Friday in the Field - May 26

May 26, 2023


Friday in the Field | May 26, 2023

Now that most farmers have their seed in the ground and parked their planter for the year, Trevor Conrad, Agronomy Account Manager, scouted several local fields to check for any disease or insect pressure.

Trevor found some concerning areas of a field that were experiencing an invasion of the weed, horsetail. This week looks similar to a mini evergreen tree. Because of the minimal leaf surface, herbicide applications are not as efficient, making it challenging to rid fields of the weed.

Trevor also saw fields with bouts of waterhemp, marestail, and grass. He mentioned that the most significant risk factor right now for crops is the lack of moisture. Farmers who planted their beans early before the heavy rain have seen stand and emergence issues. This problem can be attributed to the crusting of the soil post-rain. Because of this, many farmers are now replanting their beans. Depending on the weather, you can expect to begin seeing many post-corn applications in the next week or two.

Trevor’s passion for agriculture started from a young age as he grew up on his grandparent’s farm. When he got older, he knew he wanted to work in agriculture. Trevor attended Iowa State University, and at the career fair his senior year, a River Valley Cooperative employee suggested that he check out the booth. Trevor began his career as an Agronomy Sales Account Manager and enjoys assisting growers with their operations.
 

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Jun 02, 2023
With the 2023 growing season now underway, Dylan Meyer, Account Manager at the Lost Nation location, scouted fields to prepare for post-emergence herbicide spraying.

While out in the field, Dylan found very little evidence of weed pressure. With these dry conditions, it's hard to tell if there will be much pressure from fungus. Dylan recommends during this stage, a V5 fungicide not only helps fight against funguses that might form on the plants but will also help the plants manage water.
 
Apr 12, 2023

Your Fields are Talking, It’s Time to Listen
Matt VanSloten, Decision Ag Specialist

Knowing what to do and when to do it in your farming operation is challenging. It becomes even harder to manage when it is your crop. I say this because many variables and influences can affect that decision or outcome. For example, how or when do we treat corn rootworms? Many make decisions based on their past experiences. Did my field have an issue with corn rootworms over the last few years? Some may approach this issue with how much risk they’re willing to assume. What happens if I don’t apply an insecticide or plant a rootworm-trait hybrid? Or the decision may come down to how likely you are to have a problem with this pest. 

 

Mar 29, 2023

Improve nutrient utilization and conditions for root growth. 

River Valley Cooperative is excited to introduce BioPath, a new product offering in the nutrient enhancement category, this year. BioPath is a microbial inoculant containing bio actives of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR).