Pheromone Trap Results
Trap #1 - Black Cutworm
2 black cutworm moths, 2 spiders, 1 unidentified larvae
Trap #2 - Corn Earworm
3 corn earworm moths, 1 fall armyworm moth, 5 noctuids, 1 lady bug
Trap #4 - Fall Army Worm
36 Fall Armyworm moths, 3 true armyworm moths, 1 small moth sent to office to identify (this is the same species moth as the one captured near the popcorn field.) 1 moth escaped.
Hay Field
5th and final cutting is down. Hay field will be ‘burned’; i.e. all plant cover killed with chemical spray, and then made ready for wheat.
Popcorn Field
The early variety is beginning to dry and is nearly ready. Plant stalks are dying. Birds are feeding on the tops of the ears. There is a lot of corn earworm present. The later variety is still maturing. In the strip between the popcorn and the Cover Crop Field there are a lot of small moths. We will capture one for identification to determine if they are after the popcorn.
Field Corn
Corn stalks are completely dead. Black line is evident on kernels. Moisture content is down to the mid-20% - near harvestable level. There is a small amount of mold present – but probably not enough to endanger its usability. Birds are feeding on the tops of the ears.
Note: Bird pressure on this farm is due to being near the migratory flyway.
Cover Crop Field
Buckwheat is seeding. Deer are feeding on the soybeans. Soybeans are beginning to pod. Soybean aphids have moved from the Wheat/Soybean field to these soybeans. Lady bug and lady bug larvae are present.
Wheat/Soybean Field
Ladybugs were able to control the aphid infestation. No spraying or other intervention was necessary. Pods are filling but it is still a race against the daylight to see if they will mature to a size that is marketable. Soybeans are also susceptible to frost. Deer are also feeding along the field boundary.
Soybean Field
Plants are dying and defoliating. Beans seem small – perhaps due to lack of a good hot summer. Beans will still need to dry down for 2 – 3 more weeks.
Demonstration Plots
Tomatoes
Possible Buckeye Rot in the tomatoes.
Peanuts
Blooming has stopped. There are lots of pegs and peanuts are formed underground. Now we will wait for the plants to die and the peanuts to mature.
Cover Plot
Buckwheat are reseeding and sprouting. Cowpeas are still blooming and there are now many pods. They are difficult to see unless you move the plants around.
We will be looking to identify sprouting daikon radishes.
