From industrial applications to hobbyist platforms, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), commonly referred to as drones, have rapidly integrated into the agricultural landscape. Equipped with high-resolution sensors, these aerial platforms have fundamentally altered how modern production agriculture monitors crop development.

The storms that rolled across the state last week also brought along with them heavy rain, wind, and even some hail. While most areas did receive some rainfall, parts of northwest Iowa missed out and the drier conditions are starting to show. Weeds continue to be the biggest challenge across the state as many are struggling to get their postemergence herbicide applications made with the wet field conditions. Read on for more specifics on what’s happening around the state.

Photo by: John Sawyer, ISU Extension Retired

It's a question that arrives in our inboxes every spring without fail: "It's been raining — have I lost nitrogen, and do I need to apply more?" This year is no exception. With a highly variable spring precipitation pattern across Iowa (see map below) and corn now approaching or past the critical V6 growth stage, many producers are seeing yellowing in their fields and wondering what to do next.