Farming

Pigweed — layman’s term for Water Hemp and Palmer Amaranth — is a big problem. The species which is native to the desert southwest has successfully migrated to crop fields throughout the U.S. Because of its roots in the desert and its biology, the plants are tough to kill and getting even tougher. XA’s Matt Swanson and Caleb Traugh join FMC’s Blaire Colvin to discuss strategies to manage an increasingly resistant class of weeds that’s very prolific and capable of causing huge yield drags.

AgroLiquid’s Galynn Beer joins Temple Rhodes to explain the multiple soybean trials displayed at Temple’s field day. The big takeaway: It’s time to stop treating soybeans as simply the rotation between corn. Because….With enhanced fertility practices soybeans can make big yields and a lot of money!

After your combine completes the harvest pass, the remaining residue begins breaking down. But if you let this breakdown happen on nature’s timetable, you’re wasting valuable nutrients. Last year’s crop residue holds fertility that you’ve already paid for — an effective management plan recycles your fertility investment. Temple, Chad, and Holganix’s Rob McCoy discuss the importance of residue management.

Matt and Layne Miles are approaching the end of harvest 2023. With moisture preventing the combines from running their final soybean fields and the cotton a couple weeks shy of completion, the Miles join Damian to discuss this season’s takeaways. Almost everything matured simultaneously which made for an exhausting three- week run and some fast lessons. Most notably for this year — Matt says his final pass didn’t produce an ROI.

How do you know if you’ve gone too far if you don’t push the envelope? Temple says “send it!”

One of the things that is in every one of Kelly's reproductive passes on his crop is potassium acetate. He talks about how, when and why he applies it.....and the ROI he sees from it.

After another season comes to a close soon, Kelly is wondering if he needs to adjust his corn populations next season.

Kevin Matthews had a corn field hit by hail in late June. After assessing the damage, he decided to deviate from his usual approach to save the hailed corn.

He is focused on enhancing soil health, boosting microbial activity, and increasing nutrient availability. These improvements reduce the energy needed to transport nutrients to the plants, allowing more energy to be allocated towards growth. He is currently testing a new product from Holganix this season that claims to do all of this.