The Source for Iowa Crop Production News

11/20/2009 - Questions related to conditioning grain for storage - the seriousness of field molds, feeding corn to livestock, storing wet corn, storing medium moisture and dry grains - are answered by Hurburgh, Iowa Grain Quality Initiative, Professor-in-Charge.

11/17/2009 - The 2009 growing season will be remembered as producing good yields with very wet corn AND soybeans; reminding us of 1992, when like this year, piles of grain and the whine of dryers filled the Iowa countryside.

11/16/2009 - Iowa State University Agronomy Extension has launched a new Soil Management/Environment website.

11/16/2009 - This ISU Extension workshop provides RUSLE2 software orientation, includes real field examples to determine risk calculations of the Iowa P Index and covers parameters for RUSLE2 and P Index calculations on snow-covered or frozen ground.

11/10/2009 - Great harvest progress was made during the past week due to the drier weather that is predicted to continue for several weeks.

11/6/2009 - A slow harvest may make it necessary to contact your crop insurance company and request additional time to complet harvest.

11/5/2009 - Now that more days have sun than rain, harvest is progressing, but harvesting wet beans in November is creating challenges not seen since the early 1970s.

11/1/2009 - Harvesting wet bean and corn crops in November is generating many questions from producers; Charles Hurburgh answers frequently asked questions in this article.

10/30/2009 - Being able to identify ear molds will help producers as they scout fields to determine if ear rot is prevalent. Fields with mold on more than 10 percent of the ears should be harvested first.

10/29/2009 - Creating ruts in fields during harvest may be unavoidable this fall, but proper soil management will improve issues related to compaction.

10/29/2009 - Wet is unfortunately the theme for another crop and weather report.

10/20/2009 - Continued wet weather isn't improving field conditions or the attitudes of those trying to harvest the crops.

10/19/2009 - Handling and storing this fall's wet and green soybeans will take patience and this information.

10/16/2009 - This conference is filled with Midwest speakers presenting workshops that offer the latest information on crop production and protection technology in Iowa and surrounding states.

10/16/2009 - Program will provide information and recommendations on new products available for crop production. Each meeting is approved for Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) credits and for recertification for Iowa Commercial Pesticide Applicators in categories 1A, 1B, 1C and 10.

10/15/2009 - A cool, long growing season will often result in high yields with high grain moistures and low test weights - which lead to quality issues at harvest time.

10/15/2009 - To minimize losses due to ear rot and increased mycotoxin levels, it is recommended that producers harvest problem fields (greater than 10-15 percent incidence of ear rot) as soon as possible, then use proper handling and storage management.

10/15/2009 - This is not a good year to take chances that wetter corn will keep and can be absorbed in the spring/summer.

10/14/2009 - With a hard freeze ending the growing season in most parts of the state, specialists talk of harvest delays and the 188 bushels of corn per acre predicted by USDA.

10/9/2009 - This week's rain, while slowing farmers harvest progress is helping soybeans reach more even maturity and adding to much needed subsoil moisture.

10/6/2009 - Fall soil sample results can provide valuable nematode information - if samples are collected correctly and with an understanding of optimal sampling dates.

10/6/2009 - Specialist offers answers to frequently asked forage questions related to the first killing frost.

10/5/2009 - White, gray, pink and even salmon-colored molds on ears, and stalk rots are showing up in Iowa corn fields this fall, potentially producing mycotoxins and weakening stalks.

9/29/2009 - Farmers heading to the fields with frost around the corner are reminded to scout for weeds and consider poor standing crops as they begin harvest.

9/29/2009 - Another week of good weather has gotten Iowa crops close to the finish line, essentially missing the feared early frost.

9/29/2009 - The guidelines in this article are intended to help farmers through the process of adjusting hail-damaged crops for crop insurance reporting.

9/29/2009 - A checklist offered by ISU Extension specialists will help producers work through concerns related to marketing and using crops damaged by severe summer hail storms.

9/22/2009 - Soybean harvest has started and September weather has been favorable to crops.

9/22/2009 - Sept. 13 - 20 was nearly ideal for late maturing crops, with bright, sunny days and near-normal temperatures. If the killing frost holds off another two weeks, crops should finish nicely.

9/21/2009 - Managing white mold and sudden death syndrome includes steps taken when harvesting soybeans - and corn.