Author Archives: Marilyn Thelen

About Marilyn Thelen

Marilyn Thelen is the County Extension Director for Clinton County, MI, and also serves as the Crops and Natural Resources Educator. Thelen earned her Bachelors of Science and Masters of Science degrees from Michigan State University. She began her career as an Ag Agent in Clinton County serving the county for 4 years before taking a position with the Michigan Department of Agriculture.

Web-based Corn Growing Degree Day Tool helps with planting decisions

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Another cool wet spring in Michigan leaves farmers waiting for good conditions to plant crops.  Variable weather in the spring always dictates planting schedules.  This year is no different.  Recently a web-based decision tools was developed that allows farmers to compare current conditions to a 30-year historical perspective.  Using historical climatology based data, the tool offers trend projections through the end of the growing season.

The U2U Decision Support Tool for Corn Growing Degree Days (GDD) allows the producer to select their geographic area; the start date for GDD, this could be the date corn is planted or emerges; the year the grower would like to compare to; corn maturity days; and the temperature for killing frost (28F).  u2u_tools Continue reading →

Farmers weigh in on Nitrogen management in a changing climate

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Climate and weather greatly impact a farmer’s day-to-day operations as well as their livelihood.  To gain perspective on farmers’ production practices and how they are changing, Michigan State University Extension educators and specialist invited farmers from across Michigan to participate in one of three discussions on sustainable corn production held at locations in the north central, central and south central part of the state during mid-March.  Climate and nitrogen were two of the topics discussed.

Concerns over heavy spring rains prompts Michigan corn growers to split N-applications throughout growing season.

Concerns over heavy spring rains prompts Michigan corn growers to split N-applications throughout growing season.

We found that producers have already decreased the amount of nitrogen applied per bushel of yield.  Cost of nitrogen, concern of environmental impacts, improved technology and better information were all given as reasons for the change.   The source of nitrogen used is also changing.  Most producers indicated that they will or have already moved away from using anhydrous mostly due to availability. Continue reading →