All posts by Scott Stewart, West TN Research & Education Center

10 Jul 2019

Reminder – Soybean Scout School This Week (7/17) in Dyersburg

10 Jul 2019
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UT’s Soybean Scout Schools will be held in July (see below). These field-side programs cover the basics of soybean growth, scouting, pest identification, and general management. Pesticide recertification and CCA CEU points will be available. Scout Schools are offered free of charge with sponsorship from the Tennessee Soybean Promotion Board. Registration is not required. Participants will receive a scouting notebook and a sweep net while supplies last. Continue reading →


03 Jul 2019

Insect Calls of the Week (July 3, 2019)

03 Jul 2019
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Clouded plant bug adult

Plant bugs … I’d classify the overall plant bug pressure in cotton as average, although we are seeing a few more clouded plant bugs than in recent years. Until bolls are present, count tarnished and clouded plant bugs the same. Once bolls are present, I suggest counting clouded plant bugs as equivalent to 1.5 tarnished plant bugs when making a treatment decision, primarily because clouded plant bugs are more inclined to feed on bolls.  As cotton begins blooming, Continue reading →


13 Jun 2019

Managing Early Season Plant Bugs in Cotton

13 Jun 2019
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Good early-season management of tarnished plant bugs relies on a sweep net, monitoring square retention, and making timely insecticide applications as needed. During the first two weeks of squaring, the recommended treatment threshold is an average of 8 or more plant bugs per 100 sweeps. After that, treatment is recommended anytime of infestations average 15 or more plant bugs per 100 sweeps Continue reading →


29 May 2019

REMINDER – UT Cotton Scout School (Friday, May 31, 2019)

29 May 2019
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The UT Cotton Scout School is scheduled for the last Friday of the month, May 31st, at the West Tennessee Research and Education Center (605 Airways Blvd, Jackson). There is no fee, and preregistration is not required. Registration begins at 8:00 AM with the program starting at 8:30. Content will include classroom and hands-on training with an optional ‘go-to-the-field session’ after a box lunch. Topics covered will include cotton development and identification and symptoms of insect pests, plant diseases, and weeds.


15 May 2019

Pest Issues on the Radar

15 May 2019
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Well it’s a start anyhow. Most folks are dodging weather trying to get seed in the ground. With limited crops emerged, it is not too surprising that I’ve not been getting many calls about pest problems. The most frequent calls are listed below, along with some management tips and some photos. Continue reading →


01 May 2019

A Reminder About Armyworms

01 May 2019
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Each year, about this time, I end up writing essentially the same article. There have been a couple of reports of armyworms in wheat. Nothing crazy but much of the wheat is still in the milk stage and would be susceptible to excessive defoliation. Occasionally, armyworms may even cut the heads, typically when populations are high. Yield loss is most likely if defoliation occurs during the milk stages, with Continue reading →