Extension Field Reports from Across the State - UNL CropWatch, May 17, 2013

Extension Field Reports from Across the State - UNL CropWatch, May 17, 2013

May 17, 2013

Extension Field Reports from Across the State

Septoria leaf blotch on wheat

Figure 1. Septoria leaf blotch (Photo by Jennifer Rees)

Disease Update

Jennifer Rees, Extension Educator in Clay County:  In Clay and Nuckolls counties all the wheat I’ve looked at has jointed and it seemed like we had an explosion of wheat diseases last week. The moisture, good canopy growth and cooler temperatures have allowed for a high incidence and severity of septoria leaf blotch and some powdery mildew in all the fields I looked at. However, the high temperatures this week should help keep the diseases at bay for the time being. Stripe rust was confirmed in wheat research plots at Mead last week, but I have not confirmed any stripe rust in this area to date.

A year ago we saw stripe rust contribute to yield losses in our area. In dryland wheat it’s hard to justify fungicides at this time. We will keep monitoring disease pressure to determine if fungicide applications would be necessary to protect the flag leaf that provides nearly 80% of yield. For irrigated wheat, I know some farmers are looking at a reduced fungicide rate now and will continue to monitor disease pressure to protect the flag leaf. We don’t have much research on reduced fungicide rates being applied early on wheat.

If you would be interested in conducting an on-farm research trial with us on, email Jennifer Rees. Fungicides labeled for wheat and the efficacy regarding controlling various diseases are listed in this table.

Weather Update

Al Dutcher, State Climatologist: Some areas of the state could see 1/4-1/2 inch rain on Friday night, but the main event will be late Sunday and Monday when the eastern half of the state could see strong storms with 1+ inch of moisture with lesser totals to the west. Next week's CropWatch will the summer forecast.

Field Reports

Ron Seymour, Extension Educator in Adams County: About 70% of the corn and 30% of the soybeans have been planted. Most of the wheat looks good and is jointing. Pastures too are looking good. We have moisture down about 2 feet. (5/14/13)

Gary Zoubek, Extension Educator in York County: About 75% of the corn and 25-30% of the soybeans have been planted. Conditions have been good here for plants to get off to a good start. (5/14/13)

Chuck Burr, UNL Water/ Cropping Educator at the West Central REC: I took soil moisture samples in two fields in Phelps County -- wheat stubble and wheat stubble with cover crop. In the wheat stubble there was good moisture down to 46-48 inches and under cover crops, it was down 36 inches. Here in Lincoln County we received about 0.90 of rain and planting is progressing well. (5/14/13)

Monte Vandeveer, Extension Educator in Otoe County:  Planting conditions are good and 15-20% of the corn planting was complete. (5/14/13)

John Wilson, Extension Educator in Burt County: About 15-20% of the corn has been planted, but little or no soybeans are in the ground. (5/14/13)

John Thomas, Extension Educator in Box Butte County: About 60-65% of our corn is in, but nothing is up yet. A rough survey of wheat found it to be 20% very poor, 20% poor; 30% fair; and 30% good. About 65% of the wheat has jointed. Sugarbeet planting here is complete and some are coming up. Potatoes are in the ground, but none are up. Dry edible peas are planted and much of the crop is at 3-4 inches tall. With the recent moisture, pastures are looking good and the hills are green, something we didn’t see last year. (5/14/13)

Todd Whiteney, Extensino Educator in Hamilton County: Corn planting is 75% done and some growers are done with both corn and soybeans. Some growers have been burning off stubble to get through it.
 

 

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