The environmental conditions of the Coastal Plains region of the United States provides livestock producers with unique forage production opportunities that may not be experienced nationwide. While the environmental conditions are favorable for forage production, and longer growing seasons, the rising cost associated with livestock production has producers seeking alternative ways to increase productivity while also reducing external input costs, specifically those associated with feeding livestock. Earn 0.5 CEUs in Crop Management by reading this article and taking the quiz at https://web.sciencesocieties.org/Learning-Center/Courses .
AbstractThe 20th century saw the development of a highly efficient nutrient industry producing affordable fertilizers that contributed greatly to increased food, feed, fiber, and fuel production for a growing global population. Plant nutrient production and use in the 21st century faces pressure to improve efficiency and outcomes. The nutrient industry has historically operated with large volumes and low margins, and has, at times, been slow to embrace innovations. However, the landscape has changed, driven by the demand for superior products, practices, and environmental stewardship. This transition marks the advent of what experts term “responsible plant nutrition” (International Fertilizer Association, 2024). This is the third and final article in a series on the past, present, and future of the North American fertilizer industry. Earn 1.5 CEUs in Nutrient Management by reading this article and taking the quiz at https://web.sciencesocieties.org/Learning‐Center/Courses.
In many areas where center-pivot irrigation methods are used, the most common sprinkler package is called mid-elevation sprinkler application, known as MESA. Two alternative sprinkler packages designed for better water use efficiency are called low-energy precision application, or LEPA, and mobile drip irrigation, called MDI. A recent study evaluated how MDI and LEPA—at full and reduced irrigation rates—impact alfalfa and silage corn yield and quality in trials on two farms in Utah. Earn 0.5 CEUs in Soil & Water Management by reading this article and taking the quiz at https://web.sciencesocieties.org/Learning-Center/Courses .
Plant diversity, including diversified rotation and cover crops, is a part of conservation agricultural practices that support soil microbial communities. Three case studies from Canada, Belgium, and the United States uphold the importance of cover crops for promoting the long-term abundance and diversity of the soil microbiome. These results offer information on how microbial communities respond to different agricultural management practices with the goal of developing environmentally friendly, sustainable cropping systems. Earn 1 CEU in Soil & Water Management by reading this article and taking the quiz at https://web.sciencesocieties.org/Learning-Center/Courses .
Crops & SoilsEarly View FROM THE EDITOR Crops & Soils Magazine Seeking Regional Editors Matt Nilsson, Matt Nilsson Managing Editor of Crops & Soils magazineSearch for more papers by this author Matt Nilsson, Matt Nilsson Managing Editor of Crops & Soils magazineSearch for more papers by this author First published: 01 April 2024 https://doi.org/10.1002/crso.20356Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onEmailFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Early ViewOnline Version of Record before inclusion in an issue RelatedInformation
The principles of 4R nutrient stewardship apply to every plant nutrient. Magnesium (Mg), traditionally considered a secondary macronutrient, is often overlooked. This article reviews the options available for managing magnesium and the benefits you might expect. Earn 0.5 CEUs in Nutrient Management by reading this article and taking the quiz at https://web.sciencesocieties.org/Learning-Center/Courses .
Soil properties and crop yield vary with slope position in hummocky landscapes. Slope position is also readily mapped and thus potentially useful for delineating management zones for variable-rate fertilization (VRF). Slope position was evaluated as a basis for VRF in southern Alberta, Canada. Earn 0.5 CEUs in Nutrient Management by reading the article and taking the quiz at https://web.sciencesocieties.org/Learning-Center/Courses .
Soil acidification, a common issue in high-rainfall areas of the U.S. and Canada, has become a more prevalent problem in the semi-arid areas of the western U.S. Liming is an effective way to mitigate soil acidity as the carbonate reacts with hydrogen ions in the soil solution to increase the soil pH. However, questions exist about the type of liming product, lime rate, cost effectiveness, and how long the lime benefits last, especially in regions that have historically not needed lime, like much of the Great Plains. Earn 0.5 CEUs in Soil & Water Management by reading the article and taking the quiz at https://web.sciencesocieties.org/Learning-Center/Courses .
This is the fourth article in our series on soil health and greenhouse gas emissions on U.S. dairies associated with crop production. In this article, we’ll look at innovative manure products that might help dairy farmers better manage their manure resources and answer some key questions. Earn 1 CEU in Sustainability by reading this article and taking the quiz at https://web.sciencesocieties.org/Learning-Center/Courses .
Cover crop management depends on building and estimating biomass amounts, which can vary across field and management settings. This study used multi-flight drone imagery and the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) to map cover crop growth over three different winter seasons and compare it with spring biomass accumulation. Drone imagery can be used to enhance our understanding of winter crop growth, providing additional data to explain the resulting biomass across variable conditions. Earn 0.5 CEUs in Crop Management by reading this article and taking the quiz at https://web.sciencesocieties.org/Learning-Center/Courses .
Developed more than 80 years ago, the soil pH and nutrient diagram offers a quick reference that growers can use to gauge soil fertility and plant nutrition. At first glance, the relationship between soil pH and nutrient availability makes sense. Soil pH influences the solubility, concentration, ionic form, adsorption, and mobility of important plant nutrients. But this simple diagram hides the complexity of this relationship. Earn 0.5 CEUs in Nutrient Management by reading this article and taking the quiz at https://web.sciencesocieties.org/Learning-Center/Courses .
One of the most important aspects of site-specific nutrient management is precision soil sampling such as grid- and zone-based strategies to determine varying soil nutrient levels within a field. And for grid soil sampling, one of the most important considerations is the size of the grids as it affects both the sampling resolution and costs. Questions and concerns from growers about the effectiveness of different grid sizes in accurately depicting soil nutrient variability have become common recently, warranting an investigation into how grid size affects application accuracy and economics of site-specific nutrient management in the southeastern U.S. Earn 0.5 CEUs in Nutrient Management by reading this article and taking the quiz at https://web.sciencesocieties.org/Learning-Center/Courses .
Today, 90 million acres are planted in corn in the U.S., producing an average of roughly 15 billion bushels per year ( https://bit.ly/3SE9T8F ). Corn yields have increased tremendously since the 30 bu/ac days of the 1930s when Reid’s Yellow Dent was just facing competition from the first batches of hybrid corn. This article looks at the development and improvement of hybrid corn over the years and provides tips for selecting next season’s hybrids. Earn 1 CEU in Crop Management by reading this article and taking the quiz at https://web.sciencesocieties.org/Learning-Center/Courses .
Precision agriculture tools like decision support systems increasingly use machine-learning algorithms and other types of artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze large quantities of agricultural data and provide recommendations to producers and crop advisers. However, several barriers threaten adoption of these tools. Three papers in the recent Agronomy Journal special section, “Machine Learning in Agriculture,” explore this phenomenon and offer solutions and opportunities for building trust in these technologies.
The future of water-wise and resilient alfalfa production lies in the integration of precision irrigation technologies and innovative water management strategies. With the continued threat of drought and depleting levels within the Ogallala aquifer in regions like the Southern Great Plains of the United States, it is important to adopt precision techniques that optimize water use while maximizing crop yields and quality. From soil moisture-based management to canopy-based monitoring and the development of irrigation decision support systems, farmers and CCAs have many options from commercially available tools at their disposal to navigate water scarcity challenges. The power of artificial intelligence, satellite imagery, and real-time data analytics can all be integrated together to bring the agricultural community to work towards a future where alfalfa production remains resilient and environmentally sustainable. Earn 1.5 CEUs in Soil & Water Management by reading this article and taking the quiz at https://web.sciencesocieties.org/Learning-Center/Courses .
To make precision agriculture work, we need to gather a lot of critical information about the field. Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) introduced an era of on-demand remote-sensing data collection at fine spatial and temporal resolutions. With the help of UAS, detailed maps of the field can be generated, which can help farmers see how their crops are doing and where they might be facing challenges. These maps can also show if the farming methods are working well or if they need to be adjusted. In this article, we’ve provided an overview of the current state-of-the-art UAS sensors and their applications, along with associated challenges and prospects of UAS mapping in agriculture. Earn 0.5 CEUs in Crop Management by reading this article and taking the quiz at https://web.sciencesocieties.org/Learning-Center/Courses .
Global market demands for barley are less than cereals such as corn, rice, and wheat, but barley plays a particularly important role in cropping systems in areas of high elevation and/or latitude with short growing seasons. Estimation of residue nutrient uptake requires both a knowledge of the biomass produced, as well as the concentration of individual nutrients. These factors were evaluated in 2018 and 2019 from trials of four barley classes at five locations in southern Idaho. Earn 0.5 CEUs in Crop Management by reading the article and taking the quiz at https://web.sciencesocieties.org/Learning-Center/Courses .
Pecan production in the U.S. is primarily divided into two production regions: the southwestern region and the southeastern region. One insect pest complex is common to both production regions—pecan aphids. Growers regularly make insecticide applications to manage these aphids every year. The pecan aphid complex is represented by three aphid species: yellow pecan aphid, the blackmargined aphid, and the black pecan aphid. This article will discuss some of the important aspects of pecan aphids in relation to their management in commercial pecan orchards. Earn 0.5 CEUs in Integrated Pest Management by reading this article and taking the quiz at https://web.sciencesocieties.org/Learning-Center/Courses .
Weed management practices and challenges in agronomic crops were assessed in two University of Nebraska Extension surveys. The updated 2019–2020 survey results were compared with those from 2014–2015 to determine the changes in weed distribution, occurrence, and grower management strategies over the four to six years. A follow-up survey was conducted in August 2023 to asses Nebraska stakeholders’ perspectives on weed management challenges and current practices. Earn 0.5 CEUs in Integrated Pest Management by reading this article and taking the quiz at https://web.sciencesocieties.org/Learning-Center/Courses .
