Science

One of the great honors of my role as American Farm Bureau Federation president is sharing the stories of farmers and ranchers from across this country with leaders who are making decisions that directly impact our work, our families and our livelihoods.

Corn and soybean crops are in the ground and now must deal with a host of threats, including disease pressure.

Understanding the environment of a field can help farmers choose the best soybean variety, as well as make management decisions.

Purdue University researchers now have developed an innovative, paper-based diagnostic test for rapidly detecting avian influenza, the main cause of recent high egg prices.

Farm drones can be valuable in helping farmers keep an eye on their crops through the growing season.

The Illinois Soybean Association’s agronomy team is spending the dog days of summer scouting for problems in fields that have, could or will impact plants.

Drone technology offers a fast, reliable way to assess crop stands — one of the most important factors influencing yield potential, according to Pioneer District Sales Manager Jesse Moch.

Often called the $1 billion beetle, corn rootworm pressure is costly from both control costs and yield loss.

Of the two predominant sources of resistance for soybean cyst nematode, PI 88788 is used in over 90% of the commercial soybean varieties today. However, as with most products used to control insects or diseases over time, those same pests develop resistance.

Illinois and Indiana fields have experienced a broad range of weather this growing season, from heavy rains in the south to drier conditions to the north in both states.

A nutritional naturally-derived seed treatment that delivers nutrients to support healthy corn emergence awaits regulatory approval.

All of my crops look very good considering the lack of measurable rainfall.

As severe storms once again soak, twist and pelt the nation’s midsection, a team of dozens of scientists is driving into them to study one of the nation’s costliest but least-appreciated weather dangers: Hail.

Farmers truly share a bond, no matter where we live or what we grow and raise.

Drones can now detect subtle soybean canopy damage from dicamba at one ten-thousandth of the herbicide’s label rate — simulating vapor drift — eight days after application.

In the latest AgriNews AgriMinute podcast, Jim Henry details how to use data to make decisions.

Stephen Long, Ikenberry Endowed Chair Emeritus of Plant Biology and Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, has been selected as 2025 Top Agri-food Pioneer by the World Food Prize Foundation.

Indiana farmers planted an estimated 1.6 million acres of overwinter living covers, according to a recent conservation survey from Indiana Conservation Partnership.

William Henert spends a significant amount of his time during this period of the growing season spraying crop protection products on the corn, soybean and seed corn crops on the northern Illinois farm.

The roots of the commercial corn must be really good because it hasn’t shown any signs of stress, so with the planting date, the root size probably helped.

Connect with crop experts and innovators during the Illinois Wheat Association’s annual Summer Wheat Forum.

Water quality is directly connected to human and economic health, and an organization is working to reduce nutrient loss through education and advocacy.

The first herbicide application in a field impacts the crops throughout the growing season.

Even small Midwestern farms can harness the power of AI to boost productivity without breaking the bank.

Join University of Illinois Extension for a program on “Getting Started with Cover Crops.”

Chris Hoffman is president of Pennsylvania Farm Bureau. He is a first-generation hog and chicken farmer.

A researcher at Southern Illinois University wants to use agricultural waste products to develop carbon materials specifically designed to trap carbon dioxide.

Dan Parker and family had a full schedule since AgriNews’ last visit in late May, including the FFA convention and the opening of fair season.

The recent U.S. and Israeli bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities had an immediate impact on the domestic economy, including costs associated with agricultural fertilizer.

It sounds simple: Control what you can to get crops off to a strong start, so they finish the season even stronger. Yet, doing so is not always so simple in practice when agronomic and daily management challenges arise and demand attention.

Timing sure was tricky this year and continues to be an issue with spraying and sidedressing the crops.

As another large dust storm impacted Illinois, the conversation and questions continue about why and how to get the dust to settle and stay in the field rather than across roadways.

The United States has the ability to produce nearly everything on grocery store shelves. That’s pretty remarkable.

American farmers take the responsibility of providing a safe food supply to heart because we know that food security means national security.

Two weeks from now we’ll probably go in and hit the weeds back and that will be good for the season because the beans will canopy.

Sidedressing anhydrous ammonia and herbicide applications are the focus for the Henert family now that they are almost done with planting.

Looking out our backdoor it’s about as good as we could ask for. The corn stands are about the best we’ve ever had.

Effective grain management is key to overcoming summer challenges, helping farmers preserve grain quality while giving them the flexibility to sell when market conditions are most favorable.

Purdue University’s Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture will offer a one-day workshop about hydroponic crop production July 12 for home and commercial growers.

Farming practices in America have been under public scrutiny for well over a century, but the intensity and focus of that scrutiny have evolved significantly over time.

Swartz Farms is transitioning into summer mode after a timely planting season.

Four FFA students were named Stars over Indiana for their exceptional Supervised Agricultural Experiences.

This is the second in a series of columns featuring conversations with state Farm Bureau presidents about current issues in agriculture.

Four members with outstanding projects that include cattle, flowers, sheep, auctioneering and hay production were presented the prestigious star awards during the 97th Illinois FFA State Convention.

National Pollinator Week is the perfect time to recognize the small creatures that play a major role in the success of agriculture.

Purdue University’s Department of Botany and Plant Pathology will host Weed Science Field Day on June 26 at the Throckmorton Purdue Agricultural Center.

Fire is a natural and necessary part of a healthy ecosystem.

When the Make America Healthy Again Commission released its report, it raised concerns across the agriculture community.

It took just short of four weeks for Dan Parker to finally get the last seed in the ground.

Clay Geyer is balancing working on the farm, promoting corn-husking competitions and much more this summer.