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.

Soybean Rust Overwintering in the South

March 12, 2008
March 5, 2008 Rust Observation Map

By Daren Mueller, Department of Plant Pathology


Despite soybean rust infecting fields in Iowa last fall, the pathogen needs to retrace its steps to get back to Iowa in 2008. The first critical step is for the pathogen to survive somewhere over the winter in places like Florida, Texas or Mexico.


An extensive study on the survival of soybean rust was completed in Florida by  W. Jurick, J. Marios, D. Wright and P. Harmon. Their data was presented at the National Soybean Rust Symposium. Some of the main conclusions were:

Check Fields for Soybean Cyst Nematode

March 12, 2008

By Greg Tylka, Department of Plant Pathology

Damage due to the soybean cyst nematode (SCN) can reduce soybean yields in Iowa by 50 percent or more, particularly under very dry conditions. And some believe the chances of severe drought conditions occurring in Iowa are greater for 2008 than for any year since 1990.

March 2008 La Nina Update

March 11, 2008

By Elwynn Taylor, Department of Agronomy

An area of warm sea surface temperature has formed off the Peru coast. Watch this to possibly “kill” La Nina.  By March 3 the water north of Australia was cooling and west of Peru was warming.Two signs of a La Nina about to fade (and with it the risk of serious Midwest drought diminishes somewhat). 

Try Side-by-Side Trials to Check Fungicide Impact on Corn Yield

March 10, 2008

By Roger Elmore, Department of Agronomy

The decision of whether we should apply a fungicide to corn in mid-season will depend on two sets of factors. First are the main economic drivers: the value of the corn produced, and the costs of the fungicide and its application. The second factor that balances these is the degree to which yield is actually affected. 

Weather Situation and Outlook for 2008

March 10, 2008
Table of the 19-year drought cycle

By Elwynn Taylor, Department of Agronomy


Corn yield has been less variable during the past 12 years than the previous 20. However, the yield of the past 5 years in Iowa exceeded trend. The national yield has a run of 5 above-trend years; this is an historical record. A run of 4 above trend years occurred in 1984-87 (with a major drought at each end). 


Pages