Author Archives: l-francis
Sunflower (Head) Moth & Bloom Stage of Growth
by Dr. Calvin Trostle, Extension Agronomy, Lubbock, 806-746-6101, ctrostle@ag.tamu.edu Dr. Ed Bynum, Extension Entomology, Amarillo, 806-677-5600, ebynum@ag.tamu.edu Wherever sunflowers are grown in Texas (this year mostly in the High Plains), a standard and essential part of managing the crop is controlling sunflower (head) moth. When moth pressure is moderate damage to the sunflower crop from the larval feeding alone has an economic impact, and the subsequent opportunistic Rhizopus head rot infection can devastate yields. Sunflower moth control measures in our opinion rank in the following order: 1) timing,… Read More →
Southern Plains of Texas: Time to Look for Fleahoppers
by Suhas Vyavhare and Blayne Reed, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service The high temperatures, high humidity, and the passing of light cotton showers over the last couple of weeks have been very conducive for rapid crop growth and development. Most cotton fields on the Southern High Plains are past the 5th true leaf stage and are sporting pinhead through ¼ grown squares. This should mean they are no longer vulnerable to economic damage by thrips. There are some late fields and re-planted fields which can still be injured… Read More →
Texas Wheat Producers Once Again Concerned with Pre-Harvest Sprouting
by Dr. Clark B. Neely, Extension Small Grains Specialist, cbneely@tamu.edu So far, spring 2016 has been eerily similar to the spring of 2015 with wet conditions complicating wheat harvest for many producers in the state. In 2015, much of the pre-harvest sprouting (Figure 1) that occurred affected wheat in South Texas and the Blacklands. Low prices and the wet fall prevented many of the acres from being planted in this region for the 2016 crop. Though sprouting and crop failure in these region were or still are possible,… Read More →
Corn and Cotton Disease Update
by Thomas Isakeit, Professor and Extension Plant Pathologist; t-isakeit@tamu.edu ,979-862-1340 Southern rust of corn (Puccinia polysora) (Figure 1) is present in fields in several Upper Coast counties. This disease has the potential to cause yield loss in susceptible hybrids and growers should be scouting for it. I have a bulletin that gives guidance for scouting, action thresholds for spraying, and a list of fungicides, at this address: http://aglifesciences.tamu.edu/plantpathology/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2011/05/Southern-Rust-of-Corn_2014.pdf I have frequently encountered common rust (Puccinia sorghi) this season. This is not a disease of concern in Texas. Northern… Read More →