Tar Spot Update for N.Y.
We have been watching for tar spot in corn fields all summer and it has been hard to find. In the past couple of weeks, it has really come into Erie and Cattaraugus Counties. Those are counties that it has been found the past two seasons, so it was not a surprise to find it. However, we are now starting to find isolated fields with tar spot out around the NWNY region. Just this week, it was found in Monroe and Seneca Counties. We are finding it on corn that is still green, late planted or longer day maturities. The disease is too late to affect yield this year, but it is important to know where it has established for next year. The tar spot inoculum can overwinter on corn residue and so that field should be scouted thoroughly next year if it is going back into corn.
If you still have some green corn out there, please take a look. If you find anything that looks like the picture below, take a picture and text it to me (585-764-8452). We really want to know where this disease has spread and established in NWNY. Go to https://cropprotectionnetwork.org/maps/tar-spot-of-corn to see the current tar spot map of the U.S.
Winter Wheat Planting Populations
Winter wheat is steadily getting in the ground as soybeans acres are getting harvested this week. What a great bonus weather week so far! I am receiving questions about wheat planting population numbers. As we move into October, our plant populations can increase a bit to make sure we get the final tiller counts we want. We can increase up to 1.5 live million seeds per acre. We can move it up to 1.65 million seeds on October 15.
Here’s a reminder on how to figure out how to calculate how many pounds per acre to plant.
To get Live Seed %
Recommended rate / Percentage of live seed = Rate/acre
Example:
1,350,000 seeds / .90 live seeds = 1.50 million seeds. You then need to divide by the number of seeds per pound (get off the seed tag)
1.50 million seeds / 10,200 seeds/Lb. = 147 lb./acre
Here is also a handy chart to check yourself at planting or at wheat emergence.
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