Soybeans use a lot of nitrogen, up to 5 pounds of nitrogen per bushel, but nitrogen rarely limits soybean yields and nitrogen fertilizer applications are not recommended.

As the crop progresses, some nutritional problems often become more evident to farmers. Here are a few to consider.

In our last edition of Strip-Till Strategies, I shared some perspectives on best practices and precautions for building phosphorus levels in strip-till. We also asked our readers to share their experiences and advice on how they manage phosphorus in strip-tilled fields. Based on the feedback we received, it seemed worth revisiting the topic here.

Having broadcast dry fertilizer for years, Nebraska strip-tillers Ray and Kevin Kucera began to question the long-term value of the practice, especially after moving to strip-till 5 years ago.

Strip-tillers tend to be particularly conscious of when, where and how much fertilizer they apply to promote long-term yield consistency. Some prefer to broadcast potash, while others see the benefits of deep-placement of phosphorus and potassium beneath the strip.

A Kansas State University senior agricultural economist says there's a 70% chance an El Niño will arrive this fall - and that's good news for the United States.

Soybean acres continue to grow and that means that we will likely have more acres of soybeans planted into virgin soils, where there has been no recent history of soybeans.

Have you ever wondered why school students are routinely given a series of year-end tests when it may already be too late to help them master the material? Or why doctors insist on an annual medical check-up?

Iowa Learning Farms will host a Strip-till and Cover Crops for Nutrient Management field day on Tuesday, June 17 at the farm of Mark Thompson near Badger, Iowa from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Topics that will be discussed include the use of strip-tillage and cover crops as conservation farming techniques, and how these methods reduce water impairment and pollution. The event is free-of-charge and open to the public, and dinner will be provided.

With the recent cold weather and varying degrees of injury, growers are looking for ways to help their young corn recover. One potential concern is the application of urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) and residual herbicides in a tankmix.