Hot, dry conditions prevail across the Concho Valley. Insect pressure in cotton is on the rise in all areas due to weed host plants dying down and cotton being the only plants that are currently green. Insect pests found in cotton this week were cotton fleahoppers, false chinch bugs, flea beetles, jumbo grasshoppers and thrips. What a variety of pests.

Many of the sorghum fields are well into bloom and no insect pressure to worry about at this time. Most sorghum fields are suffering from severe moisture stress. Hopefully rains will come soon.

This season has been one of the heaviest fleahopper years we have seen in some time. Windy weather, early spring growth and current dry conditions have all contributed to the dispersal of fleahoppers into cotton the past several weeks. Fleahopper numbers in area fields have ranged from 2 to 48/100 plant terminals during the past week.

Producers are encouraged to monitor early squaring cotton closely for fleahoppers and blasting FALSE CHINCH BUGSof small pinhead squares. Pinhead size and smaller squares are most susceptible to damage. Treatment thresholds vary depending on square retention rate (% square set). During the first three weeks of squaring, the treatment threshold should be based on fleahopper numbers in combination with percent fruit retention. A general recommendation is 20-25 fleahoppers per 100 plant terminals with less than a 75% square set. Now I realize we must consider current cotton prices, dry weather conditions and other production costs when determining the need to control this pest. These thresholds give us a starting point to work from. Insecticides labeled for fleahopper control include: Address 90S at 3.5 ozs./acre, Bidrin 8E at 1 gal./40 to 80 acres, Centric at 3.0 to 6.0 ozs./acre, dimethoate 4E at 1 gal./16 to 32 acres, dimethoate 5E at 1 gal./20 to 40 acres, Lorsban 4E at 1 gal./8 to 21 acres, Orthene 90S at 3.5 ozs./acre, parathion 8E at 1 gal./32 acres, Provado 1.6 at 3.75 ozs./acre, and Vydate C-LV at 1 gal./15 to 20 acres.

Remember with the hot, dry and windy conditions we have experienced, some fields have become very dry and plants are under stress. This coupled with blowing soil has caused some square shed. Do not automatically assume that this square shed is insect related. Also, with the Round Up application window, if you are spraying weedy fields, you might consider adding an insecticide for fleahoppers. If they are on the weeds (which they are) they will be forced into cotton as the weeds die.

False chinch bugs can be found in a number of cotton fields right now, especially those fields which are adjacent to pasture, CRP ground or other weedy areas. This is an occasional pest of cotton and can causedamage to seedling plants. These insects feed on a wide variety of weedy plants that are common in field margins and uncultivated areas. Large migrations into seedling cotton can result in severe injury or death to susceptible plants. You should monitor your fields regularly and, if large populations threaten stands, apply labeled insecticides to field margins. Pyrethroid insecticides work well as well as others.

Producers need to make sure that they have a copy of the supplemental label for Roundup UltraMAX herbicide in their possession. Read and follow the label, as it has much critical information. Remember that Roundup UltraMAX has a higher acid equivalent per gallon than the older Roundup Ultra. Best control is generally obtained from Roundup UltraMAX when most weeds are 1 to 3" in height. Up to two 26oz/acre of Roundup UltraMAX over-the-top (OT) applications can be made to Roundup Ready varieties. At least ten days between applications and two additional mainstem nodes of growth are required.

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Ammonium sulfate is generally necessary when preparing Roundup UltraMAX spray mixtures in West Texas due to "hard" water. The general recommendation for Roundup UltraMAX spray mixtures
is to add 17 lbs. of spray grade ammonium sulfate/100 gallons of spray.

Use rate conversion of Roundup UltraMAX to Roundup UltraMAX.

In some environmentally sensitive areas such as near conventional cotton or other crops, towns, farmsteads, etc., drift control becomes important. Proper selection of spray tips can help reduce drift. Tips such as TeeJet wide angle flat spray tips generate larger droplets which result in less drift potential. Tips with wider spray angles, such as 110 degrees, vs. 80 degree fans allow the spray boom to be placed somewhat closer to the target and can also be beneficial. There are several drift minimization agents available. The merits of such products may be debated and, although pricey, these materials may warrant investigation where drift is a concern. Materials such as Strike Zone and Drive have ammonium sulfate included.
Comparison of Roundup Ultra and other glyphosate formulations.

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Comparison of Roundup Ultra and other glyphosate formulations.

Producers should monitor closely for grasshoppers and injury to cotton plants. It doesn't take long for them to eliminate a stand. Field observations have indicated that populations of one per three feet of row or two per square yard in vegetation around the field can devastate a cotton stand. Producers need to watch for jumbo's along pasture and field margins next to cotton fields. Insecticide control should be in those sites. Once they enter the field, control is limited because the field must be retreated every four to five days.

Baits work well for the lubber grasshoppers. This grasshopper is clumsy and cannot fly so producers can take advantage of these characteristics the performance of the baits. A ditch should be dug around the field approximately one foot deep. A moldboard plow or a trencher could be used. The lubbers have a difficult time crossing the ditch and tend to move laterally along the ditch once trapped. The bait should be distributed by placing a handful (use rubber gloves) every three to five feet. It is important to place the bait in clumps to provide access to the lubbers and to prevent dirt and dust from covering the bait. The bait should be refreshed every 3-5 days depending on weather and lubber grasshopper pressure.

Sevin® XLR Plus has directions that include mixing 19 lbs. of wheat bran with 1 qt. of Sevin® XLR Plus. Some recipes include the addition of 1 gallon of molasses. The label includes other use information that should be read before mixing of the baits. A bait made up of 1 qt. of Sevin® XLR Plus, 1 qt. of cotton seed oil, 1 qt. of molasses, two gallons of water and 20 lbs. of wheat bran was successfully tested in the San Angelo area in 1987.

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During the 1956 U.S. presidential campaign, a woman called out to candidate Adlai E. Stevenson, "Senator, you have the vote of every thinking person!"

Stevenson called back, "That's not enough, madam, we need a majority!"

Turnrow meetings begin next week. We will have two on Tuesday and two on Wednesday unless otherwise notified in the newsletter. The schedule for the first week turnrow meetings is:

Tuesday June 26
Westside Gin 8:30 a.m.
Mereta Co-Op 1:00 p.m.

Wednesday June 27
Ballinger Co-Op 8:30 a.m.
Wingate Gin 1:15 p.m.

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. 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 the Cooperative Extension Service is implied.