One of the most interesting things I heard at the recent Prairie Grains conference in Grand Forks, N.D., was from Lee Briese, a Centrol crop consultant from the Jamestown, N.D., area. He said you can manage almost any production problem if you “know” three things:

• Know what you know. Every farm is different. Solutions will depend on your crops, your soils, and your pests.

• Know what you don’t know. If something is new or unfamiliar, you have to be able to recognize it as such, and realize you have to learn about it.

• Know where to find the answers to what you don’t know. You might talk to crop or livestock consultants, Extension service agents or ag retailers. Compare what several sources say, he suggested: “Make sure the information you are getting is right.”

Some other tidbits gleaned from conference:

1. New technology. “Getting closer” is how researchers describe the ability of the hand-held Green Seeker to tell you whether or not your wheat needs more nitrogen to maximize protein and yield. Results from North Dakota State University and University of Minnesota trials look promising. The device measures how much infrared light the wheat canopy reflects.

2. New, improved varieties faster. Crop varieties differ in canopy conductance, or the ability to “breathe” — they let out water and take in carbon dioxide, which is used in photosynthesis. Differences among varieties in the rate of canopy conductance are one reason some varieties yield more than others. Plant breeders can now identify the genes that control canopy conductance, which may speed variety development.

3. How our neighbors are killing us. Collectively, agriculture is making great strides in becoming more sustainable, ecologically friendly and humane. Progress is being made livestock housing and husbandry, and in protection of the soil, air, and water. But not everyone is adopting new practices. News stories and videos showing farm animal abuse and fish kills from manure runoff hurt everyone. In a world of social media where nothing can be hidden, you better not have anything to hide — and your neighbor better not either, said Greg Page, retired chairman and CEO of Cargill.