Pheromone Traps Report
Trap #2 - Corn Ear Worm – many small moths and 1 large moth.
Trap #3 - European Corn Borer – it was full of bees – at least 33+. We do not know why the bees are being attracted to this pheromone.
Trap #4 - Fall Army Worm – 8 moths, 4 beetles.
Helios Trap
Nothing to report. Raised the level of the trap to coincide with the corn.
The day's session was focused on weed identification. Here is a list of what was noted:
- Pennsylvania Smartweed (it is flowering)
- Water Pepper
- Yellow Wood Sorrel – it looks like clover but is not in the clover family; toxic.
- Mare’s Tail
- Amaranth – both Spiny and Red Root; sometimes called Pigweed.
- Curly Dock – now seeding
- Velvet Leaf
- Plantain
- Wild Geranium
- Wild Pansy
Report on the Demonstration Plots
- Hops are looking very good.
- Blueberries - The plant are in fine shape – no deer damage. Fruit is ripening.
- Cover Crop - Buckwheat and Cowpeas are both up and growing.
- Virginia Peanuts- Peanuts are blooming. Will watch for formation of the stems out of the flower/ovary to grow the actual peanut underground.
- Peppers - The pepper plants are showing stress from the rains. Anywhere from 5” to 8 ½”. Several of the peppers have died. Nitrogen is being washed down below the roots by the rain. The peppers may need a foliage application of nitrogen and magnesium. The mulch that was applied is now holding the moisture as well as depleting the nitrogen.
- Quinoa – We are not sure if we have ANY plants at all.
Report on the Various Crops
Hay Field
Second cutting is down and drying
Soybeans
The soybeans are being grazed – probably groundhog and deer. There are deer tracks across the field and across the corn field. There are two groundhog burrows adjacent to the field. The soybeans have started fixing nitrogen in nodules on the roots. This is good.
 |
| Nodules on soybean roots |
Sweet Corn
Ray has planted 16 varieties of sweet corn. The corn is up. There is some flood damage (low lying areas) in the field. Also noted was evidence of birds pulling up the young plants to eat the seed.
Field Corn
The field corn is showing some nitrogen deficiency. Bottom leaves are showing a V pattern of yellowing along the outer edges to the tip. This is indicative of the plant stealing from itself and is called “firing”. Farmer will make one more fertilizer application with a tall tractor.
Wheat Field
The wheat is mature and is now drying to the proper moisture content. We estimate another ten days to harvest. Because of the wet weather, we are looking for mildew and fungus – especially head scab or fusarium.
Because there is no more tender plant material in the wheat field, the cereal leaf beetle is moving to the corn. If there is any Army Worm, it will also. The cereal leaf beetle has been seen, but there is little evidence of the Army Worm.
