CRP Weed Control Strategies Field Tours June 19 & 20
June 19 at St Hilaire and June 20 at Crookston

Disease Outlook for Winter and Spring Wheats
Growth stages vary by planting dates. Many producers began planting early, but were delayed at least once by rain. The varied planting dates will spread out crop maturities and expose developing wheat to differing environments.

Monitoring a Global Grain Threat:
Sentry Lab Searches for Threats to U.S. Grains
For more than 80 years, the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Cereal Disease Laboratory in St. Paul, Minn., has been a sentry for wheat, barley and oat diseases. In addition to monitoring for wheat scab, leaf rust, stripe rust and Asian soybean rust--a fairly recent arrival to this country--ARS scientists at St. Paul and elsewhere are also monitoring for a new strain of stem rust from Africa.

One-stop Shopping for Farm Energy Savings
Farmers who are seeking ways to reduce their energy costs can now get helpful tools and information at one easy-to-use Web site.

Web information for Grass Seed Growers
A new website recently was created to provide NW MN grass seed growers with the latest information on production information including the accumulation of growing degree days, pest and disease outlook.

AGR-Lite: new whole-farm revenue protection
A new whole-farm insurance program will be available in Minnesota in 2007. It will protect farm families against loss of revenue due to natural disasters and market fluctuations.

Digital Repository Provides Public Access Online
to Selected USDA Publications
The National Agricultural Library (NAL) has established an online digital repository providing convenient public access to the full text of selected U.S. Department of Agriculture publications.

Scientists Help Rust-Proof America's Soybeans
Fungicides are a key frontline defense against Phakopsora pachyrhizi, the latest fungal threat to America's soy crop. Many of the fungicides approved for use against this exotic fungal pathogen owe their availability to the efforts of Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists in Urbana, Ill., and Fort Detrick, Md.

Fungicide Terminology
Iowa State U. Plant pathologist D.S. Mueller has launched a series of short articles discussing various aspects of fungicides and their application. The intent is to help growers understand fungicides and how they affect production practices.

Spray Boom Cleanout Ideas
Most modern spray booms tend to have "dead ends" that resist being fully cleaned out when water or cleaning solution is flushed through the system. Here is an idea that might be useful.

Saving Fuel in Field Operations
Key points to saving fuel during tractor field use are keeping a current maintenance schedule, proper ballasting and tire inflation, and selecting a fuel saving gear and throttle setting.

Soybean Aphids Make a Very Early Arrival!
Researchers from the NWROC entomology project found soybean aphids on V1/V2 soybeans between Crookston and Fisher last week. Populations are very small so there is not reason to worry yet!