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By Rich Pope, Department of Plant Pathology
As of Sept. 27, 2009, we are close to winning the race between early frost and crop maturation across Iowa. The average date of first killing frost ranges from around Oct. 5 in central Iowa; about a week earlier to the north and west ,and a week later in southeast Iowa. It appears now that the 2009 first killing frost will occur at least at the average, and hopefully a bit later.
By Rich Pope, Department of Plant Pathology
A near-perfect week! Sept.13 - 20 provided seasonally normal temperatures, bright sunshine and some light rain at week's end; all of which are favorable to Iowa's maturing crop. As of Sept. 21, the mid-range forecast is calling for night temperatures that should NOT approach killing temperatures. If this bears out, it will mean no early frost in 2009.
By Doug Cooper, Extension Communications
XB Yang, Department of Plant Pathology
Producers with hail damaged corn fields are invited to participate in a survey to assess the impact of hail damage on ear rot severity, mycotoxin contamination and grain quality in corn.
By Rich Pope, Department of Plant Pathology
Soybean fields are now starting to senesce, and corn is filling well. The latest USDA crop forecast projected a 187 bushel per acre average for corn yields, and 52 bushels per acre for the beans. Both would be great accomplishments considering the wet spring and cool summer. As of Sept. 13, we are lagging for the season an "average" accumulation of between 300 and 400 degree days, which rivals the 1992 growing season.
ISU researchers are conducting a three-year study looking at how removing residue at different rates affects soil productivity, nutrient cycling and greenhouse gas emissions in no-till and chisel-plow fields.
By Chad Hart, Department of Economics
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.
By Steve Barnhart, Department of Agronomy
Rainfall throughout the growing season put most alfalfa producers behind two to three weeks for their first, and correspondingly their second, third, and sometimes forth cuttings. Now in mid-September, producers are trying to decide on their remaining fall harvest options and the possible impact on winter survival of the stands.
