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Sandhill cranes remain a problem for corn growers

A wildlife group is hoping to help farmers get some reimbursement for crop damage by sandhill cranes.

Roger Schnitzler with the Crane Foundation says the birds have adapted to modern agriculture and have greatly increased in numbers. “They’ve greatly increased from maybe ten in the whole state in the 1940s to maybe 100-thousand cranes in Wisconsin and maybe another 50-70 thousand in our sister state across the lake in Michigan.”

And, he says the large number of cranes is often devastating on newly-planted corn.

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Trending Video

Dr. Emerson Nafziger: Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates for Corn

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.