Hill and Furrow 2015

In any given year oats are typically the first crop to emerge at the Northwestern Illinois Agricultural Research and Demonstration Center (NWIARDC) in Monmouth. Oats were planted in 2015 on April 1 and as of April 17 have between one and three leaves (Figures). For the past 28...

What had begun as a study to investigate the effects of planting date and in-furrow treatments (fungicide and starter fertilizer) on soybean yield, morphed into a disease trial after severe symptoms of sudden death syndrome appeared in this trial in mid-August. You will find a details regarding the...

No this is not a trick question; let me explain. What are true armyworms? True armyworms are insect pests of grasses and crops such as corn and small grains. Many of the Bt-traited corn hybrids express proteins...

Pheromone traps are set up at various locations throughout the state in order to register when a "significant" black cutworm flight, which occurs when nine or more moths are trap

Iowa State University Extension Ag Engineering Specialist, Dr. Greg Brenneman, recently shared some information regarding cooling the grain that went into storage this year. "In the past couple of weeks a lot of corn and soybeans went into storage with temperatures in the 60s. With grain this...

In a September, 2015 Plant Health Progress article entitled, "Timing and Efficacy of Fungicide Applications for Diplodia Ear Rot Management", Purdue Plant Pathologist, Dr. Kiersten Wise and graduate student...

Most corn producers are aware of growing degree days as a way to both monitor the accumulation of heat units favorable to growth and estimate when a crop may reach important developmental milestones. Briefly, to calculate the GDD value for a particular day, the daily high and low temperatures (...

A wet week. In a 7 day period between May 4 and 10, the Northwestern Illinois Agricultural Research & Demonstration Center (NWIARDC) received 2.21 inches of rain (Figure), an inch more than was received during the entire month of April! This rain largely put a...

Corn ears are thought to be most susceptible to infection by Stenocarpella maydis, the fungus that causes Diplodia ear mold, in the 3 weeks after silking (milk stage), when the silks begin to die. Fungal spores are rain-splash disseminated onto the crop from residue from previously...

Since last Friday daily wind speeds have averaged between 5.9 and 11.6 mph at the Northwestern Illinois Agricultural Research & Demonstration Center. Warmer high temperatures and breezy weather through tomorrow and most of Thursday provide ideal conditions for in-field grain drying. Many crop...