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Ashley Dean
April 20, 2022 4:44 PM
Windy conditions last week brought our first large flights of black cutworm (BCW) and true armyworm (TAW) moths to Iowa. During Week 3 (April 10 to April 16), our cooperators reported a total of 49 BCW and 20 TAW moths throughout the state.
Week 3 report:
More...
Mark Licht
April 19, 2022 8:00 AM
Joel DeJong
April 19, 2022 8:00 AM
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,...
Ashley Dean
April 14, 2022 8:16 AM
Cold weather has kept migratory moths out of Iowa through Week 2 of the trapping network. However, our cooperators have seen some native moths show up in their true armyworm traps. During week 2 of the Iowa Moth...
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.
Ashley Dean
April 11, 2022 4:22 PM
Although it has been uncharacteristically cold recently, it is officially springtime in Iowa and many insects are coming to life. One of the first things the field crop entomologists do each year is coordinate the Iowa Moth Trapping Network. Usually, these traps catch the specific species we are...
Mark Licht
April 11, 2022 12:30 PM
Dennis Todey
April 11, 2022 12:30 PM
Justin Glisan
April 11, 2022 12:30 PM
Soil temperature is one of the most important factors to guide planting decisions. The rule of thumb is to wait until the upper 4 inches reach at least 50 degrees, with a warming temperature trend in the forecast. One way to track soil temperatures across Iowa is by using the...
Meaghan Anderson
April 8, 2022 10:35 PM
With a warm-up in the forecast, spring fieldwork like cover crop termination will begin when fields are fit. While some farmers may opt to use mechanical methods of cover crop termination like tillage or roller-crimping, chemical termination is the most common and often most effective way to...
Ashley Dean
April 7, 2022 3:08 PM
The 2022 moth trapping season is underway, and most of our volunteers placed traps the week of March 27. Black cutworm (BCW) monitoring is a long-standing project in Iowa, and true armyworm (TAW) was added in 2017 (Photo 1). Both of these pests are migratory, making it difficult to predict where...
Angie Rieck-Hinz
April 5, 2022 2:17 PM
Rebecca Vittetoe
April 5, 2022 2:17 PM
Elizabeth Danielson
April 5, 2022 2:17 PM
This is the final article in a 3-part series for private pesticide applicators. Part 1 focused on remaining continuing instruction courses to maintain...
Meaghan Anderson
April 4, 2022 2:27 PM
Determining the appropriate glyphosate rate is probably more important this spring than in previous years. Between high herbicide prices, reduced supply, and possibly using a different glyphosate product, it is worth checking to make sure you’re applying the optimum rate for efficient control....
Clarabell Probasco
March 31, 2022 2:11 PM
Rebecca Vittetoe
March 31, 2022 2:11 PM
2022 offerings of Agronomy in the Field
Agronomy in the Field is a workshop series for women that provides learning opportunities over forage and crop production. Focus is placed on developing agronomic and decision-making skills that can be utilized on one’s own personal or family...
Mark Licht
March 25, 2022 12:33 PM
Why do we need your input?
An unprecedented amount of data is being collected on soybean fields thanks to advances in sensing technologies and cost-efficient computing, yet these data
are rarely used to their full potential. Extension is uniquely positioned to...
Angie Rieck-Hinz
March 25, 2022 8:33 AM
Rebecca Vittetoe
March 25, 2022 8:33 AM
This is part 2 of a three-part series of reminders for private pesticide applicators. Part 1 discussed remaining continuing education course opportunities...
On March 15, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved the label amendments that further restrict the use of over-the-top dicamba in Iowa and Minnesota. These changes came after the reports of high numbers of off-target dicamba injury incidents in Iowa and Minnesota in 2021. During...
Angie Rieck-Hinz
March 22, 2022 4:35 PM
Rebecca Vittetoe
March 22, 2022 4:35 PM
Iowa private pesticide applicators are required to be certified to apply pesticides if they are using restricted-use pesticides. Initially, to get certified, applicators need to take and pass an exam. Then, to maintain their certification, applicators can either attend a 2-hour continuing...
Adam Sisson
March 18, 2022 12:56 PM
As the snow melts and planters are made ready for spring, it is also time to think about crop scouting. The Crop Protection Network has many resources for new crop scouts or summer interns. These resources can also provide a...
Denise Schwab
March 18, 2022 11:49 AM
Rebecca Vittetoe
March 18, 2022 11:49 AM
Small grains, like oats, seeded in the spring can be another forage source for livestock producers. While using small grains, like oats, as a forage source is not something new, there is very limited data available on...
Shortage of key herbicides, glyphosate and glufosinate, in 2022 has emphasized the need to implement integrated weed management (IWM) strategies in corn and soybean. It is time to consider adding more tools in the weed control toolbox. In the previous blog post, we discussed alternative...
As emphasized during the Crop Advantage Series presentations and other ISU extension meetings across Iowa in January/February, two key herbicides, glyphosate and glufosinate, are in short supply to many of the corn and soybean producers. Therefore, the 2022 growing season is going to be...
Aaron Saeugling
March 3, 2022 8:54 AM
Rebecca Vittetoe
March 3, 2022 8:54 AM
Frost seeding is the easiest and least expensive method for adding new legumes to a pasture. And now is the perfect time to be doing frost seeding.
The goal of frost seeding is to seed while the soil is frozen (usually first then in the morning) and get the seed in contact with bare soil...
Many across the US have set aside February 20-26 as Grain Bin Safety Week in order to grow awareness of the hazards associated with grain storage. Many of the ways to increase safety when...
Angie Rieck-Hinz
February 16, 2022 10:53 AM
Rebecca Vittetoe
February 16, 2022 10:53 AM
One of the label requirements for the dicamba products labeled for over-the-top use in soybean (Xtendimax, Tavium, Engenia) is that applicators must complete a special dicamba training annually. If you need to complete this training, go to the ...
Yuba Kandel
February 14, 2022 3:35 PM
Daren S Mueller
February 14, 2022 3:35 PM
Stith Wiggs
February 14, 2022 3:35 PM
Foliar fungicides were evaluated across seven Iowa State University research and demonstration farms to determine their performance for disease and yield response on soybean in 2021.
Ashley Dean
February 11, 2022 9:28 AM
Erin Hodgson
February 11, 2022 9:28 AM
Iowa State University’s IPM Team has monitored field crop pests for a long time. The pests have changed over the years, but the goal is the same: to help inform farmers about pest activity in Iowa. Our moth trapping efforts target migratory moths. Black cutworm monitoring is a long-standing...