Agro-Connect, sponsored by Dow AgroSciences and Mycogen Seeds, brings together farmers and agronomists to share sound science and practical field experience.

The best way to find out if a crop has enough nitrogen may be to simply ask it. Light reflectance is the language to use - infrared and near-infrared light reflected by plant leaves are measures of their nitrogen status. Now, two new optical sensing systems are available that allow farmers and researchers to tune in to the crop's response. Learn more in the July installment from the Agro-Connect series.

One year's worth of corn silage for a 300-cow dairy is worth about $60,000. Don't be afraid to spend money on a forage analysis to optimize this investment in your cows' nutrition, says Joe Harrison, dairy nutritionist and nutrient-management specialist at Washington State University. Harrison offers advice on specific analyses he thinks are important to run, in the August set of Silage Tips sponsored by Mycogen Seeds.

A quick glance at your field probably won't give you the information you need to decide whether to replant soybeans this year because you're likely to underestimate your existing plant population. Before you act, you should think about any factors that caused stand reduction, the percentage of population lost, and the costs of replanting. Several university experts offer advice including an interactive tool that could help you decide what to do.

Want to lower your costs of growing corn, and perhaps improve yields at the same time? Here are some of the tips submitted by 250 top corn growers who responded to Successful Farming magazine's Agro-Connect survey, sponsored by Mycogen Seeds.

Talk with other growers and experts in the fields in Agriculture Online's Crop Talk discussion group. Post a message or simply lurk to see how farmers are solving their agronomy problems this spring.