While we have having great weather for corn and soybean, the cool and cloudy conditions have not helped push our cotton crop to maturity. It’s not too early to think about defoliation, or more specifically, how to help our crop get mature enough to Continue reading
We’ve done a lot of insecticide evaluation in the last two weeks, and the common theme is that our traditionally best treatments are still providing good control. Treatments of Bidrin (6-8 oz), Acephate/Orthene (0.75 lb), Transform (1.5 oz) are top performers (providing closer to 75-80% control). Other top performers are Continue reading
I’m expecting our corn earworm (bollworm) flight to start kicking off this week. Given the fair amount of late planted soybean in the state, we need to be alert for infestations in soybean during August. Normally, our worst infestations Continue reading
Kudzu bugs have recently expanded their range into more intensive soybean production areas including Middle Tennessee (Lincoln Co.) and West Tennessee (Shelby Co.). I’m sure other, low infestations levels have gone undetected and may primarily be occurring on kudzu (as opposed to soybean). The map below shows the current distribution of this pest. Please report any new county finds to your local County Extension Agent. There is a lot a good information about the management of kudzu bugs in soybean at http://www.kudzubug.org/.
As reported by NASS on July 29, 2013
COTTON CROP DEVELOPMENT OVER TWO WEEKS BEHIND NORMAL
The cotton crop, at week’s end, remained rated in mostly good-to-excellent condition, despite development being over two weeks behind schedule. Cotton’s slow development this season can be mostly attributed to cool, wet, weather conditions. All other major crops remained in mostly good-to-excellent condition. Pastures are in good-to-excellent condition, with rapid growth reported. Continue reading
The rain that most of Tennessee has been receiving benefits not only soybeans but also soybean diseases and in particular, frogeye leaf spot. This disease has become more concerning with strains of the pathogen (Cercospora sojina) developing resistance to fungicides in the strobilurin (quinone outside inhibitor – QoI) fungicide group. Continue reading
There have been a number of calls recently enquiring about the herbicide Brake which is being used on some limited cotton acres for Palmer amaranth control in South Carolina. Continue reading
Market Highlights for July 26, 2013 have been posted at http://economics.ag.utk.edu/market/tnmkt/2013/market072613.pdf. Continue reading