Contents
View from the Field
Alfalfa Weevil
There is very little pest activity with field crops this week. Mike Stanyard (CCE Northwest NY Dairy and Field Crops Team) and Aaron Gabriel (CCE Capital District) report minor alfalfa weevil feeding on alfalfa.
IPM for Alfalfa Weevil on Alfalfa
Small Grain Diseases
Currently, small grains are reporting low to no disease issues so far this season. Dr. Gary Bergstrom (Cornell University Field Crops Plant Pathologist) will be posting the fusarium head blight (scab) update this weekend. You can check for the risk for fusarium head blight at the Fusarium head blight prediction center http://www.wheatscab.psu.edu/. Currently, most of New York is at low risk with the exception of the area of NY that borders Pennsylvania and New Jersey is at high risk for winter wheat. The lower and mid-Hudson Valley is also at medium to high risk for Fusarium head blight for winter wheat according to the prediction center model.
Black Cutworm and True Armyworm
Black cutworm moths captures in our pheromone trapping network remain low. We have not yet caught any true armyworm moths. With recent weather fronts might have brought more moths to NY. Be on the watch for this pest in your small grains and corn.
IPM for Black Cutworm in Field Corn
Weather Outlook – May 17, 2018
Jessica Spaccio
NOAA Northeast Regional Climate Center
Last week temperatures ranged from near-normal to 4 degrees above normal. Precipitation has ranged from a trace to over two inches. Base 50 growing degree-days ranged from 20-80.
Dry on Thursday, showers and thunderstorms Friday evening into the weekend with heavy rain possible on Saturday.
Today temperatures will be in the upper 60’s to 70’s with clearing skies and dry conditions thanks to high pressure. Overnight lows will be in the low 40’s to low 50’s.
Friday temperatures will be in the 60’s with scattered showers beginning in the eventing. Overnight temperatures will be in the 40’s to low 50’s with showers continuing to move into the state.
Saturday will be rainy with thunderstorms possible (marginal risk for severe in western southern tier) and temperatures in the mid 50’s to 60’s; locally heavy rainfall is possible. Overnight temperatures will be in the 50’s with scattered showers continuing.
Sunday will have highs in the 70’s with occasional light showers but a mostly dry day. Overnight temperatures will be in the 50’s.
Monday a few showers are possible with highs in the upper 60’s to to mid 70’s. Lows will be in the mid 40’s to mid 50’s.
Tuesday will have highs in the upper 60’s to mid 70’s with scattered showers and thunderstorms. Lows will be in the upper 40’s to low 50’s.
Wednesday, temperatures will be in the 70’s. Lows will be in the upper 40’s to low 50’s.
The seven-day precipitation amounts will range from ¾ inch to 2 inches.
The 8-14 day outlook (May 24-30) favors above-normal temperatures and below-normal precipitation for 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 18, 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 | 241 | 196 | 573 | 179 |
| Chazy | 177 | 137 | 438 | 137 |
| Geneva | 258 | 209 | 594 | 208 |
| Highland | 327 | 275 | 760 | 264 |
| Ithaca | 256 | 210 | 608 | 204 |
| Massena | 191 | 151 | 452 | 151 |
| Valatie | 277 | 232 | 641 | 226 |
| Versailles | 246 | 205 | 610 | 198 |
| Watertown | 177 | 141 | 457 | 141 |
Alfalfa Weevil Degree Day Model
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
Source: Growing Alfalfa the IPM Way-NYS IPM
Seed Corn Maggot Degree Days Model
| 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
Black Cutworm Degree Day Model
Black Cutworm Degree Days Model
| 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
Clipboard Checklist
Keith Waldron, NYS IPM
General
*Walk fields to check tile flow, check and clear drainage outlets. Look for line breaks
*Note and record location of wet areas on field maps or aerial photo for future tiling considerations and crop decisions, check for areas of soil erosion
*Pre-plant weed evaluation, timing cultivation and/or pre-plant 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 winter damage (thinning stand, frost heave, Brown root rot), determine average alfalfa stand count adjust crop plans if necessary
*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 over wintering survival (snow mold and other cold injury issues), weed issues (such, as winter annuals, corn chamomile and chickweed), growth stage, number of tillers, foliar diseases (powdery mildew, rusts)
*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:
*Prepare land and plant corn as conditions allow
*Pre-plant weed evaluation, timing cultivation and/or pre-plant weed management
*Emergence: assess stand, population count
Soybeans:
*Prepare land and plant soybeans as conditions allow
*Pre-plant weed evaluation, timing cultivation and/or pre-plant weed management
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