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.

Youth Awarded for Crop-Scouting Skills at 2015 Competition

September 25, 2015
2015 Crop Scouting Competition winning team

By Daren Mueller and Adam Sisson, Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology

Farming involves tough questions, such as determining if a fungicide should be applied to corn for northern corn leaf blight, or figuring out if yellow patches in a soybean field are caused by sudden death syndrome, a nutrient deficiency or a different disease.

Make Rational Decisions about Phosphorus and Potassium Management with Unfavorable Crop Prices

September 16, 2015
Net returns to P fertilization for different soil test P levels

By Antonio Mallarino, Department of Agronomy


Crop prices have been declining and there is considerable uncertainty about the future. Phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) fertilizer prices have remained approximately constant or have declined slightly. Therefore, producers are thinking of reducing application rates.


Consider the following when making decisions with unfavorable crop/fertilizer price ratios:


Why is all the corn dying? Is anthracnose to blame?

September 15, 2015
Hybrid maturing from the top down

Many cornfields in Iowa have turned brown very quickly over the past couple of weeks. Fingers are being pointed at anthracnose stalk rot. Be careful though, it could be environmental stress.