June 29, 2007

Ralph Kulm, Extension Educator in Holt and Boyd counties: Co-ops and other custom spray crews have been busy countering a good weed crop which has been encouraged by ample rainfall. Dryland and irrigated corn and beans look very good. The second cutting of alfalfa is underway and pastures look good. Insects haven't been much of a problem, except for alfalfa weevils in some first cutting alfalfa and leafhoppers in some new alfalfa seedings. The winter wheat crop has been a concern because of this year's heavy disease pressure. Disease problems continued even in fields where fungicide applications were timely. Barley yellow dwarf has been a serious problem in some area oat fields. Some oat and wheat fields have become forage crops because of the disease problems. Wheat harvest could begin by July 10 this year.

Dave Stenberg, Extension Educator in Dawson County: Corn is growing rapidly C some is shoulder high and near tasseling while some is about 30 inches tall. Soybeans are beginning to grow after delayed planting. The second cutting of alfalfa is in the early stages. Wheat is near harvest. While most wheat was sprayed for rust, local yields are expected to range widely due to rust, late frost and higher temperatures during grain fill. Pastures are still near record production. Grasshopper numbers are above average, but the pastures have outgrown them this year so no spraying has been done.

Keith Jarvi, IPM Extension Assistant, Northeast Research and Extension Center, Norfolk: We�ve received some samples of damaged alfalfa that showed root scarring caused by the clover root curculio. This weevil is not considered serious but seems to have affected some fields in the Wakefield to Beemer area. Root feeding by the grub-like larvae can weaken stressed plants and cause stand loss under the right circumstances.

Gary Lesoing, Extension Educator in Nemaha County: The Nemaha County area received 0.50-1.25 inches of rain June 22 and more rain June 27 when Auburn received 1.20 inches. Early planted corn is starting to tassel. Potato leafhoppers have been identified in several alfalfa fields and some producers are treating with insecticide. Wheat harvest is beginning in the area. Yields will be quite variable. The highest yield reported was 70 bu/ac on a field treated with fungicide. Some other yield reports were in the 40-50 bu/ac range. Soybeans are growing rapidly with little disease and few insect pests.

Del Hemsath, Extension Educator in Dakota, Dixon and Thurston counties: Northeast Nebraska has not received much in general rains for the last two weeks, so fields are getting dry. Corn and some soybean are being irrigated. Some corn is tasseling but most fields are about 10 days away from tasseling. The few wheat fields will be ready to combine within a week. Some oats have been cut for hay. Regrowth of alfalfa is slow. Narrow rows and drilled soybeans are beginning to shade the ground.

Jennifer Rees, Extension Educator in Clay County: Corn ranges from 10-leaf to beginning tassel and looks good. I'm also not seeing any gray leaf spot, but I am seeing some leaf miner and wind damage on mid-canopy leaves and some holcus and eyespot on lower leaves. I did confirm common rust in several Clay County fields.

Irrigation started this past week for many producers. Alfalfa is yellowing again and blooming after harvest a few weeks ago. The yellowing is due to more spring black stem and potato leaf hoppers. Wheat harvest has started to the south but will really be underway next week.