Mark A. Magnuson

1 week ago | kxel.com | Mark A. Magnuson

The cattle inventory in the United States remains low with producers still asking the question, when will it be time to rebuild the herd? Mark Johnson, the extension beef cattle breeding specialist for Oklahoma State University, says there are signs the industry needs to begin that process soon. He says that means selecting the right replacement females.

1 week ago | kxel.com | Mark A. Magnuson

Planting season is one of the busiest times of the year for farmers. Growers are building a plan for the growing season and then implementing that plan with many hours spent getting inputs and seed into the soil. With all the hard work of planting season putting a strain on farmers, a lack of sleep combined with long hours can lead to stress. David Brown of Iowa State University Extension says that although sleep might be limited by long workdays, there are still ways to reduce stress.

1 week ago | kmaland.com | Mark A. Magnuson

Planting season is one of the busiest times of the year for farmers. Growers are building a plan for the growing season and then implementing that plan with many hours spent getting inputs and seed into the soil. With all the hard work of planting season putting a strain on farmers, a lack of sleep combined with long hours can lead to stress. David Brown of Iowa State University Extension says that although sleep might be limited by long workdays, there are still ways to reduce stress.

1 week ago | kmaland.com | Mark A. Magnuson

Attempting to predict the unpredictable with weather, disease, and even market volatility can leave farmers frustrated. However, controlling what you can control and selecting the right inputs to provide consistent return on investment can provide some peace of mind in the face of uncertainty. Matt Geiger is an agronomy service representative with Syngenta and he details some of the factors that growers should consider when planning for the growing season.

1 week ago | kxel.com | Mark A. Magnuson

Preparing for the growing season means a lot of maintenance and check lists for growers. Some of the items on the check list are obvious, seed selection, planter maintenance and optimization, and field work. However, there are several factors that might not be top of mind for farmers preparing to plant. One of those factors is water quality. Paul Sauer is a product manager for Helena Ag and covers the northern portion of Iowa.