Iowa State nitrogen specialist engaged in answering farmers’ questions

Traditional approaches, like applying a fixed amount of fertilizer early in the season, do not account for how crop needs change over time, according to Richard Roth, an assistant professor of agronomy at Iowa State University. Too much fertilizer or poorly timed applications often lead to wasted input costs, along with water pollution and increased greenhouse gas emissions. As the state’s new nitrogen science specialist for ISU Extension and Outreach, Roth provides leadership to help answer farmers’ questions about growing crops profitably and responsibly. 

Unexpected discovery leads to potential pollination control mechanism for baby corn

Baby corn, essentially unfertilized young ears of corn, is a specialty food with a global market. Its quality and taste are greatly reduced by pollination. To prevent pollination, farmers depend on labor- and cost-intensive detasseling to remove the male flowers from the plant early in its growth, before they shed pollen to fertilize the ears. A promising alternative to the bottleneck of detasseling has been discovered by Iowa State University researchers who study corn breeding. 

Iowa CARET representatives visit Capitol Hill on behalf of land-grant university system

Iowa representatives of the Council for Agricultural Research, Extension and Teaching joined like-minded citizens from across the country in Washington, D.C.,  recently to advocate for Iowa State University and the land-grant university system. 

Iowa State University and Freshpet collaborate on at-home study of dogs and their bonds with owners

In-depth new synthesis confirms prairie strips’ value for pollinators

Pollinator declines are a global concern, and agriculture sits at the center of the challenge. As farms grow more efficient and landscapes become increasingly simplified, bees, butterflies and other pollinators are losing the varied habitats they depend on. One widely promoted solution is planting native vegetation, but an important question remains: Does pollinator habitat embedded within conventional farming systems provide overall benefits if pesticides remain in the surrounding landscape?