The Chat 'n Chew Cafe (Purdue University)

The Chat ’n Chew Cafe was developed in honor of all the small town coffeeshops where farmers and business folk have congregated for years to shoot the breeze and share gossip about corn, soybean, wheat, cows, hogs, bankers, basketball, lawyers, and the like.
In its current iteration, the Cafe offers direct access to timely agronomic newsletters from land-grant universities around the Midwest, an up-to-date calendar of major educational events around the Midwest, direct access to Purdue Extension field crop specialists and field crop Web sites. You can also access the archive of my Corny News Network articles.
... R.L. (Bob) Nielsen, Purdue Agronomy

Upcoming Educational Events

Private Pesticide Applicator Recertification Programs

Commercial Pesticide Applicator CCH Programs (OISC)

Click month to display events. Click again to close.

(9 Dec)
Grain Post-Harvest & Recertification Workshop
Agronomy Center for Research & Education, near West Lafayette. Organized by Purdue's Crop Diagnostic Training & Research Center. PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED.

(15 - 16 Dec)
Indiana CCA Virtual Conference
Organized by Purdue Extension & the Indiana CCA Program. Due to lingering COVID-19 pandemic, this year's conference will be virtual. Program and registrations are pending.

(15 - 17 Dec)
The InfoAg Conference
Union Station, St. Louis, MO. This conference was postponed from it usual July date due to COVID-19 concerns. Pre-register online.

(10 - 13 Feb)
National Farm Machinery Show
Kentucky Exposition Center, Louisville, KY.

Serving all of your "corny" needs since 1995, the Chat 'n Chew Cafe offers a comprehensive "menu" of timely agronomic information from Purdue and other land-grant universities around the U.S. The Cafe is owned and operated by R.L. (Bob) Nielsen, State Extension Corn Specialist at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana.

Follow @PurdueCornGuy

Timely News Articles

(25 Sep)
Nebraska Crop Watch Newsletter
Univ. of Nebraska.
Woolly Bears in Late Maturing Soybean Fields Practicing Fire Safety at Harvest Market Your Crop Residue Using the Crop Residue Exchange

(23 Sep)
Minnesota Crop News
Univ. of Minnesota Extension
Fall fertilizer decisions: Research and recommendations to consider this year Prepare for corn harvest

(23 Sep)
Converting Wet Corn Weight to Dry Corn Weight
RL (Bob) Nielsen, Purdue Univ.

(23 Sep)
Yield Monitor Calibration: Garbage In, Garbage Out
RL (Bob) Nielsen, Purdue Univ.

(22 Sep)
Preparing for Harvest
Bob Nielsen & Shaun Casteel, Purdue Crop Chat Podcast, Hoosier Ag. Today

(22 Sep)
Ohio C.O.R.N. Newsletter
The Ohio State Univ.
Visit the Agronomic Crops Team at the (Virtual) Farm Science Review on September 22-24th Improved tool can help Midwest farmers with cover crop decisions Fall-applied herbicides - what goes around comes around Fall Forage Management Tips H2Ohio Reminder

(21 Sep)
South Dakota Pest & Crop Newsletter
South Dakota State Univ.
HG Type Testing: A Management Strategy for Soybean Cyst Nematode Control Calibrate Your Combine Yield Monitors!

(21 Sep)
Minnesota Crop News
Univ. of Minnesota Extension
Podcast: Weed management in fall and what to do with weed escapes Corn yield forecasts and grain dry-down guidelines Managing Foreign Material in Soybeans: Pre-harvest preparations

(21 Sep)
Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, Part 2
Jonathan Coppess, Joe Janzen, Gary Schnitkey, Nick Paulson, Krista Swanson, Carl Zulauf; Univ of Illinois farmdocDAILY

(18 Sep)
Kansas Agronomy E-update
Kansas State Univ.
Weed management practices: Fall scouting for weeds Optimum sowing dates and seeding rates for wheat in Kansas Seed drill calibration to improve wheat seed distribution Evaluate wheat seed size to improve wheat seeding density and final stand Seeding rates for dryland wheat in western Kansas

(18 Sep)
Purdue Pest & Crop Newsletter
Purdue Univ.
Dry conditions expected for the rest of September

(18 Sep)
Nebraska Crop Watch Newsletter
Univ. of Nebraska.
Check Stalk Quality of Corn Going into Harvest Harvest Aid Herbicide Options in Soybean Seeding Rates for Broadcasting Cover Crops Into Late-season Corn and Soybean While You’re Waiting, Collect a Sample for SCN Analysis How to Control Palmer Amaranth in Dry Beans in Nebraska

(17 Sep)
Minnesota Crop News
Univ. of Minnesota Extension
Plan to attend the Pre-harvest considerations in corn webinar Herbicide-resistant weed screening survey in agronomic crops Planting date matters for cover crops too Weed control ahead of the combine How to take and interpret the basal stalk nitrate test

(15 Sep)
Phosphorus and Potassium for Winter Wheat, and What About Nitrogen?
KyGrains.info, Univ of Kentucky

(15 Sep)
Ohio C.O.R.N. Newsletter
The Ohio State Univ.
Labor Day Rainfall Eases Drought It’s time for the Hessian Fly-free Date Again Surface Application of Manure to Newly Planted Wheat Fields Ask the Expert Sessions to Be Held Live During 2020 Farm Science Review.

(14 Sep)
South Dakota Pest & Crop Newsletter
South Dakota State Univ.
Scout for Charcoal Rot in Early Senescing Parts of the Field Fall Noxious Weed Control Checking Weed Control at Harvest

(14 Sep)
Michigan Extension Field Crops News
Michigan State Univ.
Planting the 2021 wheat crop

(11 Sep)
Kansas Agronomy E-update
Kansas State Univ.
Planting wheat too early can lead to several problems Wheat planting - Seed treatments are strongly encouraged this season Wheat planting - Tips for good stand establishment Corn production issues - Droopy ears corn Effect of low temperatures on summer row crops Grain sorghum yield potential: Understanding the main yield components Grain sorghum yield potential: An on-farm calculation Updated cover crop selection tool now available for Midwest farmers Ag-Climate Update for August 2020 2021 soybean planting intentions survey - Producer input requested

(11 Sep)
Purdue Pest & Crop Newsletter
Purdue Univ.
Beauties and the Beasts When Hay Harvest is Complete Do the STAB Do Your Ears Hang Low? (Premature Ear Declination in Corn) Hemp Harvest is Approaching Climate Outlooks for Early September Busted

(11 Sep)
Michigan Extension Field Crops News
Michigan State Univ.
USDA's disaster program available for weather-related crop losses Midwest Cover Crop tool has been updated to better help farmers Irrigate all the way to the end Thinking about cover crops after corn silage?

(10 Sep)
Minnesota Crop News
Univ. of Minnesota Extension
Don't forget about potassium when making fertilizer plans for next year

(10 Sep)
Iowa Integrated Crop Management Newsletter
Iowa State Univ.
Combine Gathering Attachments for Lodged Corn Corn Rootworm Monitoring Network Summary 2020 Drought and Derecho Impacted Corn-Harvest, Mycotoxin Testing and Storage Drought and Derecho Increase Mycotoxin Risk in 2020 Iowa Corn Crop-Scouting and Monitoring Fields Sampling Downed Corn for Damage

(9 Sep)
the Bulletin: Pest mgmt & crop developmt information for Illinois
Univ. of Illinois
Pod and Seed Feeding in Soybean

(8 Sep)
Ohio C.O.R.N. Newsletter
The Ohio State Univ.
Burndown Herbicides for No-till Wheat Scout now for cressleaf groundsel in hayfields, or pay the price in May Using Soil Tests Phosphorus Results to Identify Agronomic and Conservation Needs Wheat Management for Fall 2020

(7 Sep)
South Dakota Pest & Crop Newsletter
South Dakota State Univ.
September 2020 Climate & Drought Outlook Spring Wheat Variety Trial Results Grain Storage Calculator SDSU Extension Silage/Earlage Calculator

(7 Sep)
Do Your Ears Hang Low? (Premature Ear Declination in Corn)
RL (Bob) Nielsen, Purdue Univ.

(4 Sep)
Purdue Pest & Crop Newsletter
Purdue Univ.
Bean Leaf Beetle Pod Feeding On Late Maturing Soybean VIDEO: Considerations For Bean Leaf Beetle Feeding In Late-Maturing Soybean Welcome To Our New Nematologist, Dr. Lei Zhang Learning And Improving Diagnostic Skills Are Critical To Being A Top Agriculturalist Expect Cooler Than Normal Temperatures To Persist

(4 Sep)
Nebraska Crop Watch Newsletter
Univ. of Nebraska.
Cold Air Event Expected Next Week, Frost Possible Wheat Stem Sawfly in 2020 Determining the Seeding Rate for Winter Wheat Winter Wheat Economics in Nebraska Reducing Yield Loss in Wheat Through Fungicide Seed Treatments Adding Winter Wheat to a Crop Rotation Winter Wheat Varieties With an East and South Central Nebraska Fit To All the Wheats That I Have Known Improving Nitrogen Management in Dryland Winter Wheat Production Drooping Corn Ears Across Nebraska Plan Harvest to Deliver Soybeans at the Optimum Moisture Harvesting Soybeans for Hay or Silage Preparing Grain Bins and Equipment for Harvest Soybean Diseases Developing in Nebraska

(3 Sep)
Michigan Extension Field Crops News
Michigan State Univ.
Understanding soybean discount schedules Smuts and bunts of small grains

(2 Sep)
Minnesota Crop News
Univ. of Minnesota Extension
Scout fields now for Palmer amaranth Palmer amaranth in feed ingredients? Cleaning grain bins to prevent insect infestations Rotation benefits from alfalfa to corn depend on successful alfalfa stand termination

(1 Sep)
Ohio C.O.R.N. Newsletter
The Ohio State Univ.
We Now Turn Our Attention to Autumn Harvest Season Herbicide Residue Considerations for Fall Cover Crop Establishment

(31 Aug)
South Dakota Pest & Crop Newsletter
South Dakota State Univ.
Drought Stress or Stem Canker Killing Soybean Plants? Grasshoppers May Be an Issue for Winter Wheat This Fall Round Bale Storage Conservation Pest and Crop Q&A Webinar Series Recap

(28 Aug)
Purdue Pest & Crop Newsletter
Purdue Univ.
Little “Cigars” On Soybean Leaves? That’s Weird Field Crop Disease Update For Indiana Overgrazing During Dry Weather Has Long Term Consequences Cooler, Wetter Conditions Expected Over Next Several Weeks

(28 Aug)
Nebraska Crop Watch Newsletter
Univ. of Nebraska.
Scheduling the Last Irrigation of the Season Taking Note of the Ending Reproductive Stages of Your Soybean Crop What Are the Barriers and Benefits of Manure Use in Cropping Systems? (part 2 of 2) How Much Nitrogen Does My Cover Crop Take Up and When Do I Get It Back? Webinar - Cover Crops in Corn Systems: Opportunities for Dual Use - Set for Sept. 15th

(28 Aug)
Michigan Extension Field Crops News
Michigan State Univ.
Suspect herbicide resistance? Submit weed seeds for screening Corn silage quality can vary with disease incidence Corn silage mycotoxins: Invitation to submit new samples and 2019 results Consider harvesting soybeans earlier to manage risk and improve net income Cover Crop Virtual Field Day on Sept. 2 to feature early interseeding into corn

(28 Aug)
Kansas Agronomy E-update
Kansas State Univ.
In-furrow fertilizers for wheat Cover crop response to herbicides Final irrigation of the growing season - Timing is everything Understanding soybean seed filling: Contribution to yield Reports of sugarcane aphid on grain sorghum in Kansas SCA World of Weeds: Hophornbeam copperleaf

(27 Aug)
Iowa Integrated Crop Management Newsletter
Iowa State Univ.
Cover Crop Options to Consider for Damaged Crops this Fall

(25 Aug)
Ohio C.O.R.N. Newsletter
The Ohio State Univ.
Making Corn Silage in Dry Conditions Corn Silage Harvest Timing Potential for Nitrate Problems in Drought Stressed Corn Preharvest Herbicide Treatments Late Season Forage Harvest Management What is Required Before You Sell Your Field Harvested Seed in Ohio Minimal WBC Reported Across Ohio Cover Crop Driving Tour

(25 Aug)
Minnesota Crop News
Univ. of Minnesota Extension
Attend the online Pre-Harvest Corn Agronomy Forum - September 8 and 22 When it rains, it pours: How heavy rainfall can lead to nutrient loss

(25 Aug)
Cutting Fertilizer Rates to Save Costs
Gary Schnitkey, Laura Gentry, and Sarah Sellars, Univ of Illinois farmdocDAILY

(24 Aug)
South Dakota Pest & Crop Newsletter
South Dakota State Univ.
Pest and Crop Q&A Webinar Volunteer Winter Rye Could Be a Source of Ergot in Your Wheat Monitor Soybean for Redheaded Flea Beetle Feeding Bees and Other Pollinators Visiting Sunflower Sunflower Moths Present in South Dakota Sunflower White Mold and Sudden Death Syndrome Starting to Develop Be Safe and Smart Around Silage

(21 Aug)
Nebraska Crop Watch Newsletter
Univ. of Nebraska.
Center Pivot End Gun Considerations What Are the Barriers and Benefits of Manure Use in Cropping Systems? (part 1 of 2)

(21 Aug)
Purdue Pest & Crop Newsletter
Purdue Univ.
Soil Residual Herbicides And Establishment Of Cover Crops In The Fall Now Is The Time To Stockpile Forage For Late Fall And Early Winter Grazing Warmer Temperatures Expected After This Week

(19 Aug)
Minnesota Crop News
Univ. of Minnesota Extension
Is boron deficiency a problem for crops in Minnesota?

(19 Aug)
Spotted Corn Leaves: Disease or Something Different?
KyGrains.info, Univ of Kentucky

(18 Aug)
Ohio C.O.R.N. Newsletter
The Ohio State Univ.
Derecho Devastates the Midwest While Ohio's Dry-Weather Pattern Continues How to Identify Late Season Soybean Diseases in 2020 Are Stink Bugs in Your Soybean? Fertility Calculator for Ohio Recommendation Past WBC Peak Flight, Low Numbers Across State

(18 Aug)
Iowa Integrated Crop Management Newsletter
Iowa State Univ.
Harvest and Storage of Weather-damaged Corn for Silage Silage Harvest of Drought-Stressed and Severely Lodged Corn Wind Damaged Corn – Nutrient Content? Expectations for Lodged Corn

(18 Aug)
the Bulletin: Pest mgmt & crop developmt information for Illinois
Univ. of Illinois
Assessing Corn Rootworm Damage – Now Is The Time

(17 Aug)
South Dakota Pest & Crop Newsletter
South Dakota State Univ.
Pest and Crop Q&A Webinar Goss’s Bacterial Wilt and Blight Developing Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus is Prevented Before Planting Winter Wheat The Fall Advantage of Kochia Control Marestail Fall Control South Dakota Herbicide Damage

(17 Aug)
Soybeans Rally despite Record Yield Forecast
Todd Hubbs, Univ of Illinois farmdocDAILY

(14 Aug)
Purdue Pest & Crop Newsletter
Purdue Univ.
Black Moths Fluttering About Everywhere! Armyworm Sneak Attack Field Crop Disease Update For Indiana Sheep Refusal to Eat Hay Emphasizes The Importance Of Using Your Senses To Evaluate Hay Sheep/Goat Webinar On Hay Evaluation Monitoring Potential Evapotranspiration Across Indiana

(14 Aug)
Nebraska Crop Watch Newsletter
Univ. of Nebraska.
Weather Impacts to Pollination and Kernel Fill in 2020 Evaluating Alfalfa Stands Part II - Renovation Options An Illustration of N Rate and Timing for Optimizing Corn Yield and Profits Spring Wheat Research in Western Nebraska

(14 Aug)
Kansas Agronomy E-update
Kansas State Univ.
Planning your wheat fertility program: Start now by soil testing Make an informed decision when selecting the best wheat variety Updated 'Seed Treatment Fungicides for Wheat Disease Management 2020' now available Managing low-quality wheat seed seed 2020 Kansas Corn Yield Contest - Registration deadline August 31 K-State to host two virtual fall field days - August 26 & 27 Kansas weed survey - Reminder to participate before August 31 Soil Health Partnership Field Day - August 18

(13 Aug)
Wisconsin Crop Manager Newsletter
Univ. of Wisconsin
Does oilseed radish provide nitrogen credits? Corn rootworm beetle scouting Soybean aphids More field crop insect updates 2020 wisconsin winter wheat performance trials results

(13 Aug)
Minnesota Crop News
Univ. of Minnesota Extension
Updated video: Late season scouting for soybean gall midge Improving profitability by interseeding wide-row corn with cover crops

(12 Aug)
Sudden Death Syndrome of Soybean Being Observed in Some Soybean Fields
Carl Bradley, KyGrains.info, Univ of Kentucky

(11 Aug)
Ohio C.O.R.N. Newsletter
The Ohio State Univ.
Updated Tri-State Fertilizer Recommendations Available Late-Season Waterhemp - The Goal is Stopping Seed Poultry Litter Application WBC Numbers Continue to Decrease

(10 Aug)
South Dakota Pest & Crop Newsletter
South Dakota State Univ.
Pest and Crop Q&A Webinar Bean Leaf Beetles Are Active in Soybean Will Dectes Stem Borers Be an Issue in 2020? Watch Sunflowers for Grasshopper Defoliation and Flower Feeding Crazy Top Disease Developing in Corn What Are These Small White Insects in My Soybean Field? Potato Leafhoppers in Alfalfa Monitor Sunflower for Banded Sunflower Moth Activity It’s Time to Start Scouting for Red Sunflower Seed Weevils Identifying Red and Gray Sunflower Seed Weevils Sclerotinia Concerns in Sunflower

(10 Aug)
Minnesota Crop News
Univ. of Minnesota Extension
Tar Spot of Corn Found in Minnesota in 2020 Virtual Cover Crop Field Day: Setting up for Success, August 18

(10 Aug)
Michigan Extension Field Crops News
Michigan State Univ.
Western bean cutworm at peak flight in northeast Michigan Field Crops IPM Podcast: Soybean and corn diseases in late summer and what to plan for next year

(10 Aug)
Corn Bottoming or Taking a Breather?
Todd Hubbs, Univ of Illinois farmdocDAILY

(7 Aug)
Purdue Pest & Crop Newsletter
Purdue Univ.
Western Bean Cutworm: Overall, An Uneventful Moth Flight 2020 Western Bean Cutworm Pheromone Trap Report VIDEO: Split Applications Of Soil Residual Herbicides In Corn Kernel Set Scuttlebutt The Forage Producer’s Toolkit Will August Be Warmer Or Cooler Than Normal?

(7 Aug)
Nebraska Crop Watch Newsletter
Univ. of Nebraska.
Crop Diseases Spreading and Increasing Managing Spider Mites in Corn and Soybean Evaluating Alfalfa Stands Part 1 - Using the Hay Square Method Preparing Yourself for Corn Under $3 Per Bushel Estimating a Fair Value for Standing Forage

(7 Aug)
Kansas Agronomy E-update
Kansas State Univ.
Liming prior to fall seeding of alfalfa Status of disease pressure in corn and soybeans Summary of the 2020 Kansas wheat growing season Kansas weed survey - Reminder to participate before August 31 Update on the fall weather outlook for Kansas - August 6, 2020 Ag-Climate Update for July 2020 July Soil Health Partnership Field Day - August 18

(6 Aug)
Michigan Extension Field Crops News
Michigan State Univ.
Is alfalfa autotoxicity the cause of your poor alfalfa stand?

(6 Aug)
Using Cereal Rye Cover Crop and Narrow-Row Soybean to Manage Herbicide-Resistant Waterhemp
Prashant Jha and Bob Hartzler, Iowa State Univ.

(6 Aug)
Weather and the 2020 Illinois Corn and Soybean Crops
Emerson Nafziger, Univ of Illinois farmdocDAILY

(4 Aug)
Kernel Set Scuttlebutt
RL (Bob) Nielsen, Purdue Univ.

(4 Aug)
Ohio C.O.R.N. Newsletter
The Ohio State Univ.
Drought Conditions Expand but Some Relief Ensues Ten Counties on WBC Scout List as Statewide Numbers Begin to Decrease NRCS Seeks Comments on 590 Nutrient Management Standard Update

(3 Aug)
South Dakota Pest & Crop Newsletter
South Dakota State Univ.
Pest and Crop Q&A Webinar Aphid Populations Are Starting to Show up in Corn Dry Conditions Are Ideal for Spider Mite Activity Winter Wheat Variety Trial Results Southern Rust, Bacterial Leaf Streak, and Eyespot Are Developing in Corn Start Scouting for Grasshopper Activity in Crops and Grasslands

(3 Aug)
Soybean Crop Potential Tempering Demand News
Todd Hubbs, Univ of Illinois farmdocDAILY

Handy Resources

To Bt or not to Bt: Is That Your Question? (WI): Useful information for folks considering a switch back to non-Bt corn hybrids.

Applied Research in Field Crop Pathology Indiana - 2019

Converting between Mehlich-3, Bray P, and Ammonium Acetate Soil Test Values

Corn & Soybean Diagnostics - Mobile apps (Purdue): IOS or Android smartphones; iPad

Corn GDD Estimation Tool: Estimate GDD from planting to various corn growth stages for different regions of the Midwest.

Corn Nitrogen Management for Indiana

Corn Nitrogen Rate Calculator: Calculate economic optimum N rates for several Corn Belt states.

Corn Plant Population Guidelines for Indiana

Corn Yield Response to Sulfur in Indiana

Crop Cost & Return Guide (Purdue)

Crop Protection Network - Resources: A collaborative land-grant university effort.

Differentiating 2,4-D and Dicamba Injury on Soybeans (Purdue)

Farm Analysis Solutions Tools (IL)

Forecast and Assessment of Cropping Systems: A project developed by Iowa St. Univ. to forecast and evaluate soil-crop dynamics in real-time.

Herbicide Classification Chart

Herbicide Resistant Weeds Chart

Hybrid Bt Trait Reference Guide

iNaturalist: A crowd-sourced species identification system for plants and pests.

Integrated Pest Information Platform: Info on the development of soybean rust, southern rust, etc. in the U.S.

Int'l Survey of Herbicide Resistant Weeds

Midwest Cover Crop Council

Seed Treatment Reference Guide (WI)

Soybean Cyst Nematode Field Guide (IA)

Soybean Cyst Nematode Info (IA)

Soybean Research & Information Network

Take Action Against Resistant Pests

Weed Control Guide for Ohio, Indiana, & Illinois - 2020: Purchase PDF version or printed hard copy

Weed Identification Field Guide (IA)

Yield Data Processing & Cleaning (NE)

Yield Monitor Operation & Calibration (NE)