Author Archives: Stephen Biles

How Are We Doing?

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As we reflect on this year’s crop, it is important for us at Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service to know how we have helped you. Please provide feedback on the IPM Program and help give us direction in the next year.

Time for Soil Testing

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It is time to test the soil in your fields for nutrient content and fertilizer recommendations.  Since 2013, we have sampled fields and found soil nitrogen levels up to 168 lbs N per acre. This can be a opportunity to reducing costs without affecting yields. On average, fields can save $15-$20 by reducing fertilizer rates based on soil tests to 24″. The Mid-Coast IPM Program is equipped to soil test with a hydraulic soil probe that samples to a depth of 24″. Contact Stephen Biles 361-552-9747 (Office) 361-920-1138… Read More →

Stink Bugs in Field Crops

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The row crops in the Mid-Coast of Texas continues to progress at a normal rate. Cotton field maturity ranges from late squaring to the second week of bloom. Grain sorghum fields are from late bloom to near hard dough. And soybeans are blooming (R2), setting pods (R4) and filling pods (R5). In all of these crops, stink bugs are one of the primary insect pests of concern.  After bloom, cotton fields should be checked for stink bug management by opening 1-inch bolls and checking the inside for evidence… Read More →

IPM Update – Stink Bugs in Grain Sorghum

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Grain Sorghum in the Mid Coast of Texas is blooming and some fields are just past bloom in the Milk stage.  Sorghum should be scouted every day or so during bloom to detect economic populations of sorghum midge.  During bloom, the primary insect pest is sorghum midge.  The economic threshold of sorghum midge is 1 midge per 3-5 plants. Another important insect pest of sorghum is stink bugs.  We have been finding stink bugs in sorghum fields but most are still below the treatment threshold. The most critical… Read More →

IPM Update – Cotton Growth and Fleahoppers

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Cotton maturity ranges from 5-6 leaf to third-grown square.  Continue to scout for cotton fleahoppers, I have fields with more than 40 per 100 plants.  The Economic Threshold is 15 per 100 plants so these field should be treated to prevent square loss.  Some fields or parts of fields are yellowing due to excessive soil moisture making nitrogen less available.  This should be corrected once the soil dries if the field was properly fertilized. I have had several conversations about the temperatures we have had so far this… Read More →