By definition, the last effective bloom date is the day in which the probability of a new flower developing into a boll and making its way into the basket declines to below 50%. Since it is unlikely (probability less than 50%) that fruiting positions which develop after this date will contribute to yield, end-of-season insecticide termination and defoliation recommendations for our area are based upon protecting/managing those positions which will be flowering Continue reading
This has been a common question, and the short answer is you could potentially have to spray for sugarcane aphids until near the time harvest aids are applied. The direct effect of aphids on yield will diminish rapidly after soft dough. Unfortunately, there are some bad experiences with Continue reading
My counterpart in Mississippi, Dr. Catchot , wrote a good article last week on this topic (link here). Headworms are a common problem, especially on later milo. This includes corn earworm, fall armyworm, and sorghum webworms. Typically corn earworm is the most common species present. The treatment threshold for corn earworm or fall armyworm in one or more larva per head. Count sorghum webworms as equivalent to 1/3 of a corn earworm … they are smaller and do less feeding. Continue reading
A few cotton fields have reached the point where insecticide applications can be terminated. There are reports of lingering plant bugs, increasing stink bugs, and a smattering of spider mites and bollworms in fields. This is pretty standard stuff for this time of year and should be expected in later cotton over the next couple of weeks. Below are a few points to consider. Continue reading
Adult flies in the Syrphidae family are conspicuous day-flying insects that are very skilled at hovering, and love to frequent flowers, which led to their common names of “hover flies” or “flower flies”. They are brightly colored and are very abundant in many familiar environments. Many of the hover flies strongly mimic bees in coloration and sound and it is no wonder why many folks confuse them for being small bees or even pests. Continue reading
This is a re-run of an article posted last year. The timing is right as many fields are at or approaching cutout. Counting the number of nodes above first-position white flowers (NAWF) is a well-recognized way to monitor the maturity of your cotton crop. Cutout is defined by having an average of 5 nodes above first-position white flowers. If you record the date of cutout, you can start counting down the days until insecticide applications for some insect pests can be terminated. Continue reading
A rough start for many of TN’s cotton acres has turned into a decent summer for the majority of our acreage. This is very evident when looking at accumulated heat units noted at the West Tennessee Research and Education Center in Jackson, TN. As you can see in the below graph, we are quite a bit ahead of the last two years on accumulated heat units. Warm temperatures in mid/late June and timely rains have Continue reading
The phone has been ringing off the hook about sorghum insect control. Sugarcane aphids are being reported in more fields across a wider area. The map below provides a general status on known infestations at this time. There are also plenty of questions about controlling headworms. Let me provide some information and management suggestions. Continue reading
