Joel DeJong
Joel DeJong has over 20 years of experience working closely with farmers on integrated management of pest populations, crop management issues, and nutrient and manure management planning. As the extension field agronomist in northwest Iowa, he currently educates crop producers on proper nutrient and pest management practices, and oversees annual pesticide applicator continuing education sessions; focusing on environmental risk, safety, and proper integrated pest management. In addition, DeJong also trains company agronomists on research-based crop production practices, and teaches certified crop advisers on production, nutrient, and pest management issues.
You can subscribe to his Crop Update Newsletter for timely information that pertains to the farmers, ag producers, and others in northwest Iowa.
Subscribe to RSS FeedParts of the state are classified as being abnormally dry to being in an extreme drought based on the most recent U.S. Drought Monitor map. With the hot temperatures returning this week and little to no rainfall...
Yesterday’s crop progress and condition report indicated little to no planting progress for corn or soybean. This is not a bad thing, considering the temperatures the five days. All hope is not lost! Iowa farmers are able to plant an incredible number of acres really fast. Larger planters,...
It is the time of year when forecasts become a bigger concern for Iowa crop producers. Nearly everyone has their favorite choice for getting their weather information. In this article we will be sharing weather sites we use when discussing weather issues with our crop production clients.
The northwest Iowa fall survey of subsoil moisture completed by Iowa State...
With rising fertilizer prices, and concerns about possible shortages, it pays to time our applications of anhydrous ammonia and manure well. When the value is high, the focus on management is even more important.
Anhydrous costs are reported to have risen to $850 or more per ton.
...
Mark your calendars for our upcoming fall field days. Below is a list of the upcoming field days that will take place in early September and topics featured at each field day. All field days are free and open to the public. We hope you can join us!
Sept. 7, 2021 – Annual Forage...
As we enter the harvest season, we know we need to be looking forward to the next growing season at the same time. Having plans in place for your 2022 fertilization program before harvest starts is a good idea. Making these plans is tougher this year due to variable yields across the state due...
Prices for soil fertility inputs have increased greatly in recent months. The bi-weekly “Iowa Production Cost Report” showed a 51% cost increase in anhydrous, a 31% increase for urea, 56% higher...
We are looking to hire a new Extension Field Agronomist to serve south central Iowa (Clarke, Lucas, Monroe, Wapello, Jefferson, Decatur, Wayne, Appanoose, Davis, and Van Buren counties). Field agronomists provide educational leadership and subject-matter expertise in crop production and...
There have been reports of flowers in the earliest planted soybeans, and I observed them in NW Iowa late last week. That means these beans are entering the R-1 stage of development. If you have a history of white mold in your soybeans and are considering treatment for reducing the impact of this...
Years like this, when corn-planting progress is ahead of normal and we get really optimistic about it, frost raises its ugly head. In the NW corner of Iowa, about a third of the years will include a frost in May. About ten percent of the time it is after May 10. Watching the recovery of emerged...
Check out what ISU Extension and Outreach field agronomists in NW Iowa are seeing and hearing in their areas regarding crop progress and issues showing up in crop fields.
On Friday evening of last week (June 17), a storm system rolled through the northwest corner of Iowa. Winds with this system were clocked in the 70+ mph range, and one weather station measured wind gusts over 100 mph. Many large trees were snapped off, grain bins damaged, and other facilities...
In the NW corner of Iowa it has, once again, been a wet week. There have even been localized rains as high as 6" for the week, although most received significantly less. Getting back to planting, it's has been difficult, and we are lagging the rest of the state in planting progress. We aren't...