By Dr. Paul Tracy

Like always, weather in 2005 was mixed and regionally variable. Generally, we started out with adequate spring soil moisture. Several regions experienced freezes into May. Some experienced severe drought from early June through mid-August. Adequate to excessive rainfall occurred in mid-August, followed by good harvest conditions through October.

There was a large interest in soybean seed treatments (both fungicides and insecticides), especially in early-planted soybeans. It is wise to diversify soybean maturity group selection using some early and late maturity groups, but the largest percentage of your soybeans should be designed for your latitude.

Glyphosate-tolerant soybean weed control systems worked well from emergence through the dry period. August rainfall stimulated a late-season weed flush that I have not observed for many years. I doubt residual products would have held through this period, but we expect renewed interest in residual soybean herbicides going into 2006.

We can add waterhemp and Palmer amaranth to the verified glyphosate-resistant weed list. These are by far the most serious resistant weeds found to date. Try to break the continuous glyphosate cycle through crop rotation, tank mixes or by using a combination of residual herbicides followed by glyphosate.

Asian soybean rust was discussed to nausea and never really materialized. There was a large inoculum base developed in the southeastern United States. We'll keep you informed throughout 2006. Soybean aphids were predicted to be at the high point of their "2-year cycle." Aphids arrived late in our region and did not pose an overall threat.

Besides greatly reduced yields in the drought-affected areas, there were few corn production surprises during 2005. Glyphosate-tolerant corn acreage continues to increase. Once again, when using this technology be aware of resistance issues.

Overall, forage production was poor. Spring freezes combined with summer drought led to less than adequate production. However, August rains led to higher than average fall cool-season grass production. Producers who applied late summer nitrogen fertilizer benefited greatly. Many fields were planted to annual cool-season grasses to supplement the low hay stocks. Roundup Ready alfalfa made its debut this summer. This technology is especially useful during the stand establishment in alfalfa production. Time will tell if moving glyphosate-tolerant technology to a perennial cropping system is economical.

Energy prices are having great impact on agronomy practices. Higher fuel prices may lead to more no-till acreage. If you plan to reduce tillage, remember to adjust weed control, planting operations and plant food management accordingly.

The higher fuel prices have led to higher plant foods costs. There have been numerous articles this year suggesting that crop producers reduce corn nitrogen applications.

I do not subscribe to this philosophy. It assumes we have been using too much nitrogen to grow corn and that our university and private laboratory nitrogen recommendations are purposely too high. As someone who walks hundreds of fields annually, I can testify that there are just as many (if not more) cornfields that are deficient in nitrogen as receive excessive nitrogen fertilization. The bottom line is that optimum nitrogen fertilizer management is elusive and varies over space and time. I recommend that you "stay the course" and determine nitrogen applications based on long-term yield goals. Modifying proven nitrogen recommendations based on short-term, non-agronomic issues is risky.

In 2005, MFA precision agriculture activity doubled. This technology is not just for the innovator type anymore. Agronomic information collected over the past several years is now becoming large and "clean" enough that we are able to use trends associated with that data to make better recommendations. In today's tough economic times, efficiencies gained through precision technologies are becoming invaluable. I strongly advise using precision technology in 2006.

Government programs like EQIP and CSP have provided support for good record keeping, nutrient and pest management planning, and precision technologies, to name a few. With the new technical service provider programs being used in many areas, you as landowners can choose your conservation plan writing and management partner. As a trusted local partner, MFA is obviously poised to help you qualify, maintain and get the most out of the government programs.

For many, 2005 was a rough crop production year. Weather, low commodity prices and high input costs all contributed. We expect more of the same for 2006. In my 20-plus years as an agronomist, never before have I seen a time when using sound agronomic crop production principles and intensifying the management phases of your operation have been as critical to your farm's economical survival. Meet with your MFA certified crop advisor or agronomist to discuss ways to improve production  in 2006. That visit will be greatly rewarded.