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Dr. Erin Hodgson started working in the Department of Entomology, now the Department of Plant Pathology, Entomology, and Microbiology, at Iowa State University in 2009. She is a professor with extension and research responsibilities in corn and soybeans. She has a general background in integrated pest management (IPM) for field crops. Dr. Hodgson's current extension and research programs are focused on improving corn and soybean production by using IPM tactics to protect yield and increase overall farmer profits. Among other projects, she oversees insecticide efficacy evaluations for soybean aphids, Japanese beetles, and aphids in corn. Erin also helps manage emerging field crop pests and invasive species.
Daren Mueller is a professor and extension plant pathologist at Iowa State University. He is also the coordinator of the Iowa State Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program. Daren received his bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1996, and his master's degree and doctorate in Plant Pathology from the University of Illinois-Urbana in 1999 and 2001. Daren’s main research interests involve understanding the biology and management of field crop diseases. Daren is also a co-director of the North Central IPM Center and the Crop Protection Network.
Dr. Alison Robertson is a professor of plant pathology and microbiology. She provides extension education on the diagnosis and management of corn and soybean diseases. Her research interests include Pythium seedling disease of corn and soybean and Goss's wilt. Dr. Robertson received her bachelor's degree in plant pathology in 1991 from the University of Kwazulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, and came to the United States in 1999 to pursue a doctoral degree in plant pathology at Clemson University. She started working at Iowa State University in May 2004.
Adam Sisson is an extension specialist with the Iowa State University Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program and a Certified Crop Adviser. Sisson focuses on the development of publications and other educational resources for farmers, agribusiness, and students. He received his bachelor's degree in agronomy and environmental studies in 2006 and a master's degree in sustainable agriculture in 2009; both from Iowa State University.
Dr. Mark Licht is an associate professor and extension cropping systems specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. His extension, research and teaching program is focused on how to holistically manage Iowa cropping systems to achieve productivity, profitability and environmental goals. Research is centered around varied aspects of soybean, corn and cover crop management as well as agronomic implications of precision technologies.
Meaghan Anderson is a field agronomist in central Iowa and an extension specialist at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Educational programming is available for farmers, agribusinesses, pesticide applicators, certified crop advisors, and other individuals interested in crop production.
Areas of expertise include weed management, weed biology, cover crops, corn and soybean management, and integrated pest management.
Subscribe to the Central Iowa Crop Update for current topics and agriculture events in the area.
Dr. Sotirios Archontoulis is an assistant professor of integrated cropping systems at the Department of Agronomy. His main research interests involve understanding complex Genotype by Management by Environment interactions and modeling various components of the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum. Dr. Archontoulis's overall goal is to investigate practices that can increase the efficiency of system by means of increasing crop yields and simultaneously decreasing inputs or losses such as water and nitrogen. His approach combines field experimentation and use of mechanistic simulations models.
Dr. Kathleen Delate's current position as a professor and extension organic specialist at Iowa State University is a joint position between the departments of horticulture and agronomy, where she's responsible for research, extension, and teaching in organic agriculture. Organic agriculture is now a $35 billion industry in the United States, with 18,000 organic farmers. Her research focuses on pest management and soil fertility management strategies for transitioning and certified organic farmers.
Dr. Delate grew up on the East coast where her father was a statistician for Dupont and her mother hailed from a family farm in Magnolia, Minnesota. She spent many summers working on her cousin’s diversified farm in Minnesota, helping bale hay and feed hogs, which is where she developed a love for agriculture. Dr. Delate earned her bachelor's degree in agronomy, a master's degree in horticulture from the University of Florida, and a doctoral degree in agricultural ecology from the University of California-Berkeley. She has farmed organically in Iowa, California, Florida, and Hawaii. In 2014, she spent a sabbatical in Italy, studying organic no-till farming with some of the 48,000 organic farmers there. A video on the organic no-till system is available at: https://vimeo.com/user20353817/review/99643832/0a09248894
Results of the organic research are located on the Iowa State University Organic Agriculture webpage: https://www.leopold.iastate.edu/organic
Subscribe to RSS FeedIn 2024, the effect of commercial fungicides on foliar diseases of corn were evaluated at six Iowa State University Research and Demonstrations Farms: the Northwest Research and Demonstration Farm (...
In 2024, commercial foliar fungicides were evaluated across seven Iowa State University research and demonstration farms to determine their effect on disease control and yield response on soybeans.
A common theme for most of us during the winter months is to make decisions for which pieces of equipment to upgrade and which to do maintenance on before heading into the next growing season.
When it comes to your planter, whether you are considering purchasing a new planter or making...
Key Points
- Drone technology is commercially available to provide growers with another option for selective post-emergence herbicide applications.
- Iowa State University completed a field demonstration of weed mapping and an executable prescription on a...
This fall, the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Crops Team extended an open call for sponsorship to support our four most popular programs: Integrated Crop Management Conference, Crop Advantage Series, CropsTV, and Planter University. The Crops Team thanks and recognizes our Champion...
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Field Agronomists have completed their fall survey of subsoil moisture in northwest Iowa. Subsoil moisture sampling in Iowa dates back to February 1954 when ten sites were chosen for soil moisture sampling. In 1959, the sampling increased to 22...
After harvest is completed and equipment is cleaned and winterized, there’s an activity that can be done in upcoming weeks that could pay large dividends relating to future soybean yields. That task is collecting soil samples to assess the situation with the soybean cyst nematode (SCN) in fields...
The crops are coming out and it’s ALMOST time for farmers to start making fall nitrogen applications. Remember that soil temperatures should be below 50°F at a depth of 4 inches and continuing to drop before making fall nitrogen applications —ideally, the cooler, the better. It's important for...
Iowa State University recently updated its list of soybean varieties with resistance to the soybean cyst nematode (SCN) for Iowa. The list includes 200 varieties with the less common Peking SCN resistance. These varieties can be especially effective in managing SCN producing and higher yields in...
In the past few weeks, I've received several questions from farmers about whether it’s too late or too warm to harvest alfalfa. The general rule of thumb is to allow 5 to 6 weeks (900 Growing Degree Days, or GDD) between the final harvest and a killing frost, or less than 2 weeks (360 GDD)...
As we move through what has been a very rapid harvest season, there are a few things to keep in mind for preparing this crop for what likely will be a long storage period.
Corn and soybean moistures have been quite low, which is very good for storage stability. However, potential for...
This article is Part 5 in a series of five blogs on how best to allocate fertilizer dollars.
One of the most frequent questions Extension professionals receive regarding soil fertility is do I need to add micronutrients to my soil fertility program? The classic answer “it depends” is...
This article is Part 4 in a series of 5 ICM blogs on how to best allocate fertilizer dollars with tight margins.
With harvest in full swing and some farmers considering baling crop residue for forage and bedding, it’s important to consider the amount of nutrients being removed from the...
While dry (dry, and drier) soybeans are common every year, this year we’re seeing the more unique situation of harvesting very dry corn grain. In some cases, loads of corn grain are headed to market at sub 12% moisture. With the current dry conditions and no rainfall in the forecast, harvest...
Chilly Mornings, Chilly Concerns: Managing Frosted Forages
Why is Frost a Concern?...
This article is part three in a series of blogs on how best to allocate fertilizer dollars.
With low commodity prices, it is very important to make wise fertilizer application decisions. While the secondary macronutrient sulfur (S) used to be adequately supplied through atmospheric...
This article is Part 2 in a series of blogs on how best to allocate fertilizer dollars.
Once you have taken soil samples, Taking Good Soil Samples, the First Step in...
This article is Part 1 in a series of 5 ICM blogs on how to best allocate fertilizer dollars with tight margins.
Soil samples are a helpful resource for farmers as they provide data to be used for recommendations for limestone, manure, and fertilizer. Soil samples should be taken every...
Just as taking good quality soil samples is important for making nutrient application recommendations, so is managing application rates and distribution of dry nutrients and lime. This also holds true for anhydrous ammonia applications and applications of solid and liquid manure but this article...
About a month ago, we received a flurry of questions on fall armyworms in hayfields and some crop fields in southern Iowa. While inquires tapered off towards the end of August, we’ve started to see another wave of reports about fall armyworms in hayfields this week. This is a reminder to take...
In a nutshell:
- Eleven cereal rye varieties and one triticale variety were screened at four Iowa State University research farms.
Key findings:
- Across sites and varieties, average cereal rye yield was 89 bu/ac, higher than any of the six previous trial...
Objective: Evaluate the yield potential of winter wheat varieties in northern Iowa.
Key Takeaways
- Winter wheat varieties have excellent yield potential in northern Iowa, ranging from 80.9 to 121.9 bu/acre with a plant height of 28.3 to 33.6 inches.
- No...
Again this year, I joined my colleague Patrick Hatting, Farm Management Specialist for central Iowa, and checked several Polk County corn fields as a part of our “Polk County Yield Tour.” After R3 (milk stage) is a great...
As the 2024 growing season winds down and as we gear up for harvest, check out what the ISU Extension and Outreach field agronomists are seeing in their regions across the state.