The Official Newspaper for Foster County
The Official Newspaper for Foster County
The wheat harvest in Foster County got off to a slow start in early August, and progress was further delayed by a weather system on August 14 and 15, which brought over 1.6 inches of rain to much of the area.
The wind and rain caused some wheat to lodge.
Yield reports have been variable, ranging from 60 to 80 bushels per acre, well above our five-year average of 53 bushels per acre.
Test weights have been solid, averaging nearly 60 pounds per bushel, but protein content has been lower than desired, typically between 12.5 and 13.6 percent.
Scab and vomitoxin were detected in some of the early harvested grain, but the levels were low and not a significant concern. Hopefully, the same will be true for the late-harvested wheat.
The corn and soybean crops are maturing, although more slowly than farmers would like.
Crop growth models predict that 80-day corn planted on May 15 will reach maturity on September 26. Our average first freeze date is October 6.
As we approach the end of the growing season, disease pressures are rising, particularly in soybeans, where issues like phytophthora root rot, frogeye leaf spot and white mold have been reported in our region.
Soybean aphids are also increasing. The pest, which was first detected in North Dakota in 2001, is a concern throughout the Midwest nearly every year.
Beneficial insects like green lacewings and lady beetle larvae prey on aphids, keeping their populations within acceptable levels. There are instances, however, when insecticide application is required.
Entomologists use two key terms to help decide whether to spray:
The “economic injury level” is the point where pest damage becomes severe enough that controlling the pests is worth the cost.
The “economic threshold” is the warning line, when action should be taken to prevent reaching the economic injury level.
For soybeans, the economic threshold is reached when there are 250 aphids per plant, and the population is increasing in 80 percent of the field.
Fields should be monitored through the beginning seed stage, but no insecticide treatment is needed once the plants reach the full seed stage.
It can be tempting to apply insecticides as a preventative measure, before pest populations reach the economic threshold.
Preventative insecticide applications not only add unnecessary costs but can also accelerate the development of resistance in target pests.
Additionally, spraying before the economic threshold is reached can eliminate beneficial insects, leaving no natural predators to prevent a surge in aphid populations later in the season.
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Just a reminder, the annual Row Crop Tour at the Carrington REC will be this Thursday, August 29.
This year’s event will highlight key strategies for managing weeds and diseases in soybeans and dry beans. Registration opens at 4 p.m., with the tour starting at 4:30 p.m.
