CropsTV Weekly Outlook (Feb. 1, 2021)

CropsTV is entering week 10, the last week, however, there is still time to register. There are 3 live episodes this week to finish out CropsTV programming next week. You can still watch all 45 episodes on-demand through February. Learn more and register here today. You can view the full 10-week program, but read on to check out a quick preview of our week six presentations.

Tuesday, February 2 at 9 to 10 a.m.

• Tar spot of corn: A new and emerging disease in the Midwest

Darcy Telenko, assistant professor, Botany and Plant Pathology and field crop extension pathologist, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN

Tar spot of corn, caused by Phyllachora maydis, is a new and emerging disease in Midwest. In 2018 and 2019, it had a significant yield impact on corn production in northern Indiana. The 2018 tar spot epidemic was the first time yield losses were documented in the U.S. Prior to this epidemic; no field research had been done in North American for tar spot management. A summary of our experiences in Indiana will be presented as we continue to improve our understanding of this new disease in corn.

Wednesday, February 3 at 9 to 10 a.m.

• New findings on conservation use and nutrient reduction efforts in Iowa agriculture

Laurie Nowatzke, measurement coordinator, Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy, Iowa State University, Ames, IA

Since 2013, the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy has guided efforts to reduce nutrient loss and improve water quality in Iowa. This presentation will share the most recent findings on farmers’ and landowners’ use of agricultural conservation practices across Iowa. It will tap into emerging data sources—including the BMP Mapping Project and a survey of agricultural retailers—to show changes in the use of cover crops, fertilizer management, soil erosion control, and other practices over time and across various regions of the state. It will also present cost estimates associated with widespread practice adoption and the impacts these practices have had on nitrogen and phosphorus loss. Finally, the presentation will highlight some lessons learned from areas where substantial conservation progress has occurred and also from areas where there have been challenges to implementing conservation practices.

Thursday, February 4 at 9 to 10 a.m.

• Quality of 2020 Iowa corn and soybeans after drought and derecho

Charles Hurburgh, professor, Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering and professor in charge, Iowa Grain Quality Initiative, Iowa State University, Ames, IA; Erin Bowers, affiliate assistant professor; Emily Branstad, graduate research assistant, Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Iowa State University

The 2020 crop started out with all indicators as favorable as most can remember. Starting in June, severe drought and then a massive windstorm caused significant deterioration of both yield and quality by harvest. We will summarize the events, their impacts, and the issues created for storage and processing through the 2020 marketing year. Recommendations for managing both the quality and the food/feed safety issues will be given.

CropsTV is presented with support from the Iowa Corn Growers Association and the Iowa Soybean Association. All times are CST.