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IPM
UPDATE
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Update
on Integrated Pest Management in Crosby and Floyd Counties.
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| Vol. 2, No. 8 |
June
28, 2002
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HEAT UNIT ACCUMULATION UPDATE As of June 20, 2002:
To help make some sense of the Heat Unit Accumulation data, the following table may help:
This is a partial reprint from Delta and Pine Seed Cotton Management Guide, 1998. The heat units are in place; open weather and moisture will be needed to spur this year's crop out of the late start in most fields. COTTON GROWTH: Program fields range from four true leaf to 1/3 grown square with plant populations ranging from 28,000 to 49,000 plants per acre. Square sets range from 60 to 90 % with little or no pest pressure in the form of fleahoppers or Lygus bugs. This low-end % is not unusual as some varieties seem to start squaring later or they may be exhibiting effects of weather - related factors of wind, heat and/or sandblasting. Row-watered irrigation should begin in earnest next week in most fields to help in prevention of stress in places with weaker water and/or large acreage of multiple crops. Probing earlier-planted fields for soil moisture this week has revealed areas of moist bands above dry bands within the first foot of soil profile. |
These
plants will not maintain their square load if this potential stress factor
is not eliminated fairly soon. At squaring, cotton plants will require
0.1 to 0.25 inches of water per day. With hot, dry winds, these figures
will increase rapidly. INSECT PROBLEMS: As mentioned, program Cotton is not suffering from any particular insect at this time. Potential certainly still exists as Grasshoppers have been noted in sometimes large numbers (10 to 12 per square yard) from field margins and pastures which are drying down rapidly at this time. Carrying capacity for these pastures has already been reached with these primarily "Differential" type hoppers starting to invade cotton and sorghum field margins. FIELD RESEARCH in pumpkins is progressing as pumpkin variety trials are starting to emerge and Squash Bugs have started to infest and reproduce on squash and pumpkins. No treatable levels have been noted on program cucurbits. Although cotton variety trials have had to be replanted, they are up to excellent stands and should yield valuable comparisons as the season progresses. Bollworm,
budworm and beet armyworm traps as of June 26th have captured:
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| The information herein is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement is implied by the Texas Agricultural Extension Service. Educational programs conducted by the Texas Agricultural Extension Service serve people of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, handicap or national origin. |
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The
Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture and the
County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating
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Although the bollworm moth numbers are increasing in the traps, these are week-long samples, and at this time, numbers are insignificant to cause concern. Jim Leser, Area Entomologist, reminds us that this peak is normal and growers in Gaines County are currently finding bollworms in their cotton. However, cotton generally has a large number of beneficials by this time and very few places for a bollworm to hide. Scouting on a regular schedule is the only way to find these pests accurately, as the pheromone trap is only an indicator of adult presence. Boll
Weevil trapping by the Texas Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation
(TBWEF) has shown only 0.003 weevils per trap in our High Plains zones
as of June 23, 2002. Integrated Pest Management traps in southern Floyd
County adjacent to CRP have recorded one weevil caught this last week. AFRICANIZED HONEY BEES (AHB) have not been mentioned this week - still waiting for Mr. Baxter's assessment of the latest submitted specimens. Speaking of bees, several commercial hives have been noted adjacent to seed sunflower fields in Floyd County. The scouting
program will continue next week as usual, however, office staff
taking holiday will necessitate elimination of the newsletter for that
one issue. Please refer to Cotton Guides , E-6, Managing
Cotton Insects in the High Plains of Texas and E-6A, Suggested
Insecticides for Managing Cotton Insects in the High Plains of Texas,
both available electronically and at your local County Extension Office.
Information included herein will be helpful in decision-making now and
for cotton pests as the season progresses. IPM Program participants
will have cotton monitored by scouts as usual and any insect problems
will be reported in person or on field reports. Hope everyone has a
Safe and Happy Fourth of July. |
Steve
Davis  Posted at this web site by: texagnet Internet Services. |
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