At the first sign of summer weather patterns, Midsouth corn growers often get nervous about moisture stress. However, inadequate soil moisture is not nearly as limiting as usually perceived – considering we have abundant moisture virtually all spring. In fact, excessive moisture can stress corn development and hamper yields, if we trigger irrigation too early.
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 response.
Grain sorghum has some unique characteristics differing from our major row crops. This article discusses key planting and management practices needed to successfully plant sorghum and get it off to a strong start this spring.
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.
If rain or other issues have restricted planting opportunities, you may be wondering how to proceed with crop planting intentions. This newsletter 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.
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.
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.
Assessing corn stands to make replant decisions should likely involve more than simply taking stand counts. This article discusses how emergence disparity affects corn yield potential, and methods to replant your crop, when needed.
Corn is very dependent on the stand achieved to optimize productivity. So far this spring temperatures have been much warmer than normal, which definitely benefit corn planting opportunities and outcome. However, next week may bring other challenges. This article discusses how to assess corn planting suitability, strategies to improve your stand, and factors that affect what seeding rate you should plant.
Mississippi State University Extension will be hosting several county row crop meetings this month. Each meeting will cover issues specific to the region including management topics on agronomics, insects, weeds, diseases, and economics. A meal will be provided at each
The Feekes scale is likely the most commonly used system to describe wheat and other small grain’s growth and development stages. Understanding of wheat plant development is important so that you may better time management inputs to optimize crop response. This article helps you identify specific wheat growth stages.
Our moist climate challenges our ability to fertilize wheat. This article outlines best management practices for nitrogen application timing, fertilizer sources, rates and other important practices which can greatly enhance wheat productivity.
Cover crops can improve soil health and water quality and are being grown on more acres. However, their growth may extend into the spring and present challenges for primary crops. We are investigating these dynamics so that we may implement strategies to realize advantages while minimizing risk. Corn production presents issues that we will address.
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. Full results, including yields and plant characteristics from this year’s trials are published here.
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.
Mississippi State goes to great lengths to evaluate, assess and analyze corn hybrid performance. These Corn 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. Preliminary grain yield results from this year’s trials are published here.
Wheat can be a relatively consistent and productive crop which offers some benefits and diversity for your cropping system. This article addresses planting practices and other fall management practices needed to optimize wheat productivity.
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 in Mississippi.
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, moisture dockage and potential aflatoxin issues can greatly help improve your harvest efficiency and success.
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.
As the corn crop nears maturity, knowing when you can safely terminate irrigation, without sacrificing yield, or wasting money and labor through unnecessary irrigation 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.
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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