2016 Corn Belt Crop Tour: Michigan

Jul 18, 2016

Final state visited during 12-state tour

By Diego Flammini
Assistant Editor, North American Content
Farms.com

The final stop on the fifth annual 2016 U.S. Corn Belt Crop Tour was Michigan and there were some concerns when it comes to corn.

“Corn looks the worst out of any state we have seen thus far out of all of the 12 states,” Chief Commodity Strategist Moe Agostino said.

“Michigan is one of the driest states,” Agostino said. “Ohio is a close second. The corn is going to need some moisture to help it grow.”

In the fields Agostino visited, he noted lots of variability and some crops beginning to burn.

However, the current conditions appear to be helping the state’s wheat crop.

“The dry weather probably helped the wheat the most,” he said. “Farmers are in full swing harvest up here.”

The soybean crop in Michigan appears to be okay.

“I think the beans come in a close second,” Agostino said, adding that vegetation growth without any pods concerns him.

Due to the dryness in Michigan, Agostino ranked it the worst out of the states he’s visited.

“I’m going to have to go with a 5/5.5 out of 10 for the state of Michigan."

Did you miss a state along the way? Be sure to go back and check out all the state videos and farmer interviews for first-hand accounts of what’s happening on local farms.

Use the hashtag #cornbelt16 to follow the tour on social media and don’t forget to register for the Ontario End of Tour Penta Event. It takes place on July 26 at the Penta Tillage Plant in Glencoe, Ontario from 2 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Video: Dr. Emerson Nafziger: Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates for Corn

The Crop Science Podcast Show, Dr. Emerson Nafziger from the University of Illinois breaks down decades of nitrogen research. From the evolution of N rate guidelines to how soil health and hybrid genetics influence nitrogen use efficiency, this conversation unpacks the science behind smarter fertilization. Improving how we set nitrogen fertilizer rates for rainfed corn is a key focus. Discover why the MRTN model matters more than ever, and how shifting mindsets and better data can boost yields and environmental outcomes. Tune in now on all major platforms!

"The nitrogen that comes from soil mineralization is the first nitrogen the plant sees, and its role is underestimated."

Meet the guest:

Dr. Emerson Nafziger is Professor Emeritus of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with degrees in agronomy from Ohio State, Purdue, and Illinois. His research has focused on nitrogen rate strategies and crop productivity. He co-developed the Maximum Return to Nitrogen (MRTN) model, which is widely used across the Midwest. His research spans N response trials, hybrid interactions, crop rotation effects, and yield stability.