by Jourdan M. Bell, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and Research Agronomist, Amarillo Corn hybrid selection can be an overwhelming decision; however, knowledge of hybrid characteristics can help producers correctly position hybrids to their production environment as well as minimize some in-season production risks. When selecting a hybrid, a few key characteristics producers need to consider are maturity class, drought tolerance, heat tolerance, ear flex, and staygreen expression. Selection of the correct hybrid maturity class allows the producer to match the hybrid to the available water; however, it is… Read More →

by Jourdan Bell, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Amarillo In water limited regions, forage sorghums provide producers an alternative to higher water demanding forages for both hay and silage production. The Texas Panhandle Forage Sorghum Silage Trial is a comprehensive evaluation of different forage sorghum and sorghum-sudangrass hybrids including brown midrib, photoperiod sensitive and brachytic hybrids specifically targeting silage production of which is highly demanded by Texas’ dairy and beef cattle industries. The 2015 trial consisted of 100 forage sorghum entries (replicated 3 times) that were evaluated for… Read More →

by Josh McGinty, Paul Baumann, and Pete Dotray With continuing El Nino conditions this year, the moisture outlook for the 2016 crop is still favorable. Keep in mind that good growing conditions also favor the growth and development of our weed species as well. Our primary concern this season, as it has been for the past few years, is with glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth and common waterhemp (you may know these as pigweed or carelessweed). Currently, resistant Palmer amaranth has nearly become a statewide issue, while significant populations of… Read More →

by Robert Bowling, Stephen Biles, Danielle Sekula-Ortiz, and Kate Harrell Another season is upon us as farmers have begun seeding sorghum in the Lower Rio Grande Valley and Coastal Bend of Texas. Sorghum has emerged in the Valley and in some areas around Corpus Christi. Warm and dry conditions have made possible the early start to the season, especially when compared with the 2015 cropping year. How might these conditions influence sugarcane aphid infestations in sorghum? Sugarcane aphid reproduction is favored by hot and dry conditions. Currently, sugarcane… Read More →

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 →