With a lot of our crops now planted, I’ve provided a few reminders and pictures below about early season pest problems that are sometimes encountered. Continue reading
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May
2017
Recent Updates
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May
2017
Reminder – Cotton Scout School (Friday, May 26th)
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May
2017
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.
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May
2017
Crop Progress – Tennessee and U.S.
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May
2017
WARMER WEATHER PROVIDES OPPORTUNITY FOR HAY HARVEST
Warmer, drier weather last week allowed producers to start cutting hay in many areas across the State. Producers also took the break in the cool, wet weather to make headway on planting row crops. Soybeans began to emerge and winter wheat is almost completely headed. There were some reports of wheat lodging because of previous heavy winds and rain. Wheat disease pressure was reported, especially in areas where there were no fungicide applications. There were 5.1 days suitable for field work. Topsoil moisture was 3 percent short, 70 percent adequate and 27 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was 1 percent very short, 3 percent short, 74 percent adequate and 22 percent surplus. Continue reading at TN_05_15_17. The U.S. Crop Progress report can be read at CropProg-05-15-2017.
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May
2017
Tennessee Market Highlights
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May
2017
Corn was up; soybeans and wheat were down; and cotton was mixed for the week. On May 10, the USDA released its May WASDE report. The report provided revised estimates for the 2016/17 marketing year and its first projections for the 2017/18 marketing year. Continue reading at Tennessee Market Highlights.
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May
2017
Comments on USDA WASDE and Profitability Update
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May
2017
May 10, 2017 – USDA World Supply and Demand Estimates
Corn
The U.S. feed-grain outlook for 2017/18 is for lower production, domestic use, exports and ending stocks. The corn crop is projected at 14.1 billion bushels, down from last year’s record high with a lower forecast area and yield. The yield projection of 170.7 bushels per acre is based on a weather-adjusted trend assuming normal planting progress and summer weather, estimated using the 1988-2016 time period. The yield model includes a downward stochastic adjustment to account for the asymmetric response of yield to July precipitation. The smaller corn crop is partly offset by the largest projected beginning stocks since 1988/89, leaving total corn supplies down from a year ago but still the second highest on record. Continue reading at May 10, 2017 – USDA World Supply & Demand Estimates.
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May
2017
Armyworms in Wheat (Better than it Looks)
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May
2017
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to visit some fields in Shelby County and had reports from a couple of other areas where armyworms have completely defoliated some wheat fields (or spots in fields). Armyworms were not hard to find, but many had pupated (“cycled out”) or were being killed by diseases and parasites. The good news is Continue reading
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May
2017
Moth Trapping Data
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May
2017
This is a reminder that moth trapping data for corn earworm (bollworm), tobacco budworm, and southwestern corn borer will be posted weekly during the summer. You can open the Excel file under the Quick Link menu on the left or directly at this link – http://www.utcrops.com/BlogStuff/2017MothTrappingData.xls. A few southwestern corn borers were caught this week, indicating the first generation is starting, perhaps just a little earlier than usual. Generally low numbers of corn earworm and tobacco budworm moths were also caught last week.
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May
2017
Flag Your Technology
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May
2017
Watch as Dr. Larry Steckel gives a quick overview of the Flag the Technology system – an inexpensive method that can help you avoid misapplication of pesticides in the field.