Minnesota Crop News

By Jeff Coulter, Extension corn agronomist, Seth Naeve, Extension soybean agronomist, and Dean Malvick, Extension plant pathologist Storms during late last week left crops in an area of southern Minnesota affected by severe hail damage. Especially hard hit were Brown, Redwood, Watonwan, and Martin Counties, where much of the corn was around the V6 stage (6 collared leaves) when damaged and soybean was from emergence to around the V2 stage (two fully-developed trifoliate leaves). Photos: Liz Stahl, U of M Extension Assessing hail damage and making replant decisions can be difficult, with many variables to consider for making a decision to replant or maintain an existing stand. Information regarding crop yield loss and replanting can be found at: Corn Hail Damage and Replant Guide Soybean Hail Damage and Replant Guide Survivability of corn plants Yield potential of hail-damaged corn depends on the remaining plant population with healthy growing points that will recover, t

Anthony Hanson, Extension postdoctoral associate and Bill Hutchison, Extension entomologist Late-May and June is the time to begin scouting for insect problems in alfalfa. Primarily two insects can occasionally cause economic damage in Minnesota: alfalfa weevil in spring, and potato leafhopper throughout the growing season as population levels increase. Alfalfa weevil Figure 1. Alfalfa weevil larvae feeding. (Pellissier et al. 2017) Alfalfa weevil is an early-season pest of alfalfa in Minnesota. Larvae are the most damaging stage that can skeletonize leaves where only leaf veins or holes remain (Fig. 1). Larvae are yellow to green color with a black head and a white stripe along their back. Often, growers become aware of the larvae when they find them on their mower during the first cutting of the year. Scouting Scouting should occur in mid-May through June by using a sweep net to determine if larvae are present. If present, select and cut 30 plants across the field at gro