To many, corn smut (Ustilago maydis) is an unsightly fungal disease that manifests as a grotesque greyish-white tumor ...

Diagnostics of plant issues is one role of Extension horticulturists. In this article, I’ll share some current issues we’re ...

If you’re a farmer or own land being farmed and you’re interested to learn about managing cover crops, contact your local ...

Uncharacteristically wet weather this year has left many producers across the state with a growing weed problem, according to ...

Iowa farmers continue their battle in 2025 against the state’s most invasive weed targeting corn and soybean crops.

Some seeds with tough or wrinkled shells will germinate faster if left in water. For instance, corn seeds need a lot of energy to germinate. I always soak them before planting; leaving them to soak ...

Lettuce is an easy-to-grow, cool season crop that’s typically planted in spring for an early summer harvest, or in mid-summer ...

First, remove the cornsilk and husk after soaking the ears in water but before grilling, then serve the corn with Chili-Cumin Butter.

Nitrogen tie-up is perhaps a bigger issue than any potential allelopathy. Wait for the corn or soybean seed to begin germination before terminating the cover crop (which may be a few days).

Also, allelopathic chemicals quickly degrade in the soil, so increasing time between cover crop termination and corn planting should decrease the likelihood that allelochemicals would negatively ...

One tip for growing grass seed fast is to pre-germinate your seeds. Pre-germinating is when you soak your seeds to get the ...