Blog

Erin Hodgson
July 17, 2018 8:06 AM

Humans are making more sound, and it can interfere with animals finding mates, food and other essential behaviors. Most of the research showing impacts of human-generated sound is largely focused on vertebrates. Biologists at Mississippi State University were curious about sound potentially...

Insects and Mites

Rebecca Vittetoe
July 10, 2018 11:12 AM

The warm conditions continue to push crops along. Across the state we are approximately...

Crop Production

Bob Hartzler
July 9, 2018 9:35 AM

Off-target injury associated with dicamba application in dicamba-resistant soybean was a significant problem in the Cornbelt during 2017 (A final report on dicamba-injured soybean acres).  The increase in...

Weeds

Rebecca Vittetoe
July 3, 2018 4:46 PM

Strong storms rolled across the state again bringing more heavy rain and even some damaging wind to areas. Despite the flooding in some areas and drought in the southern part of the state, 78% of the corn crop and 76% of the soybean crop was rated in the good to excellent condition based on...

Crop Production

Rebecca Vittetoe
June 26, 2018 6:43 PM

The saga continues with areas of northern Iowa receiving too much rain while southern Iowa continues to be on the drier side. Rainfall totals across the state ranged anywhere from nearly 10 inches in NW Iowa to less than half an inch in parts of southern Iowa. According to...

Crop Production

Rebecca Vittetoe
June 19, 2018 12:07 PM

Parts of Iowa received some much needed rainfall last week, but unfortunately for some areas the storms that rolled through also brought along hail and caused flooding. Overall, crops are looking good across the...

Crop Production

Ethan Stoetzer
June 18, 2018 3:27 PM

The Iowa State University Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program is expanding its social media footprint to now include Facebook. If you follow our content on Twitter (@ISU_IPM) then be sure to give our page a like to stay connected.

Through...

Insects and Mites, Pesticide Education, Plant Diseases

Mark Licht
June 15, 2018 8:03 AM

Yesterday’s heavy rains that marched across large part of central and north central Iowa coupled with recent storm systems across other parts of the state have resulted in significant areas of ponding as well as hail injury.

Crop Production

Erin Hodgson
June 14, 2018 3:46 PM

 


This week, I’ve had a number of people tell me they spotted Japanese beetle. I was initially surprised, because I track degree days to predict adult emergence every summer and it seemed a bit early. According to the ISU Agronomy Mesonet, adults could be emerging...

Insects and Mites

Rebecca Vittetoe
June 13, 2018 11:45 AM

While parts of Iowa are too wet and have experienced hail, wind, and flooding over the past week other parts of the state could desperately benefit from some rainfall. Despite the drastic differences in moisture levels across the state, according to...

Crop Production

Meaghan Anderson
June 12, 2018 8:12 AM

Virgil Schmitt
June 12, 2018 8:12 AM

Rebecca Vittetoe
June 12, 2018 8:12 AM

On June 28, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will be hosting the annual Spring Field Day and Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) Training at the Southeast Iowa Research and Demonstration Farm near Crawfordsville.

...

Crop Production

Sotirios Archontoulis
June 8, 2018 4:14 PM

Mark Licht
June 8, 2018 4:14 PM

The 2018 growing season is well underway. It is now time to start assessing the rewards of the spring planting season. Our first FACTS (Forecasting and Assessment of Cropping sysTemS) is now live for the 2018 growing season. There have been a...

Crop Production

Adam Sisson
June 8, 2018 9:41 AM

Daren S Mueller
June 8, 2018 9:41 AM

Alison Robertson
June 8, 2018 9:41 AM

Widespread hail occurred in Iowa on 6 June 2018, causing damage to many acres of corn and soybean plants. At this time, most of the corn is in the V6 to V8 growth stages, while soybeans are at the V1 to V3 growth stages. Some areas of the state also received hail injury earlier this season....

Crop Production, Plant Diseases

Mark Licht
June 6, 2018 10:01 AM

Over the last week there have been sightings of twisted whorls and buggy whipping or corn leaves. It’s also known as rapid growth syndrome, accelerated growth syndrome, roping, wrapped whorls, and onion leafing, This is not unusual for corn that is growing rapidly and usually occurs in 5th...

Crop Production

Rebecca Vittetoe
June 5, 2018 9:03 PM

Despite the late start to #Plant18, especially in northern Iowa, planting has nearly wrapped up with corn and soybeans across the state. According to Monday’...

Crop Production

Ethan Stoetzer
May 29, 2018 2:54 PM

The Iowa State University Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program is proud to announce the creation of its own YouTube Channel through which to promote the efforts of Iowa State University scientists and researchers in providing means-tested crop and pest management solutions to stakeholders in...

Insects and Mites, Pesticide Education, Plant Diseases

Erin Hodgson
May 29, 2018 8:17 AM

Tom Petty said he was “learning to fly, but I ain’t got wings.” The last two weeks have made me think about flies way too much. The black flies, sometimes called buffalo gnats, have been terrible and making it hard to be outside. These small flies (1/4" in length) are black or gray and somewhat...

Insects and Mites

Rebecca Vittetoe
May 22, 2018 10:05 AM

While #Plant18 has basically wrapped up in the southern part of the state for corn and soybeans are about three-fourths planted, #Plant18 has been much slower in the northern part of the state. According to...

Crop Production

Adam Sisson
May 22, 2018 8:42 AM

Erin Hodgson
May 22, 2018 8:42 AM

True armyworm is a migratory pest that arrives in Iowa from southern states and lays eggs on living tissue. Adult females are attracted to fields with green plants, particularly weedy grasses or living cover crops. These plants serve as initial feeding sites for larvae. When these original host...

Crop Production, Insects and Mites

Ethan Stoetzer
May 21, 2018 9:47 AM

The 4-H Ag Innovators Experience Monarchs on the Move challenge tour is underway in Iowa, and geared up to hit over 70 events throughout the remainder of the spring and summer. So far, the tour has stopped in nine locations for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) field days...

Insects and Mites

Bob Hartzler
May 18, 2018 8:31 AM

Meaghan Anderson
May 18, 2018 8:31 AM

Cool conditions during planting season increase the potential for herbicide injury to seedlings due to slow emergence and reduced ability of the crop to metabolize herbicides. While herbicides may be responsible for emergence issues, most problems that have been brought to our attention seem to...

Weeds

Mark Licht
May 14, 2018 6:07 PM

Planting conditions in northern Iowa, especially north of highway 20, is experiencing delays due to abundant rainfall. Corn planting progress is currently at 40% across the northern crop reporting districts compared to 65% and 70% for the state and 5-year average (...

Crop Production

Rebecca Vittetoe
May 8, 2018 9:43 AM

#Plant18 continues to progress across the state. According to Monday’s USDA Crop Progress Report, approximately 40% of Iowa’s expected corn crop has been...

Crop Production

Erin Hodgson
May 7, 2018 11:31 AM

Over the weekend, someone let me know they saw a western corn rootworm adult. Remember this pest overwinters as an egg that hatches in June! They get confused with closely-related species every spring: striped cucumber beetle. Striped and spotted cucumber beetles overwinter as adults and become...

Crop Production, Insects and Mites

Erin Hodgson
May 2, 2018 6:54 AM

A free app is now available to simplify the early detection of brown marmorated stink bug in the Midwest. This new invasive species has a wide host range, including soybean, corn, apples, tomatoes, grapes and peppers. App features include:


  • A stink bug "look...
Crop Production, Insects and Mites

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