Sporadic rains, cloudy skies, and cool periods this spring have provided agronomists with a variety of crop conditions. Numerous field reports center on early weed growth and that postemergence herbicide application is often an issue. Remember that the bigger weeds get, the more difficult they are to get under control. A good week of fieldwork would be welcome in most of Iowa.

Add to the management mix that intense rain on recently planted fields has led to crop emergence problems from soil crusting, so a well-executed rotary hoeing can help emergence. A few reports of black cutworm cutting in southern and western Iowa reinforces that it is time to scout, as mentioned in last week's article.

Accumulated Base: 50° F Degree Days May 1 through May 22, 2005