Integrated Crop Management News

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A Weather Summary for the 2008 Growing Season

October 30, 2008
Graph of base 50 degree F degree days vs. degree day departure from normal

By Rich Pope, Department of Plant Pathology
Wet and cold! That is how many people will recall the 2008 growing season. 

And in a general sense that is a good description, as the Iowa statewide accumulation of crop growth degree days was about 130 behind the 30 year average, and rainfall was more than 7 inches above normal. But when we examine each by crop reporting district through the season, the story gets a bit more complex, depending on where you are looking.

Corn Quality Issues in 2008 – Field Molds

October 24, 2008
Image of Gibberella ear rot symptoms

By Charles Hurburgh, Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering; Alison Robertson, Department of Plant Pathology; Roger Elmore, Department of Agronomy


Fall weather has allowed late planted corn to mature, increasing grain yields expectations - the USDA October yield estimate is 172 bushels per acre in Iowa. Although high grain yields are expected, reports of quality issues are surfacing.


Corn Quality Issues in 2008 – Storage Management

October 24, 2008
Table of maximum storage time for corn and soybeans

By Charles Hurburgh, Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering; Roger Elmore, Department of Agronomy


Grains have a shelf life just like any food product. Shelf life is primarily determined by moisture content and temperature. It is gradually used through the time before use, and each operation or storage regime consumes a portion of the life.


Corn Quality Issues in 2008 - Moisture and Test Weight

October 24, 2008

By Charles Hurburgh, Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering; Roger Elmore, Department of Agronomy

Weather this fall has benefited the corn crop by allowing late planted corn to mature. Much of the state recently experienced its first killing frost. The USDA October yield estimate of 172 bushels per acre in Iowa surprised many. If this is the final yield, 2008 will produce the third highest yield recorded, behind the 173 bushels per acre of 2005 and 181 bushels per acre in 2004.

Deciding Between Grain and Forage Harvest for Late Maturing Soybeans

October 6, 2008
Table of yield and quality of soybean forage as affected by harvest maturity

By Stephen K. Barnhart and Palle Pedersen, Department of Agronomy


Late season evaluation involves reviewing normal crop growth and development, assessing the condition of the crops in individual fields relative to normal, and thinking through several autumn season scenarios such as: How will this field develop between now and the normal frost time?  What are the concerns or alternatives if a frost comes one or two weeks earlier than normal?


Fall Frost Effects of Forage

October 6, 2008

By Stephen K. Barnhart, Department of Agronomy
The first frost of the autumn generally brings a flurry of forage related questions centered around three general topics:

  • toxic prussic acid potential and management of frosted sudangrass and sorghum sudangrass hybrids;
  • is frosted alfalfa toxic to grazing animals; and
  • now that we've had frost, should I harvest the last alfalfa cutting?