Stephen J. Toth, Jr., editor
Volume 19, Number 21, September 3, 2004

Caution!
The information and recommendations in this newsletter are applicable to North Carolina and may not apply in other areas.


Field and Forage Crops

Field and Forage Crops


2004 Cotton Scouting Schools


From: Jack S. Bacheler, Extension Entomologist


Damaged Boll Survey

We began our damaged boll survey this past Monday, August 30. The amount of stink bug damage to bolls, although I expected it to be high, has been overwhelming. Of the 33 Bollgard fields we checked through Thursday, September 2, stink bug-damaged bolls have averaged approximately 15 percent, or almost 5-fold higher than our long term average of 3 percent bug-damaged bolls for Bollgard cotton. Bug damage to conventional cotton was high by previous years' standards, with an average of 7 percent stink bug-damaged bolls, as compared with our 1996 to 2003 average of less than 1 percent damage. Even if the counties still to be surveyed have lower bug damage to bolls, 2004 should certainly be considered as the Year of the Stink Bug. Plant bugs were also a component of this boll damage in some fields. Hopefully, the 2005 growing season will be approached with a new awareness and respect for the potential damage stink bugs can cause to cotton.


Cotton Field Day at the Upper Coastal Plain Research Station

The 2004 Cotton Field Day will be held on September 15 at the Upper Coastal Plain Research Station, with registration and display and machinery viewing beginning at 12:30 p.m. and the field tours starting at 1:30 p.m. Various aspects of weed management in Roundup Ready, RR Flex, Liberty Link systems will be demonstrated, as well as boll rot and hard lock management with fungicides, the agronomics of and weed management in 15-inch cotton, the agronomics and economics of hill-dropped cotton, a yield monitor demonstration, an Official Variety Test of over 75 current and new varieties, and of course, managing plant bugs and stink bugs in cotton. A barbecue dinner will be served at 6:00 p.m. just prior to the evening program and door prize drawings. We hope you'll join us.


The information presented in this newsletter is for educational purposes only and represents the opinions of the respective authors. Any reference to trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service is implied. Use pesticides safely. Read and follow all label directions.

Employment and program opportunities are offered to all people regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. North Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating.

North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service

Last modified on September 7, 2004 by Stephen J. Toth, Jr.

This Web version is a cooperative effort between the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service and the Center for Integrated Pest Management
North Carolina State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service Department of Entomology Department of Plant Pathology