Eastern New York Field Crops Pest Report, 2002

For 9/12/02:

Alfalfa

General: Alfalfa stands ranged between 10 and 24 inches tall this week at the SUNY Cobleskill farm (September 4).

Potato Leafhopper: I found no potato leafhoppers in alfalfa fields this week at SUNY Cobleskill (September 4).

Where did all the potato leafhoppers go?
In late summer and early fall, potato leafhoppers migrate back to the southern United States. Potato leafhoppers over-winter on pines and numerous other host plants in the southern and southeastern United States.

Check out our on-line publication, Potato Leafhopper Management in Alfalfa

Field Corn

General: Field corn was be harvested as silage this week on the SUNY Cobleskill farm (September 4).

Fall Weed Considerations

Do weeds indicate what insect pests may infest a cornfield next year?
Conducting a weed survey may also expose certain insect pests. Some weeds serve as over-wintering sites for common stalk borer, hop-vine borer, and potato stem borer, and black cutworm lays eggs on several species of weeds in the spring. Larvae of these insects migrate from weeds to emerging corn in the spring. Here are some weeds that attract these insect pests:

Happy scouting!