Mindy Ward

1 week ago | farmprogress.com | Mindy Ward |Sarah McNaughton-Peterson

Tar spot remains a top threat for corn farmers this year. “With the amount of residue left in the fields from last year’s record crop, I expect [tar spot] to flare up again,” says Joe Harris, a Dekalb Asgrow technical agronomist based in Missouri. Unlike previous seasons, when tar spot arrived via airborne spores affecting the upper canopy first, the disease can overwinter in soil. This means the pathogen is already present in cornfields throughout the Corn Belt, Harris says.

2 weeks ago | farmprogress.com | Mindy Ward

In the ever-changing agriculture landscape, a family farm’s success is no longer about maintaining the status quo, but rather embracing flexibility, technology and innovative thinking. A recent panel of generational farmers from Missouri and Kansas shared insights into how they’ve set their farm up to thrive even in challenging times. For these farmers, adaptability isn’t just a strategy — it’s a way of life.

3 weeks ago | farmprogress.com | Mindy Ward

It’s been a soggy start to the growing season across the Midwest, but agronomists are already keeping a close eye on some potential pest concerns — especially in corn and soybeans. Joe Harris, a Dekalb Asgrow technical agronomist based in Missouri, says this could be a year where early scouting pays off big. Here is his list of insects farmers may encounter in 2025:Corn leaf aphids.

3 weeks ago | farmprogress.com | Mindy Ward

Each spring, thousands of corduroy blue jackets flood the University of Missouri campus for what many consider the highlight of the year in agricultural education — the Missouri FFA Convention. Held during the last week of April, the 97th annual convention welcomed more than 9,000 members and guests to celebrate the achievements and hard work of FFA students from across the state.

1 month ago | farmprogress.com | Mindy Ward

Direct government payments — expected to reach $1.3 billion — are pulling Missouri agriculture out of the red in 2025. But as farmers prepare for what could be a stronger year on paper, Alejandro Plastina urges them to brace for potential setbacks in 2026. The Rural and Farm Finance (RaFF) Policy Analysis Center projects Missouri’s net farm income to rise from $4.3 billion in 2024 to $4.7 billion in 2025.