Weekly Field Crops Pest Report

View from the Field

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Alfalfa weevil larvae have been reported in several fields in Eastern New York. I was in a field at the Cornell Research Farm in Valatie, NY that had 60% tip feeding. Weevil injury in other fields ranged from 40% to 60%. The economic threshold for alfalfa weevil in first cutting alfalfa is 40 percent tip feeding.  The Valatie alfalfa fields are 5 plus years old and thinning with a lot of space between the plants. This concentrates the larval feeding on fewer plants causing more damage. For more information please view our Alfalfa Weevil Management Guide (582k pdf file)

Alfalfa Weevil Larval Damage

Joe Lawrence reports that alfalfa snout beetle adults are still being found migrating from fields in Lewis County.   I was at a very good Grazing Economics Discussion/Pasture Walk yesterday in Rensselaer County. Relatively few flies were seen on the pastured cattle this week.

Field Meeting on Pasture Management and Profitability with CCE of Rensselaer County

Field Meeting on Pasture Management and Profitability with CCE of Rensselaer County

Indiana and Ohio are still reporting high numbers of black cutworm moth captures. Penn State’s Black Cutworm Monitoring Network has yet to detect a significant flight of black cutworm moths this season; however armyworm moths are being collected in central Pennsylvania. Extension personnel recommend it is very important to get out and scout for larvae in fields. For more information on black cutworm or armyworm view our last week’s article.

Weather Outlook

April 26, 2012
Jessica Rennells, Northeast Region Climate Center, Cornell University

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Last week temperatures were above normal for the whole state, most of the state had temperatures 3 to 9 degrees above normal; this was the opposite of the week prior.  Precipitation amounts ranged from half an inch to over two inches, helping to alleviate dry conditions.  The base 50 growing degree-days ranged from less than 25 in a portion of the Adirondack region up to 75.

Today (May 10) is going to be cool and breezy with temperatures in the low 50’s to low  60’s and scattered showers.  Overnight temperatures will also be cool with clearing skies, ranging from mid 30’s to low 40’s.  There is the potential for localized frost development. Friday will be sunny with highs in the mid to upper 60’s with lows in the upper 30’s and low 40’s. Saturday will be sunny and warmer with highs in the upper 60’s to mid 70’s.  Overnight temperatures will range from upper 30’s to upper 40’s with a chance for showers as a cold front moves in.

Sunday’s temperatures will be in the mid 60’s to mid 70’s with a possibility for scattered showers.  Lows will be in the mid 40’s. Monday will be in the upper 60’s and low 70’s with a chance of showers.  Lows will range from the mid 40’s to low 50’s. Tuesday will be mostly sunny but a slight chance for showers with temperatures will be in the upper 60’s and low 70’s.  Overnight lows will be in the upper 40’s and low 50’s. Wednesday will be in the upper 60’s and low 70’s with a chance for scattered showers.  Lows will be in the upper 40’s and low 50’s.

The five-day precipitation amounts will range from a tenth of an inch to half an inch. The 8-14 day outlook is showing above normal temperatures for the entire Northeast and below normal precipitation for all but the Hudson Valley region.

National Weather Service Climate Prediction Service Maps of 8-14 day outlooks

National Weather Service Eastern Region Headquarters watch/warnings map

NRCC Drought Page which features the US Drought Monitor map (updated every Thursday)

Wheat Leaf Rust, Wheat Stripe Rust, and Wheat Stem Rust National Update

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Wheat leaf rust has spread from the Central Plains to the East Coast as of the end of April. Infection levels were increasing slightly in portions of Oklahoma, Texas, and also along the East Coast. Although rust is widespread throughout the Southeastern United States, dry conditions over the past month have hindered any further significant development. Wheat stripe rust continues to be observed in the Pacific Northwest, though at lower levels than observed in 2011. Stripe rust can also be observed along the Mississippi River and in some points further east, but most areas are outside the management phase (before flowering) at this point. Spread to areas further north and east will be possible as recent storm systems and rainfall have passed through the North-central and Northeast. Additional heavy rain from a storm system moving from Missouri eastward through Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky early this week could provide conducive conditions for continued stripe rust spread. Wheat stem rust has not been officially reported yet in the U.S., though testing continues on some samples collected in Mississippi at the variety trial location near Schlater, MS.

Get the Slimy Scoop on Slimy Slugs!

Ken Wise, NYS IPM

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With the recent cool, wet weather we’ve had, slugs will start leaving there slimy trails in our corn and soybean fields. Sometimes we forget that slugs can do a lot of damage to corn and soybeans under the right weather and habitat conditions. Slugs thrive in wet cool weather that can cause damage to early season corn with stand reductions. Slugs over-winter as eggs. They like a cool, wet habitat and habitats with crop residue. Conservation and no-tillage systems can be at particular risk from slug damage.  Slugs attack seedling and the lower leaves of the young corn plants. They feed on the leaf leaving irregular holes and slime trails.

NYS CCE Field Crops News Blog

Mary McKellar Department of Crop and Soil Sciences

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Are you looking for a way to stay up to date on field crops information in New York State?

Cornell University campus faculty and staff in collaboration with CCE field crops county extension agents have developed a news blog on current field crops information in NYS which can be accessed at NYS CCE Field Crops News.

Blog postings will include news articles, seasonally relevant extension articles and announcements about emerging issues and programming opportunities related to field crops in NYS including a weekly weather outlook, county scouting reports, county based research information and the NYS IPM Weekly Pest Report.

In addition to being able to access the blog directly at the address above, viewers may find a news feed to the blog at FieldCrops.org. An email subscription to the blog is also available and can be found on the home page of the blog. Subscribers will be emailed updates as new postings are made eliminating the need to keep checking the blog for new information.

For more information about the NYS CCE Field Crops News blog, please contact Mary McKellar (mem40@cornell.edu).

Growing Degree Days

Ken Wise, NYS IPM

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CURRENT Accumulated Growing degree days (48F Base):

March 1 - May 2, 2011

*Indicates missing data

source: NEWA's Degree Day data page

Alfalfa Weevil Prediction Model
A website at NEWA can predict alfalfa weevil development in your area. Just select a weather station near you and it will give you the AW degree days.

Clipboard Checklist

Keith Waldron
NYS IPM

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General
*Maintain crop records by field, including variety, planting date, pesticides used, nutrient inputs including manure, etc.
*Minimize field to field movement of soil and crop debris on equipment, particularly from field with known pest problems such as white mold and Phytophthora.
*Evaluate early season weed pressure: winter annuals? perennials?,  grasses? broadleaves? weed / crop growth stage?

Alfalfa:
*Evaluate legume stands for winter damage, determine average alfalfa stand count adjust crop plans if necessary
*Monitor for alfalfa weevil. In Oswego, Jefferson, Cayuga, Wayne, Lewis, St. Lawrence, Clinton, Essex, and Franklin counties monitor for alfalfa snout beetle.
*Monitor new seedings for Pythium blight and Phytopthora Root Rot.

Small Grains:
*Monitor winter grain fields for growth stage, number of tillers
*Check stands for soilborne virus diseases, Wheat spindle streak mosaic and Soilborne wheat mosaic and powdery mildew symptoms, cereal leaf beetle, weed escapes, goose damage

Corn:
*Prepare land and plant corn as soon as conditions allow
*Pre-plant weed evaluation, timing cultivation and/or pre-plant weed management
*Monitor early planted corn for emergence issues

Pastures:
*Check crop growth, invasive species, plants harmful to livestock
*Review/Plan rotation system

Equipment:
*Check nozzles, pumps, etc., recalibrate pesticide application equipment before use.
*Calibrate planting equipment and manure spreaders - maintain records on seeding application rates applied per field
*Carry appropriate / necessary NYS DEC and EPA required documents: (pesticide applicators license, pesticide labels, MSDS sheets, etc.) with application equipment

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

Mark Your Calendars

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CORNELL UNIVERSITY’S SMALL GRAINS MANAGEMENT FIELD DAY, Musgrave Research Farm, 1256 Poplar Ridge Road, Aurora, NY, Thursday June 7, 2012. The Program will run from 10:00am-12:00noon, registration begins at 9:30 am. 

An educational program of the Integrated Field Crop, Soil, and Pest Management Program Work Team in conjunction with Cornell Cooperative Extension will be hosting the Small Grains Management Field Day with research demonstrations and presentations of interest to the local farming community.   DEC and CCA credits will be available.  For more information, please contact  Mary McKellar at mem40@cornell.edu or 607-255-2177

Contact Information

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Keith Waldron: NYS Livestock and Field Crops IPM Coordinator
Phone: (315) 787 - 2432
Fax: (315) 787-2360
Email: jkw5@cornell.edu

Ken Wise: Eastern NYS IPM Area Educator: Field Crops and Livestock
Phone: (518) 434-1690
Fax: (518) 426-3316
Email: klw24@cornell.edu