Texas Agricultural
Extension Service

 

 


Volume XXVII No. 15
June 8, 2001



GENERAL SITUATION: This was another week of very hot temperatures and no rainfall, over most of the LRGV. Since the majority of the cotton grown in 2001 was dryland, most of the LRGV's crop is in serious trouble because of drought. If rain occurs now, most of the cotton crop would benefit little from the moisture. Most of the dryland fields had serious small boll losses due to dry weather and most fields were beginning to shed leaves as well. All but a few fields were blooming at the very top of the plants this week which means that cutout has arrived with little hope of recovery. The best cotton left is under irrigation and even there, yield potential appears to be lower than normal in some fields. Grain sorghum and corn have also suffered from the heat and dry weather. Grain sorghum harvesting commenced this week in some fields and the dry weather will hasten the maturity of most of the rest of the grain crop. Rains from the remnants of tropical storm Allison were predicted to move southwest into the LRGV by Friday or Saturday and bring some rain. As a whole, the LRGV could use the moisture, but for a majority of the cotton and grain fields, it is now too late.

Open Bolls of Cotton

A few, scattered open bolls of cotton were observed in early planted fields this week. Open bolls were noted in both irrigated and dryland fields.

Boll Weevils Keep Marching

Boll weevils continued to increase in irrigated and some dryland fields this week. More fields were found with boll weevil punctured squares, but the heaviest action was located in irrigated fields. Dryland field weevil infestations likely will decline should the weather remain dry because of heat mortality and the lack of a good host once the cotton drys down. The worse is yet to come in the irrigated fields since they will keep weevils alive and well fed compared to dryland fields. Punctured square counts ranged from 0 to 50 per 100 plants based on reports to our offices this week.

Weevil Trap Counts

Boll weevil trap counts remained low again this week. A single trap, number 63, west of Santa Rosa continued to maintain more than 5 weevils per trap per day this week. Clearly, some source for the weevils is in that area, but it is not known what the source may be.

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PEST CAST continued

Bollworms Sprayed

Bollworms were reported to have been treated in one field north of Harlingen this week. Otherwise, worm counts were very low. However, bollworm moths were seen in scattered fields across the LRGV this week and could indicate an increase in egg and young worms shortly. A report of increased eggs in a field north of Mercedes this week was also received, but no other counts were reported. With the current hot dry weather, mortality in the egg stage should be very high. Thus, an increase in egg counts in a field should trigger a closer follow-up scouting for worms but not necessarily an insecticide application. Make sure those eggs hatch and the larvae survive before treating.

Beet Armyworm Moth Counts Higher

Beet armyworm (BAW) moths were caught in pheromone traps in higher numbers than last weeks counts. The highest counts were east of Lyford, but the other sites except at the southwest Lyford (SW) site had higher counts this week as well. One BAW egg mass and scattered larvae were reported from a couple of fields in Willacy county. But, worm numbers were light. Watch for increasing BAW larvae in any field over the next two weeks.

Beet Armyworm Moth Counts

Location
5/02
5/09
5/16
5/23
5/30
6/06
San Benito
10.0
3.0
0.5
4.0
7.5
14.0
Lyford(E)
25.0
106.0
5.5
17.0
84.0
164.5
Weslaco
30.0
56.5
10.0
27.5
63.5
91.0
Lyford(SW)
6.0
57.5
3.0
11.0
137.0
90.5

 


PEST CAST continued

Watch for Sorghum Midge

Sorghum midge continued to be found this week. Though the counts were low, the numbers could and likely will change rapidly as more midge adults emerge from the earlier planted, mature fields. There still were numerous sorghum fields which were just initiating blooming this week and could yet be inundated by midge. Keep on scouting and frequently.


No word yet on the greenbug type we had this spring in the LRGV. The colony still was not large enough to get a determination the last time we checked on them. We will let you know as soon as the word reaches us.

Cotton Heat Unit Accumulation Table
Planting
Dates
Accum.
H.U.
Planting
Dates
Accum.
H.U.
2/15
1660
3/15
1404
3/01
1515
4/01
1278

THE INFORMATION GIVEN HEREIN IS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. REFERENCES TO COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS OR TRADE NAMES ARE MADE WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT NO DISCRIMINATION IS INTENDED AND NO ENDORSEMENT BY THE COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE IS IMPLIED.



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