by Dr. Calvin Trostle, Professor & Extension Agronomist, Lubbock, (806) 723-8432, ctrostle@ag.tamu.edu I believe applicator awareness is often overlooked in weed and pest control. Communication and the needed instruction between a farmer and their own employees or a custom applicator can make the difference in a serious mistake that damages a current crop, affects a planned crop rotation next year, or perhaps amounts to 85% weed control instead of the near 100% that you otherwise would expect. How you interact with both your employees and your custom applicator… Read More →

by Dr. Calvin Trostle, Extension Agronomy, Lubbock, 806-746-6101, ctrostle@ag.tamu.edu; Dr. Clark Neely, Extension State Small Grains Specialist, College Station, 979-862-1412, cbn108@tamu.edu AgriLife Extension staff across Texas often observe a common misunderstanding about N fertilizer/N topdress timing and wheat grain production. Many producers don’t realize the critical timing of topdress N on wheat—and are often not applying topdress N soon enough if they are going to grain. Thus they are losing yield potential. In other winter wheat production regions of the U.S., farmers usually think of Spring topdressing, but… Read More →

by Jason Woodward, Associate Professor and Extension Plant Pathologist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Lubbock, TX; 806.746.6101; jewoodward@ag.tamu.edu In addition to fungicide seed treatments, there are several nematicide seed treatments available for producers to use in the management of root-knot (Meloidogyne incognita) and reniform (Rotylenchulus reniformis) nematodes. Abamectin, the active ingredient in Acceleron-N and Avicta Complete Cotton (offerings on Deltapine and Phytogen varieties, respectively), has been registered for use in cotton for approximately 10 years. Acceleron-N and Avicta Complete Cotton differ from earlier products, namely Avicta Duo, in that… Read More →

By Ronnie Schnell  (ronschnell@tamu.edu) and Gaylon Morgan (gdmorgan@tamu.edu) Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, College Station Low commodity prices often results in a shift in acreage from one crop to another. However, when crop prices are low across the board, growers must look for alternative ways to remain profitable. Crop inputs are naturally the first place many will look. Will reducing input costs increase net returns? The wrong cuts could result in yield reductions and/or detrimental impacts over the next several years, such as with poor weed management. Increasing efficiency may… Read More →

by Thomas Isakeit, Professor and Extension Plant Pathologist Following a very wet and slow start in 2015 and some seedling disease issues, there is more interest in seed treatments to minimize seedling losses and get the crop off to a good start. On the other hand, farmers are looking for ways to cut input cost and are curious about the value of the seed treatments. To address some of these questions, I have updated a listing of fungicides labeled for seedling diseases of cotton, which can be found… Read More →

by Dr. Clark Neely, Small Grains/Oilseeds Extension Specialist – College Station, TX; Dr. Ron French, Grain and Vegetable Extension Plant pathologist – Amarillo, TX It is now February and we are once again seeing significant rust levels in wheat in areas of Southern and Southeast Texas. The elevated levels of rust this early in the season is eerily similar to 2015; however, leaf rust appears to be more prevalent at this time than stripe rust, unlike 2015. Currently, wheat planted prior to December 1 seems to be most… Read More →

by Dr. Calvin Trostle, Extension Agronomy, Lubbock, (806) 746-6101, ctrostle@ag.tamu.edu; Dr. Clark Neely, State Small Grains Specialist, College Station, (979) 862-1412, cneely@ag.tamu.edu What impact would 8-15” snow have on Texas wheat conditions in the High Plains and northern Rolling Plains? Several factors may contribute to current wheat conditions, including how well wheat was established. However, remember first that wheat and other grasses like rye and triticale are cool-season grasses. Popular wheat varieties planted in the Texas High Plains like Winterhawk, Hatcher, and TAMs 111, 112, & 113 are… Read More →

by Dr. Calvin Trostle, Extension Agronomy, Lubbock, (806) 746-6101, ctrostle@ag.tamu.edu In 2016 Texas grain sorghum producers will find more information from seed companies and other sources about grain sorghum hybrids that may offer potentially increased—or better documented—tolerance/resistance to sugarcane aphid (SCA). I provide a link to a list of recent seed company designated SCA-tolerant/resistant hybrids below, but I recommend caution in evaluating information regarding sugarcane aphid tolerance/resistance. Access the full document for additional considerations. Foremost, at this time: 1) Assume all grain sorghum hybrids—even if designated tolerant/resistant to… Read More →

by Dr. Clark Neely, Statewide Small Grains Extension Specialist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Retaining Volunteer Wheat A unique situation is unfolding for many wheat producers across the state of Texas this fall, particularly for areas of the Blacklands, which started back in the spring. Torrential spring rains destroyed or otherwise prevented harvest of many wheat acres throughout Texas in 2015 providing a large seedbank of wheat seed in the soil. Once fields were abandoned or insured out, drought quickly set in for much of the summer months, allowing… Read More →