Aaron Hager, Author at farmdoc

Rescheduled Meetings of the 2014 University of Illinois Corn & Soybean Classic

January 7, 2014

Nature reminded us earlier this week that even though we select meeting dates well in advance, the weather often determines whether or not we can actually hold the meeting. Our long streak of good fortune came to an end this week as the adverse weather and road conditions forced us to reschedule two Classic meetings. The Classic meeting at the Urbana I Hotel and Conference Center originally scheduled for January 6 has been rescheduled for January 28. …

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The 2014 University of Illinois Corn & Soybean Classic

December 23, 2013

The 2014 University of Illinois Corn & Soybean Classic begins in two weeks! Even though the pre-registration deadline has passed you still can register to attend by visiting the on-line registration site (http://www.cropsciconferences.com/Corn_Soybean/Registration/), or you may simply register on-site at the venue you attend. The 2014 Classic will feature nine presentations made by speakers from the Illinois State Water Survey, USDA/ARS, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics,…

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2014 Illinois Crop Management Conferences Registration Now Open

December 4, 2013

The latest research information on crop production and management issues will be discussed at four University of Illinois Crop Management Conferences this winter. These two-day conferences are designed to address a wide array of topics pertinent to crop production, pest management, and natural resource issues and provide a forum for discussion and interaction between participants and university researchers.
Certified Crop Advisers can earn up to 13 hours of CEU credit. Advance registration, no later than one week before each conference,…

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The Agenda for the 2014 University of Illinois Corn & Soybean Classics

November 22, 2013

With the 2013 harvest mostly completed, I would like to take this opportunity to announce the agenda for the 2014 University of Illinois Corn & Soybean Classics. We look forward to welcoming back many who have attended one or more of our previous meetings and extend a warm welcome to those who will attend for the first time. The program will feature nine presentations that emphasize crop production, pest management, economics, and the interactions among them. …

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Fall Herbicides to Control Marestail (Horseweed)

October 2, 2013

Widespread and often very dense populations of marestail in soybean fields last spring caught the attention of farmers and other weed management practitioners. Many came to the difficult realization that marestail is not a problem weed species only in the more southern portions of Illinois. It’s difficult to say with complete accuracy how far north these infestations occurred, but mature marestail was easily observed during recent travels through Kankakee and Will counties. As we mentioned earlier this year,…

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Update on Palmer amaranth Distribution in Illinois

September 24, 2013

Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) has garnered much attention recently in both academic discussions and popular press releases, and with good reason. Among the weedy species of Amaranthus, Palmer amaranth has the fastest growth rate and is the most competitive with the crops common to Midwest agronomic cropping systems. Soybean yield losses approaching 80% and corn yield losses exceeding 90% have been reported in the peer-reviewed scientific literature. Palmer amaranth can be effectively managed in Illinois agronomic crops,…

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Soybean rust: status and risk

August 19, 2013

Observations of soybean rust in southern states indicate that the pathogen (Phakopsora pachyrhizi) is beginning to move northward towards Illinois. Based on current movement, soybean rust likely will arrive in Illinois again this year, but it may not be in the state early enough to cause any yield losses. Late-planted fields would be the most at risk to losses caused by soybean rust. In general, once soybean plants reach the R6 stage (full seed stage),…

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Southern rust of corn observed in Illinois

August 14, 2013

Southern rust of corn has now been observed in different areas of Illinois. Southern rust is one of two different rust diseases of corn that can be observed in the state (the other is known as common rust). Because nearly every corn hybrid grown is susceptible to southern rust, yield reductions can occur if infection takes place early enough in the season. Late-planted corn fields are at the highest risk for yield losses associated with southern rust and should be scouted for the presence of this disease. …

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Palmer amaranth: what should you do if you find it in your fields?

August 6, 2013

Recently, we have identified populations of Palmer amaranth in several Illinois counties. The density of many populations is relatively low, and often these plants occur only in small patches. However, a few scattered plants this year can lead to severe infestations within only a few years.
We continue to accept tissue samples from suspected Palmer amaranth plants and use tools of molecular biology to identify whether the sample is Palmer amaranth or another species of Amaranthus. …

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Assessing the risk of white mold (Sclerotinia stem rot) of soybean in 2013

July 22, 2013

White mold of soybean (a.k.a. Sclerotinia stem rot), caused by the fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, is a disease that can occur in the northern half of the state in cool, wet years. The most recent white mold epidemic in Illinois occurred during the 2009 season, where several fields in the northern half of the state were affected.
The white mold fungus overwinters in the soil as, small, black, and dense structures known as sclerotia. …

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