Early-season field conditions can set the tone for the entire growing season. Two common soil issues that can limit early crop development are soil crusting and sidewall compaction. While they look different in the field, both restrict crop establishment and early root growth, reduce early vigor, and can make crop stress symptoms show up sooner and more severely.

“Cutworm” is a common name for many caterpillars in the moth family Noctuidae. They are insects (not worms!) that chew, or cut through, plants above or below the soil line in the spring. One notable exception is the western bean cutworm, which occurs later in the season and targets reproductive tissues rather than cutting stems.

The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Crops Team is seeking sponsors for our upcoming winter programs. These programs include the Integrated Crop Management Conference (ICM), the Crop Advantage Series, Planter U, and CropsTV. Each year the Crops Team reaches over 2,000 contacts through events like these.