Agronomy Insights

When farmers think of managing crops, soil and tissue sampling is not always front-of-mind as a regular practice. Throughout the summer of 2022, Southern States interns collected soil and tissue samples bi-weekly for one farmer whose crops include corn, soybeans, wheat, sorghum, and sunflowers - among others. This project placed a particular focus on corn and soybean fields.

In-season crop tissue analysis can uncover yield-robbing nutrient deficiencies before they impact your corn and soybean crop yields. Your Southern States Cooperative agronomy experts can help incorporate a tissue-testing plan into your nutrient management program.

Southern States Cooperative agronomy experts can help corn growers scout fields early and often to protect against yield-robbing insect and pest damage

From start to finish, phosphorus is a key team player with an important role in crop growth, development and productivity. Timing, availability and balancing with other nutrients help crops fully utilize available P. Start with fall soil testing to optimize P in your fertility program.

Choosing a hybrid is more than just picking a product from a seed guide. With an understanding of each hybrid’s basic production traits and yield potential, we can help you match the right hybrid to the unique needs and production capacity of your fields. Turn to Southern States agronomy experts to help you maximize yields on your farm.

Fall weed control can be an important step in keeping fields clean all year. Scout fields after harvest, follow these tips and contact your Southern States agronomy expert for solutions for your farm.

Optimizing yields on every acre while controlling inputs takes more than your Granddad’s fertility program. Southern States agronomy experts bring you the precision testing, tools and know how to help you develop a fertility plan to boost your bottom line on every acre.

High-yielding crops pull nutrients from the soil ― more than farmers may realize. A plethora of tools are available to ensure that your fertility plan includes levels of nutrients needed for top yields. See your Southern States expert for help to get the needed nutrients on your acres.

Micronutrients can make the difference between average yields and a bumper crop. As important players on a balanced team of vital nutrients, micronutrients help crops withstand stress and optimize yields.

Research has shown that producers will experience a higher probability of achieving a return on investment when seed treatments are used in fields that are at elevated levels of risk for important seedling diseases.

The yield response to fungicide applications in corn depend on several factors, one reason why we observe variability in yield responses across fields and regions. Weather conditions such as temperature and humidity drive pathogen development over time. Field history and farming practices can affect initial pathogen load and disease development. Hybrids rated susceptible or moderately susceptible to important foliar fungal diseases are more responsive to fungicide applications than resistant hybrids