Pheromone Trap Results
Trap #1 - Black Cutworm
1 stink bug, 1 leaf beetle, 1 fly (diptera)
Trap #2 - Corn Earworm
10 noctuid moths, 2 leaf beetles
Trap #4 - Fall Armyworm
1 Fall Armyworm moth, 1 True Armyworm moth
Weed of the week: Eastern Black Nightshade
Also looking at the seed head of Fall Panicum
Field Corn
Dent stage with some kernel tips showing black – very close to maturity
Still have approximately 3 weeks to dry to 15% - though if weather remains wet, farmer can choose to harvest at 18% and pay a drying fee rather than lose crop to late fall storms, sprouting, or mycotoxins in mold.
Popcorn Field
Ears appear to be fully fertilized. Hulls are starting to form on the kernels.
Mites are present.
Cover Crop
Buckwheat is blooming.
Wheat/Late Soybean Field
Explosion in the lady bug population in response to the soybean aphid. Scouting threshold is 250 aphids per plant. At this threshold the farmer has about 7 days to the spraying threshold of 1000 aphids per plant. Lady bugs can eat about 180 aphids per day, so we are watching to see if the lady bugs can keep the balance. With all the moisture in the ground, plants are not showing evidence of wilt associated with the aphids feeding.
Still in the reproductive phase with pods just beginning to set.
Sweet Corn Field
Has been mowed down. No decision on what to plant next.
Soybean Field
Nothing noted.
Hay Field
3rd cutting is in.
Demonstration Plots
Buckwheat is reseeding with emergence of new plants.
Peanuts are forming underground on end of pegs.
Clustered Mountain Mint is excellent for attracting every kind of pollinator.
Found many Soldier Beetle. These are similar to lightning bugs and feed on pollen or nectar so are found around flowering plants.
Note: next week will meet at RCE for Soil Test Interpretation Class. Potluck to follow.
A special thank you to Roger for compiling the notes for this week.
