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NEW Corn and Soybean Field Guide Available Now

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An updated Corn and Soybean Field Guide is now available from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

This 236-page pocket-sized guide (3-3/4" x 6") combines corn and soybean integrated pest management information in one publication for ease of use by corn and soybean farmers, agronomists, and crop scouts. It has newly updated text and images and provides tools for identifying insects, diseases, and disorders of corn and soybean in the Midwest. The guide also contains information on developmental stages, pesticide decisions, and other production-related topics.

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What’s been “bugging” crops in Iowa lately?

Blog Post

We have had a busy few weeks fielding questions from farmers and agronomists about various insects that are feeding in crop fields. Temperatures have been warm and that has prompted many insects to resume activity – they are hungry! The biggest concern lately has been true armyworms, but other questions have been about bean leaf beetles, black cutworms, and thistle caterpillars. We encourage people to keep scouting fields and to reach out to us or your local field agronomist with any questions.

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Sign up for the Iowa Pest Alert Network

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Recent surveying suggests that farmers and their advisors are interested in receiving short bursts of information via text messaging. We formed the Iowa Pest Alert Network with the goal of providing short, timely insect pest updates to farmers and advisors through text messages. These updates may include:

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Stalk Borer

Encyclopedia Article

Stalk borer (Papaipema nebris) is an occasional pest of corn in Iowa, but some fields experience persistent stalk borer issues. Stalk borers typically only infest the first few rows of corn near ditches, fence rows, or waterways, but understanding how to scout for and identify stalk borers can help with management decisions.

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Black Cutworm

Encyclopedia Article

Black cutworm (Agrotis ipsilon) is a migratory pest that arrives in Iowa with spring storms each year. It is sporadic and unpredictable, making it essential to scout to determine whether larvae are present in a field or if management is required.

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New Pest Forecasting Page on the Mesonet Website

Blog Post

For many years, we have provided scouting alerts for key insect pests on ICM News and ICM Blog, including alfalfa weevil and stalk borer (click links for examples). We provide these updates annually since growing degree day (GDD) accumulation varies between growing seasons.

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Crop Production

Insects and Mites

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insect pests

Growing Degree Days for Insect Pests

Encyclopedia Article

Humans and other warm-blooded animals can generate their own heat to regulate their body temperature. In contrast, insects are ectotherms, which means they cannot generate their own heat and their development is driven by the temperatures they experience in their environment. This is the same for plants, fish, amphibians, and reptiles. Most people in agriculture are familiar with using growing degree days (GDD; also called “heat units”) to monitor and predict crop development.

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Seedcorn Maggots Get an Early Start

ICM News

Seedcorn maggot is a seed and seedling pest of corn and soybean. The larvae, or maggots, feed on germinating corn and soybean seeds or seedlings (Photo 1). Feeding can delay development or kill the plant. Plant injury is especially prevalent during cool and wet springs when plants are growing slowly. Infestations tend to be field-wide instead of in patches like for many other pests. To confirm seedcorn maggot injury, check field areas with stand loss and look for maggots, pupae and damaged seeds (hollowed out seeds or poorly developing seedlings).

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Crop Protection Network (CPN) Needs Your Input!

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Help the CPN determine how to serve you best through this short survey.

The Crop Protection Network (CPN) develops tools to help farmers, ag industry, and researchers with crop protection decisions. The CPN is a partnership of university Extension specialists providing unbiased, research-based information at no cost.

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crop protection network

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