Crops
Corn, soybeans, forages, and small grains are the main crops grown and produced in Iowa. Learn more about the agronomics of growing and storing these crops in Iowa.
Timely Insights on Crop Production
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August 12, 2026Authors
A recently published summary of over 15 years' worth of research reveals farmers can conserve pollinators at the edges and even inside corn and soybean fields. This conservation is in the form of prairie strips planted with native, perennial flowering plants. Prairie strips offer significant food and nesting habitat for pollinators
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August 12, 2026Authors
Pollination is complete for most cornfields in Iowa, but it is still important to continue scouting for insect pests that may be robbing corn yields as the season progresses. We do not recommend using foliar insecticides unless scouting determines a need to spray. Some pests are resistant to older active ingredients, such as pyrethroids, and careful identification will determine what product would be more effective. In addition, prophylactic use of insecticides will limit any benefits that natural enemies may provide.
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August 12, 2026Content Author
Risk of ear rot and mycotoxins in hail damaged crops
Since the crop started grain fill, there have been several reports of hail damage to crops. Apart from shredding leaves, hail can bruise ears leaving them at risk for infection by ear mold fungi and consequently mycotoxin contamination.
Past research on the effect of hail damage on ear rot and mycotoxin contamination
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August 11, 2026Content Author
Most of Iowa received some amount of rainfall this last week with totals ranging from a trace to over 4.5 inches in parts of southwest Iowa. Unfortunately, with that rain, there were also some strong winds, hail, and tornados. In addition to some crop damage from the storms, concerns about the drier conditions in northwest Iowa, late season weed flushes, corn aphids, rootworm beetles, and crop diseases were other topics of conversation this past week for ISU Extension field agronomists.
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August 10, 2026Content Author
The 2026 growing season has presented a wide range of challenges across Iowa. Some areas have received excessive rainfall, while others have struggled with limited precipitation. As the corn crop advances toward maturity, it is important to assess how those environmental conditions may have influenced corn development and yield potential. Most corn fields in Iowa are now in the mid to later reproductive stages of development.
