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Field and Forage Crops |
We are now arriving at the time when much of this crop is finally squaring. In all but a few circumstances, thrips are no longer much of a concern to producers. However, other pests such as spider mites, plant bugs, tobacco budworms on conventional cotton, and cotton aphids can be a concern in some areas during this pre-bloom period. Remember that both bollworms and stink bugs will leave cotton alone until after blooming is underway.
As is almost always the case, the status of mite problems seems to be closely tied to the weather, with hot dry conditions favoring mite survival and wet conditions favoring the establishment of the mite destroying fungus. Although foliar treatments for spider mites are often less than satisfactory, so far Kelthane at 1.25 quarts product per acre has done a good job. When evaluating the undersides of speckled leaves for spider mites, their eggs, and the fungus, don't forget your hand lens.
Cotton aphids appear to be holding off for now. Although aphids can become a problem almost any time during the growing season, we seem to have most of our outbreaks from about two weeks prior to blooming and during the month of July. By mid to late July in most years, the aphid fungus often arrives to save the day. Although not as dramatic as the fungus, the aphid mummifying parasites can also sharply reduce aphid populations. The combinations of high aphid levels and droughty cotton can result in treatable situations if the above beneficial organisms are absent or at low levels.
Although tobacco budworms can occur in late June to early July and occasionally damage moderate to high levels of squares and terminals, economic losses are rare. And, of course, tobacco budworms do not have a chance on Bt cotton.
Robeson-Scotland-Hoke area: We will have our initial 2005 cotton scouting school at 10:00 a.m. on June 28 in the Extension Conference Room (Suite 800), County Government Center, on 231 E. Cronly Street in downtown Laurinburg. Contact David Morrison (telephone: 910-277-2422; e-mail: David_Morrison@nusu.edu) or Keith Walters (telephone: 910-671-3276; e-mail: Keith_Walters@ncsu.edu) for details. Producers, summer scouts, industry personnel, and consultants are invited to attend.
Lenoir, Greene, Craven, Onslow, Jones and surrounding counties: 9:30 a.m. on July 7 at the Lenoir County Extension offices, approximately 2 miles south of Highway 70 on 55/11. Contact Louie Johnson (telephone: 252-747-5831; e-mail: Louie_Johnson@ncsu.edu).
Announcements of additional cotton scouting schools will follow in future issues of the North Carolina Pest News.
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.
Last modified on June 27, 2005 by Stephen J. Toth, Jr.