Monthly Archives: May 2021

Stink Bugs in Grain Sorghum

The Stink Bug is a primary insect pest of grain sorghum from bloom until hard dough. The insect feeds directly on the seed, reducing seed weight and yield. The most common stink bug in grain sorghum of the Mid-Coast is the Rice Stink Bug. Scout sorghum after bloom using a small bucket and beat heads into the bucket and see what is being captured in the bucket. Look here for a brief video. Economic thresholds (ET) have been evaluated and can be determined using tables or equations, but this… Read More →

Rain and Square Loss

Scouting fields this week we are finding each field is different from the next. Much of this has to do with how the rain affected the field. If the water got off the field or did not stand for too many days, the crop was better off. Fields that held water are more likely to have square losses. Many of these fields have lost the larger squares leaving fruit smaller than match-head square. An example of this is shown. I removed the leaves showing the lower four squares have… Read More →

Rain and its Impact on Crop Fertility

We have received rain in great amounts over the past few weeks. This morning, my rain gauge is full, and it’s still raining. Many fields have received over 10 inches of rainfall over the past few days. One question I have received is: “What is this rain going to do with our fertilizer?” The nutrient of greatest concern should be Nitrogen.  This is because of denitrification and the water solubility of Nitrogen. “Gaseous loss of nitrogen takes place by denitrification or ammonia volatilization. Denitrification is a process through… Read More →

2021 Crop Tours

CROP TOUR DATES Corpus Christi Research Center Wednesday, May 26, 2021, AM SAN PATRICIO Tuesday, June 1, 2021, 2:30 pm NUECES Wednesday, June 2, 2021 DEWITT Tuesday, June 8, 2021, 3 pm, Gruenau Hall REFUGIO Wednesday, June 9, 2021 JACKSON Monday, June 14, 2021, 4 pm, Ganado American Legion Hall VICTORIA Tuesday, June 15, 2021, 8 am, Dacosta Hall CALHOUN Thursday, June 17, 2021, 3 pm FAYETTE Monday, June 21, 2021 COLORADO Thursday, June 24, 2021  

Cotton Fleahopper and Crop Progress Meeting

A field meeting will be held Tuesday to discuss field scouting techniques, economic thresholds and plant growth regulators in squaring cotton. Date: Tuesday, May 18 Time: 9 am Location: Near Port Lavaca Southwest of the Intersection of FM 1679 and Sanders Rd.  HERE Topics: Crop development, cotton fleahopper management, and plant growth regulators will be discussed.   CROP TOUR DATES Refugio County – June 9 Victoria County – June 15 Calhoun County – June 17