Black cutworm moths continue their northward migration into Illinois and other areas of the Corn Belt. Kelly Estes, Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey Coordinator for the state, shared with me projected cutting dates for the following counties: Fayette – May 27, Pike – May 22, Edgar – May 28, Piatt – May 21, Logan – May 22, Menard – May 22, and Warren – June 6.… Read more
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Don’t Neglect to Scout for Alfalfa Weevils in the Rush to Plant Corn
On May 15, I scouted a stand of alfalfa in Champaign County and found numerous third and fourth instar alfalfa weevil larvae by using a sweep net. By May 16, 461 degree days (base 48ºF) had accumulated since January 1, 2013 for Champaign.… Read more
Control Emerged Waterhemp Prior to Planting
Earlier this month, we discussed advantages of and techniques for controlling emerged weed vegetation prior to planting. Several winter annual weed species have reached maturity while others, such as cressleaf groundsel (Figure 1),
began to flower within the past 10 days across areas of central Illinois. Control of these mature plants with herbicides or single passes of tillage equipment will continue to be challenging.… Read more
2013 Field Day Events in Illinois
It’s been a difficult planting season in Illinois, but crops will eventually be growing this year, and we’ll find both expected and unexpected challenges as we move into the cropping season. Fields days organized by Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois and other institutions will focus on crops and pests, with speakers talking about current crop issues along with information from previous research.… Read more
Soil-Residual Herbicides Applied to Emerged Corn
A potential scenario of planting delays will be corn planted in fields where no soil-residual herbicide was applied. If the corn has not yet emerged, the soil-residual herbicide can be applied as originally planned. But, what if the corn has emerged and the soil-residual herbicide has not been applied? Can the application proceed as planned, or will a different product need to be selected? The answer depends on the respective herbicide.… Read more
Stripe rust of wheat observed in Illinois
Stripe rust of wheat was observed in Champaign County, IL on May 10, 2013 (Fig. 1). The incidence of the disease was very low. The observation of this disease in Champaign County indicates that stripe rust likely is present in southern Illinois counties too.… Read more
Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs Breaking Winter Dormancy
On May 9, Robert Bellm, University of Illinois Extension Commercial Agriculture Educator, Brownstown Research and Education Center, found a brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) in Madison County, Illinois (Figures 1 and 2). As we move further into spring, more reports of these sightings will begin to surface across the state.… Read more
The Trapping Line: May 10
Two more black cutworm moth traps have started reporting this week, one in Piatt County and a second location in Champaign County at Parkland College. Based on intense moth flight captures Kelly Estes, State Survey Coordinator, calculated the following projected cutting dates.… Read more
Conditions favorable for Fusarium head blight (scab) in southern Illinois
Wheat plants are now beginning to head out and flower in parts of southern Illinois. During this critical time of wheat development, wheat becomes susceptible to infection by Fusarium graminearum, the causal agent of Fusarium head blight (FHB; also known as scab) (Fig.… Read more
New Report on Economic and Environmental Impacts of Transgenic Crops Available
A new peer-reviewed work has been published (April 2013) that outlines some significant global economic and environmental benefits of transgenic crops. The paper is titled — GM crops: global socio-economic and environmental impacts 1996-2011. The authors of the paper are Graham Brookes and Peter Barfoot, with PG Economics Ltd, Dorchester, United Kingdom.… Read more