There is considerable debate regarding the usefulness of canopy-sensing technologies for nitrogen fertilizer management. The University of Minnesota outlines 5 things to keep in mind when considering adopting sensing technology.

It's long been understood that microbes play an important role in making nutrients available to plants but new research from Massachusetts Institute of Technology shows that different microbes play distinct roles and environmental factors influence activity.

Nebraska wildlife populations benefit from conservation farming practices, thanks to the Corners for Wildlife Program, which helps landowners establish wildlife habitat on center pivot corners not capable of sustaining high yields when planted to row crops.

Incorporating cover crops into our cropping systems and moving from conventional tillage to no-till can improve soil organic matter, soil structure, and water and nutrient holding capacity of our soils. Recent research by South Dakota State University looked at the yield and N fertilizer requirements of corn and soybeans interseeded with single- and multi-species cover crops.

Only a fraction of conventional row crop farmers grow cover crops after harvest, but a new global analysis from the University of Illinois shows the practice can boost soil microbial abundance and diversity but termination method and tillage regime can impact results.