Make Weed Management Decisions NOW
By Micheal Owen, Department of Agronomy
Believe it or not, now is the time to begin thinking about weed management for the 2009 growing season. And as always, the watchword is “stewardship”.
Integrated Crop Management News
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No-Tillage Soybean Production Field Days Next Week
By Palle Pedersen, Department of Agronomy
Iowa State University Extension and the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) will host three field days on Sept. 8-10, highlighting soybean production under no-tillage conditions with emphasis on agronomic decisions in a no-till versus conventional tillage system.
Diplodia Ear Rot being Reported in Iowa
Alison Robertson and Fanny Iriarte, Department of Plant Pathology
Ear and stalk rots are likely to become prevalent in Iowa as the growing season draws to a close. In the past week, we have had a few reports of Diplodia ear rot from the northeast, central and southeastern parts of the state. This ear rot is not as common as Fusarium or Gibberella ear rot in Iowa.
Producers and Applicators Legally Responsible to Heed Preharvest Intervals for Treated Soybean
By Marlin E. Rice, Department of Entomology
Based on reports from my Extension agronomist colleagues, hundreds of thousands of soybean acres were sprayed with insecticides during July and August for control of soybean aphids and bean leaf beetles. All insecticides listed in Table 1 have at least a 21-day preharvest interval, and several have moderate intervals of 30 days or very long preharvest intervals of 60 days. The preharvest interval is the minimum number of days a farmer must wait before harvesting a treated crop.
Factors Needed to Maximize Corn Yield Potential in 2008
By Roger Elmore and Lori Abendroth, Department of Agronomy
The start of the 2008 growing season was extremely difficult for planting and crop establishment, however, environmental conditions since have been fairly good. What type of yields should we expect from this turbulent season? What will it take to obtain high yields from this point in the growing season forward? And, the other side of that question – what don’t we want to see happen?
Soybean Top Dieback Shows Up in Iowa Again
By XB Yang, Plant Pathology Department, John Saywer, Agronomy Department
Extension field agronomists report the occurrence of soybean top dieback in northeastern Iowa soybean fields this week. Soybean top dieback symptoms have shown up occasionally since it was first reported by Jim Fawcett and Jerry Long in Cedar County a few years ago. Last year it was also found in eastern and central Iowa.
Credit Needs and Cash Rents Impacted by Higher Input Costs
By William Edwards, Department of Economics
Corn and soybean farmers have been enjoying record high prices and sizable profits for their past two crops. But higher input prices will eat into those margins in 2009.
Pre-harvest Restrictions for Fungicides
By Daren Mueller, Department of Plant Pathology
With the buzz of airplanes still being heard out in the countryside and September within sight, this is just a quick reminder to growers about the pre-harvest intervals (PHI) for fungicides applied to corn and soybean. Last month in Kansas, some wheat was embargoed when fungicide levels were questioned until tests could be completed to determine residue levels.
Changes in Retail Fertilizer Market Impact Producers
By Roger Ginder, Department of Economics
Major change in retail fertilizer markets over the past three years include price volatility and price increases. But, in addition to the unprecedented price volatility, basic changes in the trade practices at the manufacturing, wholesaling, and retail levels in the fertilizer value chain are affecting producers.
A Final Soybean Aphid Alert
By Jon Tollefson and Marlin Rice, Department of Entomology
For supposedly being a soybean aphid “off year”, the aphids have been doing surprisingly well during August. Typically the aphid numbers are declining at this time of year because the soybeans are approaching maturity and the temperatures are quite warm. However, this year is slightly different from recent years and you should not let down your guard.