Integrated Crop Management News

Links to these articles are strongly encouraged. Articles may be republished without further permission if published as written and if credit is given to the author, Integrated Crop Management News, and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. If articles are used in any other manner, permission from the author is required.

Not too Early to Think About Spring Moisture Conditions, Consideration for Soil Compaction

February 27, 2009
Image of the effect of soil compaction on root growth

By Mahdi Al-Kaisi, Department of  Agronomy; Mark Hanna, Department of Agricultural and Biosystem Engineering; Mark Licht, Extension Field Agronomist


Normally early spring soil moisture is a challenge when the soil profile is fully charged. Depending on the amount of snow we receive and duration of winter, there is a tendency for producers to enter fields at less-than-ideal soil conditions, especially when there is a short window for conducting field operations.


February 23 Crops and Weather Report

February 26, 2009

By Doug Coooper, Extension Communications Specialist

Iowa State University Extension climatologist Elwynn Taylor, integrated pest management specialist Rich Pope, and economist Robert Wisner take a look at the 2009 growing season during the Extension crop and weather weekly interview segment with Doug Cooper, Extension communication specialist.

February 16 Crops and Weather Report

February 17, 2009

Iowa State University Extension climatologist Elwynn Taylor, integrated pest management specialist Rich Pope, corn agronomist Roger Elmore, and ag economist Chad Hart look ahead to the 2009 growing season during the weekly crops and weather interview with Doug Cooper, Extension communications specialist.

February 9 Crops and Weather Report

February 10, 2009

Iowa State University Extension climatologist Elwynn Taylor, integrated pest management specialist Rich Pope and soybean agronomist Palle Pedersen discuss the upcoming 2009 growing season during their weekly interview Feb. 9 with Doug Cooper, Extension communications specialist.

Extension climatologist Elwynn Taylor tells us the dry weather in Argentina and Australia are causing some crop losses. His early prediction for corn yields in Iowa is in two parts--with La Niña and without La Niña.

Yellow Corn, Wet Soils, and N Loss – Part 4

February 10, 2009

By John Sawyer, Department of Agronomy

Last summer I provided observations in three ICM News articles (June 19, June 26, and July 8, 2008) on corn growth and response to nitrogen (N) applied in an anhydrous ammonia study conducted at the Iowa State University research farm between Ames and Boone. This series of articles was written in response to the record wet conditions encountered in 2008. Following is a summary of the grain yield response to N timing and rate.

ISU Extension Offers Information about New Farm Bill Programs

February 9, 2009

By William Edwards, Department of Economics
The Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 contains a wide variety of legislation affecting everything from school lunches to milk checks. Some of the most immediate provisions that farmers must address are:
• New limitations on commodity payments,
• Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE),
• Supplemental Revenue Assistance (SURE) program.

Marlin Rice Resigns as Extension Entomologist

February 9, 2009
Image of Marlin Rice

Marlin Rice, extension and research entomologist, resigned from Iowa State University on Feb. 1 after 20 years of service to the agricultural community. Marlin began his career at ISU as an assistant professor on Nov. 1, 1988. He quickly gained promotion and tenure to associate professor in 1992 and then professor in 1996.

Time to Check and Make Decisions About 2008 Corn

February 6, 2009

Charles R. Hurburgh, Jr., Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering

Last fall there were several Integrated Crop Management articles about the quality and handling of the 2008 corn crop. This type of corn has roughly half the storage life of normal corn under the same moisture and temperature conditions.