As reported by NASS on May 9, 2011
STORMS AND FLOODING CONTINUE TO SIGNIFICANTLY DELAY PLANTING
Farmers in East Tennessee were busy assessing storm damage last week as farmers in other areas braced for the effects of widespread flooding. Several acres of wheat were in standing water by week’s end. Departures from normal rainfall totals have reached double-digit levels for most areas of West Tennessee. Corn planting is three weeks behind average. Continue reading
As reported by NASS on May 2, 2011
SEVERE STORMS BRING HEAVY RAIN, HALT PLANTING EFFORTS
Damaging storms dumped record-level precipitation in areas and kept farmers out of fields for most of the week, wrapping up a significantly wetter-than-normal April in Tennessee. Farmers in several counties were faced with tornados, flooding, power outages, and livestock losses. Some corn and wheat acreage remained underwater or in saturated soil at week’s end, particularly in West Tennessee. Continue reading
As reported by NASS on April 25, 2011
MORE STORM SYSTEMS PASS THROUGH, INTERRUPT PLANTING
Farmers across Tennessee faced yet another week featuring multiple days of rain. Although storms were scattered and rainfall totals relatively low, conditions in most fields remained wet throughout the week. Continue reading
True Armyworms: I’ve had no reports of any significant true armyworm infestations. UT recommends treatment when 6-8 larvae are present per square foot. You must look on the ground to get an accurate count. Once past the milk stage, wheat can tolerate Continue reading
As reported by NASS on April 18, 2011
Multiple storm systems passed through the state last week, keeping farmers out of fields and delaying spring planting. By week’s end, 20 percent of Tennessee’s corn acreage had been planted, about half of what is typical for this time of year. Continue reading
I’ve had several reports of an unusual number of stink bugs in wheat. Most people are indicating that brown stink bug is what they are seeing, but rice stink bugs and green stink bugs will also often be present. Rather than reinventing the wheel, I will refer you to the comments by my colleague in Mississippi who beat me to the punch (see below). Continue reading
As reported by NASS on April 11, 2011
Corn planting was underway last week in several areas of the state despite wetter than average weather overall. Many corn producers that had not yet begun planting were able to fertilize and prepare fields. Continue reading
Aphid populations are starting to rise on wheat, but there have not been any reports of necessary treatments. The primary aphid being found is bird cherry-oat aphid. A few English grain aphids and greenbugs are also in the mix. Bird cherry-oat aphid is generally not a serious threat to cause direct damage unless populations are very high. Seed treatment applications and foliar applications to very small wheat are typically intended to prevent aphid transmission of barley yellow dwarf virus, and insecticide applications at this late date would not provide this benefit. I don’t think any state in the Midsouth has a specific treatment threshold for bird cherry-oat aphids or English grain aphids. Continue reading