Another abbreviated IPM session was held today, due to the rain.
In the fieldcorn the tassels (male flower) and silks (female flower) are appearing. Some tassels are already shredding and will pollinate the silks below. Early corn ears are developing, and when one was opened the individual silks could be seen attached to the individual kernels. So the pollination / fertilization process from tassel to silk to kernel could be seen. The ear leaf closest to the corn ear is important because it protects the ear, similar to the flag leaf being important to rye. Some of the corn plants are showing 3 ears, which is not only unusual, but will add extra weight on the plant as the season progress. If corn borer damage is significant as mentioned in prior weeks, the corn plant may be more susceptible to falling over with added weight and wind.
The various soybean fields are showing insect damage from grasshoppers and beetles. In the tallest soybean field, which is in the reproductive stage, Jimson weed of significant height is a problem. This can be toxic if harvested with the soybeans. The soybeans can be of the white or purple flower variety. These were purple.
The sweet corn is in the tassel and silk stage and will be harvested in a few weeks.
The alfalfa field was swept for insects and aphids, leafhoppers and green clover worms were among those found.
In the demonstration plots the broomcorn is showing a little nitrogen deficiency. Some of the bell peppers are showing bacterial leaf spot. The pollinator garden shows examples of various pollinator plants used in a pollinator garden, as opposed to showing just several groups of three or four. The pumpkin plants are growing very fast as they are constantly being monitored for insect damage.
Below is the weekly summary for the insects caught in the four insect traps.
Trap 1 (Black Cut Worm) – No insects.
Trap 2 (European Corn Borer) - 3 – Click Beetle, 1 Earwig and various clover mites.
Trap 3 (Fall Army Worm) - 1- Fall Armyworm.
Trap 4 (Corn Ear Worm) – 9 Noctuids, 1 Chafer Beetle.
Compiled by John Siemanonski
