Integrated Crop Management News

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Crop and Weather Report - September 14

September 15, 2009

By Doug Cooper, Extension Communications specialist

Guests for the weekly crop and weather report Sept. 14 are ISU Extension climatologist Elwynn Taylor, integrated pest management specialist Rich Pope and corn agronomist Roger Elmore.

With harvest is just around the corner, Taylor says an arctic cold front is heading into the U.S. from Canada, and he doesn't think it will have any significant impact on Iowa. Mason City is the furthest behind in growing degrees days from normal of any site measured in the Corn Belt.

Quality Issues Related to Hail Damaged Crops

September 10, 2009
Corn ears with signs and symptoms of Gibberella ear rot, Fusarium ear rot, Penicillium ear rot and sooty mold

Harvest issues specific to hail damaged corn and soybean fields will be less severe due to recent weather. However, there are handling and storage issues that still must be considered.

CCA Credit Opportunity at Precision Agriculture EXPO

September 10, 2009

By Jim Fawcett, Extension field agronomist

Certified crop advisors can earn up to five hours of credit (including 2.5 hours in soil and water) by attending a 9 a.m. special session on Thursday, Sept. 17 on "Strip Till Using Precision Ag." This session will be followed by the Advances in Precision Ag EXPO; both will be held at the Iowa State University Southeast Iowa Research and Demonstration Farm near Crawfordsville.  The EXPO, from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., will feature field demonstrations and many exhibits by the industry's leading precision ag companies.

September 7 Crop and Weather Report

September 9, 2009

By Doug Cooper, Extension Communications and External Relations

This week's interview is with Charles Hurburgh, Iowa State University professor of agriculture and biosystems engineering. He talks about the issues that farmers face this harvest season. He says they can expect a huge corn and soybean harvest, but some parts of the state may face quality issues. In general, producers will be dealing with high moisture corn at harvest and some corn won't make maturity.

Degree Days - Will it be Septembrrrrrr??

September 8, 2009
Map of Iowa showing accumulated degree days and departure from average

By Rich Pope, Department of Plant Pathology


Cooler-than-normal weather continued as September dawned in Iowa. During the first week of September, Iowa lost about an additional 25 degree days to normal. This isn't great, but then not a crisis either. Open, sunny days and moderately warm temperatures are key to maturing and drying crops in the fields.


Getting Ready for Fall Fertilization

September 4, 2009

Planning fall fertilization activities should include giving consideration to soil sampling, and application of phosphorus and potassium, nitrogen, and manure.

Fall Combine Harvest Considerations

September 4, 2009

Before driving combines into the field, operators need to scout for field conditions. As crops are removed from the fields, time should also be spent checking field losses and making appropriate adjustments.

August 31 Crop and Weather Report

September 1, 2009

By Doug Cooper, Extension Communications and External Relations

Iowa State University Extension hay and pasture specialist Steve Barnhart, integrated pest management specialist Rich Pope, and corn agronomist Roger Elmore are the Aug. 31 weekly crop and weather report guests.

Barnhart says the cool wet weather has been excellent for the state's pastures, but not as good for hay crops.

Integrated pest management specialist Rich Pope tells of late season crop diseases being reported and recommends continued scouting of fields.

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