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.
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Posts From Erick Larson, State Extension Specialist - Grain Crops
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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
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.
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.
