Soybean
Although stink bug populations remain generally light, there are now some reports of populations exceeding the treatment threshold of 9 per 25 sweeps. Remember you should probably double this threshold once a field reaches R6. Calls are also trickling in about defoliation Continue reading
The questions of the week have been … when/if should I put an insecticide out with my harvest aid for sugarcane aphids in sorghum, or if you are still a week or more from making a harvest aid application, should you hold off with the insecticide until making this application. First, I’ll refer you to a good article from Mississippi State University from last week. This article also addresses if, when, and what harvest aids can be applied. Continue reading
Although a common comment this week has been that sugarcane aphid (SCA) infestations are not spreading rapidly, with most infestations concentrated on field edges, we are steadily treating more and more sorghum fields. You can assume SCA are present in essentially all fields in West Tennessee, but fields requiring treatment are scattered across the area (see below). It hasn’t always been true, but a common theme is that many of the fields treated within the last few weeks with a pyrethroid insecticide are those that have required treatment for aphids. Continue reading
Early planted sorghum is maturing and producers will need to decide soon if they want to spray a harvest product to aid in combining. A harvest aid kills the grain sorghum plant (glyphosate) or dries up leaves (sodium chlorate) and allows easier cutting where stands are thick, removes food source from heavy sugarcane aphid infestations, or is a way to clean up grasses or vines. Aim herbicide is labeled to desiccate vines in sorghum but is not an effective crop desiccant. 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
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
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