Blog
Planting progress started off strong, but recent rain events across the state have brought it to a screeching halt. It seems like fields get just about fit to get back in them to plant and it rains again. According to the May 6th USDA Crop Progress Report, corn planting was at 47%...
With all the alfalfa weevils, we’ve had quite a few questions on how do you know if a field is a threshold to take action? Or I’ve used my sweep net, what’s the threshold per sweep for alfalfa weevil?
First off, a sweep net can be a helpful tool to determine if alfalfa weevils are present...
With the quick planting that happened the week of April 22-26 and the lack of field activity since due to high winds and rain, some fields may have crops emerging that have had no preemergence herbicide. While some herbicides can be applied prior to or after crop emergence, many have...
Estimating First Crop Alfalfa Harvest using PEAQ
Alfalfa growth and development is affected by many factors, including temperature, soil moisture, stand age and even cultivar. We have had a warmer and milder winter leading into spring, causing earlier alfalfa green-up and...
Recent rain events have put a delay on much planting progress and other field activities across the state of Iowa. Planting considerations, alfalfa weevil, cover crop termination, and weed management have been some of the common questions or topics reported by ISU Extension and Outreach...
Is it Time to Graze Your Pastures?
As spring rolls in, our cool-season pastures start showing signs of life and look more enticing than the muddy feeding areas. But before we let our livestock loose, it's crucial to assess whether pastures are truly ready. While the...
For the second year in a row, alfalfa weevil is the most prominent spring pest for farmers. Unprecedented populations south of I-80 have been reported in 2024 and are proving to be much more severe and widespread than in previous years. We are predicting northern Iowa counties to also experience...
Black cutworm moth captures spiked again during Week 5 (April 28 to May 4). A total of 182 BCW moths were reported by our cooperators during Week 5. The most moths were reported on April 29 (81 moths), but captures were scattered throughout the week. Six significant flights occurred last week,...
With technology playing such an integral part of our ability to effectively manage crop production, it makes sense that it also plays a key role in effective scouting. One of the simplest technologies (now, anyway) is taking a good picture to share with a trusted advisor, a farmer client, or...
As pastures and hayfields begin to green-up, we need to start thinking about our fertilization program. Forages, just like row crops, need fertilizer to be productive.
We will quickly discuss fertilizer applications for your alfalfa and grass hay, and for your pastures.
In each...
Rainy springs can keep many producers out of the crop fields for days at a time. This provides a great window of opportunity to get out into pastures, take a look at the current weed pressure, and begin implementing management tactics to get weeds under control.
Early spring weed control...
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Field Agronomists have completed their spring survey of subsoil moisture in northwest Iowa. Subsoil moisture is sampled in mid-April in the spring and early November in the fall across northwest Iowa each year. The dates that the samples were...
Last week (April 21 to April 27) had a few windy days that likely brought many moths into Iowa, but numbers were lower than Week 3. A total of 109 BCW moths were reported by our cooperators during Week 4. Most of those moths were reported between April 23 and April 25. Six significant flights...
Windy conditions last week (April 14 to April 20) brought a lot of black cutworm (BCW) moths into Iowa. A total of 157 BCW moths were reported by our cooperators during Week 3. April 17 had the most total moths reported (50 moths), but captures were consistent throughout the week. Ten...
I’ve been scouting several alfalfa fields in East-Central Iowa this spring, and it’s always interesting to see what you get in your sweep net. While I’ve been able to find quite a few alfalfa weevil adults and larvae in fields this spring, that’s not all I’ve found!
Alfalfa weevil...
Recent rains, cooler temperatures, and the windier conditions have slowed field activities. According to the May 22 NASS Crop Progress Report, 13% of the...
Proper spray nozzle selection plays a key role in effective pesticide applications. There are a lot of useful sprayer nozzle selection guides and even online resources or apps to assist with nozzle selection.
One additional new resource applicators may find useful is a new Purdue...
Wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) is your first line of defense against pesticide exposure. PPE includes items such as gloves, coveralls, aprons, and respirators. Generally, as the toxicity of a pesticide increases, the more PPE items there are required.
Read the Label
...Moth counts ramped up dramatically during Week 2 of the moth trapping network (April 7 to April 13), although we often get large flights with spring storm systems in April. Despite the low captures reported during the first official week, 70 total black cutworm (BCW) moths were reported last...
Timing is crucial for spring planting. Planting too early can expose young stands to damaging frost, while planting too late can lead to greater potato leaf hopper and weed pressures. Establishing a vigorous alfalfa stand is pivotal for future production, forage quality, and minimizing weed...
On May 16th, we will be hosting a Field Crop Scout School at the...
Given the dry conditions that prevailed Iowa in 2023, there will be herbicide carryover in 2024. Suspect herbicides that are likely to carryover include, but are not limited to atrazine, clopyralid, and the various HPPD inhibitor herbicides. Specifically, the accuracy, evenness, and timing (i.e...
Iowa soils can hold 9-12 inches of water in the soil profile and most parts of Iowa have shallow water tables at about 4-7 feet depth. These two sources of water, together with the precipitation, provide water for crop production. Typically, a 250 bu/ac corn yield requires about...
Planting, in my opinion, is THE most important field operation. Planting in the optimal planting window and into good seedbed conditions will set the plant up for rapid growth and high yield potential. With planters beginning to move or sitting in waiting for better...
Key Points
- El Nino transitioning to La Nina during this summer; increased risk of heat
- Still need more moisture for streamflow recovery in many areas of the state, particularly southern and eastern parts of the state
- Good chances for the planting season to be...