August 22, 2013

Tom Hunt, Extension Entomologist at the Haskell Ag Lab, Concord: Soybean aphid populations are increasing in northeast Nebraska. Some fields have populations approaching the economic threshold, and there have been a few reports of fields at or beyond the economic threshold. For details on soybean aphid management see these CropWatch articles:

• Soybean Aphid Season has Begun — Physical description, life cycle, management considerations
• Scouting and Managing Soybean Aphids — Scouting methods, thresholds, insecticides

Scouting Aid

UNL's mobile app, Aphid Speed Scout, is a great tool for scouting in the field and determining the need for treatment, based on the number of plants with 40 or more aphids. It also records your scouting report, suggest when more scouting is warranted, and tracks build-up in the field. It's available from the iTunes and Android stores.

Tyler Williams, Extension Educator in Phelps County:  We had been 4-6 inches behind normal precipitation since last May, but gained back 1.5-2 inches in the last month. Dryland corn isn't going to produce an ear here and we won't see much yield from dryland soybean. Growers are starting to chop or window these fields. 

Todd Whitney, Extension Educator in Hamilton County: The cooler temperatures have helped here. We're at dent in early planted corn and irrigation is picking up with the return to warmer temperatures. In dryland pockets we're seeing some stess on soybeans. Growers are looking at how much irrigation is needed before their corn hits black layer.

Monte Vandeveer, Extension Educator: We're all dryland here and the nice spell of rain in early August really gave crops a kick, though it's been fairly dry since then. Our maturities are lagging a little here due to late planting. We haven't seen many diseaes so far.

Keith Glewen, Exension Educator in Saunders County: Everythng looks great from the road, but if you walk the fields, you'll seen a lot of unevenness. Corn may be average or slightly better, but it just isn't the crop it might have been. We're seeing spider mite damage and some sudden death syndrome in soybeans and the theat of southern rust still lingers in corn as conditions change. It could still have a real adverse effect on corn yields.

John Wilson, Extension Educator in Burt County:  Good rains have improved the look of things, although the crop is still running behind schedule. Warmer welcome will be welcome. We have some southern rust in corn. It doesn't appear to be widespread now, but there's potential for increase. Some growers are hoping that fungicides applied earlier will hold, but the window is running out.

Jenny Rees, Extension Educator in Clay County:  We’re getting calls on southern rust and several fields that were sprayed before have it again. I’m recommending that if they have already been sprayed, monitor them; if they haven’t been sprayed yet, monitor them and consider a fungicide application. It’s taking a long time to move this crop along. I’ve gotten calls on sudden death syndrome in soybeans.