Spray drones are increasingly being evaluated by Iowa farmers as an additional tool for crop input application. When used appropriately, these systems can provide flexibility for timely applications, reduce field traffic, and improve access to areas that are difficult to reach with traditional ground equipment.

This year we are offering on-site registration for the Integrated Crop Management Conference! Join us on December 10-11 at the Meadows Events and Conference Center in Altoona, IA for two days jam-packed with networking, continuing education, and insight for 2026 and beyond. 

Highlights of this year’s event include:

Over the last few years, there’s been a big rise in questions from farmers about using drones in agriculture. Whether it’s for capturing aerial imagery during the growing season or looking into spray drones, interest is booming—and for good reason.

In this blog post, we’ll walk you through how to get started with drone technology on your farm. In future posts, we’ll dive deeper into spray drone technology and how it’s being used on more and more farms every year.

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Field Agronomists have completed their fall survey of subsoil moisture in northwest Iowa. Subsoil moisture sampling in Iowa dates back to February 1954 when ten sites were chosen for soil moisture sampling. In 1959, the sampling increased to 22 locations, and in 1971, 61 locations were sampled. Today, 18 locations are sampled in northwest Iowa.

Heavy rainfall can have economic and environmental consequences if flooded fields are left barren. Long-term damage to soil needs to be considered when planning for next season's crop.

Biological, chemical and physical soil health