The Official Newspaper for Foster County
The Official Newspaper for Foster County
“Have you found aphids in your soybean fields?” I asked the farmer.
“I haven’t looked,” was the reply. “But if there were any, last night’s rain would have washed them off.”
I was surprised by the farmer’s response. We’d only gotten about a third of an inch in Carrington the previous evening. I didn’t expect that amount of rain to have much effect on soybean aphids.
I asked the farmer, “How much rain did you get?”
“Two inches,” was his reply.
When a storm system passes through, I typically contact farmers in different parts of the county, asking how much precipitation they received. Rainfall amounts often vary significantly, even within short distances.
This summer, farmers along the southern edge of Foster County received significant rain that farmers in other parts of the county didn’t get.
The northeast corner of our county has been especially dry.
One farmer in the McHenry area reported receiving 0.45 inches on Aug. 25. “That’s the most rain we’ve had in two months,” he said.
McHenry has received just 60 percent of its normal rainfall amount since June 1, and it is currently classified as an area of moderate drought by the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Foster County normally expects to receive 2.0 inches of rainfall during September. The average high on Sept. 4 is 79 degrees, and the average low is 50 degrees.
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Wheat harvest began the third week of August, but it was slowed by damp weather.
Yields seemed slightly better than most producers expected, with some fields averaging over 50 bushels per acre.
Some late-planted wheat looks good, having benefitted from cooler than normal temperatures in July.
The corn and soybean crops will reach physiological maturity in the next several weeks. Producers should continue to scout for insect pests until the beans are past the R6 stage (full seed in pods).
Now is also a good time to scout bean fields for disease problems that need to be addressed before the next cropping season.
The symptoms of several economically important soybean diseases typically appear late in the growing season. These diseases include charcoal rot, sudden death syndrome, brown stem rot and soybean cyst nematode.
Phytophthora, stem canker, and white mold can also be found at this time of year.
NDSU Extension and the North Dakota Soybean Council are again offering producers the opportunity to test fields for soybean cyst nematode free of charge.
This microscopic roundworm penetrates and moves through soybean roots, causing physiological damage by altering the metabolism of root cells.
Severely infected soybean plants are stunted and their development is impaired. The leaves on infected plants may be yellow.
To determine whether soybean cyst nematode is present, soil samples must be sent to a laboratory.
The samples can be collected either before or after soybean harvest; however, they must be collected before fall tillage.
I have the pre-labeled bags that are used in this program, and I can also help collect soil samples.
If you are interested in testing your fields for soybean cyst nematode, please contact me in the extension office (652-2581, jeff.gale@ndsu.edu).
