Blog

Hail and wind damage, corn rootworm, Japanese beetles weed escapes, insect, 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...

Key Points

• Cooler temperatures are expected in the next 6-10 days, but first, heat is on the way this weekend.
• Day 3-7 hazards include high temperatures, severe weather, and flooding along the Mississippi.
• A warm signal persists through the next three months as...

As corn approaches tasseling, I hear more and more rumblings about fungicide application.  The good to abundant moisture we have had this growing season, has resulted in some itchy trigger fingers. In addition, the early reports of tar spot haven’t helped with the itch.  Do we need to scratch...

Corn is beginning to tassel and there are fields with small ears, which means pollination is just around the corner. Corn pollen is highly attractive to many insect pests, so it is a good idea to assess pollination rates once reproductive development starts. This could be especially complicated...

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...

                                                                             ...

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 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...

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...

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...

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,...

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 (...