Category Archives: Archive
“Why are there dead spots in my wheat?”—White Grubs
by Dr. Calvin Trostle, Extension Agronomy, Lubbock, 806-746-6101, ctrostle@ag.tamu.edu Throughout the Texas High Plains and the Rolling Plains and beyond from about late September to the end of November this question is asked every year. AgriLife Extension entomologists and agronomists working with wheat and other small grain have gotten so used to this annual question we have to be careful to not assume the cause. Our questions will be: • “Are the spots getting larger? (Yes) • Is the field in continuous wheat? (Yes) White grub worms, most… Read More →
SOUTHERN CORN LEAF BLIGHT IN FALL CORN
by Olufemi Alabi, Assistant Professor and Extension Plant Pathologist, Weslaco and Thomas Isakeit, Professor and Extension Plant Pathologist, College Station Southern corn leaf blight (SCLB), caused by the fungus Cochliobolus heterostrophus (also known as Bipolaris maydis), has been observed at several locations in the Lower Rio Grande Valley in the fall corn crop this past month. The typical symptoms are oval to slightly elongated lesions, ¼ inch to 1 inch long (Figure 1). On a particular leaf, the lesion sizes and shapes can vary greatly. Typically, the lesions… Read More →
Crop Decision Aide Available for 2016 Planning
As the crop harvest proceeds from South Texas to the Northern High Plains, farmers will begin focusing on what to plant in 2016. The crop analyzer tool is available online for producers to use in analyzing their options and packaging loan renewal requests to lenders. The Excel spreadsheet tool is designed to allow individual producers to input their own production inputs and cost. Producers can compare estimated returns from various crops and do “what if” analyses by changing crop or input prices, yields, or production inputs. The crop… Read More →
Cheaper Inputs Could Provide Relief from Low Crop Prices
by Dr. Levi Russell, Assistant Professor & Extension Economist The prices paid by farmers indices by sub-component shown in Figure 1 represent the average prices of inputs purchased by farmers and ranchers to produce agricultural commodities. The 2015 data shown in the graph represents the prices sampled in mid-July 2015 (the most recently available data), with previous years shown as annual averages. Most input price indices changed very little from the previous month, with the exception of nitrogen (down -4.2%) and potash and phosphate (down -6.7%). Diesel and… Read More →
Insect Pests Abundant as Planting Gets Underway for 2015-16 Winter Wheat Crop
Dr. Clark Neely, Statewide Small Grains Extension Specialist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Dr. Allen Knutson, Extension Entomologist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Figure 1. Armyworms can devastate young wheat plants and decrease fall stands (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension photo). According to the latest USDA report, Texas has 24% of its winter wheat in the ground, which is behind the normal 34% for this time of year. This is largely due to dry weather conditions intensifying across much of the state. Another source for concern among wheat growers in… Read More →
Texas Wheat Variety “Picks” for Grain
by Dr. Calvin Trostle, Extension Agronomy, Lubbock, 806-746-6101, ctrostle@ag.tamu.edu; Dr. Clark Neely, State Extension Small Grains specialist, College Station, 979-862-1412, cneely@ag.tamu.edu Continuing a long-time High Plains practice, Texas A&M AgriLife has extended our wheat “Picks” suggestions for Texas wheat producers across the state. Texas A&M AgriLife’s sister agencies for Research and Extension collaborate by region across the state to conduct extensive wheat variety testing in both research settings and on-farm sites. Our ongoing Picks criteria include a minimum of three years of data in AgriLife wheat variety trials… Read More →
Post-harvest Pigweed Management is Key for Minimizing Weed Pressure in the Following Year
by Muthu Bagavathiannan, Assistant Professor of Weed Science, College Station; Peter Dotray, Professor of Weed Science, Lubbock; Paul Baumann, Extension Weed Specialist, College Station; Gaylon Morgan, State Cotton Specialist, College Station Palmer amaranth and waterhemp (known as pigweeds) have been spreadling rapidly in Texas row crops and several of these populations are likely resistant to glyphosate heribicide. Producers are increasingly recognizing the importance of preplant and pre-emergence residual herbicides and multiple modes of action to help prevent/manage glyphosate resistant pigweeds in their fields. However, much of the emphasis… Read More →
Seed Testing Laboratory Service Providers for Texas Agriculture
by Dr. Calvin Trostle, Extension Agronomy, Lubbock, 806-746-6101, ctrostle@ag.tamu.edu Many Texas producers are interested in having planting seed tested for various crops. This is particularly important for wheat and other small grains seed, which farmers may save for their own planting use (unless they have a variety that requires a signed agreement stating you are not permitted to do so). Texas A&M AgriLife Extension recently updated our annual document outlining seed testing certification standards as well as possible seed labs for your testing needs. Historically, many Texas producers… Read More →
Managed Deficit Irrigation Scheduling in Grain Sorghum to Enhance Yield
by Jourdan Bell, AgriLife Extension Agronomist, Amarillo The ample rainfall during the 2015 cropping season has allowed many Texas High Plains producers to significantly reduce their number of irrigations, but in an average year, irrigation is necessary to minimize production risks. However, on the Texas High Plains, well capacities are declining and producers are having to make critical decisions on how to manage limited water resources to optimize production. In grain sorghum, irrigation is commonly applied at a fraction of the crop water requirement throughout the season (deficit… Read More →
Preparing for the 2015 South Texas Cotton Harvest
by Dr. Josh McGinty – AgriLife Extension Agronomist, Corpus Christi, TX and Dr. Gaylon Morgan – AgriLife Extension State Cotton Specialist, College Station, TX As this year’s cotton crop is approaching harvest, the proper application of harvest aids is critical to help facilitate an efficient and timely harvest and to preserve fiber quality. Though it is grown as an annual crop, cotton is perennial shrub that will continue to produce new leaves as long as conditions are favorable. Thus, it is important to properly prepare the cotton crop… Read More →