Heliothine Traps, August 1, 2025
Both bollworm and tobacco budworm moth trap catches across the state were steady or lower this week compared to last week.
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Insecticide Termination Guidelines for Cotton and Soybean in Mississippi
As crops across Mississippi approach maturity, it’s critical to understand the appropriate timing for terminating insecticide applications in both cotton and soybean. Making these decisions at the correct time helps avoid unnecessary input costs without risking yield losses. Below are
Podcast: Clearing the Way for the Combine with Corn Harvest Aids
Erick called into the Crop Doctors’ Podcast studio in Stoneville to discuss the strategic use of harvest aids to desiccate weeds ahead of corn harvest. Erick, Jason, and Tom cover timings, product options, and key considerations for maximizing effectiveness while minimizing
Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring – Week ending 7/26/2025
Eighty-three traps across 29 Mississippi counties detected very low southwestern corn borer activity. Only five counties reported the presence of moths, with Leflore reporting the highest count (8 moths in 9 traps). Since most of the state’s corn is approaching
Heliothine Trap Catches, July 24, 2025
This week’s bollworm moth pheromone trap catches were largely lower than last week, while tobacco budworm trap catches were mostly higher in the Delta region compared to last week at levels higher that observed in recent years in Leflore county.
Podcast: Jay Mahaffey on ThryvOn and Mississippi’s 2025 cotton crop
Jay Mahaffey, renowned agronomist and manager of the Bayer Crop Science Learning Center in Scott, Mississippi, is back in the Crop Doctors’ Podcast studio in Stoneville for an in-depth look at the 2025 Mississippi cotton crop. Jay shares insights on
Why did the Kernels near the Ear Tip not Fill?
Corn kernel set near the ear tip may vary considerably depending on a number of cultural and environmental factors. These kernels have issues when the plant can’t supply enough energy to support all of them. Therefore, if we want to improve our yields, we need to recognize why kernel set is less than desired, so we can improve management in the future.
MS Ag Industry Council – 2025 MAIC Row Crop Update
We welcome you to attend the Row Crop Update at the 2025 Mississippi Agricultural Industry Council Annual Convention. This event is hosted at Perdido Beach Resort in Orange Beach, Alabama on Tuesday, July 22 starting at 8:00am.
Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring – Week ending 7/19/2025
Southwestern Corn Borer Trapping Program Week Ending July 19, 2025 County Traps Reporting Total Reported Avg/Trap Maximum/Trap Alcorn 3 0 0 0 Calhoun 1 0 0 0 Carroll 2 2 1 2 Coahoma 4 0 0 0 Copiah 3 0
Heliothine Trap Catches, July 17, 2025
Bollworm trap catches this week were similar to last week and about average for this time of year. Tobacco budworm trap catches were high in Leflore and Washington counties this week, so in these areas Heliothine egg densities are likely
Insecticide Rainfastness
Over the last few weeks, much of the state has experienced rainfall every few days, creating challenges for pest management in row crops. Unsurprisingly, one of the most common questions that comes up during wet periods is: How rainfast are
Bollworm Management in Soybeans and Cotton
Bollworm Management in Soybeans Early July starts the onset of the bollworm flight into Mississippi row crops. At this point, bollworms have been observed in a some areas of the state in R2-R3 soybeans. Most of the larvae being found
Bugcast: Bollworms Here, There, and Yonder
Don and Tyler dropped in the Crop Doctors’ Podcast studio last week to visit with Jason and Tom on what’s going on in the insect world. Don dives into the bollworm situation as corn is drying down. Tyler describes managing
Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring Program – Week Ending 7/12/2025
Trapping results this week indicate very low southwestern corn borer activity across the state, with only a few isolated instances of minimal trap catches in Leflore, Madison, and Tallahatchie counties. These findings suggest that southwestern corn borer populations remain well
Heliothine Trap Catches, July 10, 2025
Bollworm pheromone trap catches were the same or higher than last week in every county and were mostly quite a bit higher than average counts for this time of year. Tobacco budworm counts were sharply higher in Leflore county, but
Farm Program Changes in One Big Beautiful Bill Act
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act was signed into law on July 4th. The Bill contained many key updates to the farm safety net. Important Immediate Changes Changes to the Price Loss Coverage (PLC) and Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) programs
Spider Mite Management in Cotton: Key Considerations During Hot, Dry Conditions
As hot and dry weather becomes more common across Mississippi, spider mite populations have the potential to reach treatable levels in areas. Effective management depends on timely decisions based on field scouting, pest interactions, product selection, and weather forecasts. Consider
Tarnished Plant Bug: Timing, Tools, and Tactics.
As tarnished plant bug (TPB) populations continue increasing across Mississippi cotton acres, it’s important to revisit best management practices (BMPs) to protect yield and profitability. TPB continues to be the most economically significant insect pest in the region, and heavy
Heliothine Trap Catches, July 3, 2025
Bollworm trap catches in the Delta region dropped some this week from last week’s very high numbers, but catches were still equal to or higher than long term averages. Bollworm catches in Northeastern MS were about average. Tobacco budworm catches
USDA Releases 2025 June Acreage Report
On June 30th, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) released its annual June Acreage report, providing the first official survey-based estimate of actual planted acreage for the 2025 crop year. The June report provides a critical benchmark by presenting
Will we need to Irrigate our Corn this Year?
As the corn crop nears maturity, knowing whether you need to roll poly pipe out or when you can safely terminate irrigation, without sacrificing yield, or wasting money is likely the most important decision that will affect your bottom line. This article outlines the steps needed to help make these decisions accurately and reliable.
Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring – Week Ending 6/28/2025
Southwestern corn borer trap counts continue to remain low across the state.
Identifying Corn Reproductive Stages and Management Implications
Corn progresses through six stages as ears develop through reproductive growth stages. Identification of these stages can help time development, make prudent decisions and anticipate crop response to management practices and environmental conditions.
Heliothine Trap Catches, June 26, 2025
Bollworm pheromone trap catches of moths were higher this week, especially in the Delta region. Washington County traps were filled with bollworm moths, with each trap (3 total) catching more than 400 moths during the week.
