Greetings –
Winter has come back, at lest briefly. It is an excellent example as to why it is prudent for growers to hold off planting until threat of colder weather that is unfavorable germination and vigorous growth subsides.
It’s cold this morning, but the nematodes have already been causing mischief this season. See in the first picture of squash sent to me by the ANR Agent in Grady County the significant damage and root galling. With corn planting about to begin in earnest, you have the opportunity to remind growers of the importance of nematode control. As there are no nematode resistant corn varieties, nematode management requires a combination of crop rotation and judicious use of nematicides. In Georgia our corn growers battle sting, stubby-root, and southern root-knot nematodes.
Counter 20G (5-6 lb/A) is my standard for nematode control in corn. Counter 20G typically gives the top yield in my trials though it requires 1) ability to apply a granular product in-furrow and 2) growers using Counter should not use an ALS herbicide.
We have significant data on Velum (3 fl oz/A) on corn. This liquid product is preferred by some growers and it performs well in my trials. Except in the “Worst case” situations where nematode populations are very high, results with Velum can be similar to results with Counter 20G.
The newest nematicide we use on corn is Averland FC. I have much less data on Averland than I do on Counter or Velum. However, I have seen three things in my trials that I feel comfortable sharing with growers. First, Averland is an effective nematicide in corn. Second, admittedly based on limited data, use of Averland protects yield more like Velum and less like Counter.Third, Averland can be mixed with a number of in-furrow applied fertilizers.
Use of Counter 20G or Averland FC or Velum is unlikely to completely protect yield, but they can add 20-60 bu/A to harvest where nematodes are a problem.
Whether to use a nematicide or not and which nematicide to use is the decision of the grower. The right decision protects profitability and often yield.
