Blog

Ethan Stoetzer
February 28, 2019 2:55 PM

Laura Jesse Iles
February 28, 2019 2:55 PM

These species, whether it be insects, weeds or pathogens have the power to drastically alter a landscape by feeding on, or out-competing, plants or other native species. Populations of invasive species are often large enough to kill large numbers of trees and plants, reduce soil quality and...

Insects and Mites, Plant Diseases, Weeds

Erin Hodgson
February 22, 2019 3:01 PM

Ashley Dean
February 22, 2019 3:01 PM

Adam Sisson
February 22, 2019 3:01 PM

The IPM team at Iowa State University has been monitoring for field crop pests for a long time. The target pests have changed over the years, but the goal always remains the same: help inform farmers about pest activity in Iowa. One long-standing...

Insects and Mites

Rebecca Vittetoe
February 19, 2019 10:01 AM

Virgil Schmitt
February 19, 2019 10:01 AM

Joshua Michel
February 19, 2019 10:01 AM

Farmers and crop advisors are invited to attend the Southeast Iowa Agricultural Research Association annual meeting at the Johnson County Extension office in Iowa City on Thursday, March 7, 2019 beginning at 10:00 a.m.

The day will feature an update on activities at the Iowa State...

Crop Production

Emily Heaton
February 12, 2019 4:20 PM

Welcome to ISU Biomass, led by the Heaton Lab at Iowa State University. Together with our partners, we work to integrate perennial crops into the annual crop landscape to improve economic, environmental, and social outcomes. One of our focus areas is the production and ecophysiology of giant...

Crop Production

Ethan Stoetzer
February 11, 2019 3:57 PM

The Crop Protection Network (CPN), a collective of multiple land grant universities across the region, published two new resources for Iowa farmers detailing tar spot in corn, caused by phyllachora maydis, and soybean seed quality for 2019.

Grain Handling and Storage, Plant Diseases

Meaghan Anderson
February 11, 2019 11:11 AM

This cold and snowy weather hopefully has everyone dreaming of warmer days this spring.  The 2019 growing season will be here before we know it, but now is a great time to plan for the year.  While many farmers have already purchased pesticides for the growing season, it’s important to read the...

Crop Production, Pesticide Education

Robin Pruisner
February 7, 2019 12:24 PM

Neal Foster
February 7, 2019 12:24 PM

With the rising popularity of cover crops we frequently receive questions from producers about how to grow and sell cover crop seed. Here’s some important information if you are interested in growing and selling cover crop seed.  

Frequently farmers wish to buy a small grain and plant it...

Crop Production

Angie Rieck-Hinz
January 31, 2019 10:52 AM

Winter months often find us making lists of things we want to get done prior to spring field work and planting. Now is a good time to consider how to safely dispose of old pesticides and chemicals. 

The easiest way to manage pesticides is to plan on not having any leftovers. If you hire...

Pesticide Education

Bob Hartzler
January 31, 2019 7:09 AM

Recent text from an extension client:  
Mark Licht is telling us to plant 120-140K soybeans.  Tells us why more isn’t cost effective. You tell us 160K 15” rows for weeds.  I wish you all would coordinate your story. The bottom line is net profit which is a holistic concept but every...

Weeds

Elizabeth Danielson
January 25, 2019 1:32 PM

Under the Worker Protection Standard (WPS) as revised in 2015, agricultural workers and pesticide handlers must be trained annually in pesticide safety.

Who needs to be trained?

Both agricultural workers (people employed to perform work activities related to the...

Pesticide Education

Greg Tylka
January 23, 2019 2:23 PM

The Iowa Soybean Association has hosted a farmer-oriented research conference in February for many years. In 2019, the event is moving out into the state. The ISA Farmer Research Tour will be held at three locations in the first two weeks of February. This article contains the dates and...

Crop Production

Brent Pringnitz
January 14, 2019 1:44 PM

John Sawyer
January 14, 2019 1:44 PM

Making sound soil fertility management decisions is an important part of successful crop production, on both an economic and environmental level. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will be offering a two-day short course focusing on principles of soils, soil fertility and nutrient...

Crop Production, Soils, Soil Fertility, Soil Management

Ethan Stoetzer
January 7, 2019 11:18 AM

As 2018 was winding down, your extension specialists were gearing up, publishing eight pest-management related guides for the 2019 growing season. Several of these guides are downloadable, for free, on the Iowa State University Extension Store. Now's the perfect time to gather materials to...

Crop Production, Insects and Mites, Pesticide Education, Plant Diseases, Weeds, Herbicide Resistance

Meaghan Anderson
December 20, 2018 11:03 AM

Bob Hartzler
December 20, 2018 11:03 AM

This is the final article of a four-part series originally posted in 2016 on using multiple, effective herbicide sites of action (herbicide groups) at effective rates as part of a long-term weed management system. Read ...

Herbicide Resistance

Bob Hartzler
December 13, 2018 12:36 PM

While herbicide resistance is not a new issue, the rapid increase in multiple resistant biotypes in waterhemp, giant ragweed, and horseweed (marestail) is limiting herbicidal options. A waterhemp biotype resistant to six herbicide groups (2, 4, 5, 9, 14, and 27) was recently identified in...

Weeds

Ethan Stoetzer
December 12, 2018 1:20 PM

Adam Sisson
December 12, 2018 1:20 PM

Winter has nearly arrived. The fields are harvested. Equipment has been tucked in, and the evaluation of the season is well underway. While the new year brings the promise of a great crop season in 2019, it’s important to remember that while we recharge for the winter, so do field crop pests....

Crop Production, Insects and Mites, Pesticide Education, Plant Diseases, Weeds, Herbicide Resistance

Meaghan Anderson
December 11, 2018 12:47 PM

Bob Hartzler
December 11, 2018 12:47 PM

This is part three of a four-part series originally posted in 2016 on using multiple, effective herbicide sites of action (herbicide groups) at effective rates as part of a long-term weed management system. Read ...

Herbicide Resistance

Meaghan Anderson
December 4, 2018 8:25 AM

Bob Hartzler
December 4, 2018 8:25 AM

This is part two of a four-part series originally posted in 2016 on using multiple, effective herbicide sites of action (herbicide groups) at effective rates as part of a long-term weed management system. Read...

Herbicide Resistance

Meaghan Anderson
November 27, 2018 12:56 PM

Bob Hartzler
November 27, 2018 12:56 PM

This is part one of a four-part series originally posted in 2016 on using multiple, effective herbicide sites of action (herbicide groups) at effective rates as part of a long-term weed management system.

With the stagnant development of new herbicides and weeds seemingly...

Herbicide Resistance

Mahdi Al-Kaisi
November 13, 2018 3:23 PM

Soil health is the foundation for a vibrant and strong agriculture system and economy. Healthy soils are essential to healthy environments including clean air and clean water for sustainable agriculture and livelihoods. The...

Soils, Soil Management

Niranjana Krishnan
November 10, 2018 11:15 PM

Pesticides are substances that are designed to control pests. Every year, nearly six billion pounds of pesticides are applied worldwide. In agricultural fields, they can be sprayed...

Insects and Mites

Bob Hartzler
November 1, 2018 7:31 AM

Updated on November 2, 2018

I feel obligated to write something about EPA’s dicamba announcement, but will confess at this time I still have several questions...

Weeds

Bob Hartzler
October 31, 2018 1:05 PM

While the monarch butterfly is a globally distributed species, the eastern United States population is renowned for its annual migration from the breeding range in the northeastern United States (and Canada) to overwintering sites in central Mexico.  Overwintering populations of this cohort have...

Crop Production

Ethan Stoetzer
October 26, 2018 2:04 PM

The follow-up to this summer's 'Sporecaster' smartphone application, designed to help farmers predict the need for a fungicide application to control white mold in soybean, is now available for download.

While Sporecaster can help farmers evaluate their risk for white mold using infection...

Plant Diseases

Shawn Shouse
October 18, 2018 3:26 PM

The 2018 Iowa harvest is posing many challenges. Higher than average harvest losses are likely due to excessive soybean shatter, flooded and wet field conditions, and lodged corn and beans.

Harvest losses can only be managed if you know where and why they are occurring. Measuring harvest...

Crop Production

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