Only one post this week because we’ve been running like scalded dogs. Here is the update
Peanuts: Lesser Cornstalk Borers (LCB) have been abundant this year along with foliage feeders. We have been getting good knockdown results with Prevathon and Diamond on LCB but the weather keeps springing them back up. I would recommend against using Besiege in dryland fields; it can flare spider mites. Velvet bean Caterpillers (VBC) has arrived. 70-90 day old peanuts are likely to carry the most risk from VBC. Velvetbean Caterpillers can completely defoliate peanuts if left unchecked. Pyrethroid in irrigated fields and a selective caterpiller product for dryland fields is the best we can do for VBC. Irrigated peanuts are still looking really good. Keep tight on your spray schedules. Dryland peanuts will be double-cropped this year so we need to start looking at how much of a crop we already have on our early dryland fields. The US EPA announced recently that it will not revoke tolerances for chlorpyrifos in the near term. A registration review of chlorpyrifos is scheduled to be completed by 2022.
Cotton: Whiteflies are still on the rise. More and more people have been spraying for them. Stinkbugs have been the more common pest but I think the whiteflies are catching up. If you are treating stinkbugs you need to be aware of other pests (spider mites, whiteflies, or corn earworms) in your field as this will impact your decision on what to spray. Routine scouting and sticking to threshold levels is key in the battle against insects. Pivots have been spinning and will need to keep spinning if we continue to get spotty rain. Majority of people are in peak bloom and the water requirements are increased. Remember that with hotter days and lower humidity irrigation efficiency is going to be lower. The typical efficiency of a pivot with drops in good weather conditions is about 80-85%. Once the crop progresses into later bloom the water demand backs off. Having said all of that, with 59¢ cotton you have to decide what is economical for your operation.
Pecans: If you have noticed a sudden fruit shed over the last few days, you are most likely seeing the results of the water stage fruit split. This is a common problem that happens annually on certain varieties and is just part of growing those cultivars. By the time you see water split, there’s little that can be done. Crop loss to water split is minimized, but not totally prevented, by managing soil moisture to minimize the severity and duration of water stress during the last two weeks of fruit sizing, and by crop-load thinning. It seems to be worse when there’s been a dry spell and you suddenly get a heavy rainfall or crank up the irrigation all of a sudden. Water split also appears worse when the trees are bearing a heavy crop load. This is another reason to maintain good soil moisture and minimize water stress through the entire season. Foliar sprays of B and Ni in the spring have also led to reductions in water split.
Southeastern Hay Contest: Don’t forget to enter the Southeastern Hay Contest. Deadline is September 19th. Here is all the information, Southeastern Hay Contest.
**Probably the most important thing is that we only have 3 weeks left until the Dawgs are back in action! Go Dawgs!