Blog

CropsTV is entering week 9, however, do not let this hold you back from registering. There are 3 live episodes this week and another 3 live episodes to finish out CropsTV programming next week. While there is only 6 live episodes left, you can still watch all 45 episodes on-demand through February. Learn more and register here today. You can view the full 10-week program here, but read on to check out a quick preview of our week six presentations.

CropsTV is entering week 8. If you are not one of the more than 850 people already registered, do not be left out. You can still watch all 45 episodes of CropsTV. There are, 10 live episodes in the last 3 weeks of CropsTV and all 45 episodes will be available on-demand through February. Learn more and register here today. You can view the full 10-week program, but read on to check out a quick preview of our week six presentations.

With only four weeks left, you can still get all 45 episodes of CropsTV, 12 of which you can catch live. Sign up today to catch this weeks episodes or binge watch the 26 already posted episodes. There are up to 45 CCA continuing education units all available for a $45 season pass. Learn more and register here today. You can view the full 10-week program, but read on to check out a quick preview of our week six presentations.

Soybean gall midge is an emerging pest that only occurs in five Midwest states. Researchers in Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, and South Dakota began investigating this pest in 2019 after widespread reports of significant injury raised awareness early in the 2018 growing season. Although a lot of research is needed to enhance our understanding of soybean gall midge biology, ecology, and management, researchers are able to provide updates and tips for the upcoming growing season.

A new web book, Crop Scouting Basics For Corn And Soybean, by the Crop Protection Network (CPN) has just been released and is available for farmers, students, and agriculture industry to learn more about scouting and integrated pest management (IPM). This book was written and reviewed by extension pest management specialists from across the country, making it useful anywhere corn and soybean are grown.

There are only four weeks left to sign up for CropsTV and earn your CCA credits. Sign up today and you get 45 episodes (past episodes on-demand and new episodes coming for the next four weeks). Up to 45 CCA continuing education units all available for a $45 season pass. Learn more and register here today.

You can view the full 10-week program, but read on to check out a quick preview of our week six presentations.

CropsTV is the right spot for CCA credits. Sign up today and you get 45 episodes (past episodes on-demand and new episodes coming for the next five weeks). Up to 45 CCA continuing education units all available for a $45 season pass. Learn more and register here today.

You can view the full 10-week program, but read on to check out a quick preview of our week five presentations.

Tuesday, December 29 at 9 to 10 a.m.

Don’t be left out, there is still time to register for CropsTV. Sign up today and you get 45 episodes (past episodes on-demand and new episodes coming for the next seven weeks). Up to 45 CCA continuing education units all available for a $45 season pass. Learn more and register here today.

You can view the full 10-week program, but read on to check out a quick preview of our week four presentations.

Tuesday, December 22 at 9:00 a.m.

Do you need CCA credits? CropsTV is the place to get them. Register today and you get 45 episodes (past episodes on-demand and new episodes coming for the next eight weeks). Up to 45 CCA continuing education units all available for a $45 season pass. Learn more and register here today.

You can view the full 10-week program, but read on to check out a quick preview of our week three presentations.

Tuesday, December 15 at 9:00 a.m.

The Iowa Crop Improvement Association (ICIA) have completed this year’s Iowa Crop Performance Tests (ICPT) and are now out with their full 2020 reports for both corn and soybeans.

ICPT provide direct, unbiased comparisons among a large number of corn hybrids and soybean varieties, in many different environments. Data is posted online within 48 hours of harvest, giving you an early look at test results with full reports published after harvest is completed.

Have you registered for CropsTV yet? It is the place to go if you need CCA credits. Register today and you get 45 episodes (past episodes on-demand and new episodes coming for the next nine weeks). Up to 45 CCA continuing education units all available for a $45 season pass. Learn more and register here today.

You can view the full 10-week program, but read on to check out a quick preview of our week two presentations.

As farming slows down for the winter, many producers start thinking about what tools they might want to add to their farm for the next crop season. Throughout the year, we’ve shared information on equipment and products that you might be considering for your operation.

A quick review of subsoil moisture during the fall of 1999 and the spring of 2000 shows that subsoil moisture did not recharge much from October 30, 1999 to April 10 of 2000  (table 1).  The five subsoil moisture sites gained from 0.6 to 4.2 inches of moisture during the late fall and early spring.  The locations near Newell and Schaller only gained 0.6 and 2.4 inches of subsoil moisture.  

Unlike many recent years, fall has been very dry and soils continue to be dry over much of western Iowa.  The conditions have been excellent for harvest and fall fieldwork but troubling for soil moisture recharge.  Soils in eastern Iowa are generally better, though not wet.

Drought and other weather events have ultimately caused a tight forage supply going into the winter-feeding period for multiple operations. Here are some tips to make the most of the forage resource you’re feeding this winter.

1. Calculate feed needs and compare to inventory. A basic calculation assumes intake to be 2.25 – 2.5% of body weight. Knowing this, a quick calculation for feeding 100 mature cows for 5 months would be:

The question has been asked 'how does the subsoil moisture levels from the fall of 2020 compare to other dry falls'.

 A look back shows the following levels of fall subsoil moisture from 2011 and 2012 - for the six sites where I survey soil moisture in northwest Iowa.

Rainfall - for the sites at or near the sites below - from November 1, 2011 to April 21, 2012 was 6.5 to 7.0 inches.  

As farmers across Iowa wrap up this year’s harvests, and as the year ends, thoughts turn toward next season, and what type of corn and soybean hybrids and varieties might be best in 2021.

Iowa State University has completed their fall survey of subsoil moisture in northwest Iowa.   The amount of subsoil moisture is sampled in the fall in six northwest Iowa counties.

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 participate in local, area, and statewide Crops Team and interdisciplinary team efforts.