Southwest Missouri Field Crop Report for August 21, 2013

Headquartered at Barton County Extension Center

Tel: (417) 682-3579

E-mail: scheidtjk@missouri.edu

LAMAR, Mo. –Jill Scheidt, agronomy specialist with University of Missouri Extension in Barton County, scouted area fields on August 21 to prepare this week’s field scouting report.

Japanese beetle populations have greatly decreased, and should move out of the area soon. 

Bean leaf and blister beetle foliage feeding is still being seen.  Threshold levels for foliage feeding in soybeans are 30 percent defoliation before bloom and 20 percent defoliation during or after bloom. 

“Hero is the most effective insecticide; do not apply insecticide unless threshold levels are reached, because beneficial insects that control spider mites and thrips will also be killed by insecticides,” said Scheidt.

Podworms were not seen, but need to be scouted for; threshold levels are one podworm per foot.

“A little bacterial blight was seen on older soybean plants and phytopthora blight was seen in young plants; neither can be treated with a fungicide,” said Scheidt.

Deficiencies are also being seen due to over saturated soils, but plants should green up as the ground dries.  Beginning pod formation is the ideal time to apply preventative fungicides. 

“If a specific disease infects the field, fungicides to treat them may be applied up to beginning seed stage,” said Scheidt.

According to Scheidt, pollination was spotty in some fields and other fields had medium sized ears filled to the tip but were slightly non-uniform. 

“Some ears have molds growing due to prolonged humid conditions.  Ear rots and molds will increase with humid conditions and decrease with hot drier conditions.  If you are harvesting corn with molds and ear rots, harvest quickly as possible once corn reaches 15 percent moisture,” said Scheidt.

MORE INFORMATION

The weekly field scouting report is sponsored by University of Missouri Extension and Barton County Extension. For more information on this scouting report, or to learn how to receive it a week earlier by telephone, contact the MU Extension Center in Barton County, (417) 682-3579.

###