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West Central Ag News

    Covid-19 Update
    Apr 20, 2020 | West Central Ag Services
    Covid-19 Safe Practices For a Safe Season
    Annual Meeting Postponed
    Mar 18, 2020 | West Central Ag Services
    WCAS has postponed its annual meeting for this Thursday 3/19/2020 and will reschedule for later date. Checks have been mailed out. THANK YOU.
    New Year, New Growing Season
    Jan 03, 2020 | West Central Ag Services
    As 2019 has come to an end, it's time to get serious for 2020. WCAS agronomists bring you five points to consider for your plan A and plan B..
    All Your Finance Questions, Answered.
    Dec 05, 2019 | West Central Ag Services
    We sat down with West Central Ag Services finance director, Tracy Gratton and compiled a list of frequently asked questions regarding WCAS finance options.
    4 Strategies for Storing Grain
    Oct 09, 2019 | West Central Ag Services
    As harvest approaches, it’s important to review basic grain storage strategies to maintain the quality of stored grain. Here, we outline four strategies to help maintain post-harvest quality, help protect stored grains from insects, and what to look for...
    Randy's Recap- October 4th
    Oct 04, 2019 | West Central Ag Services
    Corn and soybeans found some good news from the Quarterly Stocks report on September 30th and gave the markets a good boost for the week.  The following is the data from the report:
    Randy's Recap- September 13th
    Sep 14, 2019 | West Central Ag Services
    Overall the reports on mostly neutral on all commodities.  The soybean carry-out at 640 million bushels is probably the most bullish of the report. The big news for the week was that China and the U.S. will continue talks in October and as good will gestures tariffs by...
    The Yield Equation: Where Do Seed Treatments Fit?
    Sep 06, 2019 | West Central Ag Services
    This year’s challenging planting season showed the value that seed treatments have in protecting yield potential. As corn began to tassel this summer, you could really start to see how differences in plant emergence and early-season vigor affected the development of the...
    Randy's Recap- August 16th
    Aug 16, 2019 | West Central Ag Services
    The grain markets took a big hit this week as USDA and FSA released reports.  The long-awaited revision for planted acres dashed away hopes of revisiting highs in the market that were set in June. The corn went down 46 cents, soybeans dropped 21 cents and wheat retreated...
    As Fall Rolls Around
    Aug 15, 2019 | West Central Ag Services
    Well that came quick! We are just around the corner of harvest. You have made a lot of decisions this year to get your crops to where they are now. However, we know there are more decisions and planning to come to ensure a sccessful 2020 season.  A few things to keep in...
    Randy's Recap- August 9th
    Aug 09, 2019 | West Central Ag Services
    The grain markets were mixed on the week. Corn was up 8 cents, soybean up 24 cents and wheat was down 4 cents. Everyone is waiting with anticipation for Monday’s USDA WASDE report at 11 am. The outlook for dryer weather in the 8-14-day forecasts and fund positioning...
    Randy's Recap- August 2nd
    Aug 02, 2019 | West Central Ag Services
    The grain markets were up slightly on Friday after a very long sharp movement lower.   Since the middle of June, corn has dropped 64 cents soybeans down 80 cents, and wheat is down 60 cents.  Improving weather and crop conditions, fund liquidation, poor exports, and...
    Improve Fungicide Response on Corn
    Jul 19, 2019 | West Central Ag Services
    A fungicide application represents a considerable investment. Be sure you get the most from it by answering these three questions before applying: What is the hybrid to be sprayed? What is the weather outlook for application day? What is the disease that’s being treated?
    Can You Spot a Micronutrient Deficiency?
    Jul 16, 2019 | West Central Ag Services
    Generally, it’s pretty easy to see when stress has taken a toll on crops. But determining what’s causing unhealthy plants sometimes requires extra detective work. Micronutrient deficiencies, for example, are hard to diagnose based on visual symptoms alone. Here are...
    Randy's Recap- July 12th
    Jul 12, 2019 | West Central Ag Services
    The grain market finished the week very strong with corn breaking  $4.00 cash moving 16 cents higher on the week.  Soybeans moved 36 cents higher and wheat finished up 11 cents.  Most of the market move was opposite of the bearish supply and demand report with...
    Randy's Recap- June 28th
    Jun 28, 2019 | West Central Ag Services
    WOW!!!!   A crazy planted acreage report from USDA to finish the week.   For the week, corn dropped 22 cents, soybeans were off 4 cents, and wheat finished up 11 cents. USDA’s June Crop planted acres numbers came in as follows:  
    Randy's Recap- June 21st
    Jun 21, 2019 | West Central Ag Services
    The planting delays have been unprecedented in the United States this year.   Actual planted acres will be a big question mark going forward.  Crop condition also remains in question as a big portion of the crop was planted late and that could mean further yield...
    June 20th is Fast Approaching..
    Jun 17, 2019 | West Central Ag Services
    The dicamba deadline is three days away, here are your dicamba tolerant and Liberty Link soybean herbicide options:
    Get Technical About Nitrogen Management
    Jun 13, 2019 | West Central Ag Services
    Nitrogen management in corn crops is challenging for a number of reasons, one of which is nitrogen’s chemical properties: When in nitrate form, nitrogen is water-soluble, meaning it moves easily with water. If a field receives moderate to heavy rainfall and an...
    Managing Weeds and Diseases Resulting From Wet Soils
    Jun 10, 2019 | West Central Ag Services
    Rain, rain and more rain. That about sums up the 2019 growing season so far in most regions of the country. Wet soils and unstable temperatures are causing two areas of primary concern:
    Calibrate Your Nutrient Management
    May 23, 2019 | West Central Ag Services
    Have you ever received results of an early-season tissue test that indicated your corn was low on nitrogen? If so, did you wonder if it was because you didn’t apply enough or because the plant roots weren’t big enough to take up the nitrogen that you applied?
    Zone Soil Sampling Provides Another Layer of Data
    May 16, 2019 | West Central Ag Services
    Variable-rate application is now common practice in agriculture. Farmers are identifying and treating areas of their fields differently based on productivity, targeting input applications to higher-producing areas and potentially reducing them in lower-producing spots. This...
    Understanding Tissue Sampling
    May 10, 2019 | West Central Ag Services
    Plants have nutritional needs in order to grow and be healthy. In order to find out if your plant is getting fed the proper amount of nutrients, plant tissue sampling can help you identify nutrient deficiencies in the crop.
    New Zinc Treatment Available for 2019 Corn Seed
    May 02, 2019 | West Central Ag Services
    The micronutrient zinc is important to corn plants for a number of reasons. Zinc acts as a catalyst for enzyme creation and is a precursor for auxin hormones that signal seed germination. When early zinc levels are adequate, there is more consistent seed germination and plant...
    Don't Skimp on Zinc
    Apr 30, 2019 | West Central Ag Services
    When it comes to plant nutrition, it seems that N, P and K are often in the limelight. But zinc is an unsung nutrient hero that helps maintain some of a plant’s most important physiological processes. Here are some reasons it’s time to rethink the power of zinc.
    Mitigate Early-Season Plant Stress
    Apr 05, 2019 | West Central Ag Services
    We're gearing up for another unpredictable growing season. While we never know exactly how things will shake out at this point in the year, good management from day one is key to crop success. Here are four tips to help mitigate early-season plant stress: 
    Your Seed Treatment Options
    Mar 28, 2019 | West Central Ag Services
    For most, seed treatments have become standard to get seedlings off to a healthy start. They provide good early-season control, especially when you're planting into cold, wet soil. Which is most guaranteed when you live where we do, especially this year. Using a...
    Are My Crops Hungry?
    Mar 26, 2019 | West Central Ag Services
    Your seed has the greatest yield potential the day it is planted. From then on, it takes intensive management to get the most of your genetics. Chances are you have a routine in place for managing crops- fertilizing, pest management, and choosing the right hybrid for your...
    Use Data to Shape Your Nutrient Strategy
    Mar 03, 2019 | West Central Ag Services
    As you prep for 2019, it’s easy to remember the one part of the field that did really well last season or the other part that wasdisappointing. We tend to look at the outliers because they stand out. But this doesn’t show the whole picture or indicate what you...
    Preparing to Use Dicamba in 2019
    Feb 28, 2019 | West Central Ag Services
    The recent release of dicamba tolerant soybeans has opened up dicamba use and significantly increased its utilization in the major corn and soybean production regions. Effective, efficient, and on-target application...

Industry News

    5 Tips for Managing Early-Season Plant Stress
    Mar 07, 2023 | Answer Plot
    Planting is just around the corner. Every decision you make, including your seed purchase and the ground conditions you place it in, can affect the number on the yield monitor at harvest. When seeds start in cold, wet soils, it can lead to early-season plant stress that can...
    3 Tips to Optimize Pre-emergence Weed Control
    Mar 01, 2023 | Answer Plot
    Drought conditions, expanding herbicide resistance and limited herbicide availability mean you may not have achieved the weed control you expected last season. That could create more challenges for management this year, requiring a proactive plan to limit yield loss. Use...
    Newest CROPLAN Hybrids Excelled in 2022
    Feb 16, 2023 | Answer Plot
    Last season, CROPLAN ® hybrids showed us it’s possible to get consistent performance and high yield potential. Our newest class of products, hitting fields for 2023 planting, combines elite germplasm with the latest insect trait technology for excellent performance. We’re...
    Why Water Conditioners Should Be In Your Tank Mix
    Feb 07, 2023 | Answer Plot
    When you spray an herbicide, not all of its active ingredients make it into the target weeds' leaves. Product antagonism, poor application practices, spray drift, unfavorable weather conditions and volatilization can all contribute to herbicide loss. If half of your weed...
    Take Care of Early Spring Weeds Before Planting
    Feb 02, 2023 | Answer Plot
    As you prepare for spring, consider a spring burndown herbicide application if winter or spring annual weeds are a problem in your fields. Winter annuals, including marestail, overwinter and resume growing as soon as temperatures warm in the spring. In addition to stealing...
    Are Plant Growth Regulators Worth the Investment?
    Jan 12, 2023 | Answer Plot
    Plant growth regulators have been getting more attention from the agricultural community in recent years, but you may be wondering if they live up to the hype. The Answer Plot® program has generated solid research supporting the benefits of applying plant growth regulators...
    Making Sense of the Biologicals Market
    Dec 06, 2022 | Answer Plot
    Biologicals have grown exponentially in the past few years. What was once focused on specialty crops and other niche markets is now moving into row crops. That said, the market is still relatively young, leaving plenty of room for confusion and skepticism. At WinField United...
    Use Response-To Fungicide Scores to Make Data-Based Decisions
    Nov 16, 2022 | Answer Plot
    Whether selecting which hybrids to plant or determining which fields to spray with fungicide, use response-to fungicide (RTF) scores to help inform your decisions. RTF scores can help you make tailored, hybrid-specific choices based on years of reliable yield data. The Value...
    The Latest Innovation in Soybean Seed Treatments
    Oct 20, 2022 | Answer Plot
    How much time and thought do you put into your seed treatment decisions? If you’re like many growers, probably not too much. Seed treatments are critical for starting your soybean season off successfully. If you have a healthy root system in June, you have the opportunity to...
    Get a Grip on Crop Protection
    Oct 12, 2022 | Answer Plot
    Choose adjuvants and PGRs backed by research and proven to perform. When choosing adjuvants, how do you know they’ll do the job? The description on the jug? Snazzy marketing? A convincing sales pitch? What about data? In 2023, we may be faced with continued supply constraints...
    Tips For Managing Drought-Stressed Fields
    Jun 28, 2022 | Answer Plot
    You can purchase the right equipment, seed and inputs to set your season up for success, but you can’t control the weather. Navigating the challenges of Mother Nature is one of the trickiest parts of farming. This is especially true when it comes to managing crops through...
    5 Ways to Find Success With Fungicides
    Jun 16, 2022 | Answer Plot
    It’s time to bust the myth once and for all that fungicides aren’t worth investing in. Research has continually shown yield advantages when a fungicide application is made. In fact, our Answer Plot ® trials have consistently shown an average of more than 10 bushel per acre...
    6 Disease Management Tips for Corn and Soybeans
    Jun 15, 2022 | Answer Plot
    Diseases may already be showing up in your corn and soybean fields, so it’s a good time to be scouting your fields for early signs of trouble. With plenty of the season still left, your crop will benefit from a proactive approach to disease management. Here are six tips to...
    Maximize Plant Health at Key Growth Stages
    May 26, 2022 | Answer Plot
    Plant health is a lofty term that gets tossed around a lot in agronomic conversations. However, when you have a clear definition and actionable strategies, maximizing plant health becomes a very real and important way to help your crop reach closer to their genetic potential...
    Take Action Against Thrips in Cotton
    May 26, 2022 | Answer Plot
    During the hustle and bustle of planting season, it’s easy to overlook early-season pests that could cause season-long damage to your cotton crop. Thrips, in particular, require proactive management that starts at planting. Follow these actionable tips to protect your crop’s...