20
Aug
2015
Recent Updates
19
Aug
2015
Sugarcane aphids and harvest aids
19
Aug
2015
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
19
Aug
2015
More on green cloverworms and loopers
19
Aug
2015
I’m getting more calls about a fair number of green cloverworms and scattered, below-threshold loopers, primarily in later maturing soybean fields. Please refer to last week’s article about knowing the difference and recommended treatment thresholds for these pests. I wanted to make an additional point or two. Continue reading
17
Aug
2015
Crop Progress
17
Aug
2015
As reported by NASS on August 10, 2015
MOST CROPS IN GOOD TO EXCELLENT CONDITION
With the exception of this season’s grain sorghum crop which continues to be plagued by sugarcane aphids, most of Tennessee’s crops are in good to excellent condition. Producers are readying their equipment for corn harvest which is anticipated to start in a few weeks. Corn silage is being cut and second cuttings of hay are being finished. Rain in some areas of the state gave crops a boost. Continue reading at Crop Progress 8 16 15.
14
Aug
2015
Tennessee Market Highlights
14
Aug
2015
Corn, soybeans, and wheat were down; cotton was up for the week. In grain and oilseed markets there were two dominant pieces of news this week: 1) the devaluation of the Chinese Yuan and 2) the August 12th WASDE and Crop Production reports. On August 10th the Chinese Yuan was trading at 6.21 to 1 USD. As of writing on August 14th, the Yuan was trading at 6.43 to 1 USD, 3.5% less than the beginning of the week. Simplistically stated the devaluation of the Chinese Yuan makes U.S. exports more ex-pensive for Chinese consumers to purchase and makes Chinese goods imported into the U.S. less expensive, all else being equal. While the full ramifications of this devaluation are yet to be determined for U.S. agricultural exports, it is likely that given the USD’s relative strength and the large global supplies of many grains, oilseeds, and fiber crops that exports and domestic prices will be adversely affected. Continue reading at Tennessee Market Highlights.
14
Aug
2015
Tall Plants Scattered in Your Grain Sorghum?
14
Aug
2015
With more acres planted in grain sorghum this year than any previous year, some unusual questions have been posed. The most common one that doesn’t really apply to management issues is “Why are some plants significantly taller than others and why is it so random?” Since I’ve wondered this same question in the past I decided to look in to it a little further. Continue reading
13
Aug
2015
Green cloverworms and loopers in soybean, etc.
13
Aug
2015
Calls on soybean insect infestations are not common, and most folks are reporting less than average infestations of stink bugs. However, green cloverworms are being reported in some fields at or near economic treatment thresholds. Treatment is recommended when Continue reading
13
Aug
2015
Update on Sugarcane Aphids in Sorghum
13
Aug
2015
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