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| Field Crop Advisory Team Alert newsletter | |||||||
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| Vol. 23, No. 14, July 24, 2008 |
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| In this issue Western bean cutworm alert Armyworm also in northwest Michigan Looking for a few “good killers” Corn and soybean fungicide: To spray or not to spray – that is the question Agricultural field sanitation requirements in Michigan Regional reports Weather Next issue August 7 |
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| Western bean cutworm alert
Summary points
Western bean cutworm trapping with milk jug pheromone traps began several weeks ago. Moths have been caught throughout the state. In general, the number of moths per trap is one to two, but hot spots, for example, Oceana County, report over 100 moths in a week. The catches confirm that we now have a resident, overwintering population of western bean cutworm throughout western and central Michigan. Furthermore, egg-laying is confirmed in fields in the northwest part of the state; some fields were already over threshold for egg masses. A 30 percent infestation was confirmed by me in Oceana, and similar levels were reported in Benzie County the week of July 21. |
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| Western bean cutworm in corn Scouting for eggs and larvae begins when moths are detected, concentrating particularly on the weeks of peak catch. That is now, especially in northwest Michigan. Moths prefer to lay eggs in fields close to tasselling –this was very evident in Oceana County. Eggs are laid in the upper canopy on the top three to four leaves. Eggs may even be on the leaf wrapped around the tassel. The eggs are on the upper leaf surface –on upright leaves, they are on the leaf surface facing into the tassel. Eggs are round, not flat and shingle-like, like corn borer egg masses, laid in in groups of a few to 200. The average sized mass I’ve seen was smaller than Lincoln’s head on a penny. They are bright white if freshly laid, turning tan to grayish in a few days, then purple just prior to hatch. Hatched egg masses are barely noticeable, since the larvae seem to eat the egg shells, leaving an iridescent circle. The tiny larvae emerge and sit on the egg mass, then crawl up the plant to the tassel. As second and third instars they move back down to the silks, then as larger larvae into the ear. Insecticide applications must be timed close to egg hatch and when small larvae are exposed on the tassel and leaf surface. The threshold for treatment is five percent of plants with egg masses or small larvae. Many bulletins and my MSU Insect Guide E-1582 give a threshold of eight percent. However, in discussions this winter with my colleague Tom Hunt from the University of Nebraska, I reduced the threshold this summer to five percent (five of 100 plants with eggs or larvae). Insecticides include pyrethoids such as Warrior, ProAxis, Pounce/Ambush, Mustang, Capture, Baythroid, Asana and Lorsban. More critical than product is timing to kill exposed caterpillars. A special alert to people managing sweet corn. Growers tend to have consecutive planting dates of sweet corn, which makes it likely that one or more of the plantings will be attractive to western bean cutworm. Beth Bishop in the MSU Vegetable Program has developed a recommendation for sweet corn. Check the Vegetable CAT alert for her thoughts. Western bean cutworm in dry beans Dry beans are particularly attractive to western bean cutworm if neighboring corn fields have already tasseled. Less information is available for managing western bean cutworms on dry beans, and it is harder to scout for eggs on the plants. Eggs are laid on the underside of dry bean leaves and may be easily missed. On the plus side, if you are trapping, the trap can be used to time spray treatments on dry beans. Moth numbers are accumulated over time until peak flight. This requires checking traps regularly to detect the peak. If the accumulated catch is between 700 and 1000 moths, damage risk to beans is moderate and beans must be scouted closely. Check fields for larvae and larval feeding 10 to 20 days after the peak, and spray if pod feeding is found. If the catch exceeds 1000 moths by the peak, the risk is high for damage in dry bean and an insecticide application is most likely needed 10 to 20 days after peak flight. So far, we are considerably under the 700-1000 per trap required to treat dry beans. Table 1: Weekly western bean cutworm trap catches in Michigan counties as of July 25.
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| Armyworm also in northwest Michigan For those of you in the northwest part of the state, I have received multiple reports of armyworm in both corn and alfalfa fields, and visited a big infestation personally in Mason County. Judging by the time of the year, this is second generation armyworm. In some cases, the caterpillars are moving out of alfalfa and into corn. I assume these are alfalfa/grass fields, since the grass component is attractive for egg-laying. Counties reporting problems are Benzie, Manistee, Mason, Missaukee and Osceola, but other places are likely infested. Fields with poor weed control, as well as edges of corn fields near ditch banks, fences or neighboring pastures and legume/grass stands are most at risk. Confounding the management situation is that caterpillars, at least in the field I visited, ranged in size from about 0.75 to 1.5 inches on the same plant. While it is probably too late to control the biggest larvae, plants may be infested with larvae of multiple sizes. In corn, scout and count smaller larvae (under 1.5 inches), using this threshold for treatment: 75 percent of plant with one or more larvae. Be sure to unroll whorls when scouting, as larvae hide out during the day. Many products are registered for control and aimed down into a whorl, they will be quite effective. If the problem is confined to field edges or larvae are moving in from a nearby field, consider a border spray to save time and money. However, some of the corn is reported as five or more feet tall, making it difficult to treat unless a high clearance ground rig or aircraft is available. In forages, the threshold is four or more per foot of row. Cutting will help to kill larvae in place of spraying. If you cannot or do not treat, armyworm larvae are attacked by parasitic flies and a pathogen. I saw signs of both in Mason County, but the levels were quite low last week. |
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| Looking for a few “good killers” Can you help us with our search for soybean killers? We need to collect isolates of the fungus that causes Soybean Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) from grower fields for a research study funded by the Michigan Soybean Promotion Committee. The first part of the project is to collect plants with symptoms of SDS from grower fields. We’d like to sample at least 10 grower fields with symptoms of SDS. After the plants are collected we will be culturing symptomatic plant tissue to recover the pathogen. Isolates of the pathogen will be tested to determine their level of pathogenicity. We need to find isolates that are “good killers” for the second part of the study. Next year, we will be inoculating a field with the SDS pathogen and planting soybean varieties that have been bred for resistance to SDS to see how well they perform in Michigan. Soybean Sudden Death Syndrome symptoms usually appear in late July - August. Leaves develop yellow spots that merge to form yellow patches between veins. As the disease progresses, the leaf tissue between the veins turns brown, and the leaves stay green. Leaves may fall off, leaving the leaf petiole still attached. SDS usually occurs in patches where there is compacted or poorly drained soil, and may be associated with soybean cyst nematode. A fact sheet about SDS with color photos of symptoms can be found at http://www.ipm.msu.edu/fieldcrops.htm/pdf/7-24SDS.pdf If you know of a field with symptoms of SDS, please contact your county Extension educator, phone me at 517-432-0480, or email me at rytlews1@msu.edu. |
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| Corn and soybean fungicide: To spray or not to spray – that is the question High market prices for both corn and soybeans this year are once again tempting growers to consider applying fungicides in the absence of disease. Whether or not a yield increase will result continues to be a topic of many lunch counter discussions, and among plant pathologists. Corn Fungicides are routinely applied in seed corn fields where there may be little resistance to disease. In a multi-state study where fungicides were applied to field corn, results ranged from instances of yield decrease, to no differences from untreated controls and some instances of increased yield. In the absence of threshold levels of disease, no consistent pattern emerged that that could help predict when applying a fungicide would result in a yield increase. Yields were found to increase with fungicide application where gray leaf spot (Cercospora zeae-maydis) was present at levels above economic thresholds. Gray leaf spot does not occur on a widespread, annual basis in Michigan. When it does occur, it is more likely to be found in susceptible hybrids grown in corn after corn or in no till situations and is favored by high humidity. Hence, irrigated fields would tend to provide a better environment for the disease than non-irrigated fields. Timing of fungicide application is important in corn. When certain fungicides were applied during the critical period one to two weeks prior to tasseling, particularly in combination with another pesticide or adjuvant, abnormal ear development (“beer can ears”) resulted in significant loss of yield. The cost of fungicides and application needs to be considered to determine whether there will be an economic return from a fungicide application. Run-down resulting from ground application needs to be figured into the equation as well. Soybeans In soybeans, there has also been considerable work done to evaluate foliar fungicide applications, partly as a result of looking at fungicides to control soybean rust. Data has been compiled to summarize the results of foliar fungicide application to soybeans across a wide range of soybean varieties and growing conditions in multiple states across multiple years. Again, results ranged from instances of yield decrease, to no differences from untreated controls and some instances of increased yield. In the absence of threshold levels of disease, no consistent pattern emerged that that could help predict when applying a fungicide would result in a yield increase. Most soybean diseases that foliar fungicides are designed to control do not reach economic levels in Michigan. We have not found soybean rust in Michigan. The most common foliar disease, brown spot (Septoria glycines) has not been shown to cause economic loss. Downy mildew, bacterial pustule and bacterial blight may commonly occur, but rarely affect productivity. These diseases would not be controlled by the fungicides typically applied for foliar diseases and fungicides are not part of the recommendations to manage them. White mold is another disease of soybean that can cause economic losses, but foliar fungicides do not control it. Frogeye leaf spot (Cercospora sojina) can cause economic losses in susceptible varieties that have shown significant responses to foliar fungicides. Frogeye leaf spot has been more of a problem in states further south, but has occurred in scattered fields in Michigan in the last couple of years. Application of strobilurin fungicides has a greening effect on soybeans that may delay maturity. Growers who wrestled with stems tangling in combines last fall as they harvested soybeans might want to keep that in mind when making a decision to apply strobilurin fungicides. If you do decide to invest in a fungicide application to your corn or soybeans, why not set up a fair evaluation in your field to see whether or not you realized any benefit? Here are some guidelines for setting up check strips and an evaluation in your field. (From the C.O.R.N. OSU newsletter July 7, 2007, So You Are Trying Fungicides On Corn And Soybeans, How To Evaluate If They Are Worth The Cost? - Anne Dorrance, Pierce Paul, Dennis Mills)
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| Agricultural field sanitation requirements in Michigan The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) has updated enforcement procedures for field sanitation standards in 2008. Inspections may be based on complaints or referrals, as well as, programmed inspections, which are conducted by MIOSHA personnel as time permits where they see hand-labor operations in the field. Drinking water Clean and safe potable water must be readily accessible to all employees. Heat-related illness can be reduced or prevented by drinking enough water and taking other precautions, including suitable clothing. Farm workers experience the highest risk of heat-related illness of all occupations. Where 11 or more employees have worked on any day during the last 12 months, the water must also be suitably cool for the temperature conditions and dispensed by single-use cups or by fountains. Toilet and hand washing facilities Toilet and hand washing facilities must be provided whenever work time plus transportation time to and from the field exceeds three hours. One toilet and hand washing facility shall be provided for each 20 employees or fraction thereof. The facilities shall be located together and as close as practical to the work location. For small operations, where the 11 or more employees rule does not apply, the facilities must be either provided as above or available to employees by using employer furnished transportation. Employees must be given reasonable opportunity to use these facilities. Toilets shall be ventilated and screened, have self-closing doors lockable from the inside, and constructed to ensure privacy. Toilets shall be operational and include an adequate supply of toilet paper. Hand washing facilities must have an adequate supply of potable water, soap, and single-use towels. All facilities must be maintained in clean and sanitary conditions and waste shall be disposed in a sanitary manner. Where the 11 or more employees rule does apply, employers must inform all employees about the importance of good hygiene practices to minimize adverse health effects. More information is available at www.michigan.gov/miosha, and by calling the MIOSHA General Industry Safety and Health Division at 517-322-1831 or the district supervisor at 616-447-2650. Free consultation and compliance assistance is available through the MIOSHA Consultation Education and Training Division (CET) by calling the Lansing office at 800-866-4674. CET publications can be accessed at http://www.michigan.gov/dleg/0,1607,7-154-11407_30453---,00.html. To read Dr. Bitsch’s complete newsletter go to her website at http://www.msu.edu/user/bitsch. Under “News” click on “Agricultural Field Sanitation” or click on “Agricultural Labor Issues in Michigan” for a list of available newsletters. Please remember that these newsletters serve educational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. |
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| Regional reports 1 -- Southeast Ned Birkey Weather Weather has been hot and humid, cool, wet and dry. Parts of southeast Michigan have had over eight inches of rain in July with up to seven inches coming at one time on July 2. Fortunately, no widespread damaging winds or hail, though some storms had high winds. What a difference a year makes, as we were generally hot and very dry until Thursday, July 26 last year, then received up to 12 inches of rain through August. Farmers hope the weather does not change to hot and dry now. Crop report Alfalfa harvest is being done between the rains. It has been difficult to get the first and second cuttings removed. Quality is spotty because of the rain, but the quantity of hay is very good. Last year’s second cutting was negligible due to the dry conditions. There have not been large potato leafhopper numbers and there is enough moisture that plants are not severely stressed. Barley has been harvested with generally good yields. Acreage is creeping up and probably will again this fall. Corn generally looks very good with most fields at the R1 silking stage. Some fields with low areas have lost corn plants due to excessive rains. European corn borer and corn earworm traps have low numbers, which should quickly increase with the second generation. Some corn is lodging due to shallow roots and storms with high winds. Oats are headed and turning with harvest perhaps next week. This has been a good weather year for oats. Soybeans are on-the-ropes with all the rain. Plants are at the R2 full flowering stage. Many fields have yellow areas; some low areas have lost plants due to rain. Commercial pesticide applicators are busy applying post emerge herbicides, fungicides and foliar fertilizers. Western bean cutworm and western corn rootworm traps are out. Japanese beetle numbers are not as high as last year. Lots of double crop soybeans have been planted through last week. There is enough moisture for germination. Our STARS fungicide/insecticide plots are going in this week and next. Wheat is 99 percent harvested, which has been a struggle. Yields and test weights are down, with a premium being paid this week for wheat delivered to a terminal elevator with a 60.6 pound test weight. Miscellaneous Is Fall coming early? The Lions open their pre-season games in two weeks! Farmers here are optimistic about corn yields, but are throwing everything but the kitchen sink at soybeans. The Center for Excellence Field Day in Lenawee County will be Wednesday, August 20. |
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| 2 -- Southwest Bruce MacKellar Weather The southwest region has had two very different types of weeks since the last report. Last week, conditions became much warmer and drier over the lower tiers of counties, with scattered thunderstorms developing over the northern and central portion of southwest Michigan, but dry conditions settling towards the Indiana border. Irrigation systems were getting a good workout last week, but showers and thunderstorms over last weekend ushered in cooler and drier air, with bright sunshine over the last couple of days. Overall, rainfall totals ranged from about two inches down to about 0.5-inch. I anticipate that irrigation will begin again today with drier conditions in the forecast. Our average heat accumulation is around 25-27 base 50 growing degree days per day at this point in the season. Crop report At this point, most of the commercial corn continues to look very good. Pollination has been completed on some of the earliest fields, but many fields are pollinating right now across the lower tiers of counties. We did have some drought stress and high temperatures as the plants were heading into pollination last week, so there may be some impact on yields on sandier fields. The crop is approaching maximum water usage during the next two to three weeks, with evapotranspiration rates ranging from 0.25 – 0.28-inches per day under hot and dry conditions during this period. We have seen western corn rootworm adults, but their levels seem to be fairly low so far this year. Japanese beetles have been emerged for a couple of weeks, so it still may be worthwhile to look for evidence of silk clipping in your fields during pollination. The goal on most commercial corn is to keep at least half an inch of viable silk from the tip of the ear until pollination is completed (silks brown or not turgid). Western bean cutworms have been on the increase in Michigan, and the southwest portion of the state is no exception. Moth catches have been small, but steady over the last two weeks, with our traps catching two to three moths per night using pheromones, and crop consultant Ed Piontek was catching six to eight moths per night in a black light trap in northern St. Joseph County. (Be sure to read Chris DiFonzo’s article on western bean cutworm above) We will be scouting some fields of seed and commercial corn to look for larvae and egg masses over the next couple of days. European corn borer moth activity should be on the upswing by the next Field CAT Alert report. It takes approximately 1000 GDD’s from first moth flight in the spring to for the first generation larvae to reach pupation, and second generation adults emerge at about 1200 GDD’s from first moth flight. In central St. Joseph County using the Mendon Enviro-weather station data, we should be in the pupation stage soon with moth emergence expected (with average temperatures) in about seven to 12 days. Deer damage to the crop continues to increase with nearly every field edge showing signs of deer pulling the tops out of plants down to the ear. Detasseling is nearing completion on the earliest planted seed corn, but we will have an extended season this year as the later plantings are approximately knee high at this time. Leaf rust is easy to find, with lots of pustules on lower leaves, and some moving up the plant towards the ear leaf. We may be seeing the early signs of northern corn leaf blight on a few fields as well. Be careful when applying fungicides to seed corn before the ear is developed to understand what your seed corn agronomists and crop protection company reps are saying about adding other materials such as adjuvents, insecticides or foliar fertilizers into a tank mix. In some instances, tank mix partners that would be acceptable in later fungicide applications may have the potential to cause damage to sensitive in-breds with some fungicide products. Western bean cutworm moth flight has been relatively small, but steady in St. Joseph County (see commercial corn section above). The early planted soybeans are at R1 to R2, and are growing rapidly. We did see some drought and heat stress on soybeans last week. Soybeans are increasing in their water demand at this point in the season, with evapotranspriation rates ranging from about 0.18 – 0.22-inches per day under hot and dry conditions for the most advanced fields. We have seen some increased incidence of root and stem diseases in a few soybean fields in St. Joseph County, but are not sure of the causal organism at this time, as samples are being submitted to the lab. Small pockets of the field showed yellowing leaves in the lower canopy, discoloration and necrosis along the lower stem, and rapid leaf and plant death once the plants came under heat stress. These plants may have been subjected to some additional moisture early in the growing season due to heavy rainfall, but water would not have stood for an extended period of time. We can also find areas of fields where soybean cyst nematode (SCN) have traditionally been high that show signs of yellowing and reduced growth where soybean cyst nematode resistant varieties have been planted. I would encourage growers to monitor their fields for the development of Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) in portions of these fields because of the wet conditions this spring and the correlation between SCN and SDS. Soybean aphid numbers have remained low, but there has been a small increase in the number of winged aphids (alates) I have seen. Japanese beetle defoliation appears to be down somewhat this year, but bean leaf beetle feeding seems to be higher than in the past several years. Overall, the crop continues to look good, and perhaps has shown better growth in the last few weeks where heavy rainfall early cause uneven stands. Deer damage continues to be a significant. I counted an average of five to six deer browsing in each soybean field on my way home one evening at dusk. In alfalfa, producers are putting up second and third cutting hay this week. The forecast is showing good opportunities to put up after this weekend for the next couple of weeks. Potato leafhopper numbers are high and increasing in the southwest, so be prepared to treat re-growth alfalfa to protect the small plants. Most wheat producers that I talked to were pretty satisfied with their wheat yields, although we won’t be setting any major records in the lower tier of southwest region. The straw has been coming off fields very quickly to make way for second crop snap beans and cucumbers. Some second crop soybeans have been planted on earlier harvested irrigated fields as well. Oats are beginning to turn. Yield potential continues to look good, with the first harvest a week or so away. Rye is being harvested as well. These crops are often used as cover crops, as well as for feed in the case of oats. |
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| 3 -- West Central Fred Springborn Weather Rains have been scattered and fairly light over the past two weeks in much of the area, a few locations received heavy rains of more than an inch. High temperatures have been in the upper 70s to low 80s. Crop report Alfalfa harvest of the second cutting is winding down. Potato leafhoppers are present in many fields at relatively low levels. Wheat harvest is underway with generally good yields and test weights reported. Less than half of the crop is harvested due to light rain showers. Minimal damage from sprouting has been reported thus far. Oat harvest will begin very soon. Corn is pollinating in many fields. Some irrigated fields are just past pollination. Dryland fields are quite variable due to soil moisture and early season issues. European corn borer trap counts remain quite low. Western bean cutworm has been detected in Montcalm County with one moth per trap on July 15 and an average of five per trap on the July 22. Soybeans are flowering. Very low levels of soybean aphid have been observed; natural predators seem to be keeping the pest well under control. Dry beans are blooming. The bulk of the crop has gotten off to a good start. The early planted fields are suffering from root rot problems, especially those that are in a tight rotation. |
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| 4 -- Central Paul Gross Weather There has been lots of variability in rainfall over the past two weeks. Some parts of the region received about an inch, while others recorded six inches with scattered hail. There was a small strip of hail in southern Isabella County that caused significant crop damage. Soil moisture is adequate at this time, but rain will be needed on lighter soils as corn enters the pollination stage. The every-other-day scattered showers have made it difficult to dry hay or harvest wheat. Crop report Wheat harvest is in full swing as the weather permits. Most farmers are harvesting wheat at higher moisture than they would like in order to avoid sprout issues that have caused problems in the past. There is very little head scab reported at this time. Most growers are very pleased with yield and test weight. Some have reported fields yielding in the three digits. The corn crop is progressing nicely. Some are beginning to pollinate while others are just beginning to tassel. Most are optimistic about yield potential. There are no serious problems at this time. There have been no western bean cutworm moth catches in the Isabella County trap. Soybeans are in full bloom with some in R-1. Most stands are looking good. Some of the stands that were having problems early are starting to improve. Soybean aphids have been found in most fields, but at very low levels. Continue to scout for this and other insect pests. Harvest of second cutting alfalfa is progressing between rains. Farmers that chop have completed harvest. Those making dry hay are finding it a challenge. Most are reporting very good yields. Potato leafhoppers are over threshold in some fields. Farmers are advised to scout the re-growth for this pest. Populations are high at this time. Oats and barley are turning and harvest could begin next week in some areas. Stands look good and yield potential is there. Dry beans are doing pretty well. The crop seems to be average with some problems with excess rains in some areas. Leafhopper numbers are high. Sugar beets are looking very good. It looks like we could have a very good crop. |
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| 5 -- Thumb Bob Battel Weather The weather has been humid, warm and wet over most of the area. During the past two weeks, rain has ranged from about one inch to 2.75 inches. Crop report Wheat harvest has been stop and go. Rain and poor drying conditions have really slowed harvest, and there is concern about sprout. Wheat is probably less than half harvested in Huron County, but wheat that is harvested has had good yields. Alfalfa second cut is for the most part completed, and had very good yields, better than first cut. With all the moisture, the third cut is looking very good. Corn started tasselling the middle of last week. Pollination is underway. It looks like there will be a very good corn crop. The western bean cut worm trap I have near Pigeon had one moth trapped on July 23. There was also a report of trapping in the Sanilac trap. Soybeans are flowering, and early planted soybeans are setting pods. Soybean aphid activity has been extremely low, with most fields showing no aphid activity. There is some light Mexican bean beetle activity, but biological control agents are also present. Nothing seems to be over threshold. Early planted dry bean fields are beginning to flower. Many areas of dry beans are drowned out. Oats are beginning to turn, and it looks like a good crop. The rains have really helped sugar beets, and it looks like a very good crop. Growers have been spraying for rhizoctonia and cercospora leaf spot. |
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| Weather news Jeff Andresen Agricultural Meteorology Geography A large area of high pressure over the Great Lakes region Thursday morning (July 24) will result in another one to two days of fair and dry weather in Michigan before the passage of a frontal system which will bring the next chance for showers and thunderstorms to the state. The best chances for rainfall with this system will be Friday evening through Saturday morning, and across northern areas of the state. At this point, widespread rainfall is not expected with this system, with only scattered 0.25-inch totals where rainfall occurs, many areas of the state will remain dry. |
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