View from the Field

Western bean cutworm

Western bean cutworm trap catches continue trickle in this week with more reports of empty traps. Many of the traps have been removed this week with the low catches. There are reports of damage to field corn in Northern NY. Once the larvae have entered the ear of corn insecticides are not effective at controlling the pest. The data is presented below.

Corn diseases

There are reports of minor infections of certain corn diseases. While it has been wet diseases are not been a big issues yet this season. Many have reported low levels of northern corn leaf blight, northern corn leaf spot, eyespot and gray leaf spot. Many grower have avoided spraying for diseases this year because of the low incidence of corn diseases. Scouting fields for the presence of disease is very important in making an educated decision on spraying a fungicide or not.

Soybean aphids

Report of soybean aphid population have declined. Once a field excessed the R5 stage of growth aphids cannot really hurt yield. The 250 aphids/plant threshold is for plant growths stages R1 to R5. 

Weather Outlook – August 23, 2018

Jessica Spaccio

NOAA Northeast Regional Climate Center, Cornell University

 

Last week temperatures were near normal to 4 degrees above-normal. Precipitation has ranged from less than ½ “ to over 3”. Base 50 growing degree-days ranged from 100-180. There were improvements in drought conditions in western NY and northern NY.

 

Dry weather into the weekend, increasing temperatures and humidity through next week.

Today temperatures will be in the upper 60s and 70s with lower humidity. It will be a mostly dry day with a few isolated showers. Overnight lows will be in the 50s to near 60, some 40s are possible.

Friday will be in the 70s and low 80s, pleasant and dry. Overnight temperatures will be in the 50s to near 60.

Saturday temperatures will be in the upper 60s to lower 80s, with a chance for evening shower and thunderstorms. Overnight temperatures will be in the upper 50s to mid 60s.

Sunday highs will be in the mid 70s to mid 80s with scattered afternoon thunderstorms possible. Overnight temperatures will be in the upper 50s to mid 60s.

Monday temperatures will be in the mid 70s to low 90s with increasing humidity and a chance of showers. Overnight temperatures will be in the upper 50s to near 70.

Tuesday highs will be in the upper 70s to low 90s with continued muggy conditions and a chance of showers. Overnight temperatures will be in the mid 60s to low 70s.

Wednesday highs will be in the upper 70s to low 90s with continued muggy conditions and a chance of showers. Overnight temperatures will be in the mid 60s to near 70.

The seven-day precipitation amounts will range from a trace to three quarters of an inch.

The 8-14 day outlook (Aug 30 – Sept 5) favors above-normal temperatures for all of the state and slightly favors above-normal precipitation for the western half 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:

http://www.weather.gov/erh/

US Drought Monitor:

http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/Home.aspx

CLIMOD2 (NRCC data interface):

http://climodtest.nrcc.cornell.edu

 

What’s the deal with velvetleaf this year?

Bryan Brown, PhD, NYS IPM

Velvetleaf has been a bigger problem this year. Why? A couple thoughts: Velvetleaf has large seeds. Large seeds have the energy to emerge from several inches down. Therefore, if pre-emergence herbicides did not get enough rainfall (like in the dry part of early summer this year), they could emerge through the chemical barrier.

Post-emergence herbicides are most effective on velvetleaf when they have 4-leaves or less, because older plants have velvety, drooping leaves that reduce uptake. This would be an even bigger concern for contact herbicides, like glufosinate.

Also, velvetleaf has prolonged emergence. So multiple control efforts may be necessary. I haven’t been seeing velvetleaf dominate entire fields. It’s more in patches where the crop stand isn’t very good. This indicates to me that the early-season controls may have been successful and then the crop was able to smother later-emerging velvetleaf. But where there were low stand counts, these stragglers were able to take hold.

Fall Weed Survey – Invasive species and Plants affecting Livestock

Keith Waldron, NYS IPM

https://blogs.cornell.edu/ipmwpr/fall-weed-survey-invasive-species-and-plants-affecting-livestock/

As we enter the harvest season take some time to update your field records. It is a great time to take stock of what field issues can be found and note them in individual field records to enhance future management decisions. Note particularly good and bad areas with the field such as differences in crop height, plant populations, drainage, yield, etc. Updates on pest presence or damage can also be noted at this time.

 

An easily visible pest group to document this time of year are weeds. What species? Where are they found? How many are there? What management type (annual, perennial, biennial, grass or broadleaf species? Knowing this information helps to refine weed management decisions and develop next years cropping plans.

While visiting fields to conduct the fall weed survey note presence of troublesome perennial species like Canada thistle and milkweed and potentially invasive species such as spiderwort, Japanese knotweed, leafy spurge, multiflora rose and spotted knapweed growing in or around production and fallow fields, pastures, in fence lines or in windbreaks. Consider hand weeding or spot treatments if practical. Many websites have information on invasive plant species. For information on invasive species in NYS see: http://nyis.info/ and http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/plants/main.shtml.

If you raise livestock, fall is also a good time to assess pastures and other grazed areas for presence of common weed species known to be harmful to animals. These species include horsetail (Equisetum spp), poke weed, St. Johnswort, tall buttercup, jimson weed, common milkweed and among others. A listing of some common plants poisonous to livestock can be found in the publication: Common Weeds Poisonous to Grazing Livestock  http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/livestock/dairy/facts/poisonousweeds.htm#2

To learn more about Plants Poisonous to Livestock and other Animals see: http://www.ansci.cornell.edu/plants/

 

Planting Winter Small Grains? What are the Pest Issues?

Growing cereal grains is on the increase across New York. Many of the winter grains are about to be planted. Many producers are planting small grain cover crops this fall. Some will be planting winter wheat, winter rye, winter triticale and winter malting barley for grain and straw. Sometimes we forget that there are several diseases and insect pest issues with planting winter small grains. Here is a list of items to consider when planting.

1. Do not plant cereal grains in the same field that had previously been a small grain. Rotation helps control many diseases like: scald, powdery mildew, Stagonospora nodorum blotch, glume blotch and more.
2. Select a cultivar that is adapted for your region. Remember to select one that has resistant to many of the diseases in the area. The diseases you want to think wheat spindle streak mosaic virus, soil borne mosaic virus, barley yellow dwarf virus, powdery mildew, leaf & stem rust, spot blotch, net blotch and more.
3. Follow the Hessian Fly Free Date: Make all small grains (cover crop or grain) are planted AFTER the Hessian Fly Free Date! Why? Hessian fly is a pest of small grains. The Hessian Fly Free Date is the point that Hessian fly is not active in the fall. The Hessian Fly Free Date indicates when aphids will not be active in the fields. Aphids alone are not a problem but they can transmit barley yellow dwarf disease to the plants.

4. ALWAYS use certified seed when planting. Certified seed is free from weeds and other diseases.
5. If planting conventional small grains it is important to use a fungicide on the seed at planting. This will help protect from soil borne fungal diseases.
6. Good integrated crop management is also important. Soil health, fertility, tillage practices, proper seed bed preparation, planting depth make for a healthy plant that can withstand more pest pressure.

 

Western Bean Cutworm Report

 

Town	7/1/2018	7/8/2018	7/15/2018	7/22/2018	7/29/2018	8/5/2018	8/12/2018	8/19/2018
Aurora	1	7	9	22	40	4	1
Chazy	0	0	2	9	140	152		4
Peru	0	0	1	70	404	117	7	0
Beekmantown	0	0	0	5	408	192	55	10
Chazy	0	0	1	3	514	532	256	38
Champlain	0	0	0	3	180	489
Mooers	0	0	0	17	178	35
Ellenburgh	0	0	1	8		147
Kinderhook	2	8	4	24	18	4
Homer		0	4	50	101	64	3	1
Preble	0	1	6	30	42	20	4
Walton	1	7	9	76	35	11	5
Walton	1	6	49	17	30
Amenia/Millbrook	0	0	1	12	41	5
Willsboro	0	0	4	17	16	47		4
Willsboro		0	12	75	52	37
Westport		0	0	82	150	47
Moira	1	0	1	298	760	551	120	14
Westville	0	0	6	80	710	42	10	4
Chateaugay	0	0	0	19	290	454		3
Malone	0	0	0	3	350	468	268	42
Bombay	0	0	1	136	372	308	18	3
West Bangor	0	0	0	103	745	551	170	18
Salisbury	0	0	0		28	4	1	0
Calcium	0	0	0	25	229	246	19	0
Clayton	0	0	0	13	38	35	1	0
Ellisburg	0	1	0	342	59	53	103	6
Hounsfield	0	0	15	214	429	291	72	8
Pamelia	0	1	1	36	146		180	9
Philadelphia	1	0	1	40	103	24	12	3
Plessis	0	0	1	36	55	45	2	0
Rutland	0	0	1	21	203	170	36	9
Watertown	0	0	0	8	65	45	14	1
Ellisburg	0	0	4	221	569	553	331	5
Croghan	0	0	0	193	288	114	23	4
Denmark	0	1	0	48	636	328	83	9
Harrisburg	2	1	0	10	401	495	40	2
Lowville	0	0	1	43	341	161	68	6
New Bremen	0	0	0	138	205	43	6	1
Turin	0	0	0	167	431	366	230	9
Martinsburg	0	0	0	48	587	334	119	5
Smithville	0	0	0	1
Hamlin			20	80	377	69	6	9
Hamlin		0	5	100	236		64
Middlebury	0	0	0	5		5		0
Glen	0	0	0	2		0		0
Palatine	3	0	10			12	3	0
Barker		0	1	42	206	485	112	9
Cassville	1	0	1	41	59	42	5
munnsville	1	0	0	41	179	185	42
Taberg	0	8	95	164	204	59	9
Westmoreland	0	0	0	86	1	1	0
Memphis	0	0	68	86	46		19
Preble		0	1	50	45	28
Canandaigua			0	21	37	58
Albion				43	138	39
Cherry Valley	0	0	2					0
Auburn	0	0	40	70	10
Colton		0	9	62	70	51	13
Edwards		0	0	14	206	154		2
Hammond		0	0	11	267	135	48	0
Huevelton		0	0	46	132	44	5	0
Lawrence		0	38	362	1400	900	235	20
Madrid		0	0	82	176	98	25	4
Massena		0	2	14	22	36	14	1
Waddington		0	0	66	64	49	9	1
Gansevoort	0	0	0	87	75	20
Wilton	0	0	0	22	29	7
Moreau	0	1	147	171	178	40
Riverhead	0	0	0	1	0	0	7	0
Walworth		0	1	4	15	9	1	0
Easton	0	1	37	64	30	6	1	0
Castile			3	25		81
	7/1/2018	7/8/2018	7/15/2018	7/22/2018	7/29/2018	8/5/2018	8/12/2018	8/19/2018
Traps Reporting	54	69	71	69	66	65	49	46
WBC Total	14	43	612	4625	14591	10197	2875	264
Avg WBC / Trap	0.3	0.6	8.6	66.7	221.1	155.6	58.7	5.7
“0” WBC	44	57	32	0	1	2	1	14
> 0 WBC	10	12	39	69	65	63	48	32
% Traps Catching	18.5%	17.4%	54.9%	100.0%	98.5%	96.9%	98.0%	69.6%
Accum Total forSeason	16	59	671	5296	19887	30084	32959	33223

 

Clipboard Checklist

Keith Waldron, NYS IPM

 General

*Walk fields to check general field condition, weed, vertebrate and other issues

*Watch for crop maturity, stand assessments, weed escapes, nutrient deficiencies, lodging issues

*Update crop records and field history

 

 Alfalfa:

*Evaluate established legume stands for approximate days until harvest
*Monitor potato leafhopper, foliar, systemic and crown rot diseases.
*Monitor new seedings for potato leafhopper, pythium blight, phytopthora root rot.

Small Grains:
*Monitor grain fields for growth stage, disease and lodging issues, grain maturity, harvest timing
*Record diseases present, location and types of weed escapes

* Prepare for planting winter small grains after the Hessian Fly Free Date.

 

Corn:

*Monitor for mid-season corn pests including European corn borer, corn rootworm, western bean cutworm, slugs, foliar diseases such as northern corn leaf blight and gray leaf spot, weed issues, nutrient deficiencies, vertebrate damage.

 

 Soybeans:

*Monitor for growth stage, soybean aphid, defoliators, foliar diseases, white mold, weed issues, vertebrate damage

 

 Pastures:

*Check water sources, mend fences as needed.
*Check crop growth, clip pastures between grazing as needed
*Monitor for invasive species, plants harmful to livestock
*Review/Plan rotations

 

Storage:

* Check stored grain bins for temperature, moisture and signs of mold and insects. Aerate, core, transfer grain or treat as necessary

* Clean and disinfect empty storage bins in preparation for grain harvest
*Check forage allocation and anticipate feed program adjustments as forages from previous year are used up
*Mow around storage bins and facility to minimize pest hiding places

 

Dairy Cattle Barn Fly Management:

*Monitor animals and barn area for house fly, stable fly and other pest management needs including presence of rodents and birds.
*Check facilities for favorable fly breeding conditions: (organic matter + moisture): leaks in watering systems, roof gutters for leaks and potential overspill, drainage,
*Sanitation, sanitation, sanitation – clean animal resting areas, feed troughs, minimize source of moist organic matter i.e. fly breeding areas in barn and in adjacent animal loafing yard
* Continue fly monitoring: install “3X5″ index card fly speck monitoring cards throughout barn
*Use, replenish, replace fly management materials: sticky fly tapes/ribbons, insecticide baits, natural enemies (parasitoids), fly population monitoring (3 x 5) spot cards
*Consider purchase and release of Muscidifurax raptor and/or M. raptorellus natural enemies of house and stable fly pupae.

 

Dairy Cattle on Pasture:

*Monitor animals for presence of face flies, horn flies and stable flies. Action guidelines: face flies (average 10 per animal face), horn flies (average 50 / dairy per animal side, 200 / beef cattle per animal side), stable flies average 10 per animal  (all four legs)
*Check feed bunk / water source locations for signs of stable fly breeding (moist undisturbed organic matter – spilled feed, round bales, etc.), minimize source of moist organic matter i.e. fly breeding areas in barn and in adjacent animal exercise yard.
*Check pasture for forage quality / quantity, rotate as appropriate
*Check pasture for vegetation poisonous to livestock
*Consider use of pasture fly traps to help reduce deer, horse and stable fly populations