Defoliation Update by Dr. Camp Hand
By Dr. Camp Hand
I have already spoken to some of you this morning, so this update is going to be short and sweet.
Cooler temps mean higher rates. Similar to last week, if your growers choose to use Dropp, don’t expect much regrowth control down the road because of the cool nights. Of course the cool nights will reduce regrowth potential anyhow.
Still high on Folex – at least 12 oz/acre. Would probably be higher than that, around 16 oz/acre if possible. According to the label, maximum use in a single application is 24 oz/acre. Adjust PPO rates (ET, Aim, etc.) accordingly. Of course, if you have bolls to open, 42 oz/acre of prep is warranted. If using Ginstar, same principle. Higher rates, I like 8 oz/acre but that is a little much for some folks.
I like to have a couple of clear days after application to help the defoliants work, so if I was targeting a day to spray, it would be today since we are expecting rain on Friday.
Row Crop Disease Update Dr. Bob Kemerait,
As the 2023 row crop field season draws to a close, once again there are important things grower should consider now that will affect disease and nematode management in 2024. I recommend growers do the following.
1. Clearly understand what diseases and nematodes were present in their corn, peanut, soybean, and cotton fields in 2023. Even if a grower feels they were not important, what was there? And they should not just say, “I had wilt in my peanuts.” Why did the peanuts wilt? White mold? ‘Mater wilt? ‘Todes? And don’t just say “I had ‘Todes.” What kind Of nematodes were they? And how many were there?
2. Growers should assess the efficacy of their disease and nematode programs. Were they successful? If not, why not? Was it the timing or the application or the variety or the choice of product? Leaving this Season without answering these questions is a little like not pulling any maintenance of vehicles, tractors, and equipment after you finish in the field for the year.
3. Between now and cold weather is the time to pull nematode samples. It needs to be done. It helps a grower make informed decisions and forces us to escape “denial” that we have a nematode problem. Acceptance of the problem is the first step…
4. After 3 consecutive La Niña Winters, we are finally back to an El Niño Winter and a pretty strong one at that. I’ll let Cracker Jack Pam Knox explain the how’s and why’s of an El Niño ENSO phase, but at this point we are anticipating a winter that is colder and wetter than average. Wet winter weather fills ponds and breaks down crop residue that harbors disease causing pathogens for next season. Colder weather, freezing weather, not only kills “volunteer” peanuts, corn, cotton, and soybeans surviving from the 2023 season, but also puts nematodes to bed.
