The State of Maryland has committed approximately $16 million for the 2011-2012 Cover Crop Program, which provides grants to farmers who plant cover crops in the fall to conserve nutrients, reduce soil erosion and protect water quality in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.

An item often overlooked by the first-time no-till wheat grower is spreading residue at harvest.

A study found a greater yield response was observed when fungicides were applied at R1 compared to V6, with the largest response being when V6 applications were followed by R1 applications.

Most soil tests for these nutrients are not very reliable, so if a result is high, you will know that your crop won't suffer a yield loss related to that particular nutrient, but a medium or low test result doesn't necessarily mean that applying the nutrient will produce a crop response.

Recent rainfall across much of the Corn Belt has some growers wondering if they have enough nitrogen left in the soil for their corn crop.

As the June 5 final planting date nears for the full crop insurance yield and revenue guarantees for corn, a Purdue Extension agricultural economist says there are a lot of factors that come into play when farmers are deciding how to manage their 2011 crop.

If switching to soybean and preventative plant crop insurance are not options, farmers need to reconsider their production practices and focus on those that will generate the greatest profits in a late planting production environment.

Two weeks ago, corn prices were declining rapidly and we pondered the likelihood of a recovery similar to those of September 2010, November 2010, and March 2011.

When we make suggestions and recommendations for crop management, we often give you the best-case scenarios, but at times the best-case scenario is not an option.

If farmers consider potential net revenue, they may not make the switch from corn to soybeans as fast as if they consider just the potential yield loss.