Penn State

A new weather pattern is developing across the region which will favor longer periods of warm and humid conditions for most of the remainder of August.

We continue to trap western bean cutworm (WBC) moths in Pennsylvania.

If you talk with a long-time no-till farmer, and ask what it takes for one to be a consistently successful no-tiller, the inclusion of cover crops into the rotation will likely be one of the top 3 secrets for success.

Corn and soybean crop conditions around the state are generally good, with some fields really benefitting from the recent "million dollar rains" in late July and August.

There have been some articles published about biochar in the local media, and a questionnaire has been going around in parts of Pennsylvania about this new topic, which may have raised some questions in peoples' minds.

Details concerning the upcoming walk.

One of the most challenging issues of 2009 was effectively managing fertility, particularly NITROGEN.

The Penn State Crop Management Extension Group (CMEG) hopes to visit with you at Ag Progress Days beginning on Tuesday, August 18th and running through Thursday, August 20th.

For many folks this was a less than wonderful wheat year and one that many of us are glad to put behind us.

The relative efficacy of fungicide seed treatments for management of certain diseases of wheat in Pennsylvania.

A heat wave is coming for early next week with temperatures in the 90’s in most places on Sunday and Monday and several spots in southeastern Pennsylvania may rise above 100°F.

We have concluded another year of winter barley trials and have recently posted the preliminary data on our Web site.

A summary of diseases and insects that affect orchardgrass.

Corn silage harvest is drawing near and as harvesters pull into fields across the state some may question the health of their corn fields.

The abundance (over abundance actually in some areas) of soil moisture is creating a perfect opportunity for a summer seeding of alfalfa across PA.

Recent warm temperatures have been perfect for soybean aphid development and, as a result, populations have grown toward the 250-aphids-per-plant economic threshold.

One of the most challenging issues of 2009 was effectively managing fertility, particularly NITROGEN.

The Penn State Crop Management Extension Group (CMEG) hopes to visit with you at Ag Progress Days beginning on Tuesday, August 18th and running through Thursday, August 20th.

We have been receiving reports again from throughout the state on soybeans that did not nodulate or have variable nodulation across the field.

Last week at the Nutrient Management Annual Conference the following updates were presented along with many other important topics all relating to nutrient management and conservation.