{"id":8247,"date":"2026-06-14T21:17:13","date_gmt":"2026-06-15T01:17:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/?p=8247"},"modified":"2026-06-14T21:31:00","modified_gmt":"2026-06-15T01:31:00","slug":"colquitt-county-row-crop-update-june-15-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/colquittag\/2026\/06\/colquitt-county-row-crop-update-june-15-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Colquitt County Row Crop Update June 15, 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Current Situation:  <\/strong>Cotton and peanut growers are finishing up planting this past week.  Cotton jassid was found last week in Tifton.  Corn crop ranges from VT to dough.  Cotton crop ranges from just planted to squaring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"All<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/www.podbean.com\/eas\/pb-xgfe2-1ad7d28<\/a>
All About The Pod, Season 13, Season 4 — Rainy Conditions, Planting, and Pest Updates<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Below is a link to the latest Talkin Cotton Podcast https:\/\/www.buzzsprout.com\/2350262\/episodes\/19328578<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cotton<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Last week, Dr. Roberts informed county agents that low numbers of adult cotton jassids were detected on okra at the Tifton Experiment Station on June 10, 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a reminder, only the adult stage can be reliably identified; immature (nymph) stages cannot be conclusively identified. Adults can be identified by the presence of two prominent black spots on the wings (see photo by Justin Odom below).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Adult Cotton Jassid — Justin Odom<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Some of the earlier planted cotton starts to square in Colquitt County, Dr. Roberts has a few points to consider when managing plant bugs. Tarnished plant bugs and clouded plant bugs have become a more consistent pest of cotton in parts of Georgia. A few bullet points below to consider when planning your plant bug management program:<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Early planted cotton appears to be at greater risk for plant bugs during squaring. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Later planted cotton appears to be at greater risk for late season plant bugs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Primary damage during squaring is feeding on small squares; these small, damaged squares will be shed by the plant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 The best sampling tool for adult plant bugs migrating into squaring cotton is a sweep net.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Square retention should be monitored from the onset of squaring until early bloom; our goal is to maintain at least 80 percent of fruit as we enter bloom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plant bugs may feed on larger squares; this often occurs when we have plant bugs reproducing in the field. Large squares will often remain on the plant and result in dirty blooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 If you see dirty blooms, the field should be scouted for immature plant bugs. The best sampling tool for immature plant bugs is a drop cloth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Plant bugs may also feed on small bolls resulting in internal boll damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Clouded plant bugs should be counted 1.5 times (i.e. 2 clouded should be counted as 3 tarnished) and added to your plant bug count.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Scout and use thresholds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Consider aphid infestations when making plant bug sprays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 On farms where plant bugs are consistent and problematic, consider using ThryvOn or Diamond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Optimal timing for Diamond insecticide, which is an insect growth regulator and is only active on immature plant bugs, is just prior to plant bugs hatching. This often occurs near first bloom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Consider adding Diamond if you are making a second plant bug spray for migrating adults. Diamond needs to be added to a \u201cknock down\u201d insecticide which has activity on adults.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 ThryvOn cotton needs to be scouted and treated if thresholds are exceeded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Peanuts<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I have started to notice and receive calls about lesser cornstalk borer (LCB) in local dryland peanut fields. Favorable conditions for LCB include hot, dry weather, well-drained sandy soils, and an open crop canopy. We have been monitoring LCB traps in Colquitt County this past week. According to Dr. Abney, that catching moths indicates that there are LCB moths near your farm. It does not mean you should spray. The traps tell us the moths are present, but UGA research has not found a good correlation between trap capture and larval infestation in peanut. The traps are a good reminder to scout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scouting Tips:<\/strong>
Look for wilted plants and silk tubes. Remove affected plants and check the taproot, stems, and pods for feeding injury and larvae. The presence of moths is also a good indicator of LCB activity. Infestations often begin in \u201cskips\u201d or at the ends of rows where bare soil is present.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To properly scout for LCB:<\/p>\n\n\n\n