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Showing posts from June, 2017

Assistance with European corn borer survey requested

by Bruce Potter European corn borer Entomologists at the University of Minnesota continue to document and understand changes in European corn borer (ECB) populations in our state. Each fall, a number of corn fields are surveyed for the presence of corn borer damage and overwintering corn borer larvae. During the growing season weekly updates of ECB moth captures in black light traps are made available: https://www.vegedge.umn.edu/moth-data/ecb-info . Funding from the Minnesota Corn Research and Promotion Council has provided us an opportunity to improve these efforts.

The PSNT from Field to Lab: How to Ensure Accurate Results

Daniel Kaiser and Fabian Fernandez Once you’ve taken the soil samples in the field , it’s time to send them to the lab for analysis. Good soil management from field to lab is imperative to getting accurate results from your samples. Watch Extension Soil Fertility Specialist Dan Kaiser explain best management practices for the PSNT test from the field to the lab, and read on for more advice.

‘Lang-MN' wheat is newest U of MN release

Lang-MN, the newest hard red spring wheat variety released by the University of Minnesota. The University of Minnesota has released a new hard red spring wheat variety called ‘Lang-MN’ and dates for touring demonstration plots are now available. Released in January 2017, Lang-MN is a well-balanced, high yielding spring wheat variety well suited for much of the spring wheat-growing region. Lang-MN is named after Ben Lang, past president of the Minnesota Crop Improvement Association (MCIA).

What do we know about the value of preemergence herbicides in soybean?

By Ryan Miller and Lisa Behnken Earlier this spring we shared a couple videos on the lessons we have learned from corn herbicide research at Rochester, MN.   Now we would like to share what we have learned about the value of preemergence herbicides in soybean.   See or video Soybean Preemergence Herbicides: Always Have One Down https://youtu.be/o5z-FXrW8y0 We are back in the research plots in Rochester, checking-in to see what we have been learning with our soybean herbicide research plots.   During the past couple of weeks, we shared information on the “reach-back” potential of several preemergence corn herbicide products.   In our soybean plots, we experienced similar weather conditions with a lack of rainfall after the applications of preemergence herbicides.   With that lack of rainfall, the herbicides were slow to activate and we saw an initial flush of weeds emerge, but unlike some of our corn herbicides the soybean preemergence products did not exhibit “reach-back”.

Suspect pesticide drift? What to do and how to prevent it from occurring

By Dave Nicolai and Liz Stahl, University of MN Extension Crops Educators Unfortunately, pesticide applications can sometimes drift onto neighboring crops and vegetation. Damage can range in severity from brief cosmetic symptoms to the inability to market a crop, severe yield losses and/or plant death. Bee kills can also be an issue where pesticide misuse, misapplication, or drift has occurred. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has developed standard procedures to follow when pesticide drift is suspected.

The Supplemental Nitrogen Worksheet for Corn: a tool for in-season nitrogen management decisions

Greg Klinger, Fabian Fernandez & Dan Kaiser  Wondering whether you should apply supplemental nitrogen to your corn fields this year? Find your answer with University of Minnesota Extension’s Supplemental Nitrogen Worksheet for Corn . Meant to be used in early to mid-June, this useful tool asks 3 simple questions of growers and provides a score that rates the need for additional nitrogen fertilizer.  High scores mean that supplemental N should be applied, medium scores suggest taking a “wait and see” approach, and low scores mean no supplemental N should be needed.

Tips for Accurate Pre-Sidedress Nitrate Tests

Fabian Fernandez and Daniel Kaiser The pre-sidedress nitrate test (PSNT) is a tool for making decisions on supplemental nitrogen application. Taken during June prior to side-dress N application around the V6 stage of corn growth, the PSNT offers a way to assess insufficient N in the soil. It offers guidance for efficient N management, but only if carried out correctly. Watch our video with Extension Nutrient Management Specialist Fabian Fernandez and read on for tips to make the PSNT count.

Temperature inversions: Something to consider before spraying

By Ryan Miller and David Nicolai Fog developing in an early morning temperature inversion. Source: Ryan Miller We have produced a video, Temperature inversions: Something to consider before spraying ( https://youtu.be/jG10vCT1POg ), that discusses the development of temperature inversions, which can affect the drift, or off target movement of pesticides during post emergence applications. Issues relating to temperature inversions and how they develop is summarized below. This content comes to us from neighboring land-grant universities (see references for detailed source information).

The downstream effects of hail on pest management

Bruce Potter and Dean Malvick Hail-damaged corn, Renville County, June 11, 2017. Photo: Matt Wordes Hail has hit a several areas of Minnesota, including Southwest Minnesota. For those that have not yet seen the article, U of MN Extension recently released revised information on assessing damage and yield loss: Managing hail damaged corn and soybean . For some farmers and their advisers, the damage is severe or light enough that decisions are easy. For others, in a couple days there will be indecision and a desire to try to help the crop out.

Lessons learned from preemergence corn herbicide research this spring

by Ryan Miller and Lisa Behnken Last week, we shared a video on Spring herbicide activity concerns ( https://youtu.be/dKX5JY2rvgQ ) due to cool and wet conditions following preemergence corn herbicide applications. In the video, we noted that weeds were coming through and wondered if the preemergence herbicides that had been applied would do their job.

Wet spring weather and nitrogen loss: what has happened to my pre-plant nitrogen?

Gregory Klinger, Fabian Fernandez & Daniel Kaiser Much of the state has seen periods of very wet weather this spring, especially in southeastern and central Minnesota. Given the heavy precipitation, what – if anything - has happened to spring pre-plant nitrogen? How much N is still available to the plant? Here are the top six things to consider when assessing pre-plant nitrogen loss:

A Brief Review of Key Soybean Seedling Diseases

by Dean Malvick Conditions are favorable for soybean seedling disease in many areas. Wet soil, slow emergence, and delayed planting have been favorable for seedling diseases in many areas of southern and central Minnesota.  Now as the soil dries and warms up, infected plants may wilt and collapse rapidly due to damaged root systems. Problems with seedling disease have been reported from several areas, and more will likely be noted as plants continue to emerge. Given that seedling diseases have developed in some of the well-drained soil at Rosemount, MN, these problems are not restricted to poorly-drained fields this year.  This is a good time to scout fields for seedling disease problems.

Disease in small grains: When to spray, what to spray, when not to spray!

by Madeleine Smith, Small grains Extension pathologist Photo: Jared Goplen Now that Memorial Day weekend has passed and the warmer weather seems to be here at last, many small grains fields are ready for their herbicide application. As always, the question arises, should I include a fungicide as good insurance against leaf disease and what should I spray? In Minnesota it helps to think of fungicide decision making in broadly three time categories. Early An early spray would be around the five leaf stage as a tank mix with herbicide. At this time, there is no point spraying fungicide unless you think there is disease present in the field. This is because Spraying at this time does not necessarily protect you through the entire season until the late application for FHB, as many diseases can come in the crop at any time. Spraying when there is no real disease on the crop can provide selection pressure for the disease to become insensitive to the fungicides (Many diseases als

Crop disease diagnosis and plant health: The U of M Plant Disease Clinic is ready to help

by Brett Arenz, Plant Disease Clinic director The improvement of plant health (and yields) can only be successfully achieved after a clear understanding is made of what is reducing plant health in the first place. This is where the Plant Disease Clinic (PDC) , can help. The PDC is based on the St. Paul campus at the University of Minnesota. It provides diagnostic services, specializing in microbial pathogens of plants. The PDC diagnoses thousands of samples each year from state and federal agencies, the agriculture and horticulture industry, and the general public. We are also part of the National Plant Diagnostic Network (NPDN) which monitors and tracks the movement of plant pathogens in the U.S.

Pest alert: Scout for armyworm in fields with cover crops

Bruce Potter, IPM specialist Figure 1 . Armyworm larva. Note the banding on the prolegs. Photo: Bruce Potter A true armyworm infestation at a treatment threshold level was reported in corn yesterday. In addition, there have been several comments about slugs in corn and soybeans. The common variable in these infestations appears to be winter rye cover crops. At this point, the reported observations are limited so it’s unknown how severe or widespread any problems are. Both of these pests could be occurring over a wide geography.