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Slow and Steady

May 12, 2021 2:33 PM
Blog Post

The 2021 cropping year will be remembered for a long time as an unusual year in many respects. Corn and soybean growth are off like a turtle race in many locations this season. So, we may be driving around, doing some road scouting, and asking ourselves why this is taking so long. After all, the markets are going up and we would feel better if we could evaluate our stands. 

While conditions were dry in most locations and we planted early, we also have had unusually cool conditions. Several things to consider as we worry about the crop:

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Is Your Sprayer Calibrated and Ready for Spring?

April 7, 2021 6:26 AM
Blog Post

As the weather turns warmer and the days grow longer, many of us are thinking about getting equipment like sprayers ready for the spring. Beyond making sure the machine is mechanically sound and fit for spring (which this past blog post can guide you through), we need to make sure it’s calibrated to accurately apply pesticides and fertilizer.

2021 Spring Maintenance Roundup

March 22, 2021 4:04 PM
Blog Post

In addition to conducting regular spring maintenance on your planter, which we outlined in a recent post, it’s important to adjust the settings and perform routine maintenance on other machines that will make their way to the field in the coming weeks. As you are prepping equipment for spring field work, these past news and blog posts can be helpful tools to ensure your equipment is ready to give you an efficient and effective planting season.

Managing Winter Annual Weeds this Spring

March 20, 2020
horseweed in dry field

After another relatively wet fall, late harvest season, and mild winter, early weed management may be important this spring for those who have persistent issues with winter annuals such as field pennycress and horseweed/marestail in no-till. Winter annuals resume growth soon after the arrival of warm temperatures, so as soon as fields are fit, the weeds will be susceptible to spray.

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Grazing Cover Crop Considerations

October 30, 2019 8:30 AM
Blog Post

With a growing number of cover crop acres across the state of Iowa, some producers are looking to cover crops to help extend their grazing season. While cover crops have the potential to be an extra forage source and reduce feed costs, there are challenges with using cover crops as a forage source. This ICM Blog shares some best management practices complied from a survey of producers who have prior experiences with grazing cover crops along with what we’ve learned in our grazing cover crop studies to help you get the most out of grazing cover crops.

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March in like a lion and out like a lion...April showers bring May flowers?

April 9, 2019 9:16 PM
Blog Post

March more or less came in and went out like a lion. The below normal temperature trend we experienced in February continued through March, averaging 5.2 F below normal. Western and southern Iowa experienced wetter than average conditions in March while the rest of the state experienced below average. Consequently, the preliminary observations have March precipitation at 0.10 inches below normal across the state. March 2019 was the 30th coldest March on record and the 58th wettest in 147 years of statewide observational records.

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Spring Burndown Treatments for Winter Annual Weeds

March 18, 2019
Horseweed (marestail) seedling prior to bolting

With the short timeframe for fieldwork this spring prior to planting, early weed management may fall to the bottom of the priority list for many.  For those who have persistent issues with winter annuals (field pennycress, horseweed/marestail) in no-till, an early burndown treatment may be worth the extra effort this spring.  Winter annuals resume growth soon after the arrival of warm temperatures, so as soon as fields are fit the weeds will be susceptible to spray.

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