Weeds

Time flies when you are having fun and it was fun to see the crops disappear rapidly in great harvest weather. The plant breeders should be acknowledged for their hybrids developed over the last few years that can turn out yields like we have in this very dry year.

Ryan Frieders had a visit from some hometown folks on his farm this summer. Not exactly “hometown,” but among a visiting group of soybean buyers and end users from the European Union were buyers who hailed from the EU nation of Luxembourg.“

Research and development, partnerships and digital solutions continue to be at the forefront for Syngenta Crop Protection. “We continue to be committed to innovation and helping bring products that make farmers better at what they do,” Vern Hawkins said at a media summit.

Farmers Business Network has launched Cyber November, its biggest annual online sale of agricultural inputs at FBN.com. Every product category FBN offers will be on sale, enabling farmers to enjoy discounts on seed, crop protection and livestock products.

A new application technology that enables targeted spraying of non-residual herbicide on weeds will have a limited model year 2023 rollout in targeted geographies, including central Illinois.

Jerald “Jay” Tharp Jr., of Jasper County, has been named recipient of the 2022 Illinois Certified Crop Adviser Award in recognition of his decades of crop research and guidance. “I am grateful to be awarded this year’s Illinois CCA of the year,” Tharp said.

Weed researchers are challenging proposed federal restrictions on a common weed control ingredient, arguing that the rules could reduce yields and increase herbicide resistance.

The new farm bill, conservation programs and regulations are among the areas the Illinois Farm Bureau has focused on in working on behalf of Prairie State farmers.

Weeds were the talk of the town — and the soybean fields — this year in Indiana. “Weed control is a conversation this year, especially since it was so dry in June,” said Jason Harmon, DEKALB Asgrow technical agronomist for northern Indiana.

I admit, our yard has gone wild since my husband and I became working parents. The awful “Creeping Charlie” weed from our neighbor’s lawn is, yes, creeping into our lawn after the 2020 derecho knocked down the trees that separated our yards.

The DEKALB and Asgrow seed brands are offering farmers an expanded product portfolio for 2023 with exclusive genetics and strong agronomic traits to maximize yield potential and return on investment.

In a year when expectations, demand and price for soybeans are all high, the Illinois soybean crop may not meet those great expectations everywhere.

August has been phenomenal since we have been blessed with weekly rains. We are approaching 8 inches of rain for the month. Yesterday, the farms near DeKalb got two and a half inches of rain and at home we got eight-tenths of an inch.

My flock is eating the 36-day-old wheat stubble weeds, as in forbs, and red clover right now and should have them eaten to the ground in eight days. I ordered a 10-species forage cover crop mix that I’ll plant into the eaten-down wheat stubble after they get it all eaten.

After hearing about some of the extreme rain events in Illinois and elsewhere the past few weeks, I am very grateful to have been spared those deluges. Here at home the pastures and row crops are faring well so far. And with the cooler temps the animals and I are thankful.