For more information and how to register visit:
https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/ag-hub/events/animal-antibiotics-and-parasite-management-webinar
June 8, 2022 Melissa Bravo
Crop Progress and Hessian Fly Sightings
June 8, 2022 Salem County, NJ
Salem County has experienced nearly two weeks of ideal temperatures in the mid 80’s to low 90’s allowing for a considerable amount of soybean acreage to be planted, and hay acreage harvested. Rye for grain harvest is nearly complete and barley will soon follow. With a 72-hour forecast of one inch to one and a half inch expected, many producers have switched back to planting as the window to make dry hay closes.
Corn: Early planted corn is near canopy and in very good condition. Surface moisture is adequate but at this stage of rapid stem elongation, rain is needed to replenish the two inches of rain received at the end of May but less than a tenth of an inch in the last week. Overall, most of Salem County received in excess of 12 inches of rain in the last 90 days ending June 6, which is over an inch and a half more than the average for this period of the growing season and substantially more than the drought stressed crops in Cape May County that are experiencing a 75% deficit in moisture for the last seven days. Corn planted into standing rye and other late terminated cover crops is lagging behind tilled fields due to moisture competition and carbon sink, but overall flushes of seedling broadleaves are not present indicating preemergence programs are working effectively.
Soybeans: Full season soybean planting is nearly complete. Emerged beans are ahead of seedling flushes of pigweeds but behind giant ragweed in areas where ragweed is present. Expect amaranth species weed pressure to increase significantly after this weekend’s forecasted rain.
Wheat: Wheat is drying down rapidly and in overall good to excellent condition. In areas where irrigated wheat is already yellow and evidence of wind damage is visible, Hessian Fly is the most likely culprit as seen in this photograph taken in a dough stage field. Flowering canada thistle seen in wheat that will be double cropped with soybeans should be de-headed to prevent seed dispersal prior to harvesting. In enlarging patches, consider a spot-treatment (sacrificing soybean) of a growth regulator herbicide if prior treatments of glyphosate products have not limited spread.
About Hessian Fly: Mayetiola destructor (Say) is a grain pest in the Cecidomyiidae family. It is a major cause of wheat yield reduction around the world. The fly forms galls on the underside of wheat leaves that protect the feeding larva from efficacious applications of insecticides. In addition to wheat, Hessian fly can be found in rye, barley and in brome grasses (and reedscanary). Bromes are a major composition of the grasses in this area. Egg hatched occurred when temperatures were above 50 degrees earlier this season.
https://www.weather.gov/marfc/Precipitation_Departures
If producer’s noticed patches of dark green areas of wheat (barley) in the same fields now infested with flies or where lodging is increasingly evident, these are an indicator of where the larva were pupating.
Larval feeding after stem elongation causes lodging. Feeding damage can also cause failure to produce a seed head, and a reduce seeds per spike and light test weight. – Journal of Integrated Pest Management, September 2018 article.
The adult swarm seen today are emerging after fourteen days of ideal weather above 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Now that flies are present, they will lay eggs over the course of the next week.
Due to climate change, it is possible that there could be three emergences of Hessian Fly this year. Southern states see as many as six generations. Generally, in northern states past recommendations have suggested the fly has an emergence in the spring and again in the fall. But in southern states emergences occur in multiples of one, two three in spring, and again in fall. Which is where management strategies come into play. Knowing the number of emergences in our area can help producers calculate if delayed planting will assist with controlling a two brood a year emergence or if it is unlikely to help with multiples of brood emergences. Wind plays a major role in dispersal from infected fields to non-infected fields. Due to cover crop program planting dates for small grains, producers with Hessian Fly issues should talk to their local NRCS office to make sure program planting dates take into account the local Hessian Fly Free dates for fall of 2022.
What to do now: Producers can identify Hessian Fly by looking for swirling clouds of insects that look like white smoke coming out of the wheat canopy. Swatting the swarm will trap flies on the palm of the hand for easier identification. The female fly has a distinctive orange striping to her abdomen. Hessian flies are orange and black banded compared to the overall all orange appearance of wheat midges. At this stage, the flies have already pupated through the larval stage, which already damaged the wheat crop by tunneling into the stems. Most likely lodging is evident nearby.
What producers can do to plan for next year: Hessian fly was most likely introduced to North America in infected straw bedding. Straw from infested fields may still contain larva. The fly and larva are not considered a pest of stored grain. The larva pupate in the axis of the leaf stem. Cutting straw stubble below the leaf nodes and removing it from the field may help in management as the Hessian Fly larva overwinter inside a flax-seed like cocoon (puparia) at the base of infected plants. Plant resistant cultivars, delay planting dates if this year’s infestation is associated with an earlier planting date, destroy volunteer wheat, and manage brome grasses in field edges and within field when possible.
Hessian Fly Free Planting Dates in Southern New Jersey: “In Maryland, plant wheat following the Hessian fly-free date for your area. This date is approximately September 30 for the Hagerstown area and becomes progressively later as you move from the south and east in the state. The fly-free date is October 13 on the Lower Eastern Shore.” – Read more in 10 STEPS TO PROFITABLE WHEAT PRODUCTION in the Maryland Agronomy News.
Additional considerations for producers planting winter wheat – double crop soybeans-winterwheat: “Growers should avoid planting wheat into last season’s wheat stubble. Continuous no-tillage, wheat-double-cropped-soybeans may result in severe problems and should be avoided in Hessian fly problem areas.” – https://www.farmprogress.com/grains/hessian-fly-resistance-threat-southeast-wheat
Source information. For a detailed publication on Hessian Fly (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) Biology and Management in Wheat visit Journal of Integrated Pest Management, (2018) 9(1): 14; 1–12 issue.
Salem County Producers, if you are seeing signs of Hessian Fly lodging, contact Melissa Bravo at the Salem County Extension Office so fields can be monitored in the fall to determine the Hessian Fly Free dates for this area.
June 7, 2022 Melissa Bravo
Consumer Price Index for Food Highest Since 1980
It’s not to late to plant a garden in a few square feet of lawn…
According to the April 2022 report, the prices urban consumers paid for food in the grocery store is the highest it has been since November of 1980. To read the full report visit https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2022/food-prices-up-10-8-percent-for-year-ended-april-2022-largest-12-month-increase-since-november-1980.htm
The next release of data for the month of May 2022 CPI data is scheduled to be released on June 10, 2022, at 8:30 A.M. Eastern Time. If grocery store canned good prices are any indication, the May report will be higher.
Besides joining one of the many CSA’s in New Jersey, (https://ediblejersey.ediblecommunities.com/shop/csa-guide-jersey)
What can you still plant in the yard (sod removed, compost, lime, fertilizer in place) turned square foot garden hot spot in the month of June?
- First, if you have not already done so, and this is a new garden spot, get a soil test and include a lead test. Contact your local extension office for soil testing kits from laboratories in the region. When paying for the soil test results, be sure to request on the form a fertilizer recommendation by the linear foot (garden) as opposed to by the acre (as is done for commercial vegetable crops).
- Next, stock your own pantry with the following crops if you can: A) water them when needed and B) weed them when needed.
Be mindful of the bees. Plant insect-pollinated crops well away from backyard picnic areas and swimming pools.
- Corn: Self-pollinated, plant at least seven inches but no more than nine inches apart in multiple rows (not one long row)
- Sunflowers: Insect-pollinated, primarily bees, plant with corn, account for the width of the sunflower head in seed placement
- Beans: Self-pollinated, plant with a pea or bean-variety-specific mycorrhizal inoculant, provide stakes for pole beans
- Tomatoes: Wind pollinated, plant in a open area block for proper pollination and air flow
- Peppers: Self-pollinated, be mindful peppers drop flowers in high heat
- Cucumbers: Insect pollinated, plant in a area with the highest sun exposure
- Yellow squash: Insect pollinated, primarily bees
- Winter squash: Insect pollinated, primarily bees
- Pumpkin: Insect pollinated, primarily bees
- Melons: Insect pollinated, primarily bees
For a full list of crops and other information see the Rutgers Publication Planning a Vegetable Garden
For further reading on the cost of canned goods over time see, Canned Fruit and Vegetable Consumption in the United States. United States Department of Agriculture An Updated Report to Congress October 2010.
June 1, 2022 Melissa Bravo
Kentucky’s Combine Checklist to Prevent Wheat Bin Pests
In anticipation of the beginning of combine season, please check the following resources to minimize stored grain losses or quality deductions.
High humidity has prevailed throughout much of southern New Jersey since Mid-May with most days registering above 90 degrees relative humidity. The rain event beginning on May 27th brought and inch to two-inches of rainfall to some areas of Salem County where small grains are rapidly maturing and lanternfly nymphs in rosebeds are rapidly emerging.
Memorial Day weekend gave producers a three day window to mow, swath and rake hay for dry baling today and tomorrow before thunderstorms are forecasted. Remember, last year was a high grasshopper egg laying season. If you noticed a significant number of grass hoppers in hay swathing or wheat combining this month, be on the alert for increasing grasshopper pressure on all other crops going into the rest of the summer.
Kentucky Pest News:
IPM 20-point Checklist for Controlling Insects in Stored Wheat
Other resouces for producers monitoring disease at this time:
Expert Commentary by Wheat Region: This window will popup when you click on the link to the wheatscab risk site https://www.wheatscab.psu.edu/
Table 3 summarizing some observed weather conditions required for toxin production in grain crops: A great resource on grain mycotoxins.
https://www.extension.iastate.edu/grain/topics/MycotoxinsintheGrainMarket.htm
May 24, 2022 Melissa Bravo
Corn emerging. Scout now for black cutworm
On May 3, 2022, Penn State Extension reported a significant number of black cutworm moths in traps in Lebanon and Lancaster County. In general, it takes about 300 growing degree days for the moth larva to emerge and begin cutting corn.
This year, this is coinciding with emergence of field corn. And, of note is the shift in cultural practices this year due to high input costs and low availability resulting in higher than normal late terminated cover crop residue still present in the field as corn is emerging.
According to the Climate Smart Farming Growing Degree Day Calculator provided by Cornell University, as of May 25, Salem County has had 300 growing degrees day accumulated (base 50) since May 3rd.
What to consider:
- Corn after soybeans, corn after wheat and reduced tillage more likely to have higher cut worm issues
- Fields with high rye residue, or weed residue are more likely to have higher cut worm issues
- Fields planted into hay recently terminated
- Fields with higher water table, ponding areas
- If cutworm are about 1 inch long or less; and plants are less than 6 leaf stage; and plants are cut below the soil surface; in these situations likely to see economic injury justifying rescue treatment in that area.
- Economic thresholds are triggered typically when 2% to 3% of the area infested are showing signs of active feeding. But this is an atypical year for cutworm corn economics and producers should factor in all considerations which in general will lower the tolerance to 1% cut or wilted and small larva to 3% cut or wilted in larger larva.
For more information see the following publications: https://extensionpublications.unl.edu/assets/pdf/g1153.pdf
https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ent59
and, a note about corn economics related to cutworm in https://extension.umn.edu/corn-pest-management/black-cutworm#economic-thresholds%3A-when-to-treat-a-problem-1185760
May 13, 2022 Melissa Bravo
Ideal conditions for wheat quality. What does this mean?
Since last week, the critical period of fifteen to eighteen days for wheat crop grain quality and quantity has been underway in much of south-central New Jersey and Pennsylvania. This period occurs when heads begin to emerge from the flag leaf (flowering) followed by pollination through to dough stage. While we can’t rule out bacterial and pest damage going forward, we can anticipate how fungal pathogens might impair wheat yields by looking back at the weather since the flag leaf emerged and this week’s coming forecast as pollination completes.
Current predictions for the fungal grain pathogen of wheat known as fusariums as of May 13th are low for much of the region with just a few areas along the Delmarva Penninsula considered at high risk. The Fusarium Risk Tool developed by researchers at Ohio State, Penn State, and Kansas States can be found at https://www.wheatscab.psu.edu/
Fusarium’s are naturally occuring fungi in soil that can infect small grain seed heads when conditions are ideal for infection. For high yielding wheat, ideal weather includes humidity in the range of 50 to 60%. Ideal conditions for fusarium risk are when humidity levels rise to 100% and stay there during this critical period of grain development. While they may sporulate at lower temperatures and humidity levels, they rarely mature until humidity climbs above 85%.
Let’s take a look back and see how the weather has favored the winter wheat crop in our area using local conditions for Woodstown, NJ.
Weather May 1 to May 10. Coming into head emergence, the low humidity periods on May 1 (below 40%) for six hours, three hours on May 3 and five hours on May 5 were offset by the number of hours and days above 68% humidity but mostly below 89% humidity except for a high of 93% on May 4. Chances for diseases to sporulate were highest on May 6 through May 8, but humidity levels did not rise above 90% and temperatures were below 60F degrees even dropping into the low 40’s. Yellow rust Puccinia striiformis in particular if present might have sporulated under these conditions. Powdery mildew could also have sporulated as these conditions were in the lower end of it’s ideal range. The key consideration is that sporulating conditions did not remain so for a long period of time on May 9 and May 10 when humidity dropped into the mid to low 20% range and temperatures hovered in the low 70’s, less than ideal for most fungal pathogen development of concern.
To learn more about specific wheat diseases see USDA’s Guide to Wheat Diseases and Pests at https://wheat.pw.usda.gov/ggpages/wheatpests.html
Weather May 11 to May 13. Most fields in Salem County are nearly fully headed and shedding pollen with little signs of flag leaf disorders. Other than uneven canopy heights on some poorly drained heavy clay soils, much of the sandier loam fields are sporting a good rating at this time. The critical period for any required fungicide applications is now through the next few days. Humidity levels stayed well below 80% until 11 pm on the 12th but have remained above or near 90% for the last twelve hours.
What’s in store? Today with overcast skies and a steady light rainfall this morning in Woodstown, NJ, the humidity rose into the low 80’s and temperatures hovering around 75F degrees. The forecast for Saturday has humidity at 80 to 88% then dropping on Sunday to below 83% and below 76% on Monday, and below 54% for the rest of the week. All things considered, a good forecast this next week going into a critical period of wheat quality and grain fill.
Keep in mind these observations are under natural conditions and non-irrigated. Those who rely on irrigation and have been using irrigation on winter wheat during flag leaf development must pay particular attention to humidity levels in the wheat canopy, especially when cloud cover and higher air temperature persist for long periods of time.
