Shortly after the IPM crop scout tour on August 7th, the harvested sweet corn was plowed under to prevent disease and possible insect damage. The open field will soon be seeded with a cover crop to prevent erosion.
The field corn is in the late dough stage, near the dent stage. The kernel substance is more starchy, but still milky. Most of the husks have open ears where moisture can enter, along with sap beetles. More importantly, the open ears can lead to disease such as micotoxins. Preferably one would want a tighter husk.
Regarding the field corn, an estimated 206 bushels per acre is expected to be harvested in late September or early October. This was calculated by taking several samples of 25 to 26 ears per 17.5 feet, then taking a representative sample of 5 ears and counting the kernels (length & width) of each. The average number of kernels (716) on each of the 5 ears times the average number of ears 25.5 (within 17.5 feet) equaled 18,258 kernels. This total (18,258) divided by 80 gave 228 bushels per acre on a normal basis. Allow for 10 percent imperfections equals 206 bushels per acre.
The popcorn is in the pollination stage having tassels and silks. There is some rust appearing on the plant, but for the most part the popcorn plant looks very good. The popcorn will be of the red and yellow variety.
Some of the lower layer of leaves on the soybean plant shows septoria leaf spot because the plants are quite tall from the rain. There is some beetle damage showing on the leaves. Also noticed were the brown stink bug and green clover worm. Stinkbugs can be an issue because they pierce the pod, suck the juices, and there is loss of pods.
In the demonstration plots the pepper plants look healthier with some added fertilizer. . The garden-in-a-bag plants have been doing better with water and fertilization. The strawberry plants were sprayed again for powdery mildew. They have been sprayed over the past month For the first year they look good.
Below are the summaries for the insects caught in the three insect traps.
- Trap 1 (Black Cutworm) – 12 fall armyworm, 1 chafer beetle..
- Trap 2 (Fall Armyworm) –3 fall armyworm, 3 honey bee, 2 bumble bee.
- Trap 3 (European Corn Borer) – 1 bumble bee, 1 noctuid.
