Another week of hot dry conditions. It looks like we will finally get a bit of reprieve starting tomorrow. Just need to get some rain. Last week, the US Drought Monitor finally had Niagara, Orleans, Erie, Genesee and the top of Wyoming Counties colored yellow meaning abnormally dry. It is dry in Monroe and western Wayne too and it would not surprise me to see that yellow expand when the new map is released tomorrow.
Corn still continues to grow which says something for developing drought tolerance in our newer hybrids. I am concerned with the corn that is pollinating right now in the middle of this hot dry period. Midwest states are also seeing pollination problems with “tassel wrapping”, which is where the upper leaves stay wrapped longer around the tassel. This can disrupt the timing of pollen release and silk receptiveness. There are recent articles from many university agronomists seeing this phenomenon. It is not common, but most agree that it appears to be caused by temperature and moisture fluctuations right before tasseling. Other agronomists report that there are differences between hybrids, within and across brands. Even the size of the tassel has been seen to have an effect. The end result is that there will be a reduction in the number of fertilized kernels due to poor pollination synchrony. If you feel you have seen tassel wrapping in your field, give us a call. You will be more likely have kernels missing at the butt end of the ear as those are the first silks to emerge.
Corn Leafhopper Update
I recently had some questions about corn leafhopper (CLH), so I thought I’d give you an update. Corn stunt is a complex of diseases that are spread by the feeding of the corn leafhopper. Corn stunt and the corn leafhopper were found late in the season last year and it was the first time either had been found in NY. This year the Cornell IPM program, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Oklahoma State University and the NY Corn & Soybean Growers Association have collaborated by putting up a trap line of yellow sticky cards across the state. Twenty-one sites are being monitored weekly for the presence of CLH. The key to managing corn stunt is detecting the first presence of CLH. We have not detected it yet in the traps, so we are very certain that it did not overwinter here. There is an online CLH map on the Crop Protection Network web page, https://cropprotectionnetwork.org/maps/corn that shows it’s progress as far and the Missouri/Illinois border. At this point, it looks like it is going to take a tropical storm to get it up into NY on time to do any injury. We will keep trapping and looking into the fall.
The NY Corn Yield Contest is Back
After a one-year hiatus, the corn contest is back to join the soybean contest again. Sign up for the contest here, https://nycsga.memberclicks.net/2025YieldContest#/.
Entries must be received and paid for by August 15.
NWNY Soybean Weed Tour
When: Monday August 4, from 10-11am
Where: 2862 Leader Rd., Seneca Falls
Glyphosate-resistant (GR) weeds including waterhemp are an increasing concern for NY field crops. Growers and Industry representatives will have an opportunity to tour and observe effective preemergence and postemergence applied herbicides for controlling waterhemp in Enlist soybeans. Dr. Vipan Kumar, Cornell weed scientist, will lead the tour through the small plot treatments and discuss the impact of these integrated herbicide strategies, with multiple modes of action, from a resistance management standpoint. There is no charge or registration for this event. One DEC certified applicator credit is available.
Next report will be August 6.
Assisting Mike Stanyard and Field Support Staff – David Bechtel
