Every farmer and agronomist has their “go to” resources. Here are mine:
- The Crop Protection Network (cropprotectionnetwork.org ) is a collaborative effort of the Land Grant Universities. This site has a lot of information both in publication and webinar form. I’m a big fan of the Efficacy of Corn and Soybean Disease charts. If you are new to farming or have new employees, the Crop Protection Network also has a Virtual Crop Scouting School that can be viewed at any time. The Yield Loss Calculator can help you estimate losses from insects and disease. The Severity Estimation Tool can help you to make better defoliation rating assessments as well as better management decisions.
- The Soybean Research & Information Network (soybeanresearchinfo.com ) is a great place to find the latest research and data from the Soybean Extension Agronomists in the US. It is funded by The Soybean Checkoff. The information is categorized under Agronomics, Soybean Diseases, Soybean Pests. My favorite page is The Soybean Growth Cycle: Important Risks, Management and Misconceptions. It outlines the risks at each growth stage and what can be done to manage the issues.
- CDMS.net is a great place to find pesticide labels – because EVERYONE needs to read EVERY label for the products they use. This site (www.cdms.net ) has the product labels, supplemental labels, and MSDS sheets for products registered in the US.
- The 2023 Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri Weed Control Guide is something I never leave home without. The book gives suggestions on herbicide management strategies for corn, soybeans, small grains, and forages. I like the Herbicide Rating Charts as I can draw a line down the columns of all the weeds in the field and find which herbicides control those species the best. It helps to formulate an overall field weed control strategy. The publication can be purchased from THE Ohio State University Extension Store (https://extensionpubs.osu.edu/2023-weed-control-guide-for-ohio-indiana-illinois-and-missouri/) .
- The 2023 Corn & Soybean Field Guide from Purdue is pocket-sized and full of information. Topics include insect, disease and weed identification, herbicide injury diagnosis, soil fertility, crop growth and more. It is a great guide to keep in the truck and on hand for any field visits. This guide can be purchased from Purdue (https://www.edustore.purdue.edu/item.asp?Item_Number=ID-179 ). Along with the Field Guide, Purdue also offers the Midwest Cover Crop Field Guide to help farmers select species, grow, and use cover crops successfully in their operations.
- Are podcasts more exciting for you? Check out War Against Weeds: Silver Bullets are for Werewolves (https://waragainstweeds.libsyn.com/ ). It is a great resource for weed control topics. Sarah Lancaster, Joseph Ikley and Alyssa Essman host the show and bring in numerous other weed science experts. The latest episode discusses the Endangered Species Act and its effect on herbicide registration.
- The “I See Dead Plants: The Podcast Crops are Dying for you to Hear” is presented by the Crop Protection Network ( https://sites.libsyn.com/416264 ). It is hosted by Plant Pathologist Ed Zaworksi. This podcast covers pest management research and education from the Land Grant Universities. Recent episodes include Anthracnose Stalk Rot and Soybean Target Spot.
Lastly, I love these podcast names. No one said learning shouldn’t be entertaining!
About the Author: Karen Corrigan
Karen Corrigan, an independent agronomist and co-owner of McGillicuddy Corrigan Agronomics, offers specialized agronomic consulting services to farmers in the upper Midwest. With a focus on improving production practices, Karen excels in weed science and fundamental agronomy. A Certified Crop Adviser in both Illinois and Iowa, she holds a master’s degree in agronomy-weed science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Karen is the incoming chair for the Illinois CCA Board, showcasing her leadership in the field. As an instructor at Heartland Community College, she teaches classes on agronomy, soils, horticulture, and pest management. In collaboration with friends Kelsey Litchfield and Jen
Campbell, Karen hosts the monthly podcast, Girls Talk Ag. Karen is a Tazwell County Master Gardener and volunteers by giving seminars to patrons and by helping to stock their free seed libraries. She is a member of the McLean County Farm Bureau and serves as the Community Outreach Chair. Karen is the leader of the McLean County STEAM Team 4H club. Karen is also a mom of two elementary aged girls, two doodles, and a tiny rescue dog.
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