Although not a major pest, the threecornered alfalfa hopper (TCAH) causes occasional damage by girdling the main stems of seedling plants (typically those < 10 inches tall). They will feed around the perimeter of the stem with their beak, eventually creating a swollen callus. By itself, this injury does not affect yield, but Continue reading
Please see the update at the bottom of this article …
Every so often, I get questions about reducing fire ant mounds in reduced-tillage soybean fields, particularly from the southern counties of the state where this occurs most commonly. Fire ants enjoyed our mild winter, so I have had a couple of questions already. This insect causes problems during harvest when Continue reading
They’re back, but they don’t scare me! It is very unusual to see economic damage from Japanese beetles in cotton, soybean, or corn. They may cause defoliation in all crops. I’ve never seen enough defoliation in cotton or corn to justify treatment. On a few occasions, I’ve seen enough defoliation in soybean to catch my attention. They will hang around for a while, so in combination with other defoliators, they may cause enough damage Continue reading
Now that we are mostly past the thrips window, people are beginning to ask about managing plant bugs in cotton. For better or worse, my recommendations have not changed substantially in the last 10 years. Thiamethoxam (Centric) or imidacloprid are my likely first choice of insecticides prior to bloom. Transform WG (1.5 oz/acre) is also an option but I prefer to hold that chemistry until near or early bloom, when nymphs or more likely to be present. Fitting Diamond Continue reading
My phone hasn’t been going crazy with critter calls, but slug injury has been the clear winner this week, both in cotton and soybean. I also want to put forth a few reminders about thrips in cotton. Continue reading
Moth traps catches clearly indicate that the first generation flight is peaking (link to moth trap catches). Local moth catches may vary considerably, and that is why we suggest running pheromone traps on your farm if you are growing non-Bt corn. The highest trap catches are on farms in U.S. Fish and Wildlife Refuges, primarily because they are not allowed to grow Bt corn. Please link to the publication below for more information about the management of this pest. Below, I’ve also provided the suggested treatment threshold for southwestern corn borers in non-Bt corn during the whorl stage. Continue reading
The University of Tennessee Cotton Insect Scout School is scheduled for Friday, May 26 at the West Tennessee Research and Education Center in Jackson. The address in 605 Airways Blvd, Jackson TN. 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 hands-on training with an optional ‘go-to-the-field session’ after a box lunch. Topics covered will include cotton development, identification of insects (and their damage) weed and diseases and their damage, and weed identification.
The University of Tennessee Cotton Insect Scout School is scheduled for Friday, May 26 at the West Tennessee Research and Education Center in Jackson. The address in 605 Airways Blvd, Jackson TN. 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 hands-on training with an optional ‘go-to-the-field session’ after a box lunch. Topics covered will include cotton development, identification of insects (and their damage) weed and diseases and their damage, and weed identification.