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Posts From Tom Allen, Extension Plant Pathologist

Corn Disease Update: June 24, 2017

Corn Disease Update: June 24, 2017 Updated

🕔15:32, 24.Jun 2017

Increased reports of disease in the corn crop in MS have been made over the past week. Normally, as corn matures, the incidence and severity of corn diseases observed with increase. Presently, common rust, Diplodia leaf streak, northern corn leaf blight, and southern rust can all be observed in our corn production system; however, southern rust has only been observed on an extremely limited number of acres to this point in the season.

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Navigating Fungicide Active Ingredients

Navigating Fungicide Active Ingredients Updated

🕔07:17, 23.Jun 2017

Over the past several years, fungicide pre-mix products have dominated the marketplace. Keeping up with the specific chemical classes within each product can present a challenge. Included in this blog post are some information to aid in making fungicide decisions.

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Keys to Field Identification of Common Versus Southern Rust in Field Corn

Keys to Field Identification of Common Versus Southern Rust in Field Corn Updated

🕔17:38, 21.Jun 2017

Diagnosing common and southern rust in the field can oftentimes be difficult. Subtle differences between the two diseases can occur at different parts of the growing season as well as sections of the crop canopy.

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Soybean Disease Update: June 18, 2017

Soybean Disease Update: June 18, 2017 Updated

🕔19:16, 18.Jun 2017

Limited soybean diseases have occurred throughout the MS soybean production system. Observations of Septoria brown spot and taproot decline have been quite common this season. Lesions that result from herbicide injury have also been commonly observed, but should not be cause for concern.

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Considering the R3/R4 Automatic Application in Soybean: Time to Apply Two Modes of Action Instead of One

Considering the R3/R4 Automatic Application in Soybean: Time to Apply Two Modes of Action Instead of One Updated

🕔11:15, 3.Jun 2017

Over the past week calls have started to be received regarding the automatic fungicide application in soybean. On-farm, large plot trials were conducted during 2015 and 2016 to assess the benefit of several different fungicide products and to reevaluate the automatic application timing. At present, we believe that a mixed mode of action fungicide, or one that provides more than one mode of action would be more beneficial than the stand-alone strobilurin (QoI) fungicide application that has become popular over the past decade.

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Are you Behind on your Corn “Tassel Shot” Application? Updated

🕔11:56, 22.May 2017

The Mississippi corn crop is generally on pace to tassel earlier than normal this year. Thus, how may this affect how the corn will respond to mid-season application of various management inputs, including nitrogen fertilizer and other products? This article will discuss factors and distinct scenarios that could dramatically effect realistic corn response.

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Sandblasted Cotton/Re-Plant Decisions

Sandblasted Cotton/Re-Plant Decisions Updated

🕔18:08, 5.May 2017

Approximately 20% of the cotton acres intended in Mississippi have been planted; however, given the cool, wet weather as well as high winds in the north Delta over the past several days, a number of re-plants will likely be taking place. 

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Wheat Disease Update: April 22, 2017

Wheat Disease Update: April 22, 2017 Updated

🕔11:09, 22.Apr 2017

Limited wheat acres in MS have meant for a fairly quiet winter. However, the observation of wheat diseases has increased over the past several weeks with the major questions coming from either vernalization issues (lack of chilling hours) or leaf rust.

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Managing Target Spot of Soybean: 2016 Fungicide Trial Efficacy Results

Managing Target Spot of Soybean: 2016 Fungicide Trial Efficacy Results Updated

🕔09:29, 1.Apr 2017

Target spot management in soybean production systems remains a hot topic going into the 2017 season. The environment that occurred during late July and early August 2016 made us respect a disease that is often “out of sight and out of mind”. Fungicide data from two efficacy trials conducted during 2016 are included in this blog post.

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Target Spot Management: Thoughts from 2016 Observations

Target Spot Management: Thoughts from 2016 Observations Updated

🕔16:29, 21.Mar 2017

Target spot was one of the main diseases that occurred during 2016. Normally a disease of little consequence in soybean as well as cotton, severe target spot outbreaks were observed in both crops. Making decisions regarding the occurrence of target spot during 2016 are difficult since the environment during key plant growth stages was the most important ingredient for the occurrence of target spot last season.

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2016 Soybean OVT Foliar Disease Ratings: Maturity Group IV

2016 Soybean OVT Foliar Disease Ratings: Maturity Group IV Updated

🕔17:42, 19.Jan 2017

The MSU OVT soybean locations were rated for disease during the 2016 season. Multiple diseases were rated at multiple locations. In the past, Cercospora leaf blight and frogeye leaf spot have been the two main diseases rated. In 2016, Septoria brown spot as well as target spot were included in the ratings.

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2016 North MS Maturity Group IV and V Variety Trial Report

2016 North MS Maturity Group IV and V Variety Trial Report Updated

🕔10:11, 13.Dec 2016

A Maturity Group IV and V variety trial was conducted in Verona, MS at the NMREC during the 2016 season. Yield and disease data are included in the attached report for all entries contained in the trial (RoundUp, Conventional and LibertyLink).

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2016 Soybean Variety Demonstration Program Summary

2016 Soybean Variety Demonstration Program Summary Updated

🕔17:50, 4.Nov 2016

The On-Farm Soybean Variety Demonstration Program is conducted using a set of varieties with proven performance.  These varieties are grown in a production setting on various soil types and management systems around the state. Demonstration sets for both maturity group

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2016 Soybean Stem Canker Variety Trial Evaluations

2016 Soybean Stem Canker Variety Trial Evaluations Updated

🕔13:32, 3.Nov 2016

The cultivars contained in the Mississippi State University Official Variety Trial (OVT), as well as a few added cultivars, were field-evaluated for their susceptibility/resistance to stem canker. Trials were conducted in Stoneville with toothpick-inoculated plants during the 2016 season. Tables contain the average ratings (on a 0-9 scale) as well as an assessment of resistance to stem canker (R, MR, MS, S) based on the ratings conducted.

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Soybean Disease Update: September 7, 2016

Soybean Disease Update: September 7, 2016 Updated

🕔21:03, 10.Sep 2016

Foliar diseases continue to be observed throughout the MS soybean production system. Cercospora blight, frogeye leaf spot and target spot have been commonly observed. Soybean rust continues to be observed at low levels in areas where the disease has occurred following the rainfall received over the last month.

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Soybean Disease Update: August 21, 2016

Soybean Disease Update: August 21, 2016 Updated

🕔22:16, 21.Aug 2016

Following the rainfall received over the past 10-14 days soybean diseases have greatly increased. Septoria brown spot, target spot and soybean rust (in isolated geographic locations) have all increased throughout MS.

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Identifying Late Season Soybean Growth Stages

Identifying Late Season Soybean Growth Stages Updated

🕔22:19, 19.Aug 2016

As we approach soybean physiological maturity, determining the specific soybean growth stage can aid in several important management decisions. Distinct differences exist between the R6 and R6.5 growth stage.

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Soybean Harvest Aids

Soybean Harvest Aids Updated

🕔22:04, 19.Aug 2016

Over the past week, following the excessive rainfall received through most of the soybean production area, several calls have been received regarding soybean seed sprouting in the pods.

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Cotton Disease Update: August 19, 2016

Cotton Disease Update: August 19, 2016 Updated

🕔21:04, 19.Aug 2016

Due in large part to the continued wet weather, cotton diseases have been on the increase over the past two weeks. Boll rot, bacterial blight and target spot have all been observed throughout the MS cotton production system.

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Bacterial Panicle Blight of Rice Observed in Multiple Delta Fields

Bacterial Panicle Blight of Rice Observed in Multiple Delta Fields Updated

🕔15:54, 18.Aug 2016

Bacterial panicle blight has been a rare disease in MS rice production systems.  Over the past several years, bacterial panicle blight has only been observed in years when high temperatures occurred for extended periods of time during flowering.  The specific

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Soybean Root Disease Update: August 3, 2016

Soybean Root Disease Update: August 3, 2016 Updated

🕔06:11, 3.Aug 2016

In addition to the current foliar disease situation, root diseases are becoming widely observed throughout the MS soybean production area. Two of the more commonly observed diseases over the past several weeks have been taproot decline (TRD) and root-knot nematode foliar symptoms as a result of galling. Scouting for the presence of root-knot nematodes at this point in the season will aid in decisions for next season’s crop.

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Foliar Soybean Disease Update: July 30, 2016

Foliar Soybean Disease Update: July 30, 2016 Updated

🕔07:04, 30.Jul 2016

Foliar diseases continue to be observed throughout the Mississippi soybean production system. Low levels of frogeye leaf spot, Septoria brown spot and target spot have been frequently observed following the rainfall of the past two weeks. The first soybean rust on soybean was observed on Friday in Rankin County, MS on a single leaf in a field of R4/R5 soybeans.

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Rice Leaf Blast Confirmed in Mississippi

Rice Leaf Blast Confirmed in Mississippi Updated

🕔20:24, 24.Jul 2016

Leaf blast has been observed in the MS rice crop for the better part of the last three weeks. In most cases, lesions were observed in areas of fields where the floodwater was less than four inches.

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Soybean Disease Update: July 16, 2016

Soybean Disease Update: July 16, 2016 Updated

🕔11:51, 16.Jul 2016

Save for the appearance of a few common foliar diseases, the soybean disease situation remains fairly quiet. Septoria brown spot appears to be the most commonly occurring foliar disease. Scout fields for the presence of nematodes as well as stem diseases now to aid in next season’s decisions.

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Corn Disease Update: July 4, 2016

Corn Disease Update: July 4, 2016 Updated

🕔07:33, 5.Jul 2016

The corn disease season continues to be somewhat quiet. Few if any foliar diseases have been observed throughout MS. Southern rust continues to be observed in western and southern MS; however, the disease has only be observed at low levels (one to two leaves) in all situations to date.

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