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.
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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...