Blog

Mark Licht
May 3, 2022 8:30 AM

Over the last couple of weeks there have been numerous reports of both corn and soybean fields being planted. At present, soil temperatures are hovering just below 50oF for most of the state, with the exception of portions of southern corner of Iowa. What should we expect from these...

Crop Production

Ashley Dean
May 2, 2022 1:07 PM

Erin Hodgson
May 2, 2022 1:07 PM

For many years, we have provided scouting alerts for key insect pests on ICM News and ICM Blog, including...

Crop Production, Insects and Mites

Erin Hodgson
May 2, 2022 11:46 AM

Ashley Dean
May 2, 2022 11:46 AM

Today during our Crops Team meeting, many field agronomists shared that cool soil temperatures and rain have delayed planting in Iowa, but there are some very determined farmers getting acres planted around the state. These cool and wet conditions during spring are favorable for a few seed and...

Crop Production, Insects and Mites

Ashley Dean
April 28, 2022 12:56 PM

Black cutworm (BCW) and true armyworm (TAW) moths continued to migrate into Iowa during Week 4 (April 17 to April 23). Last week, our cooperators reported a total of 60 BCW and 13 TAW moths throughout the state.

Week 4 report:

All of the moths were captured in...

Crop Production, Insects and Mites

Ashley Dean
April 21, 2022 8:42 AM

Rebecca Vittetoe
April 21, 2022 8:42 AM

The cooler temperatures this spring have slowed down alfalfa growth, but alfalfa weevil could already be active based on growing degree day (GDD) accumulation since January 1. We recommend beginning...

Crop Production, Insects and Mites

Ashley Dean
April 20, 2022 4:44 PM

Windy conditions last week brought our first large flights of black cutworm (BCW) and true armyworm (TAW) moths to Iowa. During Week 3 (April 10 to April 16), our cooperators reported a total of 49 BCW and 20 TAW moths throughout the state.

Week 3 report:

More...

Crop Production, Insects and Mites

Mark Licht
April 19, 2022 8:00 AM

Joel DeJong
April 19, 2022 8:00 AM

Yesterday’s crop progress and condition report indicated little to no planting progress for corn or soybean. This is not a bad thing, considering the temperatures the five days. All hope is not lost! Iowa farmers are able to plant an incredible number of acres really fast. Larger planters,...

Crop Production

Ashley Dean
April 14, 2022 8:16 AM

Cold weather has kept migratory moths out of Iowa through Week 2 of the trapping network. However, our cooperators have seen some native moths show up in their true armyworm traps. During week 2 of the Iowa Moth...

Crop Production, Insects and Mites

Joel DeJong
April 13, 2022 9:08 AM

Dennis Todey
April 13, 2022 9:08 AM

Justin Glisan
April 13, 2022 9:08 AM

Daryl Herzmann
April 13, 2022 9:08 AM

It is the time of year when forecasts become a bigger concern for Iowa crop producers. Nearly everyone has their favorite choice for getting their weather information. In this article we will be sharing weather sites we use when discussing weather issues with our crop production clients.

Crop Production

Ashley Dean
April 11, 2022 4:22 PM

Although it has been uncharacteristically cold recently, it is officially springtime in Iowa and many insects are coming to life. One of the first things the field crop entomologists do each year is coordinate the Iowa Moth Trapping Network. Usually, these traps catch the specific species we are...

Insects and Mites

Mark Licht
April 11, 2022 12:30 PM

Dennis Todey
April 11, 2022 12:30 PM

Justin Glisan
April 11, 2022 12:30 PM

Soil temperature is one of the most important factors to guide planting decisions. The rule of thumb is to wait until the upper 4 inches reach at least 50 degrees, with a warming temperature trend in the forecast. One way to track soil temperatures across Iowa is by using the...

Crop Production

Meaghan Anderson
April 8, 2022 10:35 PM

With a warm-up in the forecast, spring fieldwork like cover crop termination will begin when fields are fit. While some farmers may opt to use mechanical methods of cover crop termination like tillage or roller-crimping, chemical termination is the most common and often most effective way to...

Crop Production, Weeds

Ashley Dean
April 7, 2022 3:08 PM

The 2022 moth trapping season is underway, and most of our volunteers placed traps the week of March 27. Black cutworm (BCW) monitoring is a long-standing project in Iowa, and true armyworm (TAW) was added in 2017 (Photo 1). Both of these pests are migratory, making it difficult to predict where...

Crop Production, Insects and Mites

Angie Rieck-Hinz
April 5, 2022 2:17 PM

Rebecca Vittetoe
April 5, 2022 2:17 PM

Elizabeth Danielson
April 5, 2022 2:17 PM

This is the final article in a 3-part series for private pesticide applicators.  Part 1 focused on remaining continuing instruction courses to maintain...

Pesticide Education

Meaghan Anderson
April 4, 2022 2:27 PM

Determining the appropriate glyphosate rate is probably more important this spring than in previous years. Between high herbicide prices, reduced supply, and possibly using a different glyphosate product, it is worth checking to make sure you’re applying the optimum rate for efficient control....

Pesticide Education, Weeds

Clarabell Probasco
March 31, 2022 2:11 PM

Rebecca Vittetoe
March 31, 2022 2:11 PM

2022 offerings of Agronomy in the Field

Agronomy in the Field is a workshop series for women that provides learning opportunities over forage and crop production. Focus is placed on developing agronomic and decision-making skills that can be utilized on one’s own personal or family...

Crop Production

Ryan W Bergman
March 28, 2022 11:06 AM

Levi Powell
March 28, 2022 11:06 AM

Ben Covington
March 28, 2022 11:06 AM

Spring planting
Performing pre-season maintenance on your spring...

Equipment and Machinery

Mark Licht
March 25, 2022 12:33 PM

Why do we need your input?

An unprecedented amount of data is being collected on soybean fields thanks to advances in sensing technologies and cost-efficient computing, yet these data

are rarely used to their full potential. Extension is uniquely positioned to...

Crop Production

Angie Rieck-Hinz
March 25, 2022 8:33 AM

Rebecca Vittetoe
March 25, 2022 8:33 AM

This is part 2 of a three-part series of reminders for private pesticide applicators. Part 1 discussed remaining continuing education course opportunities...

Pesticide Education

Prashant Jha
March 23, 2022 3:04 PM

Ramawatar Yadav
March 23, 2022 3:04 PM

On March 15, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved the label amendments that further restrict the use of over-the-top dicamba in Iowa and Minnesota. These changes came after the reports of high numbers of off-target dicamba injury incidents in Iowa and Minnesota in 2021. During...

Weeds

Angie Rieck-Hinz
March 22, 2022 4:35 PM

Rebecca Vittetoe
March 22, 2022 4:35 PM

Iowa private pesticide applicators are required to be certified to apply pesticides if they are using restricted-use pesticides.  Initially, to get certified, applicators need to take and pass an exam. Then, to maintain their certification, applicators can either attend a 2-hour continuing...

Pesticide Education

Adam Sisson
March 18, 2022 12:56 PM

As the snow melts and planters are made ready for spring, it is also time to think about crop scouting. The Crop Protection Network has many resources for new crop scouts or summer interns. These resources can also provide a...

Insects and Mites, Plant Diseases, Weeds

Denise Schwab
March 18, 2022 11:49 AM

Rebecca Vittetoe
March 18, 2022 11:49 AM

Small grains, like oats, seeded in the spring can be another forage source for livestock producers. While using small grains, like oats, as a forage source is not something new, there is very limited data available on...

Crop Production

Prashant Jha
March 7, 2022 6:02 PM

Ramawatar Yadav
March 7, 2022 6:02 PM

Shortage of key herbicides, glyphosate and glufosinate, in 2022 has emphasized the need to implement integrated weed management (IWM) strategies in corn and soybean. It is time to consider adding more tools in the weed control toolbox. In the previous blog post, we discussed alternative...

Weeds, Herbicide Resistance

Prashant Jha
March 6, 2022 4:48 PM

Ramawatar Yadav
March 6, 2022 4:48 PM

As emphasized during the Crop Advantage Series presentations and other ISU extension meetings across Iowa in January/February, two key herbicides, glyphosate and glufosinate, are in short supply to many of the corn and soybean producers. Therefore, the 2022 growing season is going to be...

Crop Production, Weeds

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