Items: Yields
Early Planting and the Uniformity of Seedling Emergence of Corn and Soybean
By Dennis Egli
Published on Apr. 21, 2026
It’s that time of the year – producers are done tinkering with their planters and are ready to hit the field, hoping to get that perfect ‘picket fence’ stand where every plant is equally spaced and all the seedings emerge at the same time.
Do we need large plants to get high soybean yields?
By Dennis Egli
Published on Mar. 16, 2026
At first glance, the answer to this question seems obvious – of course, larger plants will produce higher yields. Unfortunately, it’s just not that simple.
How can I improve corn fertilizer nitrogen use efficiency?
By John Grove
Published on Mar. 14, 2026
Corn fertilizer nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is defined as the amount of fertilizer N (lb) needed per unit corn yield (bu). Typically calculated as the total fertilizer N rate (lb N/acre) divided by the corn grain yield (bu corn/acre). It is a ratio.
Corn populations for 2026 in Kentucky
By Chad Lee
Published on Feb. 16, 2026
Corn seeding rates need to be adequate for excellent yield opportunities, but can be adjusted downward in 2026 to shave a few dollars off seed costs.
Has the corn population treadmill ended?
By Dennis Egli
Published on Feb. 16, 2026
Have corn populations reached a plateau? They increased steadily from 4000 to 8000 plants per acre when producers were growing open-pollinated varieties to around 29,000 to 32,000 plants per acre today. Yield contest winners report populations as high as 50,000 plants per acre.
W.G. Duncan: Father of crop models
By Dennis Egli
Published on Jan. 25, 2026
Did you know that one of the ‘fathers’ of crop simulation modelling was a professor in the old Agronomy Department at the University of Kentucky? I was reminded of this at a recent seminar where the speaker used a crop simulation model to investigate the effects of planting date and variety maturity on soybean growth and yield. William G.
Is controlled drainage worth the extra bucks, time and effort in soybean fields?
By Mohammad Shamim
Published on Jan. 25, 2026
The Midwest United States is one of the world’s leading soybean-producing regions. According to a 2017 Food and Agriculture Organization report, the region accounts for more than 34% of global soybean production. Over the years, soybean yields have increased steadily thanks to improved genetics and better management practices.
Why does your canola look so ugly in winter? That's actually a good thing.
By Mohammad Shamim
Published on Jan. 25, 2026
Canola can be one of the most beautiful crops you’ll ever grow, bright yellow flowers, happy bees, and neighbors slowing down to look. But once winter shows up, that same field can look like it lost a bar fight. Purple leaves, wilted plants, and a general “this can’t be alive” appearance are all common.
Seed size and crop yield in Kentucky in 2025
By Dennis Egli
Published on Nov. 19, 2025
The year 2025 might turn out to be the year of the ‘small seeds’. Some producers harvested seeds that are smaller than normal. The explanation for this phenomenon lies in the interaction between the vagaries of the weather and the stage of crop development.
Soybean yields in Kentucky: Past, present and future
By Dennis Egli
Published on Oct. 14, 2025
Kentucky’s soybean crop got off to a good start in 2025. Plentiful rains produced an estimated yield on August 1 of 52 bushels per acre (bu/a) according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). A yield of 52 bu/a is not a record (the Kentucky record is 56 bu/a in 2021), but it was only slightly below the trend line (Fig.