Agronomy eUpdate April 3rd, 2025

Issue 1047

First hollow stem update - March 31, 2025

As of March 31, all wheat varieties at the K-State South Central Experiment Field have reached first hollow stem. Producers in north central and northwest Kansas should monitor their dual-purpose wheat fields closely as they have likely not reached this stage of development yet.

dual purpose grazing wheat first hollow stem 

Now is the time to check fields for wheat viruses

It's the time of year when wheat viruses are rearing their ugly heads in Kansas. Several wheat viruses are showing signs of activity this spring. Now is a good time to scout fields and note any yellowing. This article reviews some key facts about wheat viruses and sample submission guidelines for the Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab.

wheat disease wheat streak mosaic scouting wheat virus 

Brown wheat mite activity in western Kansas

Reports of brown wheat mite activity have come in from southwest and southcentral Kansas recently, and the climate outlook for the region is likely to favor continued issues with this pest. Learn how to scout for this pest and the best ways to control or suppress mite activity.

insects brown wheat mite wheat 

Soybean planting date and maturity group selection

Historically, there has been a trend of planting soybeans early, before corn in some cases. Soybeans can be planted over a wide range of dates with adequate soil moisture conditions, although germination and emergence could be reduced and/or delayed when the soil is less than 60 degrees F.

soybeans planting date maturity group 

Soybean row spacing and seeding rates: What works best in Kansas?

Seed cost is a critical economic factor, and selecting the proper soybean seeding rate is a key management practice. This article reviews key factors in determining optimal soybean seeding rates for different yield environments and considerations for optimal row spacing.

planting soybeans seeding rate row spacing 

Improve weed control by combining residual herbicides with varying water solubility

Applying multiple residual herbicides is a recommended practice, with combinations generally designed for effectiveness on the range of weed species in the field. One factor that may be overlooked when selecting herbicide combinations is the water solubility of the herbicides.

weed control herbicides residual herbicides 

Using drones for early season field scouting

The advancement of precision agriculture technology, such as drones, can provide an efficient solution for early-season field scouting. In contrast to traditional scouting, drone scouting can be less time-consuming, have more thorough field coverage, and be less labor intensive.

drones precision agriculture field scouting sensors 

Pre-season irrigation checklist: Maximize efficiency and minimize issues

Giving your irrigation system a thorough check-up and tune-up this spring can lead to more effective water application and fewer breakdowns or problems during the heart of the irrigation season. This article offers a checklist to perform to potentially save energy and cost this growing season.

irrigation equipment 

How likely is a late spring freeze in Kansas?

What is the probability of a late freeze event in Kansas this spring? The article explores the chances of a freeze event after April for many locations across the nine climate divisions in Kansas. Currently, soil temperatures are running a little above normal, but colder weather is coming this weekend.

weather spring freeze late freeze 


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