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Crops Highlights

The Integrated Crop Management Newsletter is now delivered on the Web. It offers current, non-biased, reasearch-based crop production information.

Iowa State University and Iowa Farmer Today offer the CropWatch Blog. The Website features Iowa State University's Crop Extension and Outreach team and industry partners. They report on crop conditions, weed problems and disease and pest threats as they arise in fields across Iowa.

Check out these links for information on some ISU Extension initatives: crop management resources, Iowa Learning Farm, Pesticide Management and the Enviironment,  Value-Added Agriculture and  water quality

Some of the most popular publications sold by ISU Extension are crop publications. They include:
Soybean Growth and Development (PM 1945)
How A Corn Plant Develops (PM 1282)
Pasture Management Guide for Livestock Producers (PM 1713)

The Iowa Crop Improvement Association performs crop performance tests for alfalfa and forage crops, corn, soybean, winter wheat, and oats and barley.

There are hundreds of additional crop publications available from the ISU Extension Online Store.

This new Corn Nitrogen Calculator helps calculate economic return to N application.

The Seed Science Center offers testing services.

The Soil and Plant Analysis Laboratory offers soil chemical analysis.

Crops News

Farming Practices to Minimize Ill Effects on Bees and Other Pollinators
(Posted on 5/13/2013)
Farmers being observant with seed treatments at planting and pesticide applications during the growing season could minimize ill effects on bee populations, according to Iowa State University entomologists.
2013 Iowa Cash Rental Rates Survey Results Available
(Posted on 5/7/2013)
Results from the most recent survey of farmland rental rates conducted by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach showed that the average estimated cash rent for corn and soybean land in the state for 2013 was $270 per acre, an increase of $18 per acre or 7 percent from last year.
Johnson Hired as Field Agronomist for Extension and Outreach
(Posted on 4/24/2013)
Mark S. Johnson joined Iowa State University Extension and Outreach as a field agronomist for north central Iowa on April 15.
ISU Extension and Outreach has Emergency Water Storage and Flood Recovery Information
(Posted on 4/18/2013)
Iowans preparing for and recovering from both natural disasters -- drought and flooding -- have easy access to information from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.
Corn Growth and Development Publication Celebrates Two Years of Success
(Posted on 4/11/2013)
Students, corn producers and agronomists are taking an in-depth look at corn, from the moment the seed is planted to maturity, with Corn Growth and Development (PMR 1009), a publication from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.
New FDA Produce Safety Rule Exemptions
(Posted on 4/11/2013)
The Food Safety Modernization Act signed into law in January 2011 addressed improvements needed to the U.S. food supply. One proposed section to the law addresses the safety of fresh produce by defining new produce standards for foods often consumed in raw form.
Sustainable Agriculture Organization the Focus of Iowa Learning Farm's April Webinar
(Posted on 4/10/2013)
Andy Larson, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach specialist in small farm sustainability is the April 17 presenter for the Iowa Learning Farms' monthly webinar. Larson’s presentation will explore grantsmanship with Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education organization.
2012 Drought May Mean Less Nitrogen Needed for 2013 Corn
(Posted on 4/4/2013)
The drought of 2012 has likely increased the carryover of nitrate-nitrogen (nitrate-N) into the 2013 season, according to field agronomists with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Rather than just guessing how much nitrate-N has carried over from last year, they recommend that growers pull some soil samples this spring to estimate the carryover.
Elkader Cover Crop Workshop Hosted by Iowa Learning Farms
(Posted on 3/21/2013)
Iowa Learning Farms will host a workshop, along with Practical Farmers of Iowa, on Thursday April 4, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Johnson’s Restaurant, Elkader. The workshop will focus on cover crop management for soil health and erosion control. The workshop includes a visit to the Gary Kregel farm near Elkport.
Iowa Learning Farms Cover Crop Workshop at Dordt College
(Posted on 3/21/2013)
Iowa Learning Farms will host a workshop, along with Practical Farmers of Iowa, on Monday, April 1, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Dordt College Agricultural Stewardship Center, near Sioux Center. The workshop will focus on cover crops for erosion control, grazing and soil health.