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As the weather warms, weeds grow quickly. Below is an overview of commonly found weeds during the early spring season, especially in no-till settings.

Certain herbicides provide flexibility if you need to switch between corn or soybean crops.

Scout in Spring for mites in your timothy fields. Mites are easily overlooked, but can cost significant yield and quality.

Populations of this pest species, which are becoming more common in Pennsylvania, can grow in fields planted annually with small grains.

In Pennsylvania, the area of agricultural land disturbance determines if a farm needs an Agricultural Erosion and Sediment Control Plan (Ag E&S Plan). Learn more about why these are important, whether your farm needs a plan, and available resources.

A field scouting program in early spring is needed to decide if alfalfa production should continue or be terminated.

Considerations for weedy grass and broadleaf control options in grass forages during early spring.

Spring is an important time to manage nitrogen in forage. Are you doing all you can for a successful start?

Spring oats can be seeded as early in spring as possible, but the optimum planting date depends on locations and management goals.

Soil crusting can be a serious problem on soils with poor aggregate stability. It leads to reduced water infiltration and inhibits seedling emergence. What leads to crusting and what can be done to avoid it?

Frost seeding is an economical method to establish legume cover crops into small grain stands or to fill in run-down pastures.

Riparian buffers serve to protect our waterways and, in our field crops and pastures, can help to prevent erosion while intercepting sediment that carries nutrients and pollutants.

Smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis L.) is a leafy, sod-forming perennial grass that is best suited for hay or early spring pasture. It is deep-rooted and spreads by underground rhizomes.

Birdsfoot trefoil is a perennial that adapts well to production on poorly drained, low-pH soils.

Orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) is a perennial, cool-season, tall-growing, grass which does not have rhizomes or stolons (bunch-type grass).

Legumes have the ability to form a mutually beneficial (symbiotic) relationship with certain soil bacteria of the type or "genus" Rhizobia.

Join Penn State Extension and Pennsylvania Forage and Grassland Council for a day of educational sessions and fellowship on February 12, 2025.

In order to grow food with a minimum of external inputs, organic producers need to understand much about the biology of plants and ecological systems.

This article outlines basic recipes for potting media and research on organic transplant production.

An updated, 2025 edition of this guide that provides information on crop and soil management, as well as recommendations for managing weed, insect, and disease pests in various crops.

This news item will be updated periodically when our variety trials reach a milestone. Our crop variety trials at Penn State include corn for silage, corn for grain, soybean, cereals, and forages.

The Penn State Particle Size Separator (PSPS) is an effective tool to help determine proper particle length and feed distribution in dairy rations and forage samples.

Close inspection reveals if pastures, hayfields, or spring forages are viable after periods of drought.

Fall armyworm larvae can be difficult to control due to the timing of infestation in Pennsylvania. Insecticide control options should be attempted only in extreme situations.

Learn how soil erosion is calculated for your farm.