2000 Year at McNay Research Farm

The weather in early 2000 was some of the warmest and driest on record. Mild dry weather in March allowed early oat planting in excellent seed beds. Continued warm dry weather allowed corn and soybean planting to be completed the earliest in my 23 years at McNay. The dry weather ended in June. Hay not cut in May was very difficult to get mowed and dried, without being rained on at least once. Rainfall and weather patterns produced conditions ideal for insects and some fungal diseases. With these challenges, corn yields were variable (90-160 bu/acre) but averaged 127.5 bu/acre. Early planted soybeans yielded better than later plantings. Our average soybean yield was 42 bu/acre. Last year I thought the dry corn coming out of the field was a once in lifetime thing, but with early planting and a warm dry fall, dry corn was harvested again in 2000

Farm and Weather Summary

Includes: Farm Comments Crop Season Comments Weather Comment

Farm and Weather Summary

Includes: Farm Comments Crop Season Comments Weather Comment

Farm and Weather Summary

Includes: Farm Comments Crop Season Comments Weather Comment

McNay Sheep Flock Production Parameters

The McNay ewe flock was moved from Beaconsfield to the McNay Research Farm in the fall of 1989. The flock has served as a resource for applied management and nutrition studies along with disease research. The flock is also used as a resource for producer education and to demonstrate proper midwestern production systems that can be applied to Iowa operations

Integrating Organic Soybean Production on Land Formerly in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)

Objectives of this research and education program included an examination of tillage and weed management operations for organic farming on CRP land. In 1999, an experiment was initiated at the ISU McNay Research and Demonstration Farm at Chariton, Iowa, to evaluate the effect of four tillage methods for organic soybean production on land formerly in CRP. After demonstrating the success of organic soybeans on CRP land in 1999 (average yield–49.3 bushels/acre), an expansion of this experiment was initiated in 2000 as a longer term study to examine crop rotations and weed management in organic systems on CRP land

Tiling Report 2001

Southern Iowa producers have faced several years of above-average rainfall during spring planting season. Little crop was grown in 1993 and 1995 due to above-average rainfall and flooded fields. Most yields were reduced again in 1996, 1998, 1999, and 2001 due to wet soils and late planting. Wet autumns also delay harvest. Many of the soils common in southern Iowa are described as poorly drained. Producers are hesitant to invest in pattern tiling because of local soil characteristics – high clay, silty loams. Few fields in southern Iowa are pattern tiled. Producers believe that tile lines are only functional for a limited time due to a hard pan forming over the lines and are hesitant to invest significant dollars in installation. In other areas of Iowa with well-drained soils, pattern tiling has been proven successful, however not in southern Iowa

Evaluation of Year-round Forage Management Systems for Spring- and Fall-Calving Beef Cows

Stored feeds make up almost half the cost of production for cow–calf enterprises in Iowa. Therefore, any reduction in the amount of stored feeds needed to maintain cows through the winter can have an impact on overall costs of maintaining the herd. Two resources that may be used to reduce the use of stored feeds are corn-crop residues and stockpiled perennial forages, which may be grazed during the winter. The objective of this experiment was to design and evaluate grazing systems to utilize such resources

Evaluation of Tillage and Crop-Rotation Effects in Certified Organic Production--McNay Trial, 2002

Organic farming has increased to an $8 billion industry in the U.S. and continues to expand approximately 20% annually. In Iowa alone, organic acreage has increased from 13,000 acres in 1995 to 150,000 acres in 2000. Across the North Central region, there has been a great interest in planting organic soybeans on Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) land, where up to a 300% premium can be obtained compared with conventionally raised soybeans. Regulation of soil organic matter through additions of plant residues and proper crop rotations will determine the long-term sustainability of the system. The objectives of this research and educational program included the following: (1) establish plots dedicated to organic farming research on CRP land, (2) implement production and management regimes for opening CRP land and for weed control in organic systems on CRP land, (3) evaluate the biological and economic outcomes of the different systems, and (4) promulgate technology transfer through demonstrations/field days and publications for area farmers and agricultural professionals

Row Width Effects on Corn Yield at Varying Plant Densities

The majority of corn acres in Iowa are planted in “conventional” 30-inch row widths, with some farmers choosing to stay with the 38-inch row system. Questions often arise on the magnitude of yield penalty, whether there really is a yield penalty, or if there is actually a benefit to wider row corn in specific situations with today’s elite hybrids. Recommendations are difficult because current data do not exist. There also is growing interest in narrower row corn (20-inch) and any economical or environmental benefits associated with this practice. These two questions have created a need for more research involving modern hybrids and management practices. The objectives of this study were to (1) identify any row width benefits and (2) determine the optimum planting population for each row width. In addition to this site in 2000, this research was conducted at two other university research farms