The Source for Iowa Crop Production News

5/18/2013 - Producers should be looking for black cutworm larvae. Use this information as you scout your fields.

5/17/2013 - Improve your diagnostic skills and enhance your knowlege of the pathogens that cause early season diseases by attending this crop disease workshop on June 6.

5/15/2013 - What does the 2013 cropping season look like from this mid-May perspective?

5/13/2013 - UAN and pre-emergence products can be applied to emerged corn, but using UAN as a herbicide carrier may result in foliar damage.

5/13/2013 - A upcoming weed science field day will cover tillage, consrevation tillage and conventional tillage experiements, as well as new herbicides and application techniques.

5/9/2013 - Monitoring soil conditions and soil moisture recharge will help you assess the effectiveness of certain tillage and other management practices in achieving potential yield and improving soil quality.

5/9/2013 - A new iPad app allows users to link information to specific locations using satellite mapping and document pesticide application information.

5/8/2013 - What do the restriction on the use of neonicotinoids insecticides and a recent report on the health of honey bees mean for the ongoing efforts to conserve pollinators?

5/8/2013 - The end of the optimal time for corn planting is quickly approaching. This article covers what producers should thinking about in deciding whether to apply nitrogen or plant corn.

5/8/2013 - Research from a 13-year, side-by-side study shows that organic cropping systems can provide similar or greater yields, higher soil quality and greater economics returns compared to a conventional corn-soybean rotation.

5/6/2013 - From soil nitrate samples collected this spring, it is clear that carryover nitrate-N moved deeper into the profile or was lost to tile flow. With the overall wet spring and decrease in carryover profile nitrate, consider near normal nitrogen application rates.

5/3/2013 - With this season's later start to the planting season, farmers and crop consultants are wondering whether using starter fertilizer will speed up early corn grown and increase yield.

5/2/2013 - Although overwintering beetles rarely cause economic damage, their presence may be an indicator of building first and second generations later in the season.

5/2/2013 - The cool spring has delayed all insect development, including alfalfa weevil. Here's what you need to look for as temperatures warm.

5/2/2013 - While the normal recommendation is to plant early to maximize yield potential, remember that soil conditions and forecasted weather affect planting recommendations. Early planting does not ensure high yields just as planting late does not foretell low yields.

4/26/2013 - Forgoing herbicide application prior to planting is a risky proposition for no-till fields

4/24/2013 - Palmer amaranth is a close relative to Iowa's number one weed problem, and is established in nearby states. Its presence must be identified early to prevent its establishment.

4/19/2013 - While recent spring rains may help bring soil moisture levels up, they may also create challenges in crop performance.

4/19/2013 - Topsoil moisture conditions have improvd across Iowa, but subsoils in many areas remain short of very short in moisture. Here are some answers to questions and concerns farmers have as we ramp up to the 2013 growing season.

4/16/2013 - The Iowa Legislature recently established new minimum insurance requirements for commercial pesticide applicator businesses.

4/15/2013 - Does seed treatment protect soybean stand establishment? A recent study evaluated the effect of commercially available fungicide and insecticide seed treatments.

4/15/2013 - An investigation of corn seedling blight in southern Iowa in 2012 showed that P. torulosum, a known pathogen of corn, was the most prevalent cause of this seedling disease.

3/22/2013 - When soil is dry, producers need to think about planting depths and other factors to maximize moisture for rapid germination.

3/18/2013 - Evaluating forage stands for winter injury should be a regular management practice. This article provides some guidelines for stand evaluation and management considerations.

3/3/2013 - In dry conditions, seeding depth can and should differ dpending on soil texture, tillage system and residue cover. Knowing the texture of the soil and its management requirements will dictate how deep seeds should be placed to have adequate available moisture for successful germination.

2/28/2013 - Farmers and land managers wishing to learn more about dedicated energy crops, especially Miscanthus, for heat and power in Iowa should plan now to attend a March 19 biomass crop production workshop in Iowa City.

2/21/2013 - Last summer's dry growing season has raised several soil fertility questions. In some cases, there have been relatively normal crop production and no need for management changes. In other siutations with severely damaged crops, there is potential for adjustment to nitrogen application for this year's corn crop due to carryover nitrate nitrogen in the soil profile.

2/18/2013 - Knowing the texture of the soil in your field and its management requirements especially in dry conditions will dictate how deep seeds should be placed to have adequate available moisture for successful germination.

2/13/2013 - A training session to help individuals prepare for the commercial pesticide applicator exam will be offered on March 11 in Washington County.

2/12/2013 - An upcoming workshop will prepare livestock producers, consultants and agency staff to use the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation 2 (RUSLE@) and the Iowa Phosphorus Indext in nutrient management plans.