Bioreactors can remove up to 45% of the nitrogen load in a field’s drainage water.

It is important to understand that there are several plant bug species found in alfalfa and that not all pose a threat to production. There are three species of plant bugs that commonly appear in alfalfa fields: meadow plant bugs, Lygus bugs (i.e., tarnished plant bugs), and alfalfa plant bugs.

While the soil nitrogen cycle is very complicated is it extremely hard to measure exactly the amount of nitrate that should be in the soil from fertilizer or manure N applications. However, we can get an idea if leaching has occurred by evaluating the concentrations of nitrate-N by soil depth.

Many factors will help determine how much of a concern white mold will be in field, including; temperature and canopy wetness during bloom, disease history, canopy density and variety susceptibility.

Given the wet growing conditions over the last month, corn in parts of Iowa will be very susceptible to Physoderma brown spot and node rot, caused by the fungus Physoderma maydis, and gray leaf spot, caused by the fungus Cercospora zeaemaydis.

The limitations of field working days due to wet fields and high wind and temperature continues to limit corn and soybean weed management practices. As we enter July, safe and effective weed management practices begin to diminish rapidly.

More precipitation means less time to apply before planting, or more nitrogen loss in season. Many are turning to canopy sensing technologies to guide fertilizer application rates during in-season applications.