Tar Spot Confirmed in Corn in Eastern Iowa
Recently, the Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic received samples of corn leaves with symptoms of tar spot from Jones County in eastern Iowa.
Integrated Crop Management News
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Clean Combines to Avoid Weed Seed Contamination Across Fields
Removing biomaterial to avoid moving weed seeds between fields can be a daunting task. Typically, combines hold 125-150 lbs of grain and biomaterial after the unloading auger has operated “empty” for one minute. A true clean-out requires about six hours to remove as much biomaterial as possible. While a thorough, top-to-bottom cleaning of the combine is best to avoid the spread of weed seeds between fields, spending 15 to 30 minutes cleaning the combine before moving it out of the field will still remove some biomaterial.
Consider Combine Adjustment for Wet Field Conditions
Coarse grains such as corn and soybeans usually thresh relatively easily, but wet field conditions may slow field drying. Rotor speed should not be increased and concave clearance should not be decreased more than necessary for threshing, but spongy corncobs or damp soybean pods may be more difficult to thresh. Greater rotor speed or reduced concave clearance may be necessary in these conditions.
Scout Now for Ear Rots
Corn coming in to the Iowa State University Grain Quality Lab from field trials in central, northeast, and southeast Iowa has been affected by a variety of ear rot fungi, and many individual ears display symptoms of multiple fungi.
Management of Flood-Submerged Grain
Grain submerged by uncontrolled flood waters is considered Adulterated under the Food Drug and Cosmetic Act. This policy dates to 2008 when grain storages in Cedar Rapids were inundated, and has been applied to several situations since then. Adulterated material cannot be put in commercial facilities of any type, where there would be a chance of entering human or animal food. There have been flooded (over the grain height) fields in northeast Iowa since mid-September. Late September rains have increased the scope of this problem to north central and east central Iowa, as well.
Wet Weather Creates Challenges for Harvest
The 2016 growing season was wet with two distinct temperature patterns—hot during early pollination and cooler in August. Most of Iowa had 125% up to 200% of normal rainfall up to Labor Day, and even more after Labor Day. The outlook going forward into October is continued above average temperatures and above normal rainfall.
Combine Adjustment for Fall Harvest
Objectives when setting and adjusting the combine are to harvest all crop available in the field while maintaining grain in quality condition for storage. Past field measurements show that field losses due to the combine should be able to be held to one bushel per acre or less if the crop is standing reasonably well. Each two kernels of corn per square foot or four soybeans per square foot, or 3/4 lb corn ear per 1/100 acre equals one bushel per acre loss.
Farm Safety: Avoid Slips and Falls During Harvest Season
The 2016 Iowa Farm Safety and Health Week is held in conjunction with National Farm Safety and Health Week Sept. 18-24. This year’s theme is “Farm Safety…A Legacy to be Proud Of.”
This is the 73rd observance of the National Farm Safety and Health Week that was originally declared by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Roosevelt signed the first proclamation for farm safety in 1944 because of the high injury rate in agriculture that was impacting the nation’s production efforts during World War II.
How to Minimize Soil Compaction During Harvest
Some areas have received several inches of rainfall since Sept. 1, during a time when corn and soybean water use declines significantly. This lack of water use by the plant creates saturated soil conditions susceptible to compaction this fall. High soil moisture increases soil compaction caused by field traffic and machinery. Over the past decade the size of Iowa farms has increased, leading to larger and heavier equipment.
However, equipment size is only one factor among many causes of the soil compaction problem.
Plant Management Network: A Resource for Crop Production, Management and Protection
Are you interested in learning more about crop production and protection? Have you heard of the Plant Management Network?
The Plant Management Network (PMN) is a nonprofit publishing effort of the American Society of Plant Pathologists, the Crop Science Society of America, and the American Society of Agronomists. The mission of PMN is to enhance the health, management, and production of crops through quality, science-based crop management information for practitioners in agriculture and horticulture.