Feeding Preference Studies of Adult \u3ci\u3eNezara Viridula\u3c/i\u3e (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) Morphs from India and the United States

Nezara viridula (Linnaeus) morphs from India and the United States were studied in a laboratory comparison of feeding preferences for pods of soybeans, Glycine max, and green beans, Phaseolus vulgaris. Adults of a morph from the U.S. apparently selected pods at random, while three sympatric morphs from India generally preferred green bean pods

Measuring wind speed in the field

The Iowa State University Pest Management and the Environment program is looking for your help. We need ideas on how producers and commercial applicators measure wind speed prior to pesticide applications. Not everyone has wind gauges or other wind-monitoring equipment. Some of you rely upon common-sense types of observations. What do you use or how do you measure or estimate wind speed? What works for you to give an accurate estimate of wind speed if you do not have a wind gauge? If you use a gauge, which one works well and holds up season after season? Give us the details

A two-crop beetle update

Feeding by bean leaf beetles and corn flea beetles has been reported in Iowa fields. These beetles are very noticeable on emerging soybean and corn, respectively, which leads to questions about needs for pesticide treatment

Precision Agriculture Demonstration Project

Global Positioning Systems (GPS), Geographical Information Systems (GIS), and Variable-Rate Technologies (VRT) have been promoted to producers and agri-businesses that serve producers. Improved accuracy, efficiency, profitability, decision making, and management have been suggested as potential benefits. This project was developed to provide producers and service providers with practical recommendations to realize the potential benefits of this new technology. Special emphasis was placed on making cropping decisions based on Integrated Crop Management principles and the information gathered using the GPS/GIS. The demonstration was conducted for 5 years (the 1997–2001 growing seasons)

Soybean aphids making a mark

Soybean aphid populations have increased dramatically in fields across the state with growing populations noted in central, western, and northwest counties. Populations may be peaking in eastern and northeastern county fields. Numbers now being reported in some fields have exceeded 1,000 to 2,000 aphids per plant. With numbers like this on R2-R4 stage plants, economic losses are likely and treatments are merited in most cases

Open-front Systems

Dave Serfling and his family live in Preston, Minnesota, which is just north across the border from Decorah. Dave graduated from ISU in 1981 in farm operations. Serflings have a 50 sow farrow-to-finish operation and 80 cows they feed out. They also have sheep, and they own about 350 acres. They love Iowa so much, Dave\u27s wife even works in Iowa, so thanks for helping the economy. (laughter) Steve Williams and his wife live in Villisca, in Page County. Steve is a 1988 ISU business graduate. He has a total livestock operation with beef and a farrow-tofeeder pig operation. He feeds out a few. There are some interesting family ties and partnerships in Page County, and now his operation\u27s up to about 300 sows in a very productive and unique arrangement, which we\u27ll hear more about. Greg Vogel represents the ISU AG 450 Farm, which is located southwest of Ames , about a mile. This is actually a student-managed farm, and many of you are familiar with that concept that the students really manage it, for better or for worse. And they suffer all the advantages and perils of pure agriculture. Greg is the farm operator. He\u27s also an ISU grad (ag business, 1978) and finished a master\u27s in ag business in 1994. The farm is about 950 acres, and they have 200 sows out there. They run both outdoor and confmement operations. Last we\u27ll hear from my good friend, Dick Thompson. Dick and Sharon, of course, farm in Boone County. Dick and Sharon recently were recognized as the 1996 Farm Agricultural Leaders of The Year by the Des Moines Register, which was a tremendous honor for them. There farm is a little under 400 acres, they have been the driving force behind and the inspiration behind Practical Farmers of Iowa. Dick and Sharon have served as mentors for many, many farm families, not only in Iowa but nationwide. I know Dick and Sharon now have a cow-calf operation, and with their son, Rex, they have some of the facilities we\u27re talking about today, and they\u27re trying some new things in agriculture, so we\u27re pleased to have Dick here

Using Organic Agriculture and Sustainable Crops and Livestock in the Local Food System

The local food system is one of the fastest-growing markets in agriculture. Learn more about using organic agriculture and sustainable crops and livestock in local food systems.https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/extension_pubs/1057/thumbnail.jp