When we first plant our crops (corn, soybeans, and wheat) we use a harrow, then when the plants have emerged we use a rotary hoe, and in the corn and soybeans we use row cultivators. We also have migrant workers walk the soybeans for weeds in the rows. This year, we may try a flame weeding trial on soybean ground when the plants are barely out of the ground. New research has shown this can be effective. We’ll see! 🙂

As for insects, we plant soybean hybrids that are naturally resistant to soybean aphids in areas that are prone to infestation, but haven’t had insect issues in corn or wheat for a long time. Our three crop rotation helps to prevent root worm, for example. The University of Minnesota is also conducting an experiment in soybean fields with predator wasps. They feed on soybean aphids in a very Alien like way. They are trying to determine what makes good habitat for the wasps to overwinter, and have a food source if aphids are not an issue. Pretty cool stuff!

Thanks for the comments, Rich!
We go through our corn once with the flame weeder. We follow the flaming with a cultivator pass. By then the corn is too tall to go through again.
Yes, we are organic farming. We use hog manure and green manure in the form of a tillage radish and oat cover crop in front of corn. The past few years our corn yields have been about average with our neighbors. Whole farm average was in the 160’s last year. Our area was hit by strong winds on September 19th last year, which damaged the corn and affected some of the yields. It’s always something, isn’t it?