April 24, 2019   
  Issue 1
    
 

Prepared by:

Paul Kassel

Extension Field Agronomist

 

Phone: 

(712) 262-2264

Email: [email protected] 

 

 

Serving Clay, Buena Vista, Dickinson, Emmet, Hancock, Kossuth, Palo Alto, Pocahontas, Sac and Winnebago Counties

 

 

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Crops Bulletin
April 24, 2019 (Issue 1)
By Paul Kassel, ISU Field Agronomist
 
 
Climate Change in Iowa:  Dennis Todey, USDA Climate Hub Director, has made the following observations about climate change in Iowa in the last 30 years:   
 
  • The spring season is wetter
  • The fall season is wetter
  • Summers are drier
  • Growing seasons are longer
  • Summer low temperatures are warmer
  • Summer humidity and dew points have increased
 
Wonder Why the Fields are Wet? The figures below are the actual rainfall for the Northwest, North Central and West Central Crop Reporting Districts. The fall dates are after the crop was mature and before soils were frozen last fall (9/15 - 11/15/18). Spring rainfall has been since April 1.
 
Rainfall in Northwest Iowa during the soil moisture replenishment season is 5 to 6 inches above normal.
 
CRD                Fall                               Spring                          Total               Departure
                        --------------------------------rainfall, inches ---------------------------------
 
NW                 8.7                               2.9                               11.6                5.8
 NC                  10.7                             2.5                               13.2                 6.5
WC                 7.3                               1.3                               8.6                  2.4
 
Soil Temperatures:  This site has info regarding current soil temperatures on a county by county basis.
 
Spring Anhydrous Ammonia Application:   Ammonia will diffuse out about three inches from the zone of application in a silt loam or silty clay loam soil. Free ammonia can injure corn seedlings. The conversion from ammonia to ammonium is essentially complete 24 hours after application. Therefore, ammonia application and corn planting needs to separated by time and application zone distance.
 
Guidelines for anhydrous ammonia application:
  • Apply ammonia at an angle to future corn rows.
  • Apply ammonia at a depth of 6-7 inches.
  • Wait 24 hours before tillage following ammonia application.

Prepared by Paul Kassel, Extension Field Agronomist

Phone: (712) 262-2264, Email: [email protected]