When farmers select their varieties and hybrids, plant the seed and raise their crop, they face challenges from the weather, insects, weeds, diseases and economic factors.
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Settled under the Homestead Act of 1885, the Ochsner family farm in Sutton, Nebraska, has weathered the Great Depression, the 1980s farm crisis, and the evolving landscape of American agriculture. Today, fifth-generation farmer Levi Ochsner, his wife Jena, and three generations working side-…
- Tim Kenyon
As another challenging Midwest growing season ends, farmers consider management practices that could close the gap between red ink and profitability.
- Crystal Reed
Nitrogen application in the fall and winter might need to be delayed this year with the appearance of a Super El Niño.
- By Jeff DeYoung, Iowa Farmer Today
SCHLESWIG, Iowa — A machinery breakdown stopped Brian Sieren as he neared the end of soybean harvest.
Harvest was moving quickly during this year's Illinois Farmer Today Harvest Survey.
- By Jeff DeYoung, Iowa Farmer Today
EMERSON, Iowa — A brief shower Oct. 13 pushed farmers out of the field, but not for long.
- Tim Kenyon
TAMA COUNTY, Iowa — Helpful weather and good timing has resulted in increased job satisfaction for central Iowa farmer Lance Ewoldt.
- By Jeff DeYoung, Iowa Farmer Today
WOODBURN, Iowa — Harvest is moving right along for Jeff Pollard in Clarke County.
- Tim Kenyon
CASCADE, Iowa — Running hard is just a regular farm routine this time of year.
- Tim Kenyon
JESUP, Iowa — A large northeastern Iowa family supports the ambitious annual growing plans for Blue Diamond Farming Co., based about 10 minutes south of Jesup near where Buchanan and Black Hawk counties meet.
- Tim Kenyon
MORNING SUN, Iowa — Paul Gieselman felt happy after several consecutive days harvesting in his Louisa County fields.
- By Jeff DeYoung, Iowa Farmer Today
ORANGE CITY, Iowa — Strong yields have made this harvest a happy one for Joel Leusink.
- Tim Kenyon
CHARLES CITY, Iowa — Wayne Koehler was glad for the return of momentum to the 2026 harvest Oct. 14 following a very rainy August and September.
Wet weather is slowing corn harvest across much of the Corn Belt, creating challenges for growers while also giving Wyffels Hybrids’ agronomy and breeding teams an opportunity to evaluate corn performance under a wide range of conditions.
With recent rains adding moisture across parts of the Corn Belt, growers may be trying to determine how early to get those combines rolling.
- By Nat Williams for Iowa Farmer Today
Some new corn hybrids short in stature may be long on promise.
New pre-emergent chemistry offers hope for growers battling the most aggressive resistant weeds in North America.
- Benjamin Herrold
Harvest will tell the final story of this year’s crops, but timely rains have helped them look promising in many parts of the Midwest.
- Nat Williams For Lee Agri-Media
Most seed put into the ground in the Midwest is treated, but the jury is still out as to the most effective use of chemical and biological additives. There’s little doubt that treatments are beneficial but there’s much to be learned.
- Benjamin Herrold
Down in southeast Missouri, the cotton and rice crops are getting close to harvest, and it has been a generally good weather year for the crops.
- Fred Hall Iowa State University
As producers prepare for silage harvest, remember that corn silage harvest is one of the most fast‑paced high‑stakes periods on a dairy farm, and the decisions made in the next few weeks will shape feed quality for the entire year. Four factors -- cut length, moisture, packing density and pi…
- Benjamin Herrold
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Construction progresses on the new University of Missouri Soybean Cyst Nematode Diagnostics Lab.
- Benjamin Herrold
ROCK PORT, Mo. — On an overcast late-August day, University of Missouri Extension agronomists and specialists talked about crop productivity, technology and ongoing research at the annual MU Graves-Chapple Extension and Education Center field day.
The Peterson Farm Brothers, Greg, Nathan and Kendal, are fifth-generation farmers working the land in central Kansas. Although many might know them from their popular farming content on YouTube and other social media channels, their day-to-day still revolves around raising beef cattle and gr…