Soybean rust has not been detected infecting soybeans or kudzu in Tennessee as of this date. However, extremely small amounts of soybean rust have been confirmed in several counties in central Mississippi and some in Alabama and Arkansas. This is in the delta about 60 to 70 miles from the border of Tennessee. The amount of rust found was small but active. We are continuing to monitor for soybean rust in 12 soybean sentinel plot locations across Tennessee. Continue reading
For those still intending to apply a foliar fungicide to soybean, if you are using a triazole or triazole-containing product please be careful about the additives you include. Some folks are reporting foliar leaf burn very similar in appearance to Sudden Death Syndrome (yellow to brown areas between leaf veins). Injury seems to be the result of adding additional products (crop oil, glyphosate, micronutrients, some insecticides) not required on the fungicide label, to a triazole product. The hot weather we have been experiencing may be making the situation worse. Continue reading
Dry weather has not been conducive to foliar diseases in soybean this season. While some diseases picked up some momentum under irrigation or in areas that finally received rains in July, levels range from nonexistent to moderate around the state. Asian soybean rust has been identified primarily in the gulf area with the latest find in southeastern AR (Desha county) across the river from Greenville, MS. Continue reading
Reports of Southern rust in corn have come in this week. Southern rust in large amounts coming into corn prior to dent can have an effect on yield. It typically shows up very late in our growing season, making a late fungicide spray generally unnecessary. Continue reading
Don’t Forget the UT Soybean Scout Schools Next Week! These are 1.5 – 2 hour programs dealing with crop and pest management. Scouting notebooks and sweep nets will be provided while Continue reading
Mark your calendars for Soybean Scout Schools in West and Middle Tennessee. The tentative schedule is listed below. More details will be announced later. This is your opportunity to learn more about crop and pest management in a hands-on program that last 1.5 – 2 hours. Continue reading
With the continuing dry weather, I have had more inquiries about the use of Aflaguard as an aflatoxin preventative. Aflatoxin is more likely to develop in fields with a history of the disease where conditions are hot and dry at silking. Planting early, good fertility and using Bt hybrids to reduce insect stress on the crop can help reduce the chances for developing the disease. Unfortunately, this year planting early has not guaranteed us good moisture and temperatures are already running high for May so there is real concern among grain producers.
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