Blog

Rebecca Vittetoe
September 12, 2023 2:27 PM

After about a month of minimal rainfall across the state, some much welcomed rain fell over the weekend and on Monday, September 11. The couple of hot weeks and dry conditions in August really pushed crops along across the state, even causing some to reach maturity prematurely. Silage harvest is...

Crop Production

Alison Robertson
September 12, 2023 11:40 AM

Meaghan Anderson
September 12, 2023 11:40 AM

Rebecca Vittetoe
September 12, 2023 11:40 AM

Harvest is approaching too quickly this fall. Between the dry summer and the spurts of hot weather in August and early September, crop standability is degrading quickly. This blog will go over some potential reasons for standability issues and ways to assess and prioritize fields for harvest....

Crop Production, Diseases

Mark Licht
September 12, 2023 9:18 AM

The last couple heat waves combined with continued drought stress has brought on premature corn death. What should be expected as corn grain harvest gets underway? First and foremost expect VARIABILITY of both grain moisture and yield within and between fields. Next plan for variable and...

Crop Production, Grain Storage

Chelsea J Harbach
September 7, 2023 12:54 PM

Field crop health matters throughout the entire growing season. The types of diseases on crops depend on the point in the growing season and the environmental conditions. Many later-season diseases result from soilborne pathogens over which in-season fungicide applications have no control. Most...

Crop Production, Diseases

Joshua Michel
September 7, 2023 9:30 AM

Harvest season is right around the corner and according to the latest...

Crop Production, Equipment

Mr. Aaron Saeugling
August 28, 2023 10:01 PM

While it is no secret soybean disease has been more prevalent in soybean fields in southwest Iowa this month. However, not all the problems in soybeans can be attributed to disease incidence. I have received and observed an unusual pest this month, Dectes stem borer! Look at your soybeans...

Crop Production

Rebecca Vittetoe
August 23, 2023 8:27 AM

The rains earlier in August across much of the state and more moderate temperatures have been replaced by hotter and drier conditions. While some fields across the state look pretty good, others are showing more signs of stress here this week. Other common observations made in fields across the...

Crop Production

Erin Hodgson
August 22, 2023 7:45 AM

I received several questions about blister beetles in alfalfa hay over the weekend. I thought it might be helpful to review what they look like and provide a few management tactics to minimize the negative effects for animals.

There are at least four species in Iowa, including a) black, b...

Crop Production, Insects

Rebecca Vittetoe
August 8, 2023 4:31 PM

While some much welcomed rain fell across most of the state over the last week, parts of NE Iowa missed out on the rain and other parts saw 6+ inches of rainfall. From the field, aphids (in corn and soybeans), spider mites, soybean gall midge, concerns about tar spot, and downy mildew in...

Crop Production

Rebecca Vittetoe
August 1, 2023 9:55 PM

Soybean aphids, two-spotted spider mites, fungicide decisions despite little disease pressure, and the hot and dry conditions were some of the more common issues or questions Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Field Agronomists have seen or heard about in fields across the state over...

Crop Production

Mr. Aaron Saeugling
August 1, 2023 6:07 AM

We have now reached the critical period for maximizing yield for both corn and soybeans. I will focus on soybeans for this blog and how soil moisture affects moisture stress in beans and soybean yield. With recent rains across a sizable portion of Iowa in mid-July, soil moisture profiles changed...

Crop Production

Rebecca Vittetoe
July 25, 2023 10:50 PM

Limited rainfall, the hot weather this week, corn rootworm, weed escapes, insect defoliators, and questions on foliar fungicides have been the more common issues or questions Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Field Agronomists have seen or heard about over the last week. Read on for...

Crop Production

Rebecca Vittetoe
July 18, 2023 10:27 PM

Over the last week much needed rain was received, but it also unfortunately brought along wind and hail to some parts of the state. Other hot topics coming in from fields across the state this past week included corn rootworm, soybean gall midge, phytophthora in soybeans, tar spot, gray leaf...

Crop Production

Angie Rieck-Hinz
July 18, 2023 7:00 AM

Gentry Sorenson
July 18, 2023 7:00 AM

Meaghan Anderson
July 18, 2023 7:00 AM

Clarabell Probasco
July 18, 2023 7:00 AM

Check out the upcoming field days being offered around the state this August. These field days will feature a variety of topics ranging from strip-till and conservation to forage production and corn rootworm management.  

August 1, 2023 | Corn Rootworm Field Day...

Crop Production

Ashley Dean
July 14, 2023 11:51 AM

Erin Hodgson
July 14, 2023 11:51 AM

Meaghan Anderson
July 14, 2023 11:51 AM

Blister beetles are an occasional late-summer problem in Iowa alfalfa fields. The beetles feed on alfalfa and soybean foliage, but leaf loss is not of economic importance. The bigger concern with blister beetles is their toxicity to livestock when accidentally consumed in feed. The beetles...

Crop Production, Insects

Rebecca Vittetoe
July 11, 2023 4:19 PM

Corn rootworm, soybean gall midge, tar spot, drought stress, and weed control issues are some of the common issues or questions Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Field Agronomists have seen or heard about the past couple of weeks. Read on for more specifics about what’s happening...

Crop Production

Sotirios Archontoulis
July 7, 2023 9:43 AM

Mark Licht
July 7, 2023 9:43 AM

The smoke from the 2023 Canada wildfires was noticeable in Iowa, especially on June 28 and 29, and concerns about impacts on crop productivity were voiced. The smoke from the California wildfires (August 2021) was evident in Iowa too, however, this did not have a negative effect on crop...

Crop Production

Erin Hodgson
July 6, 2023 2:34 PM

Although some parts of Iowa have been catching up with moisture deficits, many areas continue to be in severe drought. Drought stress combined with high temperatures is good news for field crop pests like grasshoppers and spider mites. We’ve been getting reports of high grasshopper numbers...

Crop Production, Insects

Rebecca Vittetoe
June 27, 2023 12:36 PM

While some much needed and welcomed rain fell across most of the state this past week, some areas received minimal to no rain. The dry conditions, herbicide injury, potato leafhoppers, nutrient deficiencies (mainly potassium), weed control failures, and tar spot are some of the highlights on the...

Crop Production

Alison Robertson
June 23, 2023 1:44 PM

Well, I’ll be darned! Yesterday I tweeted the only disease being seen in Iowa corn was common smut on leaves. Thanks to an overzealous crop scout from a seed company, we can confirm that tar spot was observed in central Iowa (Poweshiek, Tama, Marshall, Jasper, Story and Polk counties) yesterday...

Diseases

Rebecca Vittetoe
June 20, 2023 3:16 PM

Dry conditions causing crop stress, herbicide carryover and drift, nutrient deficiencies induced by the dry conditions, armyworms in forages, and a frost event in NE Iowa were some of the common or big issues or questions ISU Extension and Outreach Field Agronomists heard about or received this...

Crop Production

Joshua Michel
June 15, 2023 11:51 AM

Ashley Dean
June 15, 2023 11:51 AM

Denise Schwab
June 15, 2023 11:51 AM

On June 14, Iowa State University extension entomologists put out a Pest Alert to scout for true armyworm because of statewide reports of this pest feeding on crops. In addition, there have been multiple...

Insects

Chelsea J Harbach
June 15, 2023 9:50 AM

We’re well into the growing season in Iowa. We are in full swing in the Plant & Insect Diagnostic Clinic (PIDC) as growers, certified crop consultants, and field agronomists start to notice problems in their fields. While there is information on our PIDC webpage (...

Crop Production, Insects, Diseases, Soils, Weeds

Rebecca Vittetoe
June 13, 2023 12:17 PM

The dry conditions across the state can be attributed to a lot of the issues or questions ISU Extension and Outreach Field Agronomists heard about or received this past week including issues like herbicide carryover, nutrient deficiencies, and showcasing compaction issues in fields not just from...

Crop Production

Mr. Aaron Saeugling
June 12, 2023 9:09 AM

The best way to break the drought is to write an article from extension about dry weather. So, here’s a stab at trying to make it rain.

Today’s hybrids have amazed farmers on their yields in dry environments. I often get questions about early season drought stress and corn rolling in the...

Crop Production, Weather

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