Though harvest is nearing completion and we are headed into farming’s “off-season,” there are many things that can be done to prepare for a successful crop in 2018. These include taking soil samples, updating nutrient-management plans, looking for ways to minimize soil loss, repairing equipment, evaluating field drainage, recording pest issues and taking steps to…
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Proper variety selection is one of the first steps in producing a high-yielding, healthy crop. Choosing an appropriate variety is one of the most important decisions a soybean producer will make and one of the hardest because there are so many varieties available. Each variety has specific strengths and weaknesses that make it more- or…
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It is important for soybean farmers to implement practices to ensure the land they farm will allow them to farm it for years to come, and are always improving to be able to do so. Farmers can put sustainable practices in place that allow them to improve yields and profits without a huge investment, and…
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Proper variety selection is one of the most important steps a soybean producer can make. It is important to devote some time to selecting the proper variety as this decision is one of the first steps to maximizing yields. If we compare the top 10% of soybean varieties grown within a single maturity group at…
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Rotation should be viewed as a way to maintain or increase profits and improve soil cropping conditions. Although labor, equipment, and soil type all may limit the types of crops you can grow, rotation is still an essential component of any management plan. Whether your operation grows a few crops or many, crop rotation needs…
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After harvest is a great time to make sure soil is in the best condition to generate the highest yields possible for the upcoming season. It is key to make sure there are no nutrient deficiencies, so soil must be tested for nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Deficiencies must be remedied to grow an optimal crop.…
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Whether you’re battling pigweed, horseweed, or ragweed, herbicide-resistant weeds have declared war on farmers in North Carolina and across the United States. With the number of species and types of chemistries with resistance continuing to grow, it will take all weapons available to defend our farms. But replacing one herbicide chemistry with the next won’t…
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With harvest in full swing, farmers are spending lots of time in their combines with their eyes on their yield monitor. The NCSPA and USB invest checkoff funding in research each year to help farmers protect and improve yield. One example of this is USB’s high yield project, which has identified yield-limiting factors and management…
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Fall is the time to think about nematode numbers in your fields. Nematodes are microscopic roundworms which may feed on the roots of plants. There are hundreds of different species of nematodes, but most are not economically important. Two that are of economic importance to North Carolina growers are root-knot nematode (RKN) and soybean cyst…
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Farmers work too hard all season to do an inefficient job of harvesting and lose profit in the process. Paying attention to little things with a combine can go a long way in helping to maximize the potential of a crop. Make sure to set up the combine properly. Sickles should be sharp, concaves and…
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Interest in cover crops is increasing as a number of groups have demonstrated higher yields and improved soil health from incorporating them into an operation. But adopting cover crops is not a one-size-fits-all solution for growers and there many different options that may provide different benefits for different operations. Cover crops have…
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Harvest time poses its own risks, and it’s important to keep safety top of mind. Learn more in THIS ARTICLE for helpful safety reminders as you harvest this season, including a short video and information on respiratory safety, how to avoid grain bin entrapment, grain loading technique and more.
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