Production

The season’s early onset of drought-like conditions has several insects on the move early. Plant bugs and stink bugs are moving from their wild host plants into cotton earlier than farmers usually expect. Alabama Cooperative Extension System entomologist Ron Smith says the plant bug situation is not one producers are unfamiliar with, but earlier action will be required to keep ... Read More »

• By Angus Catchot • I have had quite a few calls this year about threecornered alfalfa hoppers in cotton. There have been a few treatments on limited acres to date. In the past damage has usually been confined to field borders, but again this year it seems to be more widespread across whole fields in the areas where they ... Read More »

• By Scott Stewart • Good early-season management of tarnished plant bugs relies on a sweep net, monitoring square retention, and making timely insecticide applications as needed. During the first two weeks of squaring, the recommended treatment threshold is an average of eight or more plant bugs per 100 sweeps. After that, treatment is recommended anytime of infestations average 15 ... Read More »

While rainfall is important for crop production, the amounts falling across the High Plains have negatively impacted row crops and agricultural operations, with potential effects extending into the summer growing season, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert. Dr. Jourdan Bell, AgriLife Extension agronomist in Amarillo, says a significant amount of this year’s cotton has been affected by ... Read More »

As if Mid-South producers don’t have enough on their minds with rutted fields, flooding and late planting, now an influx of insect pests has made their lives even more difficult. And it’s not limited to just one crop, either. Cotton “This has been one of the lightest thrips we’ve experienced in a long time,” says Gus Lorenz, extension entomologist for ... Read More »

• By Dominic Reisig • With more cotton starting to square, ALL cotton in North Carolina should be scouted so we maintain acceptable square load to bring us into blooming (see this previous article for how to scout and use thresholds for plant bugs prebloom). Dr. Sally Taylor, Virginia Tech, has been performing bioassays with tarnished plant bugs from Virginia ... Read More »

• By Kay Ledbetter • “Cotton and Conservation” is the title of a new series of videos being developed by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and North Plains Groundwater Conservation District. Dr. Jourdan Bell, AgriLife Extension agronomist in Amarillo, says she is excited about the new partnership that will report on cotton development and irrigation conservation at demonstration sites ... Read More »