Author Archives: Stephen Biles

Midge in Grain Sorghum

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Grain sorghum fields range in maturity from nearing bloom to soft dough and all of these fields need to be scouted frequently. Blooming sorghum is susceptible to sorghum midge and field scouts are finding more midge in the fields this week. Scout sorghum fields 2-3 times per week until past bloom. Start by scouting fields on the south side (downwind) as the midge is a poor flyer and will be found on the field margins first. When you are finding them on field margins, move 150-200 feet into… Read More →

Stink Bugs in Grain Sorghum

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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

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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

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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

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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