A preliminary analysis was provided by Rob Mazza regarding the strawberry crop. So far this season about 50 pounds of strawberries have been picked from 20 plants, including the picking from this morning. In order by berry size, the largest was All-Star (June bearing), then Chandler (June bearing), and then Tribute (Ever bearing). A total of 2,245 strawberries have been picked - 810 for Chandler, 784 for Tribute, and 651 for All-Star. Gray mold disease, or Botrytis blight, has damaged a significant number of berries. The bigger leaf canopy of the plant, along with recent moisture and humidity has led to an increase in the disease. In the near future the plants will be cut back, and old straw replaced with new.
The field corn is in the 5th to 6th leaf stage. The cornfield was fertilized recently because last week the new growth had shown signs of yellowing. The field corn looks greener now, but since it is not BT corn, the plant is showing damage from the corn borer. A similar pattern of holes can be seen in the plant before the collars had fully opened. Frass was also noted. Since the corn borer can have multiple generations in one season, one can see that non-BT corn can be severely weakened by the corn borer and high winds before a September-October harvest.
The soybean field behind the field corn was not planted too deeply due to the dry weather and rye residue remaining in the field. With some recent rain the soybeans have started to germinate. Time will tell if the soybean field growth will look spotty because some of the shallow seeding will not take hold and therefore not germinate. There is another soybean crop and because of groundhog damage and previous dry weather the field looks spotty.
The sweet corn is in the 4th leaf stage. Weeds, probably foxtail, are becoming a problem in the sweet cornfield and will need to be monitored.
The oat field has been cut and is drying by tedding (turning it over). The harvesting process takes about 3 days, similar to alfalfa. The alfalfa field is showing good growth after being cut about 3 weeks ago. Possible alfalfa plant damage can come from the alfalfa weevil, leaf hoppers, caterpillar and cabbage loopers.
The Padron peppers, which were struggling last week, have rebounded. Unfortunately they're showing insect damage, possibly from the potato beetle. The weeds in this field have also diminished.
In the demonstration plots the tomato plants having the Colorado potato beetle and its eggs last week, could not be seen today. The pumpkin plants were sprayed because of the presence of the cucumber beetle. The millet seeds and broom corn seeds are beginning to germinate. The hops are being eaten less by the tent caterpillar as they were sprayed last week.
Below is the weekly summary for the insects caught in the four insect traps. Insects caught this season, so far, have been greater in number than last year.
Trap 1 (Black Cut Worm) – 5 black cut worm.
Trap 2 (European Corn Borer) – 1 each wasp and ladybug.
Trap 3 (Fall Army Worm) – 14 true army worm.
Trap 4 (Corn Ear Worm) – 21 noctuids, 1 corn ear worm, 1 click beetle.
Compiled by John Siemanowski
