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FARMING IN THE FINGER LAKES: Embrace the diversity of agriculture

(Editor’s Note: In 2017 and ‘18 we ran a monthly column on our Monday Farm Page called “Farming in the Finger Lakes.” Thanks to the effort and initiative of Eileen Jensen, that feature is returning. Eileen’s columns focusing on the local agricultural scene will run the first Monday of every month).

The time is here when the holidays are creeping up quickly and family gatherings become more abundant. We are fortunate to live in a region surrounded by farmers and an abundant food supply. As consumers of food, we have the pleasure of walking into local grocery stores to fill our bags with whatever food item we’re craving. It’s something that most of us don’t think twice about as food is the centerpiece for our tables.

Living in the Finger Lakes region allows all of us to have access to a diverse array of food. Let’s take a closer look at the diversity in a four-county radius including Ontario, Seneca, Wayne, and Yates counties.

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Trending Video

Supplemental Nitrogen on Soybeans: Can Early Nitrogen Increase Yield?

Video: Supplemental Nitrogen on Soybeans: Can Early Nitrogen Increase Yield?

Can supplemental nitrogen help soybeans reach higher yield potential? Technical Agronomist Tim Sickman walks through an ongoing trial at the Nutrien Innovation Farm in Owensboro, Kentucky, exploring whether a modest amount of nitrogen applied at planting can support higher-yielding soybean environments.

The trial compares 30 pounds of supplemental nitrogen across both 15- and 30-inch rows, along with treatments that include sulfur and micronutrients. Similar trials conducted in 2024 and 2025 delivered a six- to seven-bushel yield response, prompting the team to expand the research this season.

Early observations show that treated soybeans are slightly taller and averaging about two additional nodes on the main stem. These added nodes could create more opportunities for blooms and pods, but the true results will come at harvest when the team evaluates pod development, seed fill and final yield.

In This Video:

Why high-yield soybeans may need supplemental nitrogen

Results from the 2024 and 2025 trials

Nitrogen treatments in 15- and 30-inch rows

Fertilizer placement and application methods

Differences in plant height and node counts

Potential effects on pod development and yield