Influence of planting date and plant population on corn grain yields in Iowa

          ------------------ Corn Yields (% of maximum) -----------------
Stand     April 20 -     May 5 -     May 15 -     May 25 -     June 5 -
X 1,000   May 5          May 15       May 25       June 5       June 15

   35      100                  96                    87           70                  54
   30        99                  95                    86           69                  53
   25        95                  91                    83           67                  51
   20        89                  85                    77           63                  48

   15        81                  78                    71           57                  44

   10        71                  68                    62           50                  38

This table comes from the latest Iowa research and modeling which is found on page 12 of the new Corn Field Guide (CSI001).

Numerous gaps of up to 4-6 feet can reduce yields by an additional 5-6%.

The usual method to check corn populations is to measure off 1/1000 of an acre in a row. That is 26’2” in 20” rows, 17’5” in 30” rows, 14’6” in 36” rows, and 13’9” in 38” rows.

Time to Scout for Black Cutworms

The unusual weather this spring has made it harder to predict when cutworms will start becoming an issue because some early moth flights may have been missed and the frost in April may or may not have taken care of some of the early cutworms. Some cutting has already been reported along and south of I-80. Cutworms are a sporadic problem and not likely to be an issue in most fields, but fields should be scouted until they reach the V5 growth stage so they can be treated if needed. A general rule of thumb is to treat if you find 2-3% of the plants cut and the worms are less than ¾ inch long. However, higher corn prices may alter that rule. An Excel decision-aid and more information are at http://www.extension.iastate.edu/CropNews/2012/0425sissonjessehodgson.htm.

CORN AND SOYBEAN SEEDLING DISEASES

Alison Robertson, ISU Plant Pathologist, is looking for some samples from such fields. She will collect 50 seedlings from the field and take them back to Ames for laboratory analysis. If you have such a field and would be willing to give up 50 diseased plants from the field, please let me know and I will relay the specifics of the field to Alison.

FOR YOUR CALENDAR

SOUTHEAST IOWA RESEARCH and DEMONSTRATION FARM, Crawfordsville

SPRING FIELD DAY and 25^th Anniversary Celebration (afternoon) &

SPECIAL SESSION FOR CCAs (morning)

JUNE 21, 2012

Details will be posted at http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Pages/eccrops/meetserc.html.

NORTHEAST IOWA RESEARCH and DEMONSTRATION FARM, Nashua

SPRING FIELD DAY

JUNE 28, 2012, 1 – 4:30 p.m.

Details are posted at http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Pages/eccrops/meetnerf.html.

TECHNIQUES and TECHNOLOGIES TO AVOID SPRAY DRIFT

July 17, 2012, Field Extension Education Laboratory (FEEL) near Boone, IA

Two half-day sessions (morning session repeated in the afternoon) (no cost to participants) will be conducted, focusing on:

- Nozzle selection/use with demonstration on spray table

- Balancing efficacy and drift

- Environmental factors, adjuvants and limitations, field demonstration, etc.

More information and registration will soon be available at http://www.aep.iastate.edu/.