Current Issue

LINDA GEIST COLUMBIA, MISSOURI  Narrower row width is one key to reducing weeds in soybean, says University of Missouri Extension weed scientist Kevin Bradley. In previous research, Bradley reported improved late-season weed control (density and/or biomass) in 64% of case studies (72...

JENNIFER ELWELL LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has awarded the University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment (CAFE) a $1.7 million grant to strengthen local food systems and expand seed-based entrepreneurship across Eastern Kentucky. The three-year project, "Strengthening Local Food...

TODD MILLER  BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA Symbiotic relationships come in many harmless forms throughout nature: clownfish and anemones, whales and barnacles, and bees and flowers to name a few. Two LSU AgCenter scientists are studying how to use symbiosis to potentially control...

RYAN MCGEENEY LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS A bedrock principle of efficient farming is scouting your fields before applying pesticides — whether herbicides, insecticides or fungicides. This not only helps farmers save money but reduces the likelihood of pesticide resistance developing as well. Terry...

LAUREN QUINN URBANA, ILLINOIS A new analysis from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the Illinois Soybean Association finds that Illinois corn and soybean farmers could lose up to $609 million per year — representing a 3.6% revenue loss — if the state banned the...

Heather Marie Kelly, Extension Plant Pathologist on Jul 12, 2026 04:44 pm HEATHER MARIE KELLY JACKSON, TENNESSEE As we near the middle of July and soybean fields move into pod formation, it’s time to decide whether a fungicide application is needed. When...

LINDA GEIST COLUMBIA, MISSOURI  United Soybean Board and Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council, in cooperation with the University of Missouri Extension, are partnering to increase awareness of and diagnostic capabilities for red crown rot (RCR) in soybean. The groups will provide “4-in-1” testing...

Mizzou researchers study plant resistance to the worms that cause $1 billion in annual losses to U.S. soybean industry. BRIAN CONSIGLIO COLUMBIA, MISSOURI Beneath the surface of soybean fields, an invisible threat is costing farmers billions. Now, researchers at the University of...

GIOVANI PREZA FONTES AND DR. JOHN JONES URBANA, ILLINOIS Despite June temperatures averaging near normal across Illinois, weather conditions shifted dramatically during the second half of the month. The first half of June was very warm, with temperatures ranging from 3...

RYAN MCGEENEY LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS Compared to the tumultuous planting season of 2025, this year’s soybean planting efforts have been relatively smooth sailing. But farmers are bracing for July and August, the months that can make or break a crop with...

 UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI EXTENSION COLUMBIA, MISSOURI Major equipment purchases involve more ongoing costs than many realize. Whether you’re making a cash purchase or opting for financing, the ownership costs of machinery continue after the check is cashed or the final payment...

CHARLEY MARTINEZ KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE This week’s outlook points to largely steady conditions across row crops, with a few notable shifts. In the WASDE, U.S. wheat is facing tighter supplies due to lower production and yields, pulling ending stocks down sharply from...

MARIANNE STEIN URBANA, ILLINOIS As climate change increases the frequency of drought, excessive rainfall, and other extreme weather events, farmers face growing uncertainty about crop production. Understanding how farmers perceive and respond to that uncertainty can help improve agricultural policy and climate...

LINDA GEIST TUSCUMBIA, MISSOURI Livestock producers across Missouri continue to face rising feed costs, unpredictable weather and seasonal forage shortages during the summer. A recent study led by University of Missouri Extension agronomy specialist Rudra Baral found that forage soybean shows...

LINDA GEIST COLUMBIA, MISSOURI University of Missouri’s Pest Monitoring Network is reporting the first Japanese beetle captures of 2026 and calling for growers to begin scouting soybean and corn crops. “Although trap captures are currently low, these first detections indicate that Japanese...