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.

July really pushed corn and soybean development along. Corn fields across the state are mostly in the late R3 to R5 growth stages, and soybeans are mostly in the R4 to R5 growth stages as well. Even though it may feel like we are heading into the downhill stretch for these crops, continue to scout fields. Below, ISU Extension and Outreach field agronomists share what they have been finding and hearing about in fields around the state this past week.

The “cooler” temperatures were welcomed last week. Rainfall was spotty across the state, and unfortunately, the western part of the state, which has been drier, missed out on most of the rain. Corn pollination has wrapped up or is wrapping up, and soybeans are starting to fill pods. Overall, disease and insect pressure remain low across the state. Read on for more specifics on what ISU Extension field agronomists are hearing and seeing in fields around the state.

The last week was a hot and dry one for most of the state. Storms did roll across the state Monday into Tuesday of this week that brought some rain but also strong winds and hail. While disease pressure remains low in both corn and soybeans, southern rust has been confirmed in four counties in Iowa. In the fields southern rust was found in, it was found at very low levels.

Corn fields around the state, if not tasseling currently, will be soon. Soybeans are mostly in the R2 to R3 stages. Overall, disease pressure remains low with reports of gray leaf spot and bacterial leaf streak being found in corn and bacterial blight, septoria brown spot and phytophthora being found in soybeans. Insects reported include Japanese beetles, grasshoppers, and corn rootworm beetles.