Introduction
Another cropping season is just about wrapped up.  Looking back over the season, some of the more memorable events include a very early planting opportunity, a very late spring freeze, dust storms, a cold August followed by a warm September, record corn yields and finally the finding of Asian Soybean Rust in the continental U.S.  Now that the 2004 season is behind us, we need to be looking at 2005 and what needs to be done between now and April of next year. 

Soybean rust education should be a key priority as the presence of the fungus is expanding as more states report finding it.  Look to several key websites and plan to attend some winter meetings for updated information.  The ISU Extension Crop Advantage Series is one such opportunity to get education on soybean rust and many of the other important aspects of farming.  Be sure to register early to take advantage of the early registration discount.  You can register on-line (see link below) or request a brochure from your local Extension office.   

Several other key pieces of information for the 05 season are available, such as the fall soil moisture survey results, the ICIA yield trial data, corn rootworm insecticide trial data, and the soybean cyst nematode soybean variety yield data.   Also, anyone interested participating in state-wide conservation tillage/cropping systems study or are thinking of looking at alternative tillage practices on your farm should contact me for more details.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for subscribing to this newsletter.  I hope that the information received has been helpful during the past cropping season.  As we look forward to the next year, please send (or call) comments or suggestions on existing or new ideas for this newsletter in the upcoming season.  Have a safe and happy holiday season.

Soybean Rust Information
Soybean fungus present in Arkansas, now found in six states.  Keep current with soybean rust information by going to these web sites:

• N.W. IA Crops Page: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/carroll/crops/soybean-rust.htm

• ISU Rust page: http://www.plantpath.iastate.edu/soybeanrust/

• Plant Health Initiative page: http://www.planthealth.info/rust/rust.htm

Register for the Crop Advantage Series Conference.
Crop Advantage Series registration is now open online at http://www.cropadvantage.org.  Look at the left column for the location nearest you.  Carroll’s conference will be on January 12, 2005 at the Carrollton Inn.  Be sure to take advantage of early registration.  If you prefer to register by mail, you can print a single-page black and white flyer for the Carroll location at this web URL:  http://www.aep.iastate.edu/cas/2005/05%20CAS%20flyer%20Carroll.pdf. 

Fall Soil Moisture Survey
The annual ISUE fall soil moisture survey has been completed and the data is available online (http://www.extension.iastate.edu/carroll/crops/subsoil_h20.htm).  Results from the soil moisture survey taken in late October indicate that west-central IA had on average 5.0 inches of plant available water (PAW) in the 60-inch soil profile or 43% of capacity.  This was 108 % of the last 6-year fall average and much above the last fall’s total of 2.6 inches PAW.  Soils with the most stored moisture were found in Carroll, Sac, Pocahontas and northern Ida counties with an average of 7.9 inches PAW.  In contrast, Calhoun, Crawford and Monona county soils were holding only 2.6 inches PAW.

ICIA Yield Trial Data Available Online
Use the valuable corn, soybean, alfalfa, oat and triticale yield trial data generated by the Iowa Crop Improvement Association to help make your variety selection decisions.  Corn data is not yet available, but look back soon for its release.  The ICIA website is: http://www.agron.iastate.edu/icia/YieldTesting3.html

Look to my web page at this web address in mid to late December for excel downloads (for easier data sorting) of corn and soybean data: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/carroll/crops/yield_trials.htm

Corn Rootworm Insecticide Trials
Two year summary data for the ISU corn rootworm insecticide trials available on-line:  http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/icm/2004/11-15-2004/insecticidesummary.html

SCN resistant soybean varieties listed in updated publication
An excellent source of information on the Cyst resistant soybean varieties can be obtained from ISU Extension publication PM 1649.  Get it online here:  http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/PM1649.pdf

Tillage research/demonstration plots needed
A new 5-year tillage study is being implemented across the state of Iowa called the “Iowa Learning Farms” with the vision of becoming a model for learning and exchange of ideas among government agencies, farmers, scientists, agribusiness, and the general public.  Conservation systems will be a five-year project to demonstrate and promote conservation management systems with emphasis on conservation tillage, cropping systems, and nutrient management.  With that in mind, I am looking for willing and interested cooperators to participate in this unique study.

The main focus of the study is to compare conventional to conservation tillage systems, such as deep rip vs. no tillage.  But there are also many other tillage and/or crop rotation options to choose from. 

Examples of possible combination of treatments:

• No-tillage paired with chisel plow and /or deep rip

• Ridge-tillage paired with deep rip

• No-tillage paired with no-tillage with cover crops.

• Strip-tillage with different crop rotations

• No-tillage with starter fertilizer paired with no-tillage without starter fertilizer.

This would be an excellent opportunity for someone that is thinking of switching to a more conservation tillage system or wants to compare tillage or rotation systems in their own operation.  Please contact me if you are interested or if you know of someone that would be interested in participating in this tillage/Cropping system study.