Another week of more rain and even some hail! This has been one of the most frustrating springs I have ever seen. Some farms have just finished while others are just struggling to keep it going. This is a big week for some to decide whether to stop and take preventative planting or move forward. Those with forage needs and animals to feed don’t have a choice. It is hard to believe that the longest day of the year is in nine days.
Corn and Soybean Update
Corn has really started to kick it into high gear this week. A lot of corn that I looked at last week at V1 has jumped to V3-V4 this week and has good color. It is nice to see the recently planted corn get out of the ground in 6 days.
I am seeing black cutworms in every field I have been in and have recommended a couple be sprayed. One of my research plots had some areas with 50% of the plants clipped. Remember, threshold is 5%. I recommend that if you haven’t walked through your corn, do so now. I found some larvae yesterday that were almost fully developed. They will continue to cut corn plants until V6 (six collars visible). We have a long way to go until all our corn is safe. I also continue to see slug damage in corn fields particularly in no-till that planted into a cover crop.
Soybeans have been moving a little slower. Most of the earlier planted beans have at least one full trifoliate expanded. Many of those early beans are still struggling and replanting is still occurring. Like corn, beans planted in the last week were out in six days. We need some more heat to keep them ahead of slug feeding. Many farms continue to apply slug baits. These baits (Deadline MP and Sluggo) have not been easy to find locally but are effective. No sign of soybean aphids yet but they usually start to fly from the buckthorn to soybeans the first week of June.
Wheat Update
The early planted wheat is done pollinating, and it seemed to go well. Some wheat is in full pollination right now and some late planted is just getting ready to go. Overall, I think our wheat looks good. It seems to be standing well so far. Fusarium head blight will be the wildcard. The risk map, https://www.wheatscab.psu.edu/, has had us as medium risk this last week but moves us gradually to low risk over the next six days. Cereal leaf beetles and larvae are present but I haven’t seen populations that warrant spraying. Still no reports of heavy armyworm presence anywhere yet. Keep your fingers crossed. Hard to believe we could be combining in 30 days.
Black Cutworm and Armyworm Trap Catches
Black cutworm trap catches were overall low again this week. We have reached 300-degree days across the region since May 5 which means we will stop monitoring the traps for the season. We have been seeing significant BCW larvae cutting corn and it could increase. All corn should be scouted!
Common armyworm flights continue to be low. Do not let your guard down. They have a knack for coming in under the radar so keep monitoring grass fields and winter grains.
Next report will be June 18.
Assisting Mike Stanyard and Jodi Letham is Field Support Staff – David Bechtel
