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Articles by Jared Goplen
Cultivating Knowledge: Jared Goplen’s Role Supporting Midwest Farmers
Before earning graduate degrees in agronomy, working for University of Minnesota Extension, and landing his current role of agronomy manager for Wyffels Hybrids, Jared Goplen was, like many of the growers he supports, born and raised on a Midwest family farm – the same one he farms now when not working for Wyffels. As an agronomy manager, Goplen supports growers in northwest Iowa, southern Minnesota, and eastern South Dakota.
Alfalfa Seedling Tolerance to Freezing
By Craig Sheaffer and Jared Goplen Can alfalfa germinate in a block of ice? Scientists in the early 1900’s reported that alfalfa seed did germinate when surrounded with ice. We recently confirmed that with seed from modern alfalfa varieties that varied in fall dormancy when they germinated near the freezing point of water (31.3 F to 32.2 F). This temperature is much lower than the optimum minimum germination temperature of 60 F.
Alfalfa, Red Clover can Furnish N for Following Crops
Forage legumes like alfalfa and red clover together with manure were once the only way to provide additional nitrogen (N) to non-legume crops. The ability to synthetically produce nitrogen fertilizers greatly decreased agricultural reliance on traditional nitrogen sources beginning in the early 20th century. Legumes still can provide valuable N to today’s cropping systems. Legumes also contribute a non-nitrogen rotation effect due to addition of soil organic matter and improvement in soil health.
Blister beetles in alfalfa and when to worry
The drought conditions affecting some forage-producing areas of the country have seen an uptick in blister beetle activity. Blister beetles are rarely problematic in the Upper Midwest, but drought conditions increase the concern for blister beetle-infested alfalfa. If consumed in hay or haylage, blister beetles can cause health problems and death in horses, cattle, sheep and other livestock. Key points Blister beetles tend to be more problematic in dry, droughty conditions.
To Seed or Not to Seed a Cereal Rye Cover Crop Yet this Fall
By Liz Stahl and Jared Goplen Earlier this season, a lack of soil moisture across much of the state raised concerns about the potential for successful cover crop establishment this fall. Most areas still need more moisture to recharge the soil profile but recent rains have improved the moisture status overall. This has also improved the likelihood for successful establishment of a cereal rye cover crop this fall.
Minnesota: Got weeds in your beans? You’re not alone
Patch of volunteer corn in a soybean field. Volunteer corn, a weed in soybeans, competes for resources, adds foreign material to the harvested soybeans, and minimizes crop rotation benefits. Photo: Jared Goplen It’s been a memorable year for Minnesota soybean producers, but mostly for the wrong reasons. Dry conditions were problematic most of the year. Soybean emergence was affected by dry soil conditions in some fields.
Preharvest Weed Control: Mow Fence Line Weeds and Scout Fields now to Prevent Seed Production
By Jared Goplen and Dave Nicolai Harvest will soon be in full swing. Take the time now to mow fence line weeds or field edges to prevent or minimize seed production. Field edges are often where weed infestations start. By eliminating fence line weeds, we prevent combine harvesters from picking up weed seeds from the field edges and pulling them into the field where they can be further spread by harvesting and tillage equipment. Photo 1. Mow fence lines now to minimize deposits to the weed seed bank.
Forage Supplies are Tight: Preserve what you have!
By Jared Goplen and Nathan Drewitz Alot of time and energy is spent harvesting quality hay and silage. Up to 50% losses in dry matter can occur in some instances for hay and silage. This is the equivalent of leaving half of your acres unharvested! Losses up to 20% can occur without even noticing. In a year when forage supplies are already tight, don’t make matters worse by poorly storing forage. Key Points Hay storage losses are often related to contact with too much moisture.
Soybeans as Forage
By Jared Goplen and Craig Sheaffer et.al The current drought in Minnesota is taking its toll on forage crops. Alfalfa has gone dormant in many areas with minimal regrowth, and corn silage yields will be poor on many dryland acres. With high-quality hay exceeding $350 a ton in some cases, many are trying to acquire alternative high-quality forages. Soybean was initially used as a forage crop when introduced into the United States in the 1800’s and can still be harvested as high-quality forage.
Controlling Broadleaf Weeds in Small Grains Stubble
By Tom Peters and Jared Goplen Small grain harvest is nearing completion in many areas of Minnesota. Some small grain fields have broadleaf and grass weed escapes, while others have weeds hiding under the small grain canopy ready to grow following harvest (Images 1 & 2). Due to the droughty conditions in much of Minnesota this year, some small grains did not out-compete broadleaf weeds in 2021. Image 1.
Blister Beetles in Alfalfa Hay
By Jared Goplen and Krishona Martinson et.al There have been an increasing number of blister beetle sightings in Minnesota alfalfa fields this year. Blister beetles are rarely problematic in Minnesota, but the drought conditions have caused some concern for blister beetle-infested alfalfa. If consumed in hay or haylage, blister beetles can cause health problems and death in horses, cattle, sheep, and other livestock.
Harvesting Drought-Stressed Small Grains as Forage
By Jared Goplen and Jochum Wiersma et.al The unprecedented hot and dry weather in the upper Midwest has continued to deteriorate large acreages of the small grains. In some cases, grain yield potential has declined to a point where it may make more sense to harvest the small grains as forage rather than waiting to harvest as grain. Reports of chopping small grains for forages have already come in from dry areas of the state.
Seeking Cooperators for the Small Grain Pest and Disease Survey
By Jochum Wiersma and Jared Goplen The University Minnesota Extension has conducted a small grains pest and disease survey for more than a decade. This effort has been funded by your check-off dollars to inform producers and the research community of the presence of disease and pest problems, a first step to effective and timely management. Rather than relying on random fields, we plan to visit only fields that you have volunteered, and we have written permission to scout.
Minnesota: Dry Weather and Weed Management - Good or Bad?
Planting has progressed rapidly this spring given the favorable planting conditions across much of Minnesota. The week of May 10th is still forecasted to be cool and dry, but there will be a gradual warm up this week, with some chances for rain going into next week. Now that planting is wrapping up, what do dry conditions and a dry forecast mean for weed management?
Minnesota: 3 Virtual Small Grains Workshops in Feb.
Virtual workshops addressing successful small grain management have been scheduled in February. Whether you’re a farmer or crop consultant already producing small grains, or looking for another crop to add to the rotation, these workshops are for you. The workshops will be informal conversations around production agronomics, variety selection, economics and soil fertility.
Minnesota: Weed Control Ahead of the Combine
For the most part, it’s too late to control weeds this year, but there is still time to limit weed seeds going back into the weed seedbank. Combine harvesters are notorious for spreading weed seeds. Hand-pulling or mowing weed patches are some of the last lines of defense before harvest. Taking the time now can pay dividends for weed management in the upcoming years. Weed Biology is Important Know the biology of the weeds you are trying to control. Waterhemp can produce over 250,000 seeds per plant.
Minnesota: Scout Fields Now for Palmer Amaranth
We are coming into the most critical time for Palmer amaranth scouting and rouging. Palmer amaranth is on Minnesota’s prohibited noxious weed and seed list with the intention to eradicate Palmer amaranth before it becomes widely established in the state. Now is a good time of the year to scout for Palmer amaranth, as mature Palmer amaranth plants are easier to distinguish from other closely-related pigweeds like waterhemp.
Palmer Amaranth in Feed Ingredients?
By Nathan Drewitz and Jared Goplen Keep an eye out for Palmer amaranth hitching a ride into Minnesota via contaminated feed ingredients. Minnesota has at least one infestation in the state that arrived via contaminated cattle feed. The potential for this to happen again is high, especially when sourcing feed ingredients from areas where Palmer amaranth and other problematic weeds are more common.
Scout fields now for Palmer amaranth
The key to successfully eradicating Palmer amaranth is early detection and reporting. Jared Goplen, Extension educator - crops and Debalin Sarangi, Extension weed management specialist | Sep 03, 2020 We are coming into the most critical time for Palmer amaranth scouting and rouging. Palmer amaranth is on Minnesota’s prohibited noxious weed and seed list with the intention to eradicate Palmer amaranth before it becomes widely established in the state.
8 tips for optimal forage harvest
Jared Goplen, University of Minnesota Extension educator - crops | Aug 03, 2020 From cutting to conditioning, raking to baling, make sure forage equipment is set properly. When it comes to putting up quality hay, the money is in the details. Improper equipment settings can leave hay in the field, add dirt to hay, cause long-term damage to forage stands, and shorten hay storage life. Proper equipment settings can provide big payoffs in maximizing forage yield and quality.
8 tips for optimal forage harvest
Jared Goplen, University of Minnesota Extension educator - crops | Jul 31, 2020 From cutting to conditioning, raking to baling, make sure forage equipment is set properly. When it comes to putting up quality hay, the money is in the details. Improper equipment settings can leave hay in the field, add dirt to hay, cause long-term damage to forage stands, and shorten hay storage life. Proper equipment settings can provide big payoffs in maximizing forage yield and quality.
Minnesota Soybeans: Walk, Hoe, Map, Mow - Your Best Aug. Weed Control Plan
My dad was a dairy farmer his entire life. When he was 41 he had a heart attack and had to take a year off. He rented the farm to a neighbor, who planted 80 acres of soybeans on part of the farm. Soybean herbicides were limited at that time so weed control was a bit challenging. My dad offered up my brother and me to walk those beans and hoe out the “buttonweed” (velvetleaf) and volunteer corn. At the age of 10 and 11, my brother and I walked beans all summer long.
Minnesota: Palmer Amaranth Found in Winona County
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has confirmed Palmer amaranth for the first time in Winona County. The Palmer amaranth plants were found in a soybean field but the source of the infestation is currently unknown. As weed escapes become more obvious in row-crops, NOW is the time to be scouting for Palmer amaranth. MDA press release can be found here.
Minnesota: Ideal Spraying Days Tough to Come By
Timely pesticide applications have been a challenge in 2020. So far in the month of June, much of Minnesota has had notably few hours that would be considered “ideal” for pesticide applications. The biggest issues have been the abnormally windy conditions, coupled with very calm (<3mph) winds that favor temperature inversions.
Minnesota Soybeans: Herbicide Options After Dicamba Registrations Vacated
On June 3, 2020, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals issued a ruling that vacated U.S. registrations for Engenia, FeXapan, and XtendiMax herbicides. These are 3 of the 4 dicamba products that were labeled for use on dicamba-tolerant (DT) soybeans. This means that effective immediately, there is no longer a federal label for these 3 products and they can no longer be used in the United States. For more details, see the Minnesota Department of Agriculture press release here.
Scout corn, soybean fields for weeds
Since very few weeds were present at the time of pre-plant tillage this year, timely and effective herbicide applications will carry much of the weight in most weed management programs. Scout fields now for weed emergence, regardless if a preemergence (PRE) herbicide was not applied or not. In some areas, insufficient rain fall was received until recently, delaying activation of PRE herbicides.
Preemergence Herbicide Injury on Soybeans? Or Maybe Not?
By Jared Goplen, Dave Nicolai Many soybeans in southern Minnesota were ready to emerge when the recent cold weather brought concerns of both frost and herbicide injury. Most soybeans were still below ground and protected from freezing temperatures. However in some areas of the state, seedlings may show injury after extended contact with preemergence herbicides in the soil (Figure 1).
Minnesota: Preemergence herbicide injury on soybeans… Or maybe not?
Low temperature damage to emerged soybeans. Photo: Mike Staton, Michigan State University Many soybeans in southern Minnesota were ready to emerge when the recent cold weather brought concerns of both frost and herbicide injury. Most soybeans were still below ground and protected from freezing temperatures. However in some areas of the state, seedlings may show injury after extended contact with preemergence herbicides in the soil.
Small grain management class offered in Mora
University of Minnesota Extension is offering seven small grain workshops across southern Minnesota in February to address successful small grain management. “Whether you are a farmer or crop consultant already producing small grains, or a farmer looking for another crop to add to the rotation, these workshops are for you,” says Jared Goplen, Extension Educator in Crops.
Cereal Rye is More Than a Cover Crop
By Jared Goplen Nearly a century ago cereal rye was one of the 5 most common crops grown in Minnesota, behind corn, spring wheat, and hay crops. A lot has changed in Minnesota agriculture since then, and Rye production has become incredibly rare. With the recent cover crop boom there has become a greater interest in growing cereal rye as a cover crop or green manure crop to help combat soil erosion and enhance soil health.
Corn and soybean planting date survey: Seeking your help
By Lizabeth Stahl and Jared Goplen The extremely wet conditions in 2019 led to planting delays and unprecedented levels of prevent plant acres in Minnesota. Where planting delays continued late into the growing season, farmers needed to decide whether or not to plant a crop during or after the late planting date for crop insurance. Historical planting date information was helpful, but limited for planting dates in June for corn and in July for corn silage and soybean.
Managing frosted forage crops on prevent plant acres
Agriculture Written By: Jared Goplen, University of Minnesota Extension | Oct 20th 2019 - 1pm. ST. PAUL — Temperatures in much of the state have already been below freezing, or will be soon. If you are still planning to graze or mechanically harvest forage on cover crop acres, it's important to keep forage species in mind as some species can have toxic effects on animals. Is my forage crop safe? There is not an issue with grazing or feeding forage of most frosted forage crops.
Managing Frosted Forage Crops on Prevent Plant acres
By Jared Goplen, Extension educator Temperatures in much of the state have already been below freezing, or will be soon. If you are still planning to graze or mechanically harvest forage on cover crop acres it is important to keep forage species in mind as some species can have toxic effects on animals. Is my forage crop safe? There is not an issue with grazing or feeding forage of most frosted forage crops.
Minnesota Corn: Harvest Faces Weather Challenges
The development of Minnesota’s corn crop is highly variable this year, due to numerous weather challenges and wide ranges in both planting dates and hybrid relative maturities. The rain and snow this week added even more challenges, requiring corn growers to prioritize fields for harvest and to make difficult grain-drying and storage decisions. There are several important points to consider when making these decisions. Did the corn reach maturity before a killing frost?
Selecting forage cover crops for prevented plant acres
By Jared Goplen and Liz Stahl, A large quantity of forage will likely be harvested from prevented plant acres in Minnesota this year, given the 2019 changes to USDA RMA’s prevented planting rules. Changing the date when cover crops may be hayed or grazed from November 1 to September 1 has opened up a window for livestock producers to produce high quality forage. There are numerous factors, however, to consider in order to be successful.
Minnesota: Forage Crops for Prevented Planted Acres
Warm-season grasses in a University of Minnesota emergency forage trial. Photo: University of Minnesota A large quantity of forage will likely be harvested from prevented plant acres in Minnesota this year, given the 2019 changes to USDA RMA’s prevented planting rules. Changing the date when cover crops may be hayed or grazed from November 1 to September 1 has opened up a window for livestock producers to produce high quality forage.
Weed control in late planted crops
By Jared Goplen and Liz Stahl The wet spring has been frustrating for a lot of farmers to get crops planted. One consolation with the late start is that there are several weed-control benefits of delayed planting. The primary benefit of delayed planting is that many of the early-emerging weeds will have emerged so they can be taken out with tillage or an effective burn-down prior to planting, assuming the weeds have not gotten too large yet.
Minnesota: Weed Control in Late Planted Crops
The wet spring has been frustrating for a lot of farmers to get crops planted. One consolation with the late start is that there are several weed-control benefits of delayed planting. The primary benefit of delayed planting is that many of the early-emerging weeds will have emerged so they can be taken out with tillage or an effective burn-down prior to planting, assuming the weeds have not gotten too large yet.
Minnesota: Alfalfa Winterkill: What Now?
The long winter and spring flooding have taken a toll on alfalfa fields in parts of the state. Photo: Jared Goplen, University of Minnesota There have been reports of alfalfa stands across Minnesota with varying levels of winter injury and winterkill. Areas most-often affected include hilltops where crowns were exposed during the cold winter months and where extended flooding has occurred this spring. There have also been reports of frost heaves uprooting alfalfa crowns.
Farmers Sampling for Soybean Cyst Nematode (SCN) Surprised by what they Find
By Angie Peltier and Jared Goplen Sampling program results Samples submitted through the Minnesota SCN sampling and education program originated from 28 Minnesota counties, with the majority of the 363 samples coming from the most newly infested northwest region (Figure 1). While 49.6% of samples had SCN population densities below the limit of detection of 50 eggs per 100 cubic cm of soil, the remaining 50.4% tested positive.
Minnesota Soybeans: Farmers Sampling for SCN Surprised by What They Find
Soybean cyst nematode on soybean roots. Arrows point to cysts (swollen female nematodes filled with eggs). Photo: University of Minnesota Sampling program results Samples submitted through the Minnesota SCN sampling and education program originated from 28 Minnesota counties, with the majority of the 363 samples coming from the most newly infested northwest region (Figure 1).
Sample for SCN now to preserve future soybean yield potential
Source: University of Minnesota Extension By Angie Peltier, Jared Goplen and Phillip Glogoza, Extension educators Now is crunch time for row-crop producers: harvesting, hauling and drying the crop, fall tillage and perhaps fall fertilizer applications need to take place before the snow sticks around. With recent rain events leaving fields unfit for heavy machinery traffic now might be a perfect time to collect soil samples to monitor soybean cyst nematode (SCN).
Minnesota Soybeans: Sample for SCN Now to Preserve Future Yield Potential
Now is crunch time for row-crop producers: harvesting, hauling and drying the crop, fall tillage and perhaps fall fertilizer applications need to take place before the snow sticks around. With recent rain events leaving fields unfit for heavy machinery traffic now might be a perfect time to collect soil samples to monitor soybean cyst nematode (SCN). SCN is the top yield-limiting soybean pathogen and can cause up to 30% yield loss without obvious symptoms.
Small grains: An easier way to establish and grow cover crops
By Jochum Wiersma, Scotty Wells, and Jared Goplen University of Minnesota Extension Establishing cover crops in corn and soybeans is not without its challenges in Minnesota. There is little growing season left after harvest and soil moisture and herbicide carryover can often limit the ability to get a good cover crop stand when interseeding mid-season.
Small grain winter workshops in Minnesota
University of Minnesota Extension is offering four Small Grain Winter Workshops in Central, Western, and Southern Minnesota in February to address small grain production. Row crop farming brings busy spring and fall workloads. There are also pests common to row crops, including herbicide resistant weeds, soybean cyst nematodes, soybean aphid, diseases and corn rootworm.
Mow fenceline weeds now to prevent seed production
By Jared Goplen and Dave Nicolai University of Minnesota Extension As summer field activities wind down, harvest will soon be in full swing. Take the time now to mow fenceline weeds to prevent or minimize seed production. Fencelines are often where weed infestations start. By eliminating fenceline weeds, we prevent combine harvesters from picking up weed seeds from the field edges and pulling them into the field, where they can be further spread by harvesting and tillage equipment.
Target weeds after small grain harvest
By Jared Goplen, Tom Peters, and Dave Nicolai University of Minnesota Extension One of the many benefits of including small grains in crop rotations is improved broadleaf weed control and breaking up weed lifecycles. Although freshly harvested small grain fields have a clean look, they often have weeds hiding in the stubble.
Alfalfa Winter Injury In Minnesota
As the weather warms and the 2017 growing season gets rolling, it is time to evaluate alfalfa stands for winterkill and winter injury. There have been numerous reports of alfalfa fields across Minnesota with varying levels of winter injury and winterkill. Many reports are of low areas in the field suffering the greatest damage, with affected field areas ranging from 10 – 40%.
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