Northwest
Plains
Pest Management News
| Volume 1 Issue 1 |
Bailey
and Parmer Counties
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June
14, 2002
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Northwest
Plains
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Current Crop Conditions Area cotton looks a little ragged up due to the wind and heavy thrips pressure, it is ranging from cotyledon to 7 true leaves. Corn is 12 to 36 inches tall and is growing rapidly. Sorghum planting has started, some fields are up to 8 inches tall. Wheat harvest is underway, preliminary yields of irrigated wheat are 30 to 70 bu, dryland 10 to 22 bu. Low test weights are a problem in some fields. Cotton Thrips pressure remain |
The first is our threshold criterion of one thrips per true leaf present. The second would be the presence of immature, wingless thrips indicating reproduction. After all, with constant movement of thrips adults into certain fields, there can always be enough thrips present at the time of scouting to result in a treatment decision. But these adults may not be around or alive long enough to cause significant damage. If your field has
plants with 5 true leaves, start checking for square retention and insects
that could potentially remove squares. Both cotton fleahoppers and lygus
can be the culprits if square retention drops below acceptable levels.
Right now our acceptable level of square set is pegged at 90% after the
first week of squaring, 85% after two weeks of squaring and 75% after
three weeks of squaring. |
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Roundup Ready varieties need to be monitored for crop stage accurately and often. Have all over the top Roundup treatments completed before the 5 th true leaf reaches the size of a quarter. Corn Small spider mite colonies are being found in field margins. If Comite is going to be used treat early, when mite populations are low. Treatment is recommended when mite populations are just beginning to build, and corn is still small enough to allow good coverage. Comite is not systemic therefor complete coverage is necessary for effective control. Weed Control Crops are more sensitive to weed competition under conditions favoring high yields. If conditions are good for the crop they are good for the weeds and competition is greater. Weeds give the "double whammy" effect to producers, they use valuable moisture and nutrients invested for crop production as well as a reduction in crop yield. Weeds also provide a host for insects to build before moving into the crop. As expensive as weed control is now it will be more latter. The saying "pay me now or pay me latter" most definitely applies to weed control. |
Monti Vandiver |
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| Educational programs
conducted by Texas Cooperative Extension serve people of all ages regardless
of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, handicap or national
origin. The information given herein is for educational purposes only.
References to commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding
that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by Texas Cooperative
Extension is implied.
The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture,
and the Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating
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very
high in most fields.Populations rangefrom 1 to 50 per plant. Most atplanting
thrips control practices (granular insecticides and seed treatments) did
not last long enough tocover the vulnerableperiod. foliar applications
have been 
needed
more often than usual as additions to the at-plantinginsecticidetreatment.
In some casesas many as 2 foliar applications have been needed. Untreated
fields have needed three foliar applications for full protection. Any
foliar application following either a first foliar application or an at-planting
insecticide application should target only those fields that meet two
criteria.
