In a time of tight supplies of both forage and agricultural land, many producers are interested in making use of cover crops as alternative forages. Most cover crop species used in Michigan also have a long history of use as forage crops for livestock and offer great potential for dual use to improve soil while providing forage. However, if the cover-cropped acreage is also enrolled in a crop insurance program, Michigan State University Extension reminds farmers that it is important to recognize how intended use as forage may impact the insurance policy.

Findings at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) are providing information about the soil carbon dynamics that play a crucial role in lifecycle assessments of bioenergy production. These studies at the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), USDA's chief intramural scientific research agency, support the USDA priority of developing new sources of bioenergy.

Each year producers ask the question: When is the best time to apply nitrogen to wheat? Also, is it ok to apply nitrogen on frozen ground? For any nitrogen application the question to ask is when does the crop need nitrogen. Wheat does not require large amounts of nitrogen until stem elongation (Feekes Growth Stage 6), which is the middle or the end of April depending on the location in state. Ohio research has shown no yield benefit from applications made prior to this time period. Soil organic matter or nitrogen applied at planting generally provides sufficient nitrogen for early growth until stem elongation.

Recent research from North Carolina has suggested that there are times where tankmixing an insecticide with your nitrogen can be cheaper than using scouting and thresholds for cereal leaf beetle. The biggest reason for this is because there is a yield penalty for driving over wheat after jointing and because scouting costs money. However, there are a number of reasons why I do not recommend this for 2014.