Current Situation: Southern rust was found in Tift County on Monday (6/9/25). The corn crop in Colquitt County ranges from VT to dough stage. The rain has been great for offsetting corn irrigation requirements at VT. Weed control in cotton and peanuts has been interesting due to rainfall over the last couple of weeks. The peanut crop ranges from a couple of weeks old to 45 days old. Fungicides are being applied to peanuts in the 40-45-day range. There have been a few reports of lesser cornstalk borers in peanuts. The Sunbelt Ag Expo location Georgia weather network recorded 2.45 inches of rainfall for the period covering May 28 to June 8, 2025. The area’s cotton crop ranges from being planted behind wheat to the third week of squaring. Growers are starting to apply side-dress nitrogen and PGR to earlier-planted cotton. Reports of plant bugs in cotton have increased over the last couple of days.
According to Pam Knox, the preliminary climate summary for May 2025 indicates that nearly the entire region was wetter than normal during the month, even areas that had drought develop or expand somewhat before it was beat back by rain later in the month. The temperature across the southern part of the region along with the coastal areas was warmer than normal, but inland and northern areas were close to normal or even a bit below normal. READ MORE
Corn: Dr. Bob has informed agents this afternoon (6/9/25) that Southern Corn Rust has been found in Tift County. Bob estimates that the rust has been there for about 10 days. We now have confirmed southern rust today in 3 fields in Seminole County and in one field in Tift County. Corn across SW GA is at risk, especially if it is not being scouted. Which fungicide do I use? Single-mode-of-action products will give about 2 weeks of protection. Mixed-mode-of-action products should give 3 weeks of protection. The weather now is quite favorable for infection and spread.
Cotton: I have been finding plant bugs in a few cotton fields in Colquitt County. Plant bugs have been a topic of discussion since late last year. Dr. Phillip Roberts, UGA Cotton Entomologist, had some interesting points in his last article in the June edition of the UGA Cotton Newsletter.
Pre-Bloom Management: Management is focused on adult plant bugs migrating into cotton from alternate host plants. In addition to monitoring square retention, a 15-inch diameter sweep net should also be used to sample adult plant bugs. Historically, early-planted cotton is at higher risk of pre-bloom plant bug infestations. The goal of plant bug management prior to bloom is to maintain 80 percent retention as we enter bloom. Plants with over 80 percent retention at first bloom have maximum yield potential.
Square Retention Threshold: Apply insecticide when plants are retaining less than 80 percent of pinhead squares and numerous plant bugs are observed. It is a good habit to periodically pull up plants and monitor whole plant retention.
Sweep Net Threshold: First 2 weeks of squaring: 8 plant bugs per 100 sweeps; beginning the 3rd week of squaring, the threshold is raised to 15 plant bugs per 100 sweeps.
Insecticide Use Pre-Bloom: Primary insecticides used for plant bugs during squaring include Transform, Centric, and imidacloprid. When targeting plant bugs, aphid populations should also be considered. Transform provides the most consistent control of both plant bugs and aphids, followed by Centric, and then imidacloprid, which provides fair control of each pest. In situations where a second application targeting adult plant bugs is made, Diamond at 6 oz/acre should be added to the adulticide targeting the migrating adults. Diamond only has activity on immature plant bugs, and the 6 oz rate will provide about 2 weeks of residual activity and suppress hatching plant bug nymphs. A second application of Diamond should be applied 2 weeks later. Diamond is not a cure-all but is an important tool for plant bug management programs. The use of organophosphates should be reserved until after bloom. In ThryvOn cotton, adult plant bugs may cause economic damage, so scouting is still important when using this technology. Depending on the intensity and duration of adult migration, it is possible to have threshold populations reinfest fields relatively quickly. Don’t assume you had a treatment failure if you see plant bugs in the field 7 days after application. Most insecticides we use for control of adult tarnished plant bugs only have a few days of residual activity. If you are maintaining good retention following a spray, then your treatment was a success, and an additional treatment would be justified.
Drs. Phillip Roberts, Bob Kemerait, and Camp Hand discuss some considerations as we wind up planting and thoughts about cotton that is beginning to square throughout Georgia.
What about rain fast on peanut herbicides? According to the UGA Pest Management handbook Ultra Blazer, Basagran, Storm, has a rain free period of 4 hours. Cadre has a rain free period of 3 hours, and Strongarm is 2 hours. Clethodim, Classic, Poast, 2,4DB, Pursuit is 1 hour. Paraquat is rain fast in 30 minutes.
Current Considerations for Soil Moisture and Crop Water Use for Row Crops
By: Jason Mallard, Phillip Edwards, David Hall, Tyler Poythress, Sarah Beth Thompson, and Wesley Porter
Early season irrigation management can be a difficult management decision. Sporadic rainfall and unpredictable weather conditions make it difficult to know whether or not to irrigate. Too much irrigation early in the season on crops can cause shallow rooting systems, disease issues, and costly irrigation applications with no return. Rain predictions are hard to bank on, when part of the time it’s predicted to rain, and it doesn’t and then when you decide it’s time to irrigate and the system has been running for a significant portion of the field and you get a shower that drops over two inches of rain. READ MORE
EPISODE 15, Season 3
Have a safe week and if you have questions please call the office,
Jeremy M. Kichler
Colquitt County Extension Coordinator
The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension does not endorse or guarantee the performance of any products mentioned in this update.