A field of soybeans damaged by hail Wednesday night near Columbus. (Photo by Aaron Nygren)
CropWatch June 8, 2018
Corn Production
Figure 1. (left) Corn leaves with bacterial leaf streak may appear to have a yellow halo around lesions. (right) Recent wet conditions and wounding from hail or storms favor development of Goss's wilt, shown here. (Photos by Tamra Jackson-Ziems)
Severe weather and wet conditions across much of Nebraska this week may favor increased development of diseases in corn, particularly bacterial leaf streak and Goss’s bacterial wilt and blight. For assistance in correctly identifying diseases, submit samples to the Plant & Pest Diagnostic Clinic.
Video: Populations of wheat stem sawflies, a serious pest of wheat in western Nebraska, are at high numbers this year. Surveys are underway in wheat fields, grasslands and pastures to evaluate grass hosts for the pest and its parasitoids.
Sawfly management in wheat requires a diversified approach using a number of tools. Growers who know which fields have greater levels of infestation can help manage the effects of sawfly this year as well as next year. Fields with high infestations should be harvested first, if possible.
Figure 1. A grower’s wheat field in Webster County on May 30.
Diseases continue to be absent or at very low levels in Nebraska wheat, with no reports of stripe rust or leaf rust and low levels of powdery mildew. Prevailing high temperatures and dry conditions in many areas have reduced the risk of significant disease development.
Weed Management
Figure 1. Thoroughly cleaning a sprayer after pesticide application is necessary to avoid potential off-target contamination. Just one drop of dicamba can cause visible injury to three acres of crops.
A 120-foot sprayer can have as many as 96 nozzles and screens and stow away as much as 15 gallons of pesticide residue in its nooks and crannies after an application is done. Consider these tips for thoroughly cleaning your sprayer to avoid off-target contamination.
Figure 1. Nebraska research showed the need for multiple years of treatment to achieve complete control of purple loosestrife. Choosing the right herbicide for the job and practicing patience and persistance were key to success. (Photos by Stevan Knezevic)
Research shows the need for patience and persistence when battling perennial weeds such as purple loosestrife over multiple years. The younger the stand the faster the control was achieved.
Figure 1. Stand of common mullein. (All photos by Gary Stone)
Common mullein is an invasive weed threatening western Nebraska land use. Here's what you need to know to be on your guard as prevention and early control are the best and the cheapest management options.
Storm Damage
The Hail Know website offers timely information to help farmers respond when hail strikes their crops.
Hail strikes Nebraska crops each year, creating uncertainty and questions for farmers: “Does the level of damage warrant replanting or will the remaining stand yield better than a replant would? How should I adjust inputs for the remaining season? Would a cover crop be cost effective?”
When considering business changes for your farm or ranch, focusing on a partial budget can help evaluate the financial effect of incremental changes without accounting for the entire farm budget. The story offers key points to consider and examples of how to apply them to your farm business.
UNL Extension Entomology is monitoring crop insect pests (primarily moths) using black light traps at the Haskell Ag Laboratory near Concord, the South Central Ag Laboratory near Clay Center, and the West Central Research and Extension Center near North Platte.
Diseases identified in corn, soybean, and wheat crop samples submitted to the university's Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic in the past three weeks are listed. Reports are grouped here by crop and reporting district.
Nebraska wheat production is the focus of this week's Market Journal with additional segments on the corn and soybean markets and forecast for the coming week.
With sun and recent rains, Nebraska's corn and soybean crops are faring well and slightly ahead of average crop progress for this point in the season, according to the June 4 report for Nebraska from USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.
Farm Starts, a June 27 workshop in Wayne, will offer growers production, business and marketing information to start or develop an organic operation. Some of the information would also be helpful to conventional growers.
