Integrated Crop Management News

Links to these articles are strongly encouraged. Articles may be republished without further permission if published as written and if credit is given to the author, Integrated Crop Management News, and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. If articles are used in any other manner, permission from the author is required.

Hail Damage - Grain Quality Survey

September 17, 2009

Producers with hail damaged corn fields are invited to participate in a survey to assess the impact of hail damage on ear rot severity, mycotoxin contamination and grain quality in corn.

Degree Days - Slow and Steady Wins the Race

September 15, 2009
Map of Iowa showing accumulated degree days and departure from average

By Rich Pope, Department of Plant Pathology


Soybean fields are now starting to senesce, and corn is filling well. The latest USDA crop forecast projected a 187 bushel per acre average for corn yields, and 52 bushels per acre for the beans. Both would be great accomplishments considering the wet spring and cool summer. As of Sept. 13, we are lagging for the season an "average" accumulation of between 300 and 400 degree days, which rivals the 1992 growing season.


Studying Stover Harvest Effects on Yield, Soil, Climate

September 15, 2009

ISU researchers are conducting a three-year study looking at how removing residue at different rates affects soil productivity, nutrient cycling and greenhouse gas emissions in no-till and chisel-plow fields.

Crop and Weather Report - September 14

September 15, 2009

By Doug Cooper, Extension Communications specialist

Guests for the weekly crop and weather report Sept. 14 are ISU Extension climatologist Elwynn Taylor, integrated pest management specialist Rich Pope and corn agronomist Roger Elmore.

With harvest is just around the corner, Taylor says an arctic cold front is heading into the U.S. from Canada, and he doesn't think it will have any significant impact on Iowa. Mason City is the furthest behind in growing degrees days from normal of any site measured in the Corn Belt.

Fall Cutting Management for Alfalfa

September 15, 2009

By Steve Barnhart, Department of Agronomy

Rainfall throughout the growing season put most alfalfa producers behind two to three weeks for their first, and correspondingly their second, third, and sometimes forth cuttings. Now in mid-September, producers are trying to decide on their remaining fall harvest options and the possible impact on winter survival of the stands.

Quality Issues Related to Hail Damaged Crops

September 10, 2009
Corn ears with signs and symptoms of Gibberella ear rot, Fusarium ear rot, Penicillium ear rot and sooty mold

Harvest issues specific to hail damaged corn and soybean fields will be less severe due to recent weather. However, there are handling and storage issues that still must be considered.

CCA Credit Opportunity at Precision Agriculture EXPO

September 10, 2009

By Jim Fawcett, Extension field agronomist

Certified crop advisors can earn up to five hours of credit (including 2.5 hours in soil and water) by attending a 9 a.m. special session on Thursday, Sept. 17 on "Strip Till Using Precision Ag." This session will be followed by the Advances in Precision Ag EXPO; both will be held at the Iowa State University Southeast Iowa Research and Demonstration Farm near Crawfordsville.  The EXPO, from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., will feature field demonstrations and many exhibits by the industry's leading precision ag companies.

Pages