We have reached the point of the growing season where we have begun to terminate irrigation in soybean. When making this decision, the goal is to make sure that adequate soil moisture is available to ensure that the soybean seeds
As we approach the end of August, terminating cotton irrigation is on the mind of many folks. In cotton, we recommend terminating furrow irrigation at first cracked boll. If you anticipate bolls opening in the immediate future and have been
This week’s bollworm trap catches were similar to slightly higher than last week, while tobacco budworm trap catches fell slightly for the week. The trap catches are typical for this time of year, so expect moderate worm pressure in all sensitive crops.
Bean leaf beetle numbers have been increasing steadily over the last couple weeks. We have actually made bean leaf beetle targeted sprays on a number of acres in recent days. Yield loss is caused by defoliation and less frequently by
Diseases of soybean continue to be observed throughout the MS production system. At present, soybean rust has not been detected within MS; however, we continue to scout for the presence of rust, as well as additional diseases of economic importance throughout sentinel plots as well as commercial soybean fields. Frogeye leaf spot, sudden death syndrome, stem canker, and aerial blight continue to be hot topics for most soybean farmers.
We are quickly approaching that time of year where some of the earlier planted fields are turning color and others are approaching R6 vey quickly. Often times many of the insect pest we deal with “pile in” about this time and growers face the tough decision to treat when it may not pay back or try and race them to the end. We have devoted a lot of time and effort in recent years to evaluate and validate thresholds in soybeans under the current growing practices in Mississippi. Through these research efforts we have made several changes to insect thresholds and termination points for insect pest of soybeans in MS.
Over the last 7 days we have had numerous reports of high bollworm numbers in some BollGard II, TwinLink, and WideStrike fields in the Mississippi Delta. We have seen fields in the past that reach treatable levels but some reports are much higher than we have seen in recent years. At this time there does not appear to be any specific varieties that are adversely affected more than others. It appears to be a function of high pressure in isolated areas at this time.
White sugarcane aphid continues to be a serious problem in grain sorghum fields across Mississippi and the Mid-South. Because this is a brand new pest, there are many questions still unanswered. The Mid-South Entomology Working Group is frantically working on
After 4 weeks of high bollworm moth catches averaging more than 75 moths/trap/week, this week has dropped down to an average catch of 35 moths/trap. This should mean that once current worm populations are controlled, a substantial reinfestation is not likely. However, tobacco
Many growers in the Mid-South apply a herbicide shortly prior to sorghum harvest to facilitate combine efficiency and suitable grain moisture. This season, this issue is even more critically important because of severe harvest problems potentially created by White Sugarcane aphid infestation. This article will discuss appropriate timing and potential outcome of such harvest aid applications.
The last effective bloom date is the last date that a white flower will accumulate enough heat units to mature into a harvestable boll. Generally speaking it takes 850 heat units for a white flower to mature into a harvestable
Soybean diseases continue to be observed throughout MS. Brown spot, aerial web blight, frogeye leaf spot, Cercospora blight are the predominant foliar diseases observed at present. In addition, several root diseases are becoming apparent from fields across the state.
Bollworm moth catches continued to be high across the state for the 3rd week in a row as the larvae that developed in corn continue to emerge. Expect significant bollworm larval pressure in vulnerable crops. Tobacco budworm moth catches rose
This week we encountered another issue with a surge valve. After irrigating with a surge valve the producer noted that neither the 6” nor 12” sensors responded to the irrigation. When investigating the problem it appeared that the grower had
Southern corn rust continues to be observed throughout MS. We continue to receive calls regarding late fungicide applications (> R4/R5) to reduce yield losses attributed to southern rust. Numerous myths regarding the disease have been widely spread throughout the MS corn production area including death of a corn plant in as fast as 7 days following southern rust infection and lodging as a result of heavy southern rust infection.
White sugarcane aphid infestations are increasing across the state and more applications are going out to manage this pest. Over the last week to 10 days we have heard about numerous fields that have received a second application. Remember, that the Section 18 label for Transform states that no more than 2 applications can be made in a field.
The evolution of cotton cultivars has led to higher yield potentials and shorter growing seasons compared to the historical full season cultivars favored in the Mid-South. These newer, faster fruiting cultivars may require more nutrients than older outdated cultivars. Recently,
Bollworm counts remain at fairly high levels again this week for the second week in a row, so vulnerable crops likely have many eggs and small larvae. Tobacco budworm counts remain low, so worms found will generally be bollworms. Southwestern corn
We had a few calls over the last week about poor control of cotton aphid with Transform. In all of those cases, the field was actually sprayed for plant bugs with a 1.5 oz rate of Transform. That rate should be very effective on cotton aphid based on previous experience. As a result, we collected aphids from three different fields this week to test their susceptibility to Transform.
Over the past week we have had numerous opportunities to further observe spread and control of fields infested with white sugarcane aphids. We also have managed to get a couple of replicated small plot test out. Below are a couple bullet points based on recent experiences from walking numerous fields and talking to numerous folks around the state and Mid-South.
The North Mississippi Research and Extension Center’s Agronomic Row Crops Field Day on Thursday, August 7 will present the latest research to the area’s row-crop farmers and consultants. The field day will be from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Lee County Agri-Center Magnolia Conference Center on Highway 145 South in Verona.
Described below are the most common nutrient related issues that occur in Mississippi rice production and a few distinctive characteristics to key on when trying to properly identify each issue in the field. Nutrient issues in rice can take on
As more and more of the rice crop starts to head, it is time to start thinking about rice stink bug. We have been sweeping some grass around the Delta for the last few weeks, and the one general comment I will make is that populations have been fairly low in most areas. We have seen fairly high numbers in a couple places, but it was small patches of heading grass in isolated locations.
Last week’s weather pattern in the Delta provided near perfect conditions for rice blast (Pyricularia grisea) to occur. Rice blast is generally categorized by the plant part infected (e.g., leaf, neck, panicle). Blast favors mild humid weather, frequent rainfall, and
Yesterday we found our first southern blight* damage to peanuts for 2014. The timing is not unusual, we generally start finding the disease when the crop canopy closes. What is unusual is where on the plants the disease was found.
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