Corey Chicoine of Elk Point, South Dakota, Brandon Hope of Sinai, South Dakota, and Brandon Fast of Mountain Lake, Minnesota, all grow both corn and soybeans. For each of them, the year was dry, though not nearly as bad as last year.

Agricultural producers often base their land management decisions on the living things they can see above the ground – crops, livestock, forage, weeds, insects, wildlife, etc. However, new research is showing they should also consider life found in the soil.

Due to dry conditions early in the production season, we are seeing more Palmer amaranth and waterhemp escapes in no-till soybean fields this year.

Cover crops are gaining more interest among Midwestern corn and soybean growers looking to improve soil quality, combat compaction, eliminate erosion and maximize soil nutrients.