Degree Days - More Heat and Humidity with Bigger Weeds

June 30, 2009
ICM News

By Rich Pope, Department of Plant Pathology


Summer burst through the doors with a blast of heat and humidity. Although oppressive to people, it allowed for rapid growth of both crops and weeds.  Weeds are a considerable concern in most areas, most notably where pre-plant burn downs were skipped, and where spraying has been prevented by wet fields. Most areas of Iowa gained 20 to 25 degree days more than the average mid-June week.  


Mapped degree day accumulations by crop reporting district


Soybean aphid populations have now been reported in northeast, north central, northwest and central Iowa.  A cooler, potentially more aphid-favorable weather forecast for the coming week, increases the need to monitor soybeans for aphid populations.


 


Rich Pope is a program specialist with responsibilities with Integrated Pest Management. Pope can be contacted by email at ropope@iastate.edu or by calling (515)294-5899.

Links to this article are strongly encouraged, and this article 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 this article is to be used in any other manner, permission from the author is required. This article was originally published on June 30, 2009. The information contained within may not be the most current and accurate depending on when it is accessed.

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