Now is the time to check alfalfa stands Late last week, as I walked through an alfalfa field on my way to a 2024 corn field that will be planted to a soybean experiment this spring, alfalfa re-growth was spotty at best (Figure 1). A look from a distance hinted at decent survival and regrowth, but upon closer inspection, many of the green plants observed were dandelions.... Figure 2 illustrates that the lack of insulating, protection-providing snow cover didn't kill every plant. Figure 1. An alfalfa stand near Gary, MN in late April 2025. Note: most of the green is dandelions. Figure 2. Some lone alfalfa crowns showing signs of life surrounded by many more that were not. Assess plant health, plant population and stem density There are three things that one should look at to determine whether an alfalfa crop is likely to be productive enough to keep, needs rehabilitation or should be scrapped and another forage crop seeded. Briefly, from multiple areas of the field, 1) d...
If your 'hair isn't on fire' regarding SCN, it should be!: How to get free sample analysis & management recommendations
This article was written by Angie Peltier, UMN Extension educator-crops. Figure. Soybean roots, with yellow arrows pointing to swollen female SCN and the white arrow to a much larger nitrogen fixing nodule. Photo: Angie Peltier Soybean cyst nematode (SCN) is a microscopic worm that is attracted to and infests soybean roots where it uses for its own growth and development the water and sugars that the soybean plant takes up to develop leaves, flowers, pods and beans (Figure). Capable of causing significant yield loss without alerting a producer of its presence, SCN caused an estimated $7.32 million in lost yield in 2023 in Minnesota (Crop Protection Network, 2024), making it the top yield-limiting pathogen of soybean in Minnesota and throughout the Midwest. One of the most sickening feelings is to visit a field to assist a farmer or crop consultant with diagnosing a soybean production issue only to have to break the news to the unsuspect...