Over the last few weeks we have received numerous calls about brown stink bugs in seedling corn in the Delta region of the state. Stink bugs attack corn by feeding through the stem or even down in the whorl of small corn plants. Typically the area where they feed becomes chlorotic due to enzymes in their saliva.
Calls are starting to come in about stink bugs in heading wheat. It is not uncommon to find numerous stink bugs in wheat after head emergence. Species attacking wheat are typically rice stink bug and brown stink bugs but greens can sometimes be found. While it may seem very alarming, keep in mind it takes extremely high numbers to cause economic damage to heading wheat.
I have recently received a few call about slugs in corn and soybeans. I suspect this will increase when more crops emerge in the Hill region of the state as well. Slug problems usually start on corn first, then move to soybeans, then cotton in our area. This is only because we typically plant in this order. Slugs have been a sporadic problem in MS row crops over the years with increased occurrence since 2004. This has been exclusively a no-till or reduced till problem, particularly no-till behind a grass crop like corn or grain sorghum. Cool wet years are particularly favorable for slug problems to develop.
Mississippi State University will be hosting 5 scout schools this year. We have transitioned over the years to make these trainings much more diverse than insect pest alone. This year we will be including insects, disease, fertility, weed identification, and herbicide systems. There will be numerous hands on displays of insects, weeds, nutrient deficiencies in all major row crops, and fertilizer characteristics. CEU’s Provided: Nutrient Management = 1.5, Integrated Pest Management = 3, Crop Management = 1
Although every major field crop we grow in Mississippi is responsive to at planting insect protection; field corn is perhaps the most consistent. Why is this?
The tarnished plant bug is the most important insect pest of cotton in the Mississippi Delta. Management with insecticides has become difficult in recent years and more tools are needed to economically manage this pest. Although it is early March and we are getting pair of unusual winter storms in the Delta, it is not too early to start making a plan for managing tarnished plant bugs in cotton. We have done a lot of research over the last several years with the goal of making tarnished plant bug management more economical for producers without sacrificing yield. See the attached document for more details on the best management practices listed below.
In 2014 a new pest of MS grain sorghum, Sugarcane aphid, made a dramatic entry infesting every county that grew the crop. This pest originally showed up in grain sorghum in Texas and Louisiana in 2013 with a single find very late in the season in Bolivar County, MS. By the end of 2014, this pest quickly spread throughout the entire southeast.
Its decision time in wheat. One of the questions we often get is “I am about to apply a herbicide, should I add a pyrethroid?” This is one of the few times I would have to say “Yes” to a question such as this. I think it makes sense to do so.
Find attached the agenda for the 42nd Annual Delta Ag Expo to be held in Cleveland, MS on Wednesday, January 21 and Thursday, January 22, 2015. We hope to see you in attendance at the Bolivar County Ag Expo Center.
The 2014 Row Crop Short Course will be held at the Bost Extension Center on the campus of Mississippi State University on December 1-3, 2014. Attendance is free of charge if you pre-register. Pre-registration is available until November 26. Registration
The 2014 Row Crop Short Course will be held at the Bost Extension Center on the campus of Mississippi State University on December 1-3, 2014. Attendance is free of charge if you pre-register. Pre-registration is available until November 26. Registration
The 2014 Delta area/Bolivar Co. Rice Meeting will be held at the Bolivar Co. Extension office on December 4, 2014. Mississippi rice producers, industry professionals, and other interested parties are invited to listen to presentations from MSU research and Extension
There has been a tremendous amount of scrutiny put on the neonicotinoid class of chemistry in recent years because of the potential link to declines in bee numbers. Researchers are working feverishly across the nation and the globe to determine the exact causes of bee decline. No doubt pesticides can and likely play a role to some degree, but there are many factors that also influence bee health such as habitat loss, Varroa mites, and diseases.
The Mississippi Entomological Association and the Mississippi Association of Plant Pathologists and Nematologists will be holding their joint annual meeting on October 20-21, 2014 at the Bost Extension Center at Mississippi State University. The meeting is open to all. Registration
On behalf of the Mississippi State University Extension Service, we would like to cordially invite you to attend the 2014 Row Crop Short Course to be held at the Bost Extension Center on the campus of Mississippi State University from
Soybean loopers are starting to show up in high numbers in many areas of the state. In many cases, soybeans are past the point where yield loss can occur, but there are many later planted soybeans that need to be protected for a while longer. Below are a few tips on when to treat and what to treat with.
We have had numerous calls over the last couple weeks about small, 2-5 day old larvae, under bloom tags in Bt cotton that is near, at, or beyond cutout. All of the research done to this point suggests that cotton is safe from bollworm damage when it reaches node above white flower 5 plus 300 heat units.
Bollworm pheromone catches were lower again for the second consecutive week, suggesting that once control is achieved for current larval populations, a major reinfestation is unlikely. Tobacco budworm catches were also lower this week.
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
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
Bollworm trap counts continue to be high in the Delta for the fourth consecutive week. Tobacco budworm counts are also fairly high in the Delta. However, the traps in the hills did not indicate as much pressure. Continue to be alert for
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