Contents
View from the Field
Potato Leafhopper (Empoasca fabae)
Aaron Gabriel (CCE Capital Region) and Ken Wise (NYS IPM) report finding potato leafhopper (Empoasca fabae) in Eastern, NY. In a new seeding near Kinderhook, NY we found 20 potato leafhoppers in 10 samples of the sweep net (1 sample=10 sweeps) in 10 inch alfalfa. This is below threshold but a fair amount this early in the season. Here is how to identify potato leafhopper. Adult potato leafhoppers are lime green and slender about 1/8 inch long. Nymphs are even smaller lime green without wings.
potato leafhopper nymph
Potato Leafhopper Adult
Here is a video we developed on scouting potato leafhopper in alfalfa: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BIZYTq7Zec&feature=youtu.be
For a potato leafhopper in alfalfa scouting form please refer to the following website: https://nysipm.cornell.edu/sites/nysipm.cornell.edu/files/shared/form-plh.pdf
True Armyworm (Pseudaletia unipuncta)
Jeff Miller (CCE Oneida-Madison County) and Ken Wise (NYS IPM-Eastern NY) report catching true armyworm moths in their pheromone traps. There are no reports of armyworm larvae feeding on corn or small grains. Last week Aaron Gabriel (CCE Capital District) found small larvae in a hay field in Washington County. Keep an eye out for this insect pest. Here is a link to an IPM article on true armyworm: https://blogs.cornell.edu/ipmwpr/true-armyworm-aka-common-armyworm-pseudaletia-unipuncta-in-field-corn/ .
Weather Outlook – May 31, 2018
Jessica Spaccio
NOAA Northeast Regional Climate Center
Cornell University
Last week temperatures ranged from 4 to 12 degrees above-normal. Precipitation has ranged from a trace to 2 inches. Base 50 growing degree-days ranged from 40-160.
Showers and thunderstorms Thursday and Friday, some could produce gusty winds and locally heavy rain with perhaps isolated flash flooding.
Today temperatures will be in the 70s to 80s and humid with showers and thunderstorms possible (scattered to numerous, more likely for western to central NY). Overnight lows will be in the 60s.
Friday will be humid with highs in the 80s and showers and thunderstorms likely. Overnight temperatures will be in the upper 50s to mid 60s.
Saturday will be cooler and less humid with seasonable temperatures in the 70s. Scattered showers are possible for southeast NY, but the rest of the state will be dry. Overnight temperatures will be in the 50s.
Sunday highs will be in the upper 60s to mid 70s with dry conditions. Overnight temperatures will be in the 50s.
Monday highs will be in the upper 60s to mid 70s with scattered showers possible. Overnight temperatures will be in the 50s.
Tuesday highs will be in the upper 60s to mid 70s with scattered showers possible. Overnight temperatures will be in the 50s.
Wednesday highs will be in the upper 60s to mid 70s with scattered showers possible. Overnight temperatures will be in the upper 40s to mid 50s.
The seven-day precipitation amounts will range from 1 ¼ inch to 2 ½ inches.
The 8-14 day outlook (June 7-13) favors below-normal temperatures. The precipitation outlook favors near-normal amounts for southeast New York, and favors above-normal amounts for the rest of the state.
Maps of 8-14 day outlooks:
http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/predictions/814day/index.php
National Weather Service watch/warnings map:
US Drought Monitor
http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/Home.aspx
CLIMOD2 (NRCC data interface):
http://climodtest.nrcc.cornell.edu
New York Field Crop Pest Degree Day Accumulations for selected locations
(May 31, 2018)
| Station Location |
Alfalfa Weevil (Base 48) March 1 |
GDDs (Base 50 F) March 1 |
Seed Corn Maggot (base 39) January 1 |
Black Cutworm (Base 50) April 24 |
| Ceres | 481 | 410 | 926 | 397 |
| Chazy | 388 | 320 | 755 | 320 |
| Geneva | 505 | 435 | 597 | 434 |
| Highland | 572 | 496 | 1120 | 485 |
| Ithaca | 489 | 418 | 959 | 417 |
| Massena | 386 | 319 | 762 | 319 |
| Northport (Richters) | 541 | 454 | 1159 | 433 |
| Valatie | 485 | 416 | 940 | 410 |
| Versailles | 508 | 442 | 988 | 435 |
| Watertown | 372 | 311 | 766 | 311 |
Alfalfa Weevil Accumulated Degree Days for Peak Occurrence
(50%) of Alfalfa Weevil at a given Life Stages
Stage Degree Days
Egg hatch 280 DD
Instar 1 315 DD
Instar 2 395 DD
Instar 3 470 DD
Instar 4 550 DD
Cocooning 600 DD
Pupa 725 DD
Adult emergence 815 DD
Black Cutworm Degree Days
| Degree Days | Stage | Feeding Activity |
| 0 | Moth Capture | Egg Laying |
| 90 | Eggs Hatch | |
| 91-311 | 1st to 3rd Instar | Leaf Feeding |
| 312-364 | 4th Instar | Cutting Begins |
| 365-430 | 5th Instar | Cutting Begins |
| 431-640 | 6th Instar | Cutting Slows |
| 641-989 | Pupa | No feeding |
Source: University of Minnesota Black Cutworm Trapping Network
Seed Corn Maggot Peak Flight and Fly Maggot Free Degree Days
| Base Temp = 390 F | Peak 1st Generation | Seed corn maggot fly free degree days | Peak 2nd Generation | Seed Corn maggot fly free degree days | Peak 3rd Generation | Seed Corn Maggot fly Free degree days |
| degree days | 360 | 810 | 1,080 | 1530 | 1800 | 2250 |
Source: Insect IPM for Organic Field Crops: Seed Corn Maggot by Katelin Holm and Eileen Cullen
Clipboard Checklist
Keith Waldron, NYS IPM
General
*Pre- and post-plant weed evaluation, timing cultivation and/or post-emergent weed management
*Watch for early season weeds: winter annuals, chickweed, henbit, field penny cress, shepherd’s purse, giant and common ragweed, purple deadnettle, lambsquarters, redroot pigweed, velvet leaf, Pennsylvania smartweed, common sunflower, quackgrass, foxtail
Alfalfa:
*Evaluate established legume stands for harvest.
*Monitor for alfalfa weevil, crown or foliar diseases
*Monitor new seedings for Pythium blight and Phytopthora Root Rot.
*Monitor for Alfalfa Snout Beetle (In Oswego, Jefferson, Cayuga, Wayne, Lewis, St. Lawrence, Clinton, Essex, and Franklin counties)
Small Grains:
*Monitor winter grain fields for growth stage, disease presence or risk, weed issues (such as winter annuals, corn chamomile and chickweed), growth stage, number of tillers
* Evaluate stands for risk of fungal diseases (See above Dr. Bergstrom’s article above)
*Check stands for soilborne virus diseases, Wheat spindle streak mosaic and Soilborne wheat mosaic, check for signs of powdery mildew or other maladies, cereal leaf beetle, weed escapes, goose damage
Corn:
*Plant corn as conditions allow
*Pre- and post-plant weed evaluation, timing cultivation and/or pre- and post-plant weed management
*Emergence: assess stand, population count, bird and early season insect issues e.g. black cutworm, wireworm, white grubs.
Soybeans:
*Plant soybeans as conditions allow
*Pre- and post-plant weed evaluation, timing cultivation and/or post emergence weed management
*Emergence: assess stand, population count
Pastures:
*Check and mend fences as needed.
*Check crop growth
*Monitor fields for invasive species, plants harmful to livestock
*Review/Plan rotation system
Equipment:
*Remove / clean soil and crop debris from equipment
*Arrange for custom weed control or check your own application or cultivator equipment for repairs.
*Carry appropriate / necessary NYS DEC and EPA required documents: (pesticide applicators license, pesticide labels, MSDS sheets, etc.) with application equipment
*Calibrate:
-planting equipment – maintain records on planting rate per field
-manure spreaders – maintain records on amount spread per field
-pesticide application equipment – Check nozzles, pumps, etc., recalibrate pesticide application equipment before use.
Storage:
* Check stored grain bins for temperature, moisture and signs of mold and insects. Aerate, core, transfer grain or treat as necessary
*Check forage allocation and anticipate feed program adjustments as forages from previous year are used up
*Plan where forages should be stored for optimum allocation next feeding season