June 13, 2026 County Traps Reporting Total Reported Avg/Trap Maximum/Trap Alcorn 3 0 0

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2026 Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring Program – Week ending 6/6/2026

2026 Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring Program – Week ending 6/6/2026 Updated

🕔17:44, 5.Jun 2026

Very low incidence of southwestern corn borers across trapping locations during the week of May 31st to June 6th. Southwestern Corn Borer Trapping Program Week Ending June 6, 2026 County Traps Reporting Total Reported Avg/Trap Maximum/Trap Alcorn 3 0 0

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Corn Irrigation Strategies for 2026

Corn Irrigation Strategies for 2026 Updated

🕔11:55, 30.May 2026

Abundant recent rainfall has suspended irrigation needs relative to normal, considering corn is now tasseling across much of the state. Accordingly, corn water demand will be high when soil moisture dries enough for us to make decisions to commence irrigation. This article will address how various factors affect corn irrigation management.

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2026 Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring Program – Week ending 5/30/2026

2026 Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring Program – Week ending 5/30/2026 Updated

🕔09:41, 30.May 2026

Southwestern corn borers were not detected in any of the trapping locations in any county during the week of May 24th-30th. Southwestern Corn Borer Trapping Program Week Ending May 30, 2026 County Traps Reporting Total Reported Avg/Trap Maximum/Trap Alcorn 3

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Optimizing your Tassel Shot and Corn Nitrogen Management

Optimizing your Tassel Shot and Corn Nitrogen Management Updated

🕔11:29, 23.May 2026

As the Mississippi corn crop approaches tassel, crop health and weather may greatly affect response to various management inputs, including nitrogen and other practices. The wildcard this year is how dry weather this spring may affect nitrogen relations this season. This article will discuss factors that may affect your strategy and improve your chance for a profitable response.

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2026 Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring Program – Week ending 5/23/2026

2026 Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring Program – Week ending 5/23/2026 Updated

🕔09:24, 23.May 2026

Southwestern corn borers were not detected in any of the trapping locations in any county during the week of May 17th-23rd. Southwestern Corn Borer Trapping Program Week Ending May 23, 2026 County Traps Reporting Total Reported Avg/Trap Maximum/Trap Alcorn 3

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2026 Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring Program – Week ending 5/16/2026

2026 Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring Program – Week ending 5/16/2026 Updated

🕔14:31, 15.May 2026

This is the first southwestern corn borer report of the 2026 growing season. Traps are currently being deployed by extension agents across the major corn-producing counties in Mississippi. Southwestern Corn Borer Trapping Program Week Ending May 16, 2026 County Traps

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Optimizing Corn Response to Nitrogen Fertilizer in 2026

Optimizing Corn Response to Nitrogen Fertilizer in 2026 Updated

🕔10:45, 2.May 2026

Corn response to nitrogen fertilizer is a rather complicated puzzle considering all the factors that affect it. Furthermore, you may need to adjust plans depending on if the weather is wet or dry. This article covers a lot of scenarios to improve corn response to nitrogen fertilizer.

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