The Ag PhD Crop Scouting Reports are supplied by contributors to Hefty Seed Co., based in Baltic, South Dakota.

When you’re the current world soybean yield record holder and the 2016 National Corn Growers Association Corn Yield winner with a 521-bushel-per-acre average, you might know a thing or two about farming. And Randy Dowdy sure does. Growers from across the Midwest gathered to hear the Georgia corn and soybean yield champion’s expertise at the […]

The Ag PhD Field Day is taking place today on the farm of Darren and Brian Hefty near Baltic, South Dakota. Each year, over 10,000 crop farmers gather to see plots, top yield farmers, and visit the various booths. Here’s what things look like on the sunny day at the farm!   Vanguard Squadron making their flyover […]

Do we need to plant so many beans? Darren Hefty with Ag PhD said he gets asked about lowering soybean populations all the time — he only agrees with cutting soybean seed if that means lowering to 140,000 seeds per acre. Many producers choose to plant lower soybean populations due to: less cost, the ability […]

The Hefty Brothers had a full house Tuesday at their 2017 Ag Ph.D. Agronomy Workshop. The agronomists had some good notes on cover crops.

Soybean white mold, aka Sclerotinia stem rot, is a common problem in North Central fields. Caused by the fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, the occurrence and severity of white mold varies from year to year due to weather conditions. White mold can significantly reduce yield, especially when climatic conditions and management practices are just right. While there […]

What separates the highest yielding growers from the pack? It’s not marketing. According to the Hefty Brothers, it’s the agronomic practices that make the difference. “What they are doing in yields and what they are doing with inputs – that is what is separating them,” said Brian Hefty. Brian and Darren Hefty kicked off the […]