No-Till Corn-on-Corn Field Day Near Waverly

Iowa Learning Farms (ILF) will host a field day (2012 Field Day Guide) at the Mark Mueller farm near Waverly on Thursday, June 14, beginning at 11 a.m. the field day will focus on no-till conservation farming and crop residue management for optimum results

Iowa Learning Farms and ISU Extension to Host Field Day Aug. 25

Iowa Learning Farms (ILF), Iowa State University (ISU) Research and Demonstration Farms and ISU Extension are hosting a field day at the ISU Agricultural Engineering and Agronomy Farm, near Ames, Aug. 25, from 9 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. The field day will feature strip-tillage and precision agriculture technology

Management Practices for Improved Soybean Profits

Farmers in Iowa and other Midwest states introduced soybeans into their cropping systems in the 1940\u27s and 1950\u27s, usually seeding the crop with the same wide-row (38- to 40-inch between row spacing) planter used for corn. In the 1960\u27s and 1970\u27s Iowa State researchers reported a consistent yield increase when soybeans were planted in narrow rows (10 to 20 inches between rows) versus traditional wide rows. Improved plant distribution and greater sunlight interception efficiency were cited as reasons for the yield response (Shibles and Weber, 1966; Shaw and Weber, 1967; Benson and Shroyer, 1978). At the time, most farmers depended on mechanical weed control practices (i.e. considerable pre-plant tillage and inter-row cultivation during early vegetative growth), so relatively few soybean acres were planted using no-till, narrow-row practices

Impact of nitrogen application timing on corn production

Water quality issues have renewed interest in timing of nitrogen (N) application as a means to improve use efficiency in corn and reduce losses. Improved economic return is also desired as N fertilization is one of the most costly inputs to corn production. Time of fertilizer application is a component of the site-specific 4R nutrient management stewardship programs. In Iowa, the Nutrient Reduction Strategy has a 7% (37% std. dev.) nitrate-N reduction with a 0% (3% std. dev.) corn yield change for sidedress compared to pre-plant N application (SP 0435A)

In-Seasno Nitrogen Management for Corn Production

Water quality impairment related to nitrogen (N) continues to be a concern in Iowa, including the nitrate drinking water standard, USEPA proposed surface water quality nutrient criteria, and Gulf of Mexico hypoxia. Addressing these issues could include strict guidance for N input to corn and resultant N use practices that require very high level of management and risk, with unknown economic consequences. Rate of N application is an important management factor in corn production related to nitrate reaching surface water systems. Rate is also important in regard to economic return. While applying only the needed fertilizer N rate in a given year will not stop nitrate from leaving corn fields, nor necessarily achieve proposed water quality goals, it can result in reduced residual soil nitrate and help lessen corn production\u27s impact on water quality Therefore, it is possible that being able to assess corn N fertilization need differentially each season would improve corn N use efficiency and reduce nitrate susceptible to loss compared to application of an average agronomic rate each year

Nitrogen dynamics with a rye cover crop

Winter cereal rye continues to be promoted as a viable cover crop within Iowa for corn and soybean production systems. Several environmental benefits accrue with use of cover crops, including reduction of nitrate in drainage water, soil erosion control, and reduced phosphorus (P) runoff loss. In the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy, a rye cover crop is estimated to reduce nitrate-N concentration by 31%, a sizeable impact. However, questions remain about rye cover crop effects on corn nitrogen (N) fertilization requirement, N supply from the cover crop, and crop yield. To help answer these questions, a series of studies were conducted to evaluate corn economic optimum N rate (EONR), rye cover crop degradation and N recycling following termination, rye shoot and root biomass and nutrient composition, corn and soybean yield, and agronomic practices to improve corn yield in a rye cover crop system