All

We are once again receiving reports of the notable “edge effect” causing dramatic yield reductions along corn field edges. Occasionally, we get reports earlier in the season as it is often visible from drone or aerial footage in the late part of the season as field edges mature more quickly that the field interior (Figure 1).

After walking several fields last week before harvest got into full force, I noted fields where stalk integrity was a concern. If you have not done so already, I would encourage walking fields before harvest to understand how your crop will stand through the harvest season. A pre-harvest walk will help to prioritize harvest of fields and will help reduce harvest loss of compromised corn.

It is much too early to fall apply anhydrous ammonia to meet your 2024 corn nitrogen (N) needs, but there are other factors to consider given our dry soils this fall. 

Harvest has already started for many across the state. With the extra flurry of activity including more equipment and slow-moving vehicles both on the farm and the road, there is also an increased chance for farm and equipment-related accidents.

Every year soybean harvest has some type of challenge. Soybean is one crop where it is difficult to get all the conditions perfect. The use of draper style headers with soybean harvests allows harvest to begin earlier and handle green stems, green pods, and variable moisture.

Below are several items to consider this harvest season:

For many parts of Iowa, 2023 is the third consecutive year of drought conditions. This has made establishing cover crops challenging. Drought conditions make overseeding cover crops into standing corn and soybean less successful because of a lack of rainfall to get seeds to germinate. Advice to this point in the growing season has been to postpone overseeding of cover crops (or if you were lucky, overseed ahead of the past weekend’s rain).

After about a month of minimal rainfall across the state, some much welcomed rain fell over the weekend and on Monday, September 11. The couple of hot weeks and dry conditions in August really pushed crops along across the state, even causing some to reach maturity prematurely. Silage harvest is wrapping up in many areas, and farmers are starting to hit the fields to combine.

Harvest is approaching too quickly this fall. Between the dry summer and the spurts of hot weather in August and early September, crop standability is degrading quickly. This blog will go over some potential reasons for standability issues and ways to assess and prioritize fields for harvest.

The crop just ran out of gas

The last couple heat waves combined with continued drought stress has brought on premature corn death. What should be expected as corn grain harvest gets underway? First and foremost expect VARIABILITY of both grain moisture and yield within and between fields. Next plan for variable and possibly low test weight corn. This is especially important in a drought year where a hybrid may have died prematurely.

Field crop health matters throughout the entire growing season. The types of diseases on crops depend on the point in the growing season and the environmental conditions. Many later-season diseases result from soilborne pathogens over which in-season fungicide applications have no control. Most commercial varieties will have ratings for the performance of their selections against various diseases, including those caused by soilborne pathogens.

Harvest season is right around the corner and according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor, the majority of the state is in a severe drought or worse. These abnormally dry conditions could enhance the potential for combine and field fires this fall. Low relative humidity levels and high winds will further increase the risk of fires. Fires cause millions of dollars in property damage, including loss of machinery, crops, and time.

While it is no secret soybean disease has been more prevalent in soybean fields in southwest Iowa this month. However, not all the problems in soybeans can be attributed to disease incidence. I have received and observed an unusual pest this month, Dectes stem borer! Look at your soybeans carefully to determine the cause of premature death.

The rains earlier in August across much of the state and more moderate temperatures have been replaced by hotter and drier conditions. While some fields across the state look pretty good, others are showing more signs of stress here this week.

I received several questions about blister beetles in alfalfa hay over the weekend. I thought it might be helpful to review what they look like and provide a few management tactics to minimize the negative effects for animals.

While some much welcomed rain fell across most of the state over the last week, parts of NE Iowa missed out on the rain and other parts saw 6+ inches of rainfall. From the field, aphids (in corn and soybeans), spider mites, soybean gall midge, concerns about tar spot, and downy mildew in soybeans were some of the issues or topics of questions Iowa State University and Outreach Field Agronomists received last week.

Soybean aphids, two-spotted spider mites, fungicide decisions despite little disease pressure, and the hot and dry conditions were some of the more common issues or questions Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Field Agronomists have seen or heard about in fields across the state over the last week. Read on for more specifics about what’s happening around the state.

Northwest Iowa

We have now reached the critical period for maximizing yield for both corn and soybeans. I will focus on soybeans for this blog and how soil moisture affects moisture stress in beans and soybean yield. With recent rains across a sizable portion of Iowa in mid-July, soil moisture profiles changed dramatically in areas with precipitation, while other areas are in deficit situations. Mother Nature is now in charge with hot temperatures and low moisture.   

Limited rainfall, the hot weather this week, corn rootworm, weed escapes, insect defoliators, and questions on foliar fungicides have been the more common issues or questions Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Field Agronomists have seen or heard about over the last week. Read on for more specifics about what’s happening around the state.

Northwest Iowa

Over the last week much needed rain was received, but it also unfortunately brought along wind and hail to some parts of the state. Other hot topics coming in from fields across the state this past week included corn rootworm, soybean gall midge, phytophthora in soybeans, tar spot, gray leaf spot, and weed control issues. Read on for more specifics about what Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Field Agronomists have seeing or had questions about around the state in the last week.

Check out the upcoming field days being offered around the state this August. These field days will feature a variety of topics ranging from strip-till and conservation to forage production and corn rootworm management.  

August 1, 2023 | Corn Rootworm Field Day (Northern Research and Demonstration Farm south farm located at 1040 James Ave, Kanawha, IA)