No-till crop production provides benefits through reduced soil erosion and soil moisture loss, which potentially increases yield.

Advanced production techniques, informed growing practices and improved seed varieties helped corn growers achieve high yields in the National Corn Growers Association 2013 National Corn Yield Contest. Entrants continued to far surpass the national average corn yield, setting a contest record with a new all-time high yield of 454 bushels per acre.

This fall there are two key economic issues to consider in wheat production: lower grain prices and fertilizer costs. A year ago, July 2013 wheat futures traded at $8.67. Today, July 2014 wheat trades at $7.04. The decline in wheat prices over the past year equates to about $98 per acre on an average 60-bushel yield.

Harvest operations are well underway on most Michigan grain farms, but the significant likelihood of above normal precipitation totals over the next couple of weeks could quickly return combines to the shed.

Fall-seeded wheat generally does not require N fertilizer for establishment. Fall-applied N or pre-plant N can aid in the establishment of wheat under specific planting conditions and crop rotations, but should be managed on a case-by-case basis

Soybean producers can easily get an idea of the yield potential of their crops with a Purdue Extension soybean specialist's calculation method.

Harvesting soybeans in a timely manner and at the optimum moisture is important to getting the best yields. Even though stems may be green, soybeans may be dry and ready for harvest.

After 30 years of rapidly expanding agriculture, South America is turning its focus from developing new fields to taking better care of those already in production. Victor Trucco remembers his father saying that soybeans would never be grown in their area. Yet Trucco became the first person to grow soybeans not long after he returned to the home farm in the mid-1960s.