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P.O. Box 318 |
Hillsboro,
TX 76645
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May
16, 2002 Vol. VIII No. 3 Hill-McLennan Counties Web Site: entowww.tamu.edu E-mail: m-jungman@tamu.edu |
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GENERAL SITUATION Dry soil conditions have slowed the progress of corn and grain sorghum. Corn is in desperate need of a rainfall. (Most of the area received 1/10 to 5/10 of an inch Sunday, May 12.) The northern part of Hill County received more rain over the past two weeks. Corn is close to tasseling and will somewhat shorter in height. The majority of the grain sorghum is doing well in spite of dry conditions. Cotton growth stage will range from 2 true leaves to pinhead squares. Most of the cotton is at the 4-6 true leaf stage. WHEAT We are continuing to see some fields with Hessian fly damage. The fields I have seen recently with Hessian fly damage have approximately 5-15% plant lodging. These fields with damage were planted between October 10-17. In the future, we may want to look at delaying planting of wheat for grain until the latter part of October. The chances of Hessian fly problems increase the earlier the wheat is planted. CORN and GRAIN SORGHUM Grasshoppers are moving into the edges of corn and grain sorghum, in high numbers in a number of area |
fields. Numbers in some locations appear to be higher than what we have seen before. Producers should monitor crops next to pastures, waterways, roadsides, etc. Corn earworm damage in the whorls of corn appears to be greater in some fields than in previous years. These fields have a ragged appearance due to larval feeding on leaves and tassels. This is not a pest that we would treat. Corn will cross-pollinate so any plants with damage to the tassels will not be a problem at ear silking. Spraying for this pest can lead to other problems in the future. Examples would be increased spider mite activity and corn earworm damage on the ears of corn. Greenbugs will range from light to moderate in grain sorghum. Beneficial insects are on the increase and should aid in the reduction of greenbug levels-provided corn leaf aphid numbers have decreased, forcing beneficials downward in search of a food source. Yellow sugarcane aphids have been seen in some area milo fields in relatively light numbers. Corn leaf aphids will range from light to heavy in numbers in grain sorghum. A number of fields with |
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heavy populations last week have declined in numbers. These are fields that received some rainfall which caused the washing of the whorl and the reduction in aphid numbers. Beneficial insects have also increased in number and reduced the amount of corn leaf aphids. The milo still has a light green and red color to it but aphid numbers have been reduced. COTTON The cooler nights has slowed the growth of cotton. However, producers who have not treated their Roundup Ready cotton with Roundup® should monitor their cotton closely for plant growth stage. The application of Roundup® should be applied prior to the 5th true leaf reaching the size of a quarter. Thrips numbers range from light to heavy. Plant damage will range from light to heavy. In some fields we are seeing moderate to high numbers of thrips while other fields thrips remain relatively light. Movement of thrips out of wheat fields, pastures, waterways, etc. has increased over the past 7 days. Most of the cotton with systemic insecticide seed treatments or a soil insecticide appear to have lost their effectiveness on thrips. Cotton aphids are in light numbers. Aphid numbers will increase as we apply insecticide treatments for early season pests. Fleahopper numbers will range from 0-40 per 100 terminals. Most fields will range from 0-20 per 100 terminals. Controlling fleahoppers during the first 3 weeks of squaring will be very important in setting up this crop. Spider mites are in light to moderate numbers in a few area fields. I have seen two fields where spider mites were at higher levels than what we normally see at this stage of growth. If the dry weather continues, keep an eye out for this pest. Beet armyworms are being seen in light numbers. It is not unusual to see 3-4 larvae while scouting fields. Activity is probably a little higher than what we have seen over the past few years. Beet armyworm moth show moderate moth activity. Producers should monitor cotton for grasshoppers closely next to pastures, waterways, roadsides, etc. to limit stand loss. Materials for grasshoppers labeled for specific crops and pastures include: Cotton: Corn: Grain
Sorghum: Pasture: |
Overwintered boll weevil trap counts are in very light numbers. OVERWINTERING
BOLL WEEVIL
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