Articles by Dan Crummett

Ahead of the Curve: Triggering Weeds to Self-Destruct with Plant Hormone Signals

By Dan Crummett posted on April 17, 2025 | Posted in Crop Protection, Soil Health

An obscure hormone which works within plants, and is also exuded through the roots, is getting scientific attention as a possible new mode of action to fight chemical-resistant weeds.

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How a Strip-Tiller Can Save $116,000 Annually with Precision Technology

Conservative assumptions show a first-year 95% ROI on full farm adoption of precision ag tools. Sticker shock may apply, but you can bank returns in year two, says Iowa farmer & dealer.

By Dan Crummett posted on March 18, 2025 | Posted in Equipment, Precision Agriculture, Seeding & Planting, Strip-Till Farming

Corn and soybean farmer Adam Gittins cautions strip-tillers to control their natural reaction to “sticker shock” when shopping for precision agriculture technology, and to realize the rapid ROI such tools can provide.

Domestic Autonomous Aerial Applicator Comes to Midwest

Regional aerial service Heinen Brothers is part of the commercialization process of Pyka, a young California startup’s global reach into unmanned aerial application platforms

By Dan Crummett posted on March 18, 2025 | Posted in Crop Protection, Equipment, Precision Agriculture

Growers in the western Corn Belt and parts of the Southern Plains may notice a strange, slow, high-wing spray plane at work this summer over row-crop fields and some pastures – a sight that likely will become commonplace soon.

How New Technology and Cover Crops Can Beat Back Weeds

There are a plethora of new solutions — both man-made & natural — that can help no-tillers & strip-tillers get a handle on weed issues.

By Dan Crummett posted on March 17, 2025 | Posted in Equipment

While chemists have done most of the heavy lifting in agriculture’s battle with weeds since World War II, electrical and mechanical engineers are increasingly supporting the fight with innovations to make herbicides more efficient, and in some cases, bypass chemistry altogether.

New Type of Herbicide Resistance Threatens ‘Mix the Mode’ Weed Control

Exposure to a single herbicide can trigger metabolic resistance across herbicide groups

By Dan Crummett posted on February 20, 2025 | Posted in Crop Protection

As no-tillers, researchers and chemical companies scramble to control increasingly tough herbicide-resistant weeds, University of Missouri extension weed specialist Kevin Bradley says the current science of weed control will likely soon need to be broadened.

New Tech Measures Cover Crop Biomass, Weed Fighting Potential

Collaborative study of “structure from motion” has shown accurate assessments of cereal rye cover crop stands can be made using inexpensive GoPro cameras and sophisticated computer analysis

By Dan Crummett posted on February 18, 2025 | Posted in Cover Crops, Crop Protection, Precision Agriculture

Research into accurately estimating total biomass of standing cover crops from a moving tractor may eventually spawn new ways for no-tillers to save money on planting rates and herbicide use in row crops.

Grazier No-Tills Certain Pastures to Boost Cattle Profits

Winter wheat no-tilled into sandy, late-fall crabgrass pastures adds nearly $80,000 per year to the bottom line for Oklahoma producer who bypasses the grain market to sell everything “on the hoof”

By Dan Crummett posted on February 18, 2025 | Posted in Seeding & Planting, Soil Health

Darrick Rains owns a chisel plow, disc and field cultivator to support his cow-calf operation in north-central Oklahoma, but he says his 40-foot no-till drill is what made it possible to double the number of animal units he markets each year for a handsome economic advantage.

Poll Sheds Light on Cover Crop Use, Perceptions

Researchers probed grower experience with covers to assess what’s planted, any positive results from the practice, as well as changing attitudes over 10 years

By Dan Crummett posted on January 21, 2025 | Posted in Cover Crops, Nutrient Management

Cover crops are widely credited for their ability to reduce soil erosion and nutrient losses in farm fields, and Iowa growers seem to agree increasingly at significant levels.

Cover Crops as a Tool to Fight Weeds

While cover crops are useful for suppressing weeds, research finds they don’t stand alone as a tactic in the long-term fight against herbicide resistance

By Dan Crummett posted on January 21, 2025 | Posted in Cover Crops, Soil Health

While the USDA estimates only about 10% of U.S. cropland is being managed with cover crops for various soil health and weed suppression reasons, recent research across the Corn Belt shows over-wintering cereal crop covers can significantly reduce weed biomass.

Syngenta Provides Third Rail for Corn Rootworm Control

By Dan Crummett posted on January 20, 2025 | Posted in Crop Protection

New tool to boost the efficiency of inserting desirable traits into corn hybrids is key to field successes seen with a proprietary 3 Bt-trait stack in heavy CRW fields.

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