With the exception of beet armyworms and Lygus, which are still a potential threat in some area fields, numbers of most insects have drop considerably this week. Aphids have disappeared from some fields. Based on the current heat unit projections, and cutting bolls the last couple of days, 90% of the cotton acreage will be safe from worm pest by the end of this week. Some of the late planted or replanted cotton will take another week or so to finish it out. Projections also put this cotton which will be safe from insects this week at a point of being ready for a harvest aid starting around September 15th. I mention this in order that you begin to think about your financial resources to properly finish out this crop. A crop which is ready for harvest aid by mid-September will have much time for weathering losses if you plan on waiting for a late October freeze.

Peanuts have been maturing rapidly in most cases as well. The hot dry conditions have slowed the threat of disease. However, peanuts can go down fast during this time and make the harvest process difficult to recover all potential yield if plant health is not protected and maximized by preventative fungicides.

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