Friday the 13th Edition
Cotton: Been seeing and hearing a lot of thrips. Don’t be alarmed because thrips will probably infest about 99% of our cotton crop. Thrips pressure is lower in strip till systems. We don’t want thrips feeding on young fresh germinated cotton. 1-2 leaf cotton has greater yield penalty that cotton that is 3-4 leaf stage. Once cotton reaches 4+ leaf stage thrips are rarely an economic factor. Orthene (3 oz.) is good foliar option that will take them out.
Peanuts: Peanuts are coming up and looking good. I have seen some tomato spotted wilt on volunteer peanuts but have not found it in planted peanuts yet. With thrips becoming a bigger problem over the past several days we could start to see some spotted wilt symptoms arise. If you planted before May 10th you are at a higher risk for thrips injury. Thimet, Imidacloprid, and AgLogic are all available to use in furrow. If you did not use an at plant insecticide and a foliar spray is needed Orthene is the most common choice. Thimet is the only insecticide that reduces the risk of Tomato Spotted Wilt. Spotted wilt is important because UGA research has found that for every 1% of spotted wilt incidence, peanuts lose 20 lbs. to the acre. With it being hot and dry, I am on the look out for Lesser Cornstalk Borers. Dryland fields are at the highest risk and irrigated fields are at risk to until the middles lap.