Prairie Farmer

21/07/2025

Dairy defies the deficit. 🧀📈
While U.S. ag faces a record $49.5B trade shortfall, dairy stands strong, with $8.6B in exports projected for 2025 and a $3B trade surplus on the books.

Despite overall U.S. agricultural trade deficits, the dairy sector maintains a positive trade balance, with exports reaching $8.2 billion and imports at $5.4 billion in 2024.

19/07/2025

Slugs strike again. 🌱
Beck's Hybrids agronomist Steve Gauck finds familiar slug damage in this year’s Soybean Watch field. Know the signs, scout early, and stay ahead.

Learn to recognize slug damage in soybean fields, understand their behavior and explore management strategies to protect your crop from these nocturnal pests.

18/07/2025

New drone and satellite tech is helping researchers spot dicamba damage in soybeans before it’s even visible. A game-changer for detection and accountability 🌱🛰️ University of Illinois College of ACES Illinois Crop Sciences

University of Illinois researchers use advanced remote sensing to quantify dicamba damage in soybeans, aiding farmers and regulators in assessing herbicide impact.

18/07/2025

Big moves in the seed world this year. AgReliant Genetics joins global player GDM to combine corn and soybean strengths. Meanwhile, Beck's Hybrids is growing with a new Nebraska facility. Canola growers have fresh options too, from new hybrids to expanding contracts.

AgReliant and GDM join forces. Beck’s buys Syngenta facility in Nebraska. New opportunities abound for canola growers.

17/07/2025

Blanket foliar fertilizer on soybeans? Research from University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension's Shawn Conley, Ohio State University Extension's Laura Lindsey, and others says it rarely pays. Steve Gauck of Beck's Hybrids takes a more targeted approach.

Several trial results show little economic benefit to a blanket application in soybeans when no nutrient deficiency symptoms are present.

17/07/2025

Know a farmer who goes above and beyond for their community? Nominate them for the 2026 Master Farmer award. 🌾💪

Nominate exceptional Illinois farmers who demonstrate agricultural excellence and community leadership for the 2026 Prairie Farmer Master Farmer award by Sept. 12.

16/07/2025

Get your dream building with the endless options Lester offers. Customize your accessories, color scheme, and size based on your needs. Our design team will work with you to bring your dreams to reality. Lester Building Systems, LLC

16/07/2025

NACHURS K-flex gives growers the flexibility they need to help achieve maximum yield potential. NACHURS® Liquid Fertilizers

NACHURS K-flex gives growers the flexibility they need to help achieve maximum yield potential.

16/07/2025

Uneven corn spacing isn’t just an eyesore. It can cost you yield.

Purdue Agronomy's Bob Nielsen showed years ago that doubles and skips can reduce yield by up to 15 bushels per acre. Beck's Hybrids' Matt Montgomery says today’s hybrids still don’t like crowding.

Check spacing now and plan for a preseason planter tune-up.

Learn why precise corn planter settings are vital for maximizing yield potential, and how to address issues before the next planting season.

15/07/2025

Storms took a toll on corn fields across the Midwest.
Dan Quinn of Purdue Extension and Matt Montgomery of Beck's Hybrids say patience is key. Wait a few days before judging damage. Timing, growth stage and hybrid all matter when it comes to lodging and green snap recovery.

Experts advise how to evaluate storm-damaged cornfields, understand recovery potential, and assess yield impact based on growth stage and environmental factors.

15/07/2025

The future of farming is here. From enhancing management strategies to boosting precision, spray drones are transforming agriculture across America. Learn why thousands of farmers trust them.

Agri Spray Drones

Spray drones are revolutionizing U.S. farming—cutting costs, boosting precision, and opening new rural jobs as adoption and tech rapidly advance.

15/07/2025

Is now the time to feed cattle in Illinois?

Record-high prices, consumer demand, and Midwest processing expansions create opportunity amid industry volatility. Experts say Illinois is well-positioned to grow its cattle feeding sector. Illinois Beef Association

Illinois cattle producers are navigating market volatility through processing expansion and alternative business models in the beef industry.