Choosing the right corn hybrid to plant for silage can be tricky. We know what to look for when choosing corn hybrids for grain &mash; yield, standability, maturity and pest resistance — but what should we look for in silage?

Indiana and Michigan NRCS announced Dec. 19 as their signup deadline for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), while Ohio NRCS announced its deadline of Jan. 16, 2015.

Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientists are wrapping up a 2-year study to determine the best combination of corn hybrids, planting dates and maturity to maintain yield and maximize water-use efficiency.

The USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) today announced that the new Whole-Farm Revenue Protection insurance policy is now available for the 2015 crop year. The policy allows producers to insure between 50-85% of their whole farm revenue and makes crop insurance more affordable for producers, including fruit and vegetable growers and organic farmers and ranchers.

As you finish up your harvest and sit down to think about your seed options for next year, consider your options when it comes to genetic resistance to disease.

The wet fields that have delayed growers from harvesting also increases the risk for yield loss from wildlife damage and weak plant integrity due to unfavorable weather conditions.

The two primary requirements for soybean seed germination are temperatures above 50 F and seed moisture percentages greater than 50%. Air temperatures and seed moisture content during seed-filling are well above these minimums. But soybean seeds almost never germinate before maturity. Soybean, like many other grain crops, possess several mechanisms that prevent sprouting before maturity.

Trent Sanderson, strip-tiller near Clare, Ill., shares his approach to detailed management and analysis of farm data to make better decisions on fertilizer application, fuel usage and yield potential to provide a specific per-acre payback on their 2,000 corn and soybean operation.

Growers around the world are recognizing the value of true stewardship and conservation tillage methods. Many have begun to reassess their approach to farming and acknowledge that sustainability of the land will be a significant factor for agriculture in the future.

Dan Coffin, certified professional agronomist and consultant with Soil & Plant Nutritional Concepts, helps no-tillers understand the factors that may be hindering their efforts to breakdown residue efficiently and offer up techniques and practices to gain all the benefits available from crop residue. [To view any of our webinar replays, you must be logged in with a free user account.]