all
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 FeedI’ve received several phone calls in the last couple weeks regarding waterhemp or other species that survived postemergence herbicide applications (in some cases, more than one!). While most herbicide applications have finished, it isn’t too late to evaluate how well your program worked, whether...
Flooding or flood damage in parts of Iowa, corn starting to tassel, corn rootworm, potato leafhoppers, waterhemp suriving post herbicide applications, and herbicide injury due to carryover or drift were "highlights" Iowa State University Extension and Outreach...
Many areas in Iowa were impacted by hail this past week. Hailstorms are an unpredictable and formidable adversary for producers, capable of inflicting significant damage on crops, forage, and livestock. The impact of hail can be extensive, from shredded leaves to battered stems and bruised...
...I've noticed potato leafhoppers in soybean this week (nymphs and adults), plus several notable observations are coming my way. It's time to get out a sweep net to alfalfa and soybean so you can make timely treatment decisions. Depending on where you are in the state, you might be close to the...
Recent floods throughout Northwest Iowa have caused significant damage and loss to communities, homes, roads, livestock producers, crops and more. Unfortunately, this situation will continue long after the rain as high river levels continue to surge south.
Heavy rain across northern Iowa resulted in major flooding in areas. For those dealing with flooding, additional resources can be found here ranging from farm and home to cleaning up after flooding. Read on for more...
Heavy rainfall can have economic and environmental consequences if flooded fields are left barren. Long-term damage to soil needs to be considered when planning for next season's crop.
Biological, chemical and physical soil health
Biologic health: Several changes...
The torrential rains that northern Iowa experienced last week may have favored several diseases of corn including crazy top, Physoderma brown spot and node rot, Goss’s wilt and bacterial stalk rot. While there are no in-season management practices for these diseases, correct diagnosis can help...
European corn borer, known as “the billion-dollar bug,” was a pest of economic concern in the United States prior to the commercialization of Bt corn hybrids in 1996. With the widespread adoption of Bt traits, European corn borer populations have been effectively managed and areawide suppression...
Summer annuals are valuable to forage production systems due to their heat and drought tolerance. These high-yielding crops are typically ready for grazing within 40-45 days under optimal conditions, making them ideal for double cropping systems. They provide excellent options for silage,...
Areas in Iowa remained on the drier side last week while other areas received some heavier rain and even some isolated large hail in areas. Herbicide injury, Asian copperleaf, tar spot, nitrogen management, and weeds surviving herbicide applications were some of the hot topics or issues...
As we enter summer, most of our cool-season dominant pastures have headed out, or the grasses have started producing seed heads. The common question of whether to mow the seed heads arises. The decision to mow or not is site-specific. Mowing can remove seed heads, stimulate even grazing, and...
The weather the last week was again drier than previous weeks, but also plenty windy some days. The drier conditions provided opportunities for lots of field activities including replating, spraying, making hay, and sidedressing. Prevent or delayed planting, herbicide injury, true armyworms,...
You won’t want to miss any of the upcoming field days hosted at the outlying Iowa State University Research Farms this summer. These field days will feature the latest information on crop production and management practices. Below is a list of the upcoming field days that will take place as well...
There is no 2024 Weed Science Field Day at the Curtiss Farm in Ames, IA planned for 2024. However, weed management and herbicide research experiments of interest are available for viewing. Interested parties should contact Damian Franzenburg (...
The trapping season for black cutworm (BCW) has come to an end. We appreciate our cooperators for tirelessly checking traps the last two months and reporting their captures so we can provide the most accurate scouting information for these pests. To recap, we had 25 volunteers participate from...
The last week brought some drier weather across the state for farmers to get back in the fields to plant as well as for other field activities to be completed including spraying, putting up first cutting hay, and sidedressing. Delayed planting, replant decisions, yellow corn, white grubs, true...
Over the last week, we've seen a lot of active weather across the state. In addition to tornadoes, wind, and heavy rains, areas across the state also got hit with hail.
Waiting 7-10 days after a hail event helps give the crops a chance to recover and makes it easier to assess the damage...
Moth flights into Iowa were drastically reduced during Week 8 (May 19 to May 25), partly because of fewer moths but also likely due to the fact that recent storms took out several traps across the state. Our cooperators recorded only 51 black cutworm (BCW) moths and, for the first time since...
This is part one of a three-part series on nitrogen management this spring. Read part two, “Navigating Nitrogen Management in Wet Spring...
This is part three of a three-part series on nitrogen management this spring. Read part one “Navigating Nitrogen Management in Wet Spring...
This is part two of a three-part series on nitrogen management this spring. Read part one, “Navigating Nitrogen Management in Wet Spring...
While the title is written with some jest, the sentiment is one I’ve been thinking about a lot this spring. With few highly effective postemergence herbicide options for waterhemp control, farmers must prioritize residual herbicides as a first line of defense. While there are numerous residual...
Black cutworm (BCW) moth flights seemed to wind down a bit during Week 7 (May 12 to May 18). Our cooperators recorded 106 BCW moths around the state. Only one significant flight (Buena Vista County, May 14) occurred during Week 7, which is a big change from previous weeks where several...