Blog
Subscribe to RSS FeedOn Sept. 8, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach hosted a fall field day at the ISU Northern Research and Demonstration Farm in Kanawha, Iowa. The fall field day focused on water quality topics, cover crops, corn rootworm, and included a wetland tour.
Paul Kassel
September 13, 2016 2:27 PM
Much of the corn that was planted in mid-April is mature or nearly mature. Some hybrids really progressed a lot this past week (Sept. 5-Sept. 12). Corn planted in early May and mid-May is about 1/2 to 3/4 milk line. I think I am seeing some of the...
Rebecca Vittetoe
September 13, 2016 1:00 PM
Virgil Schmitt
September 13, 2016 1:00 PM
Meaghan Anderson
September 13, 2016 1:00 PM
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach field agronomists report crop conditions in south central, southeast, and east central Iowa.
Bob Hartzler
September 12, 2016 12:48 PM
As you venture around the countryside this time of year you might notice the presence of a plant with white flowers along the edge of woodlands. There is a good chance this plant is white snakeroot, a perennial in the Asteraceae (sunflower family). The plant is adapted to shady areas with low...
Bob Hartzler
September 6, 2016 2:00 PM
I took my final Labor Day Palmer amaranth tour on Saturday, visiting the first three known sites of Palmer amaranth in western Iowa. First stop was Harrison County, ground zero for Iowa Palmer amaranth. The Palmer was identified in the summer of 2013 in a 50 acre fallow field; because of the...
Bob Hartzler
August 30, 2016 8:35 AM
Meaghan Anderson
August 30, 2016 8:35 AM
The first step in managing any pest is correct identification. For Palmer amaranth, we have stressed the need to examine the inflorescences of female plants for the presence of the large, sharp bracts. Farmers/agronomists are not accustomed to examining flowers since almost all weeds can be...
Meaghan Anderson
August 25, 2016 2:37 PM
Bob Hartzler
August 25, 2016 2:37 PM
Most people are aware of the multiple findings of Palmer amaranth across Iowa this month. Palmer amaranth has been identified both in crop fields and in conservation plantings using native seed mixes. Early detection is essential in order to prevent the new weed from getting permanently...
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach field agronomists report crop conditions in your area of the state.
Virgil Schmitt
August 18, 2016 8:46 AM
Rebecca Vittetoe
August 18, 2016 8:46 AM
Meaghan Anderson
August 18, 2016 8:46 AM
Mark you your calendars for the Southeast Research and Demonstration Farm's Fall Field Day, which is set for September 8. Registration will begin at 1 p.m. with the tour starting at 1:30 p.m.
The featured stops for this year's field day include a presentation on...
Mark Licht
August 15, 2016 9:38 AM
Sotirios Archontoulis
August 15, 2016 9:38 AM
A new FACTS (Forecast and Assessment of Cropping sysTemS) forecast occurred on August 11, 2016. The forecast can be found at: /facts/weather.
The weather this growing season continues to be...
Bob Hartzler
August 14, 2016 10:13 AM
Meaghan Anderson
August 14, 2016 10:13 AM
Although rain moved us indoors, we had a great turnout for the 2016 Weed Identification Contest. This year's winner in the Professional Division is long-time participant Cindy Recker of Peosta, IA. Cindy, a member of ISU's Crop Judging Team when she was a student, correctly identified 37 of 40...
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach field agronomists report crop conditions in your area of the state:
Daren Mueller
August 8, 2016 4:46 PM
Several soybean diseases have become noticeable after recent rainfall across the state.
The following diseases are currently showing up regularly across Iowa soybean fields, depending on your location in the state:
On Tuesday, Aug.2, eight teams of Iowa youth (grades 9-12) participated in the sixth annual Crop Scouting Competition. The teams were scored on their knowledge of crop insects, diseases, growth and development, and weed identification with a written test and field stations located throughout the...
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach field agronomists report crop conditions in your area of the state.
Rebecca Vittetoe
August 1, 2016 4:58 PM
Typically anthracnose is a disease associated with corn as a leaf blight or stalk rot, or ...
Bob Hartzler
July 29, 2016 7:51 AM
Iowa Code 317 is the section of the Iowa Code that defines the Iowa Noxious Weed Law. Chapter 317.1 is the piece of legislation that actually defines which...
Paul Kassel
July 28, 2016 9:59 AM
A recent visit to a field with three different planting dates showed the varied crop progress in my area.
The Useful to Usable ...
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach field agronomists report crop conditions in your area of the state.
Bob Hartzler
July 25, 2016 12:35 PM
Japanese knotweed is one of the most difficult weeds to eradicate due to its extensive woody root system. In England it is notorious for caving in basement walls where it was planted as a foundation plant. At least 15 years ago I discovered a 'nice' patch of Japanese bamboo along the banks of...
Erin Hodgson
July 25, 2016 8:48 AM
ISU Field Agronomists around the state have noted Japanese beetle feeding injury in corn and soybean over the last week. Japanese beetles have a wide host range that includes many species of fruit and vegetable crops, ornamentals, and field crops. Adults prefer to feed between soybean leaf veins...
Alison Robertson
July 21, 2016 3:24 PM
This past week I have been busy with disease diagnostic workshops at the ISU Field Education and Extension Laboratory. For those of you who have attended my sessions before, you know that I usually have a quiz that consists of leaves with various diseases and disease look-a-likes or imposters. I...
Erin Hodgson
July 21, 2016 8:24 AM
The lowest level of insect injury where damage can be measured is called the damage boundary. The damage boundary is a biological relationship between the insect, crop, and environment; and is independent of input costs (e.g., seed, insecticide, etc.). Managing a pest below the...
Mahdi Al-Kaisi
July 20, 2016 5:19 PM
This spring consisted of wet field conditions for many regions across Iowa during planting season. When soil moisture is at or exceeds field capacity, there is an increased potential for soil compaction, particularly at topsoil depths. Soil compaction at planting time can impact root growth and...
Erin Hodgson
July 19, 2016 7:17 AM
Soybean aphid feeds fluids within the phloem fluids (sometimes referred to as "sap") by inserting piercing-sucking mouthparts directly into the phloem vessels. Prior to feeding, aphids "taste" the sap to determine if the plant is a suitable host species and if the quality is acceptable. Once...