Soybean Aphid (SBA) continues to be a problem in soybean fields
across New York. There are many reports from County Extension Educators
confirming there are several soybean fields over economic thresholds.
When you scout SBAs make sure to count aphids on2 plants in each
of 10 random locations (20 total plants) in the field. The economic
(action) threshold for SBA is an average of 250 aphids/plant. If
you reach the 250aphids per plant average you have 5 to 7 days to
control this insect pest. If you see a lot of predators in the field
like lady beetles, lace wings and more, they do a great job at keeping
the population of aphids under control. When you are close to the
threshold watch the population of aphids for a few days to see if
the predators might lower the infestation level of SBA.
Weather Outlook July 30, 2009
Drew Montreu
NOAA Northeast Regional Climate Center
A change in the weather pattern last week allowed for temperatures
to be a couple degrees above average statewide for the first time
all season. Precipitation totals, which do not include yesterday's
rain, where generally less than an inch. Western New York and the
Hudson Valley got between1 and 2 inches of rain. Rainfall from yesterday
is not yet available.
Base 50 Growing Degree Days accumulated 125 to 150 in most areas,
with a couple locations getting into the 150 to 175 range. The higher
terrains saw less. Compared to last year, everywhere is 7 to 14
calendar days behind, with a couple isolated pockets even further
behind than that. Compared to normal though, most areas are no more
than 7 calendar days behind, though some areas of the Tug Hill region
and Western Finger Lakes are a bit further back. Southeast of I-88,
there are even a few pockets that are a day or two ahead of normal.
A relatively dry period in the weather can be expected for the
next week, with really just 2 instances of rain to worry about.
One of those will come overnight tonight and into tomorrow, as another
low pressure moves by. Today will be wonderful though, with plenty
of sunshine and highs near 80. After tomorrow's rain, Saturday will
end up a lot like today, with sun and highs near 80. A frontal system
will approach later Sunday and move through overnight and early
Monday for the second best chance of rain this week. Most places
should stay dry during the day Sunday though, with highs into the
low to maybe mid 80s. I feel like Monday afternoon may end up nice
too for the western regions, with showers tapering off in the east
and highs near or a bit above 80. High pressure will build in for
Tuesday and Wednesday, with no big weather concerns either day.
Highs both days will end up in the low 80s.Low temperatures throughout
the period should range from the upper 50s to mid60s, with the warmest
nights coming tonight and Sunday night. Over the next 5days, most
areas should see less than three-quarters of an inch of rain, with
many locations seeing less than even a half an inch. For the 8 to
14 day forecast, cooler weather will try to come back, with the
Climate Prediction Center showing a slight chance for below normal
temperatures and near average precipitation. My general feeling
is that if it does end up below average during that period, it will
only be a little below and not a big cold spell like earlier this
summer.
Remember those corn fields that had troubles with uneven emergence,
ponding, compaction, fertilizer, herbicide, or other planting time
issues? Drive by many of these fields this week and their up and
down plant height patterns look more like a side view of a crazy
roller coaster ride than the ideal production field. And now watch
the pattern of tassel emergence. Whatever the reason for the
uneven stand its effect on corn rootworm ( CRW) populations can
be very predictable. CRW beetles are pollen feeders and will
zero in on plants producing pollen. So in fields with large differences
in corn maturity expect that CRW beetles will ?head to the islands?
of pollinating corn. In fields of uniform crop growth stage, CRW
egg laying is reasonably well distributed. (Recall that CRW females
are capable of producing eggs about 3 weeks after they emerge) In
the case of the pollen island fields, CRW egg laying may be expected
to be more concentrated in the areas where the pollen (food source)
is. You can also expect that the highly mobile CRW beetles will
follow the pollen sources from clump to pollinating clump. Watch
these areas closely for signs of potential silk clipping as hungry
CRW populations build up in them ? high numbers of CRW beetles could
interfere with pollination and grain fill.
Since these areas can be at higher risk for egg laying, make
a note of their location(s). Record any scouting information. Should
egg laying be high enough in those islands, it is a good bet that
they would be at higher risk for lodging from CRW larval feeding
next year should corn be replanted into the same field. Better yet,
if cropping schedules allow, this field may be a good candidate
for rotation next year.
NOTE: The sequential sampling method for sampling CRW assumes
the field is uniform in physiological development. This sampling
procedure is dependent on an even distribution of corn rootworm
beetles across the field. Fields with uneven development from
uneven germination or water stress should not be sampled using this
sequential sampling procedure since the beetles will be clumped
on pollinating plants.
If sampling for CRW in fields with uneven growth development
follow the method recommended in the Cornell Field Crops Guide.
CRW counts are taken from 55 corn plants sampled at random. The
threshold is an average of 1 western corn rootworm beetle / plant
(or 2 northern CRW beetles / plant). When determining fields at
risk recall that the Western corn rootworm beetles count as one
and northern CRW beetles count as0.5. For more information see the
Cornell Guide for Integrated
Field Crop Management field corn insect ( CRW) management (3.6.2.2).
(see field corn insect management section)
Are PLH in your alfalfa fields? If so, avoid partial field harvests
to best manage PLH populations. Clean harvest of whole alfalfa fields
is optimal, however our recent stretch of rainy weather has surely
messed up more than one harvest schedule sometimes stopping a hay
harvest in mid-stride. These partially harvested fields can set
the stage for future PLH problems. In situations where edges
or portions of alfalfa fields have been harvested but other areas
of the field are left intact watch closely for PLH populations and
potential injury.
Adult PLH in the standing portion of the field can easily relocate
to the shorter portion of the field and attack the vulnerable regrowth.
The shorter alfalfa has a lower threshold for PLH than taller alfalfa
so is at much higher risk for injury.
Harvesting remaining portions of the field assoon as is practical
is recommended to minimize PLH population buildup andtheir easy
movement to adjacent portions of the field.
Soybean Rust Update
Gary Bergstrom
Plant Pathology, Cornell University
Scouting has begun in sentinel plots in NYS in Cayuga, Jefferson,
Seneca, Washington and Wayne counties. Last week low levels of bacterial
blight, bacterial pustule and Septoria brown spot were detected
in samples submitted from the NYS sentinel network. Nationally,
on July 28th,soybean rust was reported on soybean in a sentinel
plot in Assumption Parish, Louisiana. Risk of spore transport to
our region is low at this time. In 2009, soybean rust has been reported
in the U.S. in 32 counties in five states (Alabama, Florida, Georgia,
Louisiana and Texas). Updated July 29, 2009
General: * Emergency contactin ormation ("911", local hospital,
Chem. Spill emergency contact, other?) posted in central posting
area
* Maintain crop records by field, including variety, planting date,
pesticides used, nutrient inputs including manure, etc.
* Watch for any patches of herbicide resistant weeds, weed escapes
* Storage areas cleaned and ready to accept hay, wheat harvest Corn: * Monitor fields for plant vigor, growth stage, mid season
pest issues (European corn borer, armyworm, foliar diseases, nutritional
deficiencies)
* Check no-till fields/fields with high residue or weeds for slug/snail
damage
* Monitor for weeds, note presence of "who", "how many" and "where"
* Monitor tasseling corn fields for presence of corn rootworm beetles.
Small Grains:
* Monitor winter grains for crop stage (heading, grain fill), insect
problems (cereal leaf beetle, armyworm) and foliar / head diseases
* Evaluate crop for plant vigor, lodging, maturity / time till harvest
* Grain bins ready to accept upcoming harvest?
Alfalfa & Hay: * Monitor alfalfa seedings for weeds, insects & diseases.
* Check regrowth of established alfalfa stands for potato leafhopper,
weed and disease problems.
* Storage areas cleaned and ready to accept incoming harvest Soybeans: * Evaluate stand growth, development and condition
* Monitor fields for soybean aphid, foliar diseases, white mold,
naturalenemies, weed escapes
Dairy Livestock Barn Fly Management: * Sanitation, sanitation, sanitation - clean animal resting
areas, feed troughs, minimize source of moist organic matter i.e.
fly breeding areas in barn and in adjacent animal loafing yard
* Check water sources, drainage, roof gutters for leaks and potential
overspill
* Continue fly monitoring: install "3X5" index card fly speck monitoring
cards through out barn
* Install/refresh/replenish as needed: fly tapes, insecticide baits,
natural enemies (parasitoids Dairy Livestock Pasture Fly Management: * Monitor animals for presence of pasture fly pests. Treatment
guidelines: Horn flies (50 per dairy animal side, 100 per side for
beef cattle), face flies(10 per animal face), stable flies (10 per
4 legs). See:
http://nysipm.cornell.edu/livestock/default.asp)
* Consider installing biting fly traps to reduce horse, deer and
stable fly populations.
Storage: * Check storage areas (bunk silos, etc.) for readiness
to accept upcoming wheat harvest
* Clean in and outside of storage bins and grain handling equipment
* Keep areas around storage bins and silos clean and mowed
* Check areas around storage bins and silos for vertebrate tunneling
* Check temperature of recently baled hay in hay mow
Equipment: * Note any repairs needed for recently used equipment:
tractors, tillage implements, planters, sprayers, etc. as they are
cleaned and serviced.
* Service hay harvesting equipment as needed.
* Calibrate manure spreaders - maintain records on amount spread
per field
PESTICIDE EMERGENCY NUMBERS Emergency responder information on pesticide spills and
accidents CHEMTREC: 800-424-9300
For pesticide information: National Pesticide Information Center:
800-858-7378
To Report Oil and Hazardous Material Spills in New York State: NYS
Department of Environmental Conservation Spill Response:_800-457-7362
(in NYS)_518-457-7362(outside NYS)
Poison Control Centers: Poison Control Centers nationwide: 800-222-1222.
If you are unable to reach a Poison Control Center or obtain the
information your doctor needs, the office of the NYS Pesticide Coordinator
at Cornell University,607-255-1866, may be able to assist you in
obtaining such information.
These pages are maintained by the New York State IPM Program, part of
Cornell Cooperative Extension.
All material is protected by Section 107 of the 1976 copyright law. Copyright
is held by Cornell University and the New York State IPM Program.
