Search

Drought conditions persist in western Iowa and have expanded further into central and north central Iowa this week. Common issues reported by ISU Extension field agronomists this past week included poor grain fill and fast reproductive development in corn, increasing disease pressure in some corn fields, concerns regarding off-target movement of dicamba, and a variety of insect issues including corn rootworms, potato leafhoppers, Japanese beetles, twospotted spider mites, and white flies. Read on for more specifics for what’s happening in different regions across the state.

What a difference the year makes! According to the May 11^th USDA Crop Progress Report, 91% of the expected corn crop and 71% of the expected soybean crop has been planted, which is nearly a month ahead of last year’s planting pace and two weeks ahead of the five-year average. The big news for this last week was the colder temperatures over the weekend and frost injury concerns to emerged crops and forages.

Now is the time to be thinking about improving pasture stands by either the frost seeding method in February and early March or interseeding later in the spring months. Below are guidelines and considerations when it comes to frost seeding or interseeding.

Frost seeding

The new 2016 Herbicide Guide for Iowa Corn and Soybean Production publication provides information on product and management updates, the role of preemergence herbicides in glyphosate resistant crops, corn and soybean herbicide effectiveness ratings, and herbicide package mixes.