Category Archives: Archive
Grower Awareness of Aflatoxin and Fumonisin Contamination of Corn-Feedback from Winter Meetings
Thomas Isakeit, Professor and Extension Plant Pathologist, t-isakeit@tamu.edu: As a requirement of one of the federal grants that supports my research and educational programs for mycotoxin reduction in corn, I must obtain feedback from growers about their mycotoxin problems and control approaches. This past winter, with the help of county agents, I received an excellent response from growers surveyed at four AgriLife Extension meetings where I made presentations. These meetings were: Bell County Crops Conference, Upper Gulf Coast Feed Grain Production Conference, Wilson County Winter Ag Conference,… Read More →
Cotton: Starting Strong to Optimize Yields
Gaylon Morgan, State Extension Cotton Agronomist, gmorgan@ag.tamu.edu: Along with variety selection, seed quality should be on cotton producers’ minds, especially considering the wet and cool spring in South and East Texas and current cotton prices. Also, one of the most popular thoughts this winter has been to reduce seeding rates in order to cut seed costs. This is a viable option for many. However, reducing seeding rates should only be considered in conjunction with high quality seed and near optimum planting conditions. When reducing the seeding rates,… Read More →
Get Ready for a Fight: Glyphosate Resistant Waterhemp and Palmer Amaranth are Here!
Josh McGinty (joshua.mcginty@ag.tamu.edu), Paul Baumann, and Pete Dotray Department of Soil & Crop Sciences You’ve all seen the horror stories about glyphosate (Roundup) resistant pigweed infestations in the Southeastern United States. Texas farmers largely dodged the bullet until 2005, when reports of resistance started to trickle in. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and Research first confirmed glyphosate resistant common waterhemp in Central and Southeast Texas. This was followed by the confirmation of resistant Palmer amaranth on the Southern High Plains in 2010. Since that time, these researchers have conducted… Read More →
Entomology Update from South Texas
By Robert Bowling (robert.bowling@ag.tamu.edu) CORN: Much of the 2015 south Texas corn crop is planted and has emerged. Abundant fall and winter rain has filled soil moisture profiles and the prospects are high for an above average corn crop. Monitoring insect pests is critical to avoid bumps that could derail production goals. Early season pests that may interfere with normal early-season plant development include cutworms, flea beetles, and chinch bugs. Cutworms: Several moth species commonly known as cutworms can be severe pests of corn. The larval or immature… Read More →
2,4-D and Sensitivity in Small Grains
By Calvin Trostle (ctrostle@ag.tamu.edu); The growth regulator type herbicide, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, or 2,4-D, has a long history of versatile weed control in U.S. agriculture for many crops. Two main formulations exist for 2,4-D: 1) “esters”, which tend to have a higher level of chemical activity on weeds, but more potential injury for small grains, especially on jointing stage through near boot stage; 2) “amines”, which are softer than ester formulations, with a slightly reduced injury potential, and are less prone to vapor drift. Purdue University’s “Amine or Ester,… Read More →
Grain Sorghum and Resistance to Sugarcane Aphids
Ronnie Schnell, Assistant Professor and State Cropping Systems Specialist, College Station Statewide: Sugarcane aphids were a major pest in grain sorghum during 2014, affecting most production regions of Texas. While direct yield loss was not an issue for many growers, excessive honey production resulted in reduced harvest efficiency for some growers. Aphids located in the upper canopy and grain heads before harvest are a concern (Figure 1). As growers look for options to manage sugarcane aphids, planting hybrids with genetic resistance to the sugarcane aphid will be a… Read More →
Early Rust Pressure in Texas Wheat
Dr. Clark Neely, Small Grains/Oilseeds Extension Specialist – College Station, TX 2-4-15 February is typically a time of year that wheat growers are more concerned with topdressing nitrogen and controlling weeds than controlling diseases; however, this topic has been on the minds of many growers in recent weeks. It is not uncommon to see small amounts of leaf rust in the fall, particularly on early planted wheat for grazing, however, rust presence generally declines throughout the winter months for most of the state as freezing temperatures will often… Read More →
Using Topguard to Control Root Rot: Pay Attention to That Label
Thomas Isakeit, Professor and Extension Plant Pathologist. Topguard (flutriafol) finally has a section 3 (full registration) label for control of Phymatotrichopsis root rot of cotton (“cotton root rot”). This label is permanent and will permit Topguard use in all states where cotton root rot is a problem, not just Texas. Additionally, there is also a section 18 label for Texas for 2015, which was requested just in case full registration was not granted in time for the growing season. However, the intention of the makers of Topguard, Cheminova… Read More →