Corn planting date trials. Each year, personnel at the Northwestern Research and Demonstration Center establish a replicated planting date trial. The trial established this year will tell us, given the conditions that will be experienced by the crop from planting until harvest,...

As part of their Agrichemical Container Recycling Program, the Illinois Department of Agriculture has released the locations, dates and times for the single day collections this July and August (Figure). These single-day sites complement the three permanent container collection...

Although wheat is typically grown primarily in southern Illinois, where producers are then able plant double crop soybeans, some wheat is also produced throughout the rest of the state. At the Northwestern Illinois Agricultural Research and Demonstration Center (NWIARDC), winter wheat has been...

The results of a study that was initiated at the Northwestern Illinois Agricultural Research and Demonstration Center nearly 20 years ago (fall 2015) were recently summarized by University of Illinois Agronomist Dr. Emerson Nafziger. This study was designed to compare yields and returns among...

Through funding provided by the USDA-National Institute of Food and Agriculture, a group of researchers from nine different Midwestern states and Universities worked collaboratively to develop a series of decision support tools for Midwestern crop...

Be sure to mark your calendars for the 34th Annual Northwestern Illinois Agricultural Research & Demonstration Center Field Day - this July 28 beginning at 8 AM!  Come and visit with University of Illinois research and Extension personnel as they share the results of farm-practical disease,...

In any given year oats are typically the first crop to emerge at the Northwestern Illinois Agricultural Research and Demonstration Center (NWIARDC) in Monmouth. Oats were planted in 2015 on April 1 and as of April 17 have between one and three leaves (Figures). For the past 28...

What had begun as a study to investigate the effects of planting date and in-furrow treatments (fungicide and starter fertilizer) on soybean yield, morphed into a disease trial after severe symptoms of sudden death syndrome appeared in this trial in mid-August. You will find a details regarding the...

No this is not a trick question; let me explain. What are true armyworms? True armyworms are insect pests of grasses and crops such as corn and small grains. Many of the Bt-traited corn hybrids express proteins...

Pheromone traps are set up at various locations throughout the state in order to register when a "significant" black cutworm flight, which occurs when nine or more moths are trap

Iowa State University Extension Ag Engineering Specialist, Dr. Greg Brenneman, recently shared some information regarding cooling the grain that went into storage this year. "In the past couple of weeks a lot of corn and soybeans went into storage with temperatures in the 60s. With grain this...

In a September, 2015 Plant Health Progress article entitled, "Timing and Efficacy of Fungicide Applications for Diplodia Ear Rot Management", Purdue Plant Pathologist, Dr. Kiersten Wise and graduate student...

Most corn producers are aware of growing degree days as a way to both monitor the accumulation of heat units favorable to growth and estimate when a crop may reach important developmental milestones. Briefly, to calculate the GDD value for a particular day, the daily high and low temperatures (...

A wet week. In a 7 day period between May 4 and 10, the Northwestern Illinois Agricultural Research & Demonstration Center (NWIARDC) received 2.21 inches of rain (Figure), an inch more than was received during the entire month of April! This rain largely put a...

Corn ears are thought to be most susceptible to infection by Stenocarpella maydis, the fungus that causes Diplodia ear mold, in the 3 weeks after silking (milk stage), when the silks begin to die. Fungal spores are rain-splash disseminated onto the crop from residue from previously...

Since last Friday daily wind speeds have averaged between 5.9 and 11.6 mph at the Northwestern Illinois Agricultural Research & Demonstration Center. Warmer high temperatures and breezy weather through tomorrow and most of Thursday provide ideal conditions for in-field grain drying. Many crop...

Growing conditions influence growth and development of weed plants. Each of the past several growing seasons has seen unique challenges and triumphs. In 2012, favorable soil conditions allowed for early planting, soon followed by drought conditions. In 2013, record-setting spring...

There are economic and environmental pressures for farmers to consider applying their nitrogen at more than one time. Nitrogen that is lost to nitrification and nitrate leaching is not available for crop use. In addition, nitrate-nitrogen lost from farm fields can move into ground and surface...

Timely planting in April and May was followed by record-setting rains in June. This led to ponded water that remained for long periods of time in some areas. Research has shown that flooded, anaerobic soil conditions can be devastating for young corn plants, resulting in suffocation death after...

Each year the University of Illinois Extension's regional Crop Management Conferences offer hours of research-based education to farmers, Certified Crop Advisors, and other agricultural professionals. Interactive online courses were developed from 2015 conference presentations by University of...