Crop performance trials in Ohio reveal decades of yield improvement
The Ohio Crop Performance Trials have provided unbiased, real-world data for more than 50 years, helping farmers compare crop hybrids and varieties across diverse Ohio growing conditions. Today, the program remains a key decision-making resource as farmers navigate tight margins and increasingly complex seed choices.
Using variety testing data to select soybean varieties: Guidelines for practitioners
Soybean variety selection significantly affects farm profitability and requires evaluating performance across diverse environments to distinguish genetic differences from environmental influences. This management guide explains small-plot and large strip-plot trials, presents a data-driven approach for selecting high-yielding stress-resistant varieties, and discusses additional agronomic and seed quality traits that help differentiate varieties.
Earn 1.5 CEUs in Crop Management by reading the article and taking the quiz.
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Soil Science Fundamentals Practice Exam now available
New resource for those seeking CPSS certification, licensure in their state
There's a new resource available for those looking to take the Soil Science Fundamentals Exam to be certified as a CPSS or licensed in their state. The Soil Science Fundamentals Exam Practice Exam is a self-assessment tool can help you brush up on your exam-taking skills and help you identify gaps in your knowledge so you can better focus your study time.
The spring exam takes place next month with registration open from March 4 through March 30.
USDA launches regenerative pilot program
The USDA recently announced the launch of a regenerative agriculture pilot program. The program includes a $700 million investment to encourage the adoption of regenerative agricultural practices and will run through two existing NRCS programs. The practices included will be in three categories: soil health, water quality, and habitat vitality.
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Foliar feeding of plant nutrition
As global population growth intensifies pressure on agricultural production, foliar feeding offers a precise and efficient method to enhance crop yield, quality, and nutritional value when soil nutrient availability is limited or impaired. The article explains how foliar-applied nutrients enter plant tissues, the factors influencing their effectiveness—including formulation chemistry, molecular size, environmental conditions, and plant physiology—and the importance of proper timing and dosage to avoid phytotoxicity.
Earn 1 CEU in Nutrient Management by reading this article and taking the quiz.
Celebrating CCA certification milestones
We recognize, congratulate, and thank the following Certified Crop Advisers (CCAs) who reached the following milestones over the last year (February 2025 through January 2026): 30, 25, and 20 years of certification. Thank you for your continuing dedication, service, and commitment to excellence.
House Agriculture Committee releases farm bill text
On February 13, House Agriculture Committee Chairman GT Thompson released text for the Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2026. Sometimes referred to as "Farm Bill 2.0" or the "skinny" farm bill, this bill addresses policy issues that were not included in last summer's One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Strengthening the ASA–ICCA partnership to advance common interests
The American Society of Agronomy (ASA) and the International Certified Crop Adviser (ICCA) Program are working toward strengthening the value, recognition, and impact of the CCA credential, which is a key objective of the new ICCA Strategic Plan. The organizations aim to expand professional development, connect research more directly to on-farm application, and better serve both advisers and farmers.
Soil fertility, fertilizers, and crop nutrition: Past, present, and future
Society has made (and will be making) significant demands on agriculture in the not-to-distant future. Meeting future sustainability goals and environmental regulations while simultaneously continuing to meet requirements for food, feed, fuel, and fiber requires a firm understanding of how “we” have collectively arrived at our current status as it relates to our fertility principles and beliefs as well as the processes that address them. This series intends to describe crop nutrition and fertilizers from where we have been to where the authors believe that we will likely need to be prepared to go if we are to support world demands into the foreseeable future.
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